We’re in what most fans like to call a “Muppet Lull” right now. Hard to believe, but The Muppets haven’t been in theaters since 1999, when Muppets in Space was panned by critics. Sure, we’ve been given a few TV movies to snack on in the past few years, but they barely hold a candle to the originality of The Great Muppet Caper or Muppets Take Manhattan.

Then, suddenly about six months ago, a few Muppet viral videos started popping up on YouTube, in which the famed Waldorf and Statler would comment on certain “new” and “hip” Internet fads. Those videos became instant hits, and Muppet Studios started putting out more and more.

As of late, on of their more popular videos surfaced in the mainstream, in the form of a “Bohemian Rhapsody” spoof. The video tallied over 20 million views, and the faith in the Muppet generation was immediately revitalized.

Last week, the epic studio released a new holiday song. Carol of the Bells, in Muppet form. Starring some of the fan favorites that aren’t necessarily the A-list characters; Swedish Chef, Animal, and Beaker. Check out the new video below, and if this doesn’t get you into the holiday spirit, nothing will.

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There’s plenty of news developing from Disney’s D23 out of Anaheim, from Johnny Depp showing up dressed as Jack Sparrow to the company releasing just about everything in Digital 3D. What looks to be one of the biggest developments for a Disney property is the amount of things planned for the Muppet franchise, and the direction that the newest film is taking.

Not only is the newest film, The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made, hitting theaters in the next 18 months, but it’s said to be a story that Jim Henson came up with before his death. In the story, Gonzo decides to direct a film with all of his friends, but blows the budget on the opening titles. This would be the first Muppet theatrical release since 1999’s Muppets From Space.

On top of the new film in production, the felt franchise is also planning a new cooking show for the Food Network co-starring Cat Cora and yes, the Swedish Chef! ABC is also scheduling a Muppet Halloween special to air next year, and last year’s TV movie Muppet’s Letters To Santa will finally be getting a DVD release.

Along with the movie and TV news, the Muppets are also getting a revamp in the world of technology. Muppets.com is getting a complete overhaul, to look more like Facebook for the characters. You can also expect to see new iPhone and Blackberry apps that showcase our googly-eyed favorites hitting your device in the next year .

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