Tap Dancing Spud

Tap Dancing Spud is a 2003 American romantic-stop motion musical film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. It stars Nick Kroll as a Arthur and Sally Rooney as Abby who meet and fall in love in New York while pursuing their dreams.

Tap Dancing Spud was Ronald Erickson's final film as he died two years later, in November, 2005

Plot
Sibling Megan and Abby, residents of Smalltown, California are fans of the Muppets, having watched The Book of Pooh, Wimzie's House, Bear in the Big Blue House, Bob the Builder, Between the Lions, and The Wubbulous World of Dr. Suess  throughout their youth. Now adults, Abby plans a vacation to Time Square, New York City with her boyfriend, Arthur to celebrate their tenth anniversary, inviting Megan so he can tour the Muppet Studios. Author feels Abby's devotion to Megan is distracting from their relationship.

In New York City, the three visit the abandoned Muppet Studios. During the tour, Walter sneaks into Kermit's office and discovers Statler and Waldorf selling the Muppet Theater to oil magnate Tex Richman and his henchmen Bobo the Bear and Uncle Deadly. After Statler and Waldorf leave, Walter overhears Richman reveal his plan to destroy the theater and drill for oil underneath. Walter explains to Abby and Arthur that if the Muppets can raise $10 million by the time their original contract expires, they can repurchase the theater.

Agreeing to stop Richman, they find Spud The Scarecrow and inform him he must organize a telethon to raise the money, which appears difficult since the Muppets have gone their separate ways since the show ended its run. Convinced to try, Kermit sets off with the three to reunite the group. Kermit attempts to dissuade J.J. (Bob the Builder), Molly (Bob the Builder),  from continuing to perform in Reno, Nevada with the Moopets, a tribute group of uncouth Muppet impersonators. Meanwhile, Gonzo has become a plumbing magnate and, despite his initial objection, destroys his business and joins them. Animal is recovered from a celebrity anger-management clinic, before being instructed by his sponsor Jack Black to keep away from drums. The other primary Muppets rejoin through a montage. Later in Paris, the group finds Miss Piggy working as an editor for "plus-sized" fashion at Vogue Paris. Having failed to convince Jane Kangaroo and Junior Kangaroo to return, the group replaces her with Moopet counterpart Miss Poogy.

The Muppets return to Los Angeles and rebuild the theater while dancing to "We Built This City". They pitch their telethon idea to several television networks, but are rejected. Following a show's cancellation, CDE executive Veronica gives the Muppets a recently vacated two-hour slot in the network's schedule, on the condition that they find a celebrity guest. However, the Muppets' first rehearsal is unsuccessful and Kermit is unable to contact a celebrity guest. Piggy returns, forces Poogy out, and informs Kermit that she refuses to work with him. Kermit inspires Walter to find his talent and perform in the telethon. Meanwhile, Mary goes sightseeing alone.

Kermit entreats Richman to return their studio. Richman declines and reveals that the Muppets will also lose their trademark names, which he plans to entitle to the Moopets. Piggy then enlists the remaining Muppets to kidnap Black as a celebrity guest. Meanwhile, after discovering that a devastated Mary has returned to Smalltown, Gary realizes that he must improve his relationship with Mary and follows her back home to reconcile. The telethon begins and gradually attracts a large audience, with the Muppets raising donations with support from celebrity callers and a kidnapped Jack Black serving unwillingly as host. During the show, Richman cuts the theater's power supply, but Gary and Mary return to Los Angeles and restore the power. Richman then attempts to destroy the theater's television transmitter, but a regretful Uncle Deadly stops Richman. Kermit and Miss Piggy finally reconcile and the Muppets perform "Rainbow Connection" as their final act.

However, the telethon runs short as the $10 million has yet to be collected. Having found his talent, Walter performs a whistling act, which is unanimously praised by the audience. Refusing to lose, Richman disables the telephone lines and evicts the Muppets from the theater, after the latter fall short of their monetary goal. Kermit gathers the group in the lobby and delivers a speech, suggesting that they will restart their career together as a family. Exiting the theater, the Muppets are greeted by a vast gathering of supporters on Hollywood Boulevard. With Gary's encouragement, Walter greets the crowd and is accepted by the Muppets as their newest member.

During the credits, Gary proposes to Mary, Richman returns the theater and naming rights to the Muppets after Gonzo accidentally causes him a head injury, and Kermit and Miss Piggy enjoy their private life.

Cast

 * Jason Segel as Arthur
 * Amy Adams as Mary