MUPPETS MOST HAUNTED

FOR ALL THEIR RAINBOW connections, there’s always been a delicious shudder of spookiness to the Muppets. The Muppet Theatre itself boasted a legit Phantom – a tribute to horror film icon John Carradine, no less – while digit-obsessed fiend the Count brought a touch of Transylvania to the utopian zipcode of Sesame Street.

New Halloween special Muppets Haunted Mansion goes further, hurling Jim Henson’s creations into Disney’s legendary dark ride, the ghoul-infested spot of real estate that’s a cornerstone attraction of their theme parks. It’s the kind of brand-splicing corporate synergy that only a multi-million dollar acquisition can buy – the House of Mouse bagged the Muppets lock, stock and felt flipper in 2004.

“The Haunted Mansion is so beloved and so are the Muppets,” says Leigh Slaughter, Vice President of The Muppets Studio and Characters Strategy at Disney Live Entertainment. “We tried, as much as we possibly could, to honour both. We want to make