# 2 Muppet Show questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524 "2005-04-09T04:45:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/21 "2005-04-10T01:57:19Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > If you want to damn your soul to hell for enjoying something evil, you may want to watch “Meet the Feebles”. It is an early film by Peter Jackson and it is loosely based on the muppet show. > > This one film has more violence than all three of the LotRs movies combined. I’ve heard of that movie and have thought of renting it from time to time. I’ve heard it described as the Muppets on crack, and similar descriptions. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/22 "2005-04-10T02:17:46Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > Ah, they were retired performers were they? I didn’t know/remember that. …um sure…that’s it…yeah, that’s the answer…of course it is… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/23 "2005-04-10T03:06:41Z")
One of the only details I can remember in S&W’s backstory is that Statler is a _Titanic_ survivor. It wasn’t funny then, and it’s not funny now. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/24 "2005-04-11T00:11:25Z")
No way. If he can’t even get through a half-hour of vaudeville, how the heck did he manage to survive a 3:15 hour Leonardo diCaprio movie? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/25 "2005-04-11T01:20:32Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > As for the OP, I think the questions are flawed: > > 1. How can a frog talk? > 2. How come a pig is about the same size as a frog? > 3. Where did Jean Stapleton learn Mock Swedish? Jean took a correspondence course in Mock Swedish, but did not know any Mock Japanese… ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/26 "2005-04-11T06:56:13Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > . . . did not know any Mock Japanese… Bob Hope had to cut short his appearance on _The Muppet Show_ because he was double-booked that night. He explained that he had to perform at a benefit for the Retired Japanese Pole-Vaulters. [_Bob Hope_] These guys have been over more bars than Dean Martin’s elbow. [/_Bob Hope_] ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/27 "2005-04-11T07:46:59Z")
While Kermit appeared to be a wacky fun loving emcee for the show, the reality was much darker. The following are portions from Inside The Muppet Show: Anything For a Laugh by Beeker. Miss Piggy: “Kermit was power mad. Everything had to be his way and he controlled all the cash. We were raking it in but we never saw any of it. I really did not like Kermit. I did that “Oh Kermie” stuff just to keep the truffles rolling in. Keeping myself jacked on truffles was the only way I could keep going out there and performing every week.” Animal: “Kermit kept me hopped up on Jolt. Ya know that cola with like all that caffeine. Before every show he’d make me drink a full case of the stuff. I was so hyper I’d just about explode. Then once the show was over it was back down to the basement with the whole cast except for Miss Piggy who would go up to Kermit’s suite. Man, she would do anything to keep the truffles coming in. One time at a cast party she (portion removed due to offensive material. Ed). Just for a truffle. When the show was over we were penniless because Kermit spent all the money on flies, truffles and lily pads. Who in the hell needs 9000 lily pads? You couldn’t even walk into his room there were so many damned lily pads” Fozzie: “Did you think I wrote that trash? Kermit made me read all those horrid jokes because he was jealous. I am way funnier than he will ever be and he couldn’t stand it.” Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street: “I only went to The Muppet Show once. After the show I went to the performers ‘living area’. It was basically a dungeon. The whole cast was jammed into the basement sharing one bathroom. It was disgusting. Dirt everywhere. I went to talk to Kermit about it and he just laughed. I asked him why he didn’t clean up the place and give the actors some respect. I told him it wouldn’t cost that much and he just went nuts. He got Animal, who was jacked to the roof, to ‘escort’ me out.” The book is available at fine book stores everywhere. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/28 "2005-04-11T12:57:14Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > some cast members who were real pigs about those things Hiiii-YA! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/29 "2005-04-11T14:08:53Z")
Did Ernie and Kermit ever appear in the same skit on Seasame Street? Is Fozzie really Bert in a bear costume? ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/30 "2005-04-12T01:59:53Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Did Ernie and Kermit ever appear in the same skit on Seasame Street? > > Is Fozzie really Bert in a bear costume? Well, if you want to talk about different characters with the same voice, compare the muppet news flash guy with Statler…or is it Waldoorf. Whichever one Jim Henson did. And Rowlf’s voice is pretty much indistinguishable from DR. Teeth. And The guy who hits those little round muppets sounds just like Miss Piggy. And Sam sounds like a lower voiced Fozzy. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/31 "2005-04-12T02:01:29Z")
