# Interesting Article About the Muppets' Swedish Chef
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 28, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922 "2012-08-28T13:54:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/21 "2012-08-28T19:08:51Z")
And Kermit? He’s not really French.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/22 "2012-08-28T19:19:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> It’s my understanding that Norwegians don’t actually eat lutefisk at all, and that the substance exists only so that Norwegians can laugh at how gullible drunk foreigners are for trying it.
Even people who like it don’t like it. I remember seeing a Minnesota woman being interviewed about lutefisk on TV during the Christmas holidays, and she said, “Well, when I was a kid they told me it was tradition, so I would eat it, but I could only eat about a teaspoon. Now that I’m an adult, I can eat a whole tablespoon.”
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/23 "2012-08-28T19:58:57Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#):
>
> For what it’s worth, this Norwegian can’t understand a damned word he says. He also acts like he has a habit of visiting the wine cellar maybe a bit too often. Both of which clearly conspire to mean that he’s neither Swedish nor Norwegian, but Danish.
He is, in fact, [Japanese](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iljHvsGWPkE).
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### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/24 "2012-08-28T21:30:09Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#):
>
> Great. Now what I really want to know: What do chickens think of Gonzo? How do frogs feel about Kermit? Pigs about Ms. Piggy? Comedians about Fozzy Bear?
How very inappropriate of you to ask how police about Ms. Piggy and the how the French feel about Kermit.
😛
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### Author:  [@Tblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tblue)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/25 "2012-08-28T22:46:43Z")
> [@Diceman](#):
>
> Didn’t they eventually decide that Gonzo was an alien? 😉
They decided he was a “Weirdo”, I believe? 😃 (pretty sure that’s true - am an ardent Muppet fan.)
Just don’t ask me how I feel about a Corporation replacing Jim Henson’s name with their own, and people will remain mentally intact with no borking. Which makes me wonder something else…
I don’t know if it’s a local (read: New Zealand) colloquialism, or not, but to bork something up means to make a mess of it. At least, among me and my friends. I think I’ve heard it used by others as well.
It’s only just now occurred to me that this stems directly from the Muppet Show! Anyone else used that phrase or heard it themselves?
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### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/26 "2012-08-28T22:57:46Z")
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Aha! A very useful stereotype is uncovered. Danes are drunks. I’ve also heard it said that Danish pronunciation is extremely difficult to understand. Perhaps the two are connected.
[Scandinavia and the World](http://satwcomic.com/porn-for-everybody)
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### Author:  [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/27 "2012-08-28T23:06:49Z")
Is it spelled Bork? Is there standardized gibberish?
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/28 "2012-08-28T23:28:14Z")
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Aha! A very useful stereotype is uncovered. Danes are drunks.
All Scandinavians are drunks. Danes just own up to it.
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### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/29 "2012-08-29T00:06:15Z")
> [@Diceman](#):
>
> Didn’t they eventually decide that Gonzo was an alien? 😉
He was labeled as a “Whatever” on one occasion.
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/30 "2012-08-29T00:34:03Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#):
>
> For what it’s worth, this Norwegian can’t understand a damned word he says. He also acts like he has a habit of visiting the wine cellar maybe a bit too often. Both of which clearly conspire to mean that he’s neither Swedish nor Norwegian, but Danish.
But he doesn’t sound like he has a mouth full of mashed potatoes, so he can’t be Danish. :dubious:
😃
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### Author:  [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/31 "2012-08-29T04:34:16Z")
> [@aruvqan](#):
>
> But he doesn’t sound like he has a mouth full of mashed potatoes, so he can’t be Danish. :dubious:
Don’t the Germans say that it’s Americans who speak with _Kartoffelmund_?
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/32 "2012-08-29T06:56:33Z")
Maybe he is Icelandic?
Bjork! Bjork! Bjork!
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### Author:  [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/33 "2012-08-29T08:59:10Z")
> [@Diceman](#):
>
> Didn’t they eventually decide that Gonzo was an alien? 😉
> [@Tblue](#):
>
> They decided he was a “Weirdo”, I believe? 😃 (pretty sure that’s true - am an ardent Muppet fan.)
