Disney recently looked back at the memorable—and often totally hilarious—times that Steve Martin joined the world of Disney… and there’s been quite a few! Check your favorite streaming device and enjoy a fun marathon. (Except for Only Murders…, all these titles are available on Disney+.)
The Muppet Show (Season 2 Episode 8) (1977)
In this episode of the beloved series, Kermit (voiced by Disney Legend Jim Henson) cancels the show in order to audition new acts. Guest star Martin, then known primarily as a stand-up comic, is initially angry—but he still goes on to perform for the cast. Meanwhile, Fozzie (voiced by Frank Oz) worries that Kermit plans to hire replacements, especially after the audition of a new canine comedian, Baskerville the Hound.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Keeping in the Muppets vein, Martin makes a cameo appearance in their big-screen debut—which follows the troupe as they wind their way to Hollywood in hopes of landing a talent contract, all while evading the dastardly Doc Hopper (Charles Durning). Martin portrays a very annoyed waiter at a restaurant visited by Kermit and Miss Piggy (voiced by Frank Oz).
Father of the Bride (1991)
Martin stars in this film as George Banks (no relation to the overworked father in Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins), a befuddled dad who has a hard time letting go of his young daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) when she unexpectedly announces her plans to wed fiancé Bryan (George Newbern). Based on the 1950 film starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, this version also features Diane Keaton and Martin’s future Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short.
Father of the Bride Part II (1995)
In the sequel to the ’91 film, George and wife Nina (Keaton) are ready to be empty nesters—with Annie (Williams-Paisley) now married for several years and their younger son Matty (Kieran Culkin) also out of the house. But shenanigans ensue when the family discovers not only is Annie pregnant… but surprisingly, Nina is too! Is George ready to be a grandparent and the dad to a newborn at the same time?
The Simpsons (Season 9 Episode 22 “Trash of the Titans”) (1998)
Homer’s (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) misbehavior gets the family’s garbage collection cut off—so Marge (voiced by Julie Kavner) writes an apology to the garbagemen on Homer’s behalf. Angered at Marge’s decision, Homer decides to take on sanitation commissioner Ray Patterson (voiced by guest star Martin) in an upcoming election—and wins his seat with a campaign that, naturally, promises a lot more than it can deliver…
Fantasia 2000 (2000)
Seven new musical selections, and one returning favorite, are featured in this contemporary update of Disney’s animated classic. A new generation of Walt Disney Animation Studios animators blended traditional animation with modern techniques—creating a whole new take on the glorious 1940 masterpiece. Martin helps (hilariously) introduce the film, as well as acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman. We especially enjoy the film’s George Gershwin/“Rhapsody in Blue” segment.
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Inspired by the semi-autobiographical book by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, which also inspired the original 1950 film starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, Cheaper by the Dozen stars Martin and Bonnie Hunt as Tom and Kate Baker, middle-aged parents to a family of 12 children. When both parents decide to pursue more demanding jobs—he as a football coach at his alma mater; she as an author—they discover that big families and big careers don’t easily mix.
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
Two years after the events of the first film, Tom feels like his large family is starting to go their separate ways—so he persuades them to take one last big summer vacation at Lake Winnetka together… only it turns into a huge competition with the overachieving clan of Tom’s biggest rival, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy).
The Big Year (2011)
In birding, a “Big Year” is seeing or hearing as many different species of birds as possible in a calendar year. In this 2011 film, based on the nonfiction book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik, three men pursue the Birder of the Year title: Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson), who’s seen a record 732 in a past “Big Year”; Stu Preissler (Martin), a successful CEO who’s ready to retire; and computer programmer Brad Harris (Jack Black), who narrates the story. They travel the continent, following migration patterns—and adventures, no doubt, ensue.
Only Murders in the Building (2021-)
The first two seasons of the critically acclaimed Hulu series (created by Martin and John Hoffman) are available for streaming… and highly recommended. Three strangers (Martin, Short, and Gomez) find that they share an obsession with true crime—and also suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one! When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. But perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late
