‘The Muppets’: Kermit, Miss Piggy upstage Jason Segel, Amy Adams

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Usually, the main attraction at a big movie premiere are the celebrities. But at the premiere of ‘The Muppets’ in Hollywood on Saturday, a slew of puppets got the A-list treatment.

Before the film’s stars, Jason Segel and Amy Adams, even arrived, a group of Muppets — including Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo — were driven down the the appropriately green carpet in a Jeep. They were followed by Miss Piggy, who scored her own chauffeured ride — a sexier convertible.

‘In case anyone is wondering,’ a frenzied publicist told the press, ‘Miss Piggy was wearing Jeremy Scott and Louboutins.’

PHOTOS: ‘The Muppets’ Hollywood premiere

Yes, really. The Muppets were handled like such stars at the event that they almost seemed like actual celebrities. As Adams put it later to the press: ‘The magic of the Muppets is that you believe in them.’

Over the years, there have been numerous television programs and films including the famous puppets — most memorably 1984’s ‘The Muppets Take Manhattan.’

Segel, who co-wrote the new movie and been a Muppets fan since he was a child, said the time was right for a fresh take on the puppets because comedy has become too cynical.

‘People get a lot of laughs by making fun of people, and the Muppets never do that,’ he said. ‘I thought it was an important reminder just to be nice. That’s the message of the Muppets.’

The beauty of the Muppets lies in their simplicity, added Adams.

‘I think we’re a society that we’ve gotten overblown in all these special effects and all of that — which I love as well,’ said the actress, who will soon star as Lois Lane in the upcoming installment of the big-budget ‘Superman’ franchise. ‘But I think it’s nice to see these characters [with] their message of hope and belief.’

Meanwhile, if Segel is eager about how audiences will receive his version of ‘The Muppets,’ he was hiding it well.

‘You know, having seen the movie, I’m not nervous at all,’ he said confidently. ‘It’s a really beautiful film. And I haven’t seen anyone do anything but walk away smiling.’

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‘The Muppets’: Kermit the Frog commands Jason Segel’s respect

— Amy Kaufman
twitter.com/AmyKinLA