Oops, Waldorf that is. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/32 "2005-04-12T02:10:10Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > And The guy who hits those little round muppets. Marvin Suggs and his Muppaphone. But Marvin is Italian. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/33 "2005-04-12T02:13:04Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Marvin Suggs and his Muppaphone. > > But Marvin is Italian. Yes, and he sounds like Miss Piggy with an italian accent. ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/34 "2005-04-12T05:18:40Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > 1. Scooter’s uncle owns the theater. How come Kermit is in charge instead of Scooter? Scooter was not part of the first few episodes of the muppet show. He was hired in episode 6 of season 1 (Jim Naboors) as a gopher, as in ‘go fer coffee’. He only got the job because his uncle owned the theatre (as you’ve mentioned). In episode 8 of that season, he did try to throw his weight around, or, more correctly, his uncle did via Scooter, trying to get the show renamed “The Muppy Show” after his uncles favourite pet, and also giving Muppy an act - Simon Smith and his amazing dancing dog. Unfortunately, Muppy falls asleep or wanders off (or something, I forget the detail), and so Fozzie steps in. Simon Smith and his amazing dancing bear appeared on the first muppet show cast album. > [@Master Control](#): > > 1. The audience could get tickets for free. Where did Kermit get the money to pay the performers? Scooter’s uncle? They never mentioned any sponsers that I can remember. As others have mentioned in this thread, I don’t recall anything about the audience getting in for free, although Statler and Waldorf do get in free - as to why the always go there, I guess we’ll never know. However, as exhibited in A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the muppets did struggle for funds to pay for the theatre. The Great Muppet Caper shows us that they don’t spend a great deal on accomodation, choosing the Happiness Hotel’s option c) for payment (sneak out in the middle of the night). However, by the time of Muppets from space, they seem to have aquired some property, and all live together in the same house. One can assume that this increase in wealth stems from Kermit being “discovered” in the swamp by a Holywood agent, as depicted in The Muppet Movie. Following their success in Holywood (which presumably provided the TV syndication and funding of The Muppet Show), The Muppets graduated from College, and headed for Broadway (The Muppets Take Manhatten), again, finding success. One can also assume that some funds were generated by advertising opportunities - Doc Hopper cannot have been the last to see the potential of Kermit to advertise their products. Combined with their many albums and merchandising opportunities, I’d imagine that they aquired quite a nest egg, although how they blew it all (hence the financial difficulties in A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie), I don’t know. Failing that, they could always use Animal as a standover guy. ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/35 "2005-04-12T05:28:06Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > As for the OP, I think the questions are flawed: > > 1. How can a frog talk? > 2. How come a pig is about the same size as a frog? > 3. Where did Jean Stapleton learn Mock Swedish? No, no, no. The real question that has baffled mankind throughout the ages is “Can the frog tap dance?” ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/36 "2005-04-12T05:40:09Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Did Ernie and Kermit ever appear in the same skit on Seasame Street? I don’t know about on Seasame Street, but they did appear together on The Muppet Show. The Marty Feldman episode, I think - they did a closing number with a whole bunch of SS Muppets guest appearing. Bert & Ernie were introduced by Kermit in the Connie Stevens episode too, but I don’t remember if they appeared together or not, and I don’t have that episode on DVD… ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/37 "2005-04-12T05:42:48Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > Well, if you want to talk about different characters with the same voice, compare the muppet news flash guy with Statler…or is it Waldoorf. Whichever one Jim Henson did. And Rowlf’s voice is pretty much indistinguishable from DR. Teeth. And The guy who hits those little round muppets sounds just like Miss Piggy. And Sam sounds like a lower voiced Fozzy. And the newsreader sounds quite a lot like Link Hogthrob… But they did do occasional scenes with the same muppeteer’s characters. For example the bar sceen with Rowlf and Kermit in The Muppet Movie. (Both Jim Henson characters…) If I recall, the way they did it was they would get someone else to move the muppet, and then the regular muppeteer would do the voice - either live or dubbed later. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/38 "2005-04-12T06:09:07Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Marvin Suggs and his Muppaphone. . . . and now: _Lady of Spain_! ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/39 "2005-04-12T06:10:18Z")
> [@robinc308](#): > > The real question that has baffled mankind throughout the ages is “Can the frog tap dance?” And, of course, the answer is . . . hit it! ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524/40 "2005-04-12T07:26:39Z")
> [@robinc308](#): > > As others have mentioned in this thread, I don’t recall anything about the audience getting in for free, although Statler and Waldorf do get in free - as to why the always go there, I guess we’ll never know. In the episode with Steve Martin, when they tell him that the show is canceled because it’s their night to try new acts, he stays and tries out some acts anyway. During either his juggling act or his balloon animal act, he asks Kermit how much the audience paid, and Kermit says that they got in for free. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-muppet-show-questions/298524.md?page=3)