Why Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of The Muppets are on the Monday Night Football broadcast

The notion of corporate synergy can be laughable at times, but when it results in us getting The Muppets added to ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast, well, I can get behind that.

The Walt Disney Company owns the rights to The Muppets and they are being used on Monday to provide a little Christmas cheer as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET, but the broadcast will open at 8 p.m. with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy in the broadcast booth, Fozzie Bear reporting from the field, Statler and Waldorf in the stands, and Animal apparently playing his drums. Shortly before kickoff, the Muppets will be back for a Carol of the Bells music video.

ESPN CCU

Kermit released a statement at ESPN’s PR page in which he mentioned we would see The Muppets sprinkled in later during the game. We’ll see if we can get Statler and Waldorf swapped in for the broadcast crew here and there:

“The only thing this offense is Burrowing under is the 50-yard line!” “ho ho ho ha ha ha”

“Remember when Sam Wyche said ‘you’re not from Cleveland?’ Wonder if they can get a refund!”