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fandomhigh_ooc2010-02-07 12:40 pm
robinthefrog.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh_ooc2010-02-07 12:40 pm
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Spotlight on Fandoms: The Muppets
Or, WTF, Talking Frog?!
What are the Muppets?
The simple answer is that the Muppets are puppets, originally invented by Jim Henson. Jim Henson once said that he created the word muppet as a combination of the words puppet and marionette. But he also said that he just liked the sound of the word.
The Muppets originally appeared on a public access show Jim created called Sam and Friends in 1955. Since then they have appeared everywhere. Television commercials, specials, cd's, Saturday Night Live, movies, even a galaxy far, far away.
For the purpose of this spotlight I will be focusing on the primary source for Robin's canon, The Muppet Show, and the characters introduced therein. (Though I have included in his in game journals events from some of the specials.)
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show ran for 5 years starting in 1967. It showed us both the onstage, and backstage lives, trials and tribulations of a bunch of show business misfits. The conceit was that it was a comedy variety show with celebrity guests. And things very rarely went according to plan.
The show was produced in England because when it first started, no one in America was interested in an adult show (yes, adult) about puppets. The first season the only guest stars they could get were people Jim already knew, or were probably more famous in England than America.
It's time to meet the Muppets:
The Muppet Show had a huge cast of wacky characters. If I wind up missing one of your favorites, I apologize.
Kermit the Frog: The Fearless Leader. The guy in the middle of the insanity trying to make it all work. Performed originally by Jim Henson.
Fozzie Bear: An inept (or possibly brilliant?) stand up comedian, and Kermit's bff. Originally performed by Frank Oz.
Miss Piggy: The ultimate Diva. In love with herself, and Kermit. Originally performed by Frank Oz and Richard Hunt, later, just Frank.
The Great Gonzo: A weirdo. It's possible that is his species. (Though there were plenty of Muppets of indeterminate species.) Either more insane than the others, or a genius ahead of his time. A performance artist who even manages to make the other Muppets go 'buh?' Performed by Dave Goelz.
Rowlf the Dog: A piano player with a smart mouth. Originally performed by Jim Henson.
The Swedish Chef: Had a regular cooking segment on the show, but I'm not sure he ever managed to finish a single dish. Originally Performed by Jim Henson.
Statler and Waldorf: Fozzie's arch nemeses. They sat in the balcony and heckled everyone, but Fozzie in particular. Originally performed by Richard Hunt and Jim Henson respectively.
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Band: The Muppet Show's resident rockers. Dr. Teeth (Jim Henson)- Vocals and Keyboard, Floyd Pepper (Jerry Nelson)- Vocals and Bass, Zoot (Dave Goelz)- Saxophone, Janice (Eren Ozker then Richard Hunt)- Guitar, and of course, Animal (Frank Oz)- DRUMS!
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker: An inventor and his long suffering assistant. Even when his inventions work, things go horribly horribly wrong for at least one of them. Originally performed by Dave Goelz and Richard Hunt.
Scooter- Kermit's assistant. Be nice, his uncle owns the theater. Originally performed by Richard Hunt.
Sweetums- The big scary looking monster guy with a heart of gold. Originally performed by Richard Hunt.
Sam the Eagle- A bald eagle, Sam tries, and mostly fails, to keep the others on the straight and narrow. Well, the straight and narrow as he sees it. Originally performed by Frank Oz.
Why should we watch?
I'm hoping the clips speak for themselves. But this show is the reason I know many classic songs and poems. I can recite the Jabberwocky because of this show. And though this show was originally intended for adults, it's safe for kids. As I get older I'll re-watch some of this and get stuff that I didn't before. Then there's the great guest stars! Alice Cooper! Roger Moore! Julie Andrews! Harry Belefonte! Luke Skywalker! For Reals!
Clips!
Muppet Show Intro
Vincent Price sings You've Got a Friend- The act that has been left off of the episode when it was released on VHS and DVD.
Luke Skywalker hijacks the Swine Trek
Guest Stars Galore!
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem
The Swedish Chef in one of my favorite clips.
Rowlf and Piggy
Fraggle Rock
Seseame Street- Cookie Monster
Original Muppet Movie trailer
The Muppet Christmas Carol Trailer in Norwegian.
Pepe the Prawn- The best of the new generation.
Kermit and Robin meet The Fraggles
Where can I find it?
The first three seasons of the show are available on DVD and can be found in most places you can get DVDs. There's also lots of collections available on VHS. As are all the Muppet movies. The specials might take some looking though.
