Muppets to Appear at Academy Awards

The Muppets are going to the Academy Awards.

Although the Oscar producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer have decided not to include onstage performances of the two nominated songs, including "Man or Muppet," they have booked the Muppets to be presenters on the show, ABC and the Academy announced on Friday.

But the new Muppet Walter, who sings the Bret McKenzie song "Man or Muppet" with Jason Segel, was shorted again: According to the press release, the Muppets power couple of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will handle the Oscar presenting duties.

The decision to omit the nominated songs from the Oscar show had led to an online petition to let the Muppets participate. As of Friday, the petition had received more than 62,000 signatures.