D23 Expo 2009

thumb|300px|right|D23 Expo 2009 highlights reel featuring the Muppets
The first D23 Expo was held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on September 10–13, 2009.
The Muppets appeared as part of the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation and at their own panel presenting a slate of upcoming and in-development projects.
===Disney Movie Magic===
On Friday, September 11, the Muppets made a surprise appearance on the Mark Twain Riverboat (a smaller replica of the Disneyland attraction) during the "Disney Movie Magic: Inside the Disney Studios" arena presentation. It was announced that they were working on a new movie, The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! (later set aside in favor of The Muppets). The Muppets performed "Rainbow Connection," preceded by Pepe singing "Prince Ali" from Aladdin.The Muppet Mindset: BREAKING NEWS from The Disney23 Expo! (September 12, 2009)
Appearing on the riverboat were Kermit the Frog, Fozzie, Pepe, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Animal, Janice, Floyd, Dr. Teeth, Zoot, Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Scooter, Rizzo the Rat, Lew Zealand, Robin, Penguins, Chickens, with Sweetums standing beside the boat.
Statler and Waldorf appeared after the number shouting, "We want Grumpy!"
Johnny Depp, in full costume as Pirates of the Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow, made a surprise appearance at the end of the presentation. Jack said that he'd like a snack, and asked where that nice frog was who'd been on stage earlier -- "he probably tastes like chicken."Boucher, Geoff. "Johnny Depp (in Jack Sparrow costume) surprises Disney D23 Expo audience", LA Times blog. September 11, 2009 (archived)
Image:D23-closeup.jpg|The Muppets at the 2009 D23 Expo
Image:Riverboat-pepe.jpg
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===The Muppets Presentation===
thumb|300px|Promotional slide for The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora.
thumb|300px|A preview of the then upcoming Youtube videos during the presentation.
The Muppets appeared at a special presentation by The Muppets Studio on Sunday, September 13. Before entering the venue, each of the attendees received a raffle ticket, and throughout the presentation, various pieces of Muppet merchandise were raffled off. The presentation, hosted by Lylle Breier, detailed some of the future plans for the Muppets. Pepe the King Prawn, Sam the Eagle, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and the Swedish Chef appeared. (End of presentation clip: )
Many projects were announced in the presentation, however management and strategic changes shortly afterwards caused many of them to be left unfinished or unreleased. Projects announced included:ToughPigs - Muppets at D23: Movies, DVDs, and Merchandise News! (September 14, 2009)The Muppet Newsflash - The Muppets at D23 (September 17, 2009)The Muppet Mindset - D23 Update: Special Muppets Presentation (September 13, 2009)
* The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! (later set aside in favor of The Muppets)
* A Muppet Halloween special for Halloween 2010 (later postponed,With new merch & a new movie in the pipeline, there's no stopping the Muppets now Jim Hill Media (April 29, 2010) then cancelled).
* An online cooking show with Cat Cora for Fall 2009 (later released Fall 2010)
* More viral Muppet videos for 2010
* Updates to Muppet*Vision 3D and Muppet Mobile Lab, plus the creation of a mobile unit for The Electric Mayhem for the Disney parks (the Muppet*Vision updates and Mayhem unit did not occur)
* Expansion and updates to The Muppet Whatnot Workshop, including new Whatnot parts and workshops in the Disney parks (expansion into the Disney parks did not occur)
* The Muppets Revisited album coming in 2010 (later retitled The Green Album and released in 2011)
* The Muppet Show: Season Four and Studio DC: Almost Live on DVD in 2010 (the former was never released, though Studio DC would see an "extended edition" release in Germany)
* A From the Balcony book by Statler and Waldorf (the book was never produced)
* The "Green and Lovin' It" line of products at the Disney Store
* Steiff plush dolls
* Vinylmation figures
* Pook-a-Looz dolls
* Muppet Halloween costumes
* New Muppet iPhone Apps and Mobile Comics (these were not released)
* Television appearances on upcoming episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", "America's Funniest Home Videos", "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon", and ABC's "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade"
* Kermit at the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
* Collaboration with Andrea Bocelli on Bocelli's Christmas album My Christmas, and on Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas
After the presentation, everyone in attendance received a Muppet Myzos bracelet and could wait in line to meet Fozzie, Gonzo, and Pepe, and have their pictures taken with them.
Image:Iphone-gonzo.jpg|Promotional slides for iPhone Apps that were planned at the time, but never produced; Gonzo Grams...
Image:Iphone-pepe.jpg|... Pepe's Love Meter...
Image:Iphone-statlerwaldorf.jpg|... and Statler and Waldorf Theatre.
Image:Samd23.jpg|Sam addresses the attendees. 
Image:D23table1.jpg|Gonzo, Fozzie, and Pepe...
Image:D23pepelaughs.jpg|...meeting fans after the presentation.
===Around the show floor===
Displays on the show floor offered glimpses of upcoming Muppet merchandise as well as some Muppet memorabilia.
Image:D23-MuppetComics.jpg|BOOM! Studios booth at the 2009 Expo
Image:D23-Jim-Muppets-MegaPainting01.jpg|Jim Henson & The Muppets painting by Paul Madden at the 2009 Expo
Image:D23-MML-Presentation.jpg|Muppet Mobile Lab display in the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts pavilion at the 2009 Expo
Image:D23-MML-SignedPortrait.jpg|Signed Muppet Mobile Lab portrait at the 2009 Expo
Image:D23-VinylmationDisplay.jpg|Vinylmation display at the 2009 Expo
Image:D23-eFX-Kermit-And-Rizzo.jpg|eFX Inc. display at the 2009 Expo
Image:Pookalooz1.jpg|Pook-a-Looz display at the 2009 Expo
Image:D23-Macy'sGlamorama.jpg|Macy's Glamorama display at the 2009 Expo
Image:D23-MuppetMayhem.jpg|Electric Mayhem giclées at the 2009 Expo
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Live Appearances
Category:D23
Category:The Muppets (2011) Promotion