And so, as Grover once said;
"And there you have it!"
What are the Muppets?
The simple answer is that the Muppets are puppets, originally invented by Jim Henson. Jim Henson once said that he created the word muppet as a combination of the words puppet and marionette. But he also said that he just liked the sound of the word.
The Muppets originally appeared on a public access show Jim created called Sam and Friends in 1955. Since then they have appeared everywhere. Television commercials, specials, cd's, Saturday Night Live, movies, even a galaxy far, far away.
For the purpose of this spotlight I will be focusing on the primary source for Robin's canon, The Muppet Show, and the characters introduced therein. (Though I have included in his in game journals events from some of the specials.)
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show ran for 5 years starting in 1967. It showed us both the onstage, and backstage lives, trials and tribulations of a bunch of show business misfits. The conceit was that it was a comedy variety show with celebrity guests. And things very rarely went according to plan.
The show was produced in England because when it first started, no one in America was interested in an adult show (yes, adult) about puppets. The first season the only guest stars they could get were people Jim already knew, or were probably more famous in England than America.
It's time to meet the Muppets:
The Muppet Show had a huge cast of wacky characters. If I wind up missing one of your favorites, I apologize.
Kermit the Frog: The Fearless Leader. The guy in the middle of the insanity trying to make it all work. Performed originally by Jim Henson.
Fozzie Bear: An inept (or possibly brilliant?) stand up comedian, and Kermit's bff. Originally performed by Frank Oz.
Miss Piggy: The ultimate Diva. In love with herself, and Kermit. Originally performed by Frank Oz and Richard Hunt, later, just Frank.
The Great Gonzo: A weirdo. It's possible that is his species. (Though there were plenty of Muppets of indeterminate species.) Either more insane than the others, or a genius ahead of his time. A performance artist who even manages to make the other Muppets go 'buh?' Performed by Dave Goelz.
Rowlf the Dog: A piano player with a smart mouth. Originally performed by Jim Henson.
The Swedish Chef: Had a regular cooking segment on the show, but I'm not sure he ever managed to finish a single dish. Originally Performed by Jim Henson.
Statler and Waldorf: Fozzie's arch nemeses. They sat in the balcony and heckled everyone, but Fozzie in particular. Originally performed by Richard Hunt and Jim Henson respectively.
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Band: The Muppet Show's resident rockers. Dr. Teeth (Jim Henson)- Vocals and Keyboard, Floyd Pepper (Jerry Nelson)- Vocals and Bass, Zoot (Dave Goelz)- Saxophone, Janice (Eren Ozker then Richard Hunt)- Guitar, and of course, Animal (Frank Oz)- DRUMS!
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker: An inventor and his long suffering assistant. Even when his inventions work, things go horribly horribly wrong for at least one of them. Originally performed by Dave Goelz and Richard Hunt.
Scooter- Kermit's assistant. Be nice, his uncle owns the theater. Originally performed by Richard Hunt.
Sweetums- The big scary looking monster guy with a heart of gold. Originally performed by Richard Hunt.
Sam the Eagle- A bald eagle, Sam tries, and mostly fails, to keep the others on the straight and narrow. Well, the straight and narrow as he sees it. Originally performed by Frank Oz.
Why should we watch?
I'm hoping the clips speak for themselves. But this show is the reason I know many classic songs and poems. I can recite the Jabberwocky because of this show. And though this show was originally intended for adults, it's safe for kids. As I get older I'll re-watch some of this and get stuff that I didn't before. Then there's the great guest stars! Alice Cooper! Roger Moore! Julie Andrews! Harry Belefonte! Luke Skywalker! For Reals!
Clips!
Muppet Show Intro
Vincent Price sings You've Got a Friend- The act that has been left off of the episode when it was released on VHS and DVD.
Luke Skywalker hijacks the Swine Trek
Guest Stars Galore!
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem
The Swedish Chef in one of my favorite clips.
Rowlf and Piggy
Fraggle Rock
Seseame Street- Cookie Monster
Original Muppet Movie trailer
The Muppet Christmas Carol Trailer in Norwegian.
Pepe the Prawn- The best of the new generation.
Kermit and Robin meet The Fraggles
Where can I find it?
The first three seasons of the show are available on DVD and can be found in most places you can get DVDs. There's also lots of collections available on VHS. As are all the Muppet movies. The specials might take some looking though.
And so, as Grover once said;
"And there you have it!"