> [@JKellyMap](#):
>
> He was labeled as a “Whatever” on one occasion.
Unfortunately, **Diceman** is correct.
Gonzo had always, had _always_, been a Whatever.
This was an entirely satisfactoy explanation for both fans and for Gonzo himself until . . .
the absolute _worst_ of all theatrically released Muppet movies, the execrable _Muppets From Space_. The entire plot of this movie was that Gonzo was depressed that he didn’t know what he was. He finds out he is an alien when Earth is once again visited by aliens of Gonzo’s race. Everyone gets along very well and Gonzo is happy and all is right with the world.
Except all wasn’t right with the world because this movie sucked and it cheapened one of the all time greatest Muppet characters by demystifying him in the lamest way imaginable.
Still, as it was an official theatrically released Muppet movie, I’m afraid we have to accept it as canon.
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### Author:  [@Tblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tblue)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/34 "2012-08-29T09:40:58Z")
Gah! So he was. I totally forgot about that one. (I guess my fandom is mostly from/for the tv series. I… haven’t even seen the latest movie!)
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/35 "2012-08-29T10:24:09Z")
> [@SCAdian](#):
>
> Don’t the Germans say that it’s Americans who speak with _Kartoffelmund_?
No idea, but the EVE Online corp I hang with in 0.0 is mainly scandanavians leavened with a couple South Africans, a finn, a couple of good old boy rednecks from Biloxi Mississippi [hope they are safe today] and little old me.
I regularly hear the Norwegian and the Dane joke arguing with each other to stop singing or to swallow before speaking.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/36 "2012-08-29T17:09:27Z")
> [@bienville](#):
>
> Except all wasn’t right with the world because this movie sucked and it cheapened one of the all time greatest Muppet characters by demystifying him in the lamest way imaginable.
Name something that movie didn’t cheapen in the lamest way imaginable. I almost can’t stand to look up into space anymore.
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### Author:  [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/37 "2012-08-29T21:04:47Z")
> [@Floater](#):
>
> This was news to me. I have never heard before that we would regard him as Norwegian (and definitely not Swedish).
> [@Floater](#):
>
> Even though we’re not unfamiliar with the expression we are not offended by it as it has no relevance to us.
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> The OP links to an entire article in which Swedish people are quoted as saying that they are annoyed when people keep asking them about the Swedish Chef. Now, that might not be your personal experience, but are you purporting to speak for the entirety of Swede-dom?
> [@Floater](#):
>
> I am not, but the Swedish chef is a definite non-issue in Sweden, although perhaps not among Swedish expats who are being bugged about him all the time by non-Swedes.
I’m Swedish and with Floater on this one. Never heard about the Norway thing, and haven’t met anybody IRL since the eighties who ever mentioned The Swedish Chef.
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### Author:  [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/38 "2012-08-29T23:52:01Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#):
>
> In **[Jim Henson: The Works](http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Henson-Works-Magic-Imagination/dp/0679412034/)**, someone (probably either his son Brian or wife Cheryl, I’ll have to check) mentions that in the pre- **Sesame Street** days, Jim loved riding around in his convertible **listening to a tape on how to speak “mock Swedish”.**
Where the hell would one get such a thing? Why would one get such a thing? Who would make such a thing? You’ve raised so many more questions than you’ve answered. 🙂
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### Author:  [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/39 "2012-08-30T01:02:53Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#):
>
> Great. Now what I really want to know: What do chickens think of Gonzo? How do frogs feel about Kermit? Pigs about Ms. Piggy? Comedians about Fozzy Bear?
>
> 😃
Drummers love Animal, they think he is a complement…😉
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-article-about-the-muppets-swedish-chef/632922/40 "2012-08-30T01:35:42Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#):
>
> In **[Jim Henson: The Works](http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Henson-Works-Magic-Imagination/dp/0679412034/)**, someone (probably either his son Brian or wife Cheryl, I’ll have to check)
Cheryl is his daughter. His wife was Jane.
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