Kristen Schaal Reveals Inspiration to Move to New York: The Muppets (Video)

After more than half a century in the business, the Muppets are bound to have inspired a few Hollywood notables.

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The Muppets star, co-writer and co-executive producer Jason Segel stands out among even the most rabid Jim Henson fans, working tirelessly to bring the beloved characters back to the big screen with Disney. For the film, Segel recruited fellow fans (and a few new converts) to fill the screen with star-studded cameos. Among them: Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, Alan Arkin, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Emily Blunt, Modern Family’s Rico Rodriguez and Daily Show comedienne, Kristen Schaal.

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The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Schaal on the red carpet of the film’s premiere, where she gushed about reuniting with director James Bobin. The two previously worked together on HBO’s short-lived Flight of the Concords.

“It was the best,” she said. “I really think James is such a genius and it was so good to be back… I feel really good working with him.”

The actress also revealed a longtime love for Kermit and Gonzo, admitting that the 1984 film The Muppets Take Manhattan inspired her to pursue a life in the big apple.

“The Muppets Take Manhattan was my favorite movie growing up,” she said. “It was why I wanted to move to New York to do some shows with my college friends.”

THR also spoke with Rodriguez, who only recently discovered the Muppets magic. The actor confessed that Miss Piggy is his favorite of the Muppets, though he’s “pretty afraid of her, too.”