While I won’t be doing any cartwheels this morning after reading this weekend’s box-office numbers, I can still hold my head high since Kermit & Co. did a very respectable job competing against the hormonal frenzy of teenagers the world over who swoon indelicately over Robert Pattinson.

So, yes, it’s true: Miss Piggy, Kermit and the rest of the Muppets placed second behind the never-ending (or at least it feels that way) saga of teen angst that calls itself the ‘Twilight’ series, earning $29.5 million to last week’s top earner’s $42 million in its second week. Not entirely surprising, but then again (if one believes in miracles this time of year) it would have been nice to see the triumph of substance over style. Just once I want a bunch of puppets to show up the manufactured sex appeal of a studio engineered teen pinup . . . just once! Ah well . . .

The number three slot belonged to Happy Feet Two, featuring the voices of Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. Earning $13.4 million, it continues to underperform given the popularity of the original with both audiences and critics. Maybe they’ll do us a favor and spare us the inevitable third installment. Then again, probably not. After all, Hollywood is already gearing up a sequel to the mega-bomb Green Lantern. Yup. I kid you not.

Fourth place went to Sony’s Arthur Christmas, a movie which earned strong reviews and which should enjoy longevity at the box-office throughout the season. Opening with $12.7 million, it should expand its haul as it opens in a larger number of theaters throughout the nation this week.

The weekend’s top ten releases from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday were as follows:

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – $62.3 million ($221.3 million)

2. The Muppets – $42 million

3. Happy Feet Two – $18.3 million ($43.8 million)

4. Arthur Christmas – $17 million

5. Hugo – $15.4 million

6. Jack & Jill – $14.1 million ($57.4 million)

7. Immortals – $12.6 million ($68.6 million)

8. Puss In Boots – $10.3 million ($135.3 million)

9. Tower Heist – $10.2 million ($65.3 million)

10. The Descendants – $9.2 million ($10.7 million)