I was just watching “The Muppet Movie” again, and after all these years it still makes me smile, laugh, and boggle at how real they seemed. Jim Henson was truly one of the geniuses of our time.
What are your favorite memories of the Muppets? From the TV show and/or films?
Here are mine:
The opening scene of the Muppet Movie when Kermit is talking to Dom DeLouise, and he warns him about the alligators in the swamp. DeLouise says, “Alligators?! Did you say… alligators?” Kermit says, “Read my lips - al-ee-gay-tors.” And he scrunches up his lips (?) to mouth each syllable! Bwahah!
Next scene in the Muppet Movie when Kermit is riding a bicycle. I still remember seeing that in the theatre when I was a kid, and how all the adults oohed and ahhed, and wondered aloud how they did that.
The Muppet Show episode when the cast of Star Wars were the guest stars.
Muppet Show when John Cleese guest starred. He did this hilarious scene where he “helps” Gonzo even out his arms, and ends up pulling them out until they pile up like a hose!
Muppet Show with Harry Belafonte. He did a drum duel with Animal.
Muppet Show when Fozzie decided he wanted to try writing the script. He sends Kermit out on stage, who reads from a paper: “Hi ho, Kermit the Forg here…”, and Fozzie yells out “Typo!”
I’ve got lots more. Let’s hear your Muppet Memories!
On one of the “TV blooper” shows I once saw a clip of Fozzie on The Muppet Show in which his jaw joint got stuck open. Frank Oz ran with it, having Fozzie say, “Ah hink ah ath ih huck” (I think my mouth is stuck).
I’ve also always wondered – was Animal deliberately designed to look just like Mick Fleetwood?
Another great moment was in “The Great Muppet Caper” – the sequence during the opening credits. Fozzie looks at the names of some technicians and asks, “Does anyone read this?” Kermit replied, “Sure. They all have families.”
Lou Zealand and his Boomerang Fish Act.
Anything with the Swedish Chef. Bork, Bork, Bork. (BTW, go to http://www.google.com/preferences and set the language to “bork, bork, bork” just for fun).
Gonzo spends an entire episode of the Muppet Show pestering Kermit to let him go on stage with his rock act. Eventually, another act cancels, and Kermit tells Gonzo to go ahead with said rock act.
Curtain opens on Gonzo, and an enormous rock. Which Gonzo then proceeds to whack repeatedly with a sledgehammer, yelling “Art! Art! Art!”
I came close to laughing myself into an embolism.
Oh, and if you get a chance, watch the audio commentary on Muppets From Space. Great Gonzo quote: “One man’s lunatic behavior is another man’s lounge act.”
“Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp, not the rat!”
“Rizzo!”
“What?!”
<push>
“Aieeee<splash>”
…
<hurrrr-smash>
“I suppose I should be grateful for dat.”
Ahem…I’m something of a fan of the Muppet Christmas Carol. Everyone in my family seems to quote that bit when lighting lanterns or candles.
<not really muppets, but close enough>
The most incredible production I’ve ever seen, though, was The Dark Crystal. The sheer scale and detail of it is awe-inspiring. When I look at the Mystics, I cannot make myself remember that their faces are just someone’s hands encased in rubber and armatures. They’re too real. I have the DVD and watch it frequently–I can easily believe that it took five years to make.
</not really muppets, but close enough>
Have to love the opening sequence of The Muppet Movie. With that incredible shot of Kermit sitting on a log in a swamp, all of the Muppet characters suddenly become real – not puppets who exist only from the waist up, but full-fledged talking bears, frogs, pigs, chickens, and whatevers.
But as a major Henson fan (I have a picture of the man and the frog hanging in the dining room), I have to say that one of the moments that sticks in my mind more than any other comes from A Muppet Family Christmas. At the end, all the Muppet Show Muppets, Fraggles, and Sesame Street Muppets are in the living room at Fozzie’s mother’s home, singing Christmas carols and just generally enjoying the spirit of Christmas. The camera cuts to the kitchen door, where Sprocket (the dog from Fraggle Rock) is peeking out the door. In the background, a bearded man is washing dishes. While drying a dish, he turns and looks out the door with Sprocket, watching and listening to the group enjoying themselves. That man (of course), is Jim Henson, and after making a comment along the lines of how much he enjoys watching them, returns to his task.
Besides the fact that that WAS Jim Henson – doing “behind-the-scenes” work while the characters got the glory – it’s made more meaningful for me by the fact that Sprocket was a Brian Henson character. So it’s father and son in the kitchen – during the only time (to my knowledge) that characters from all the major Muppet franchises (Dark Crystal and Labyrinth not included) appeared together – while their characters entertain each other (and the audience).
Call me a sap. Call me sentimental. But I love that scene.
Well, there are so many great moments, but a few come to mind:
After Jim Henson passed away, the Muppets got together and read letters from fans. That was when they “found out” about his death on the show. Then they sang “If Just One Person Believes In You”, and I must say…by then end I was bawling my eyes out. I know it’s so sad, but it was really such a beautiful moment of the Muppets remembering their creator.
The “A Very Good Year” song, with the scientist Muppet (not Bunsen Honeydew) drinking a potion. After each verse he’d drink some more and get younger. Then, at the end, he drank the last bit and became old again.
Kenny Rogers doing “The Gambler” on the show. Hehe…I just like that one.
When they say “Saskatchewan” in the “Movin’ Righ Along” song in The Muppets Movie. Sorry, it’s where I’m from, and it was pretty cool when I was a kid.
Also in The Muppets Movie, the “Can You Picture That” and “Hope That Something Better Comes Along” numbers. Both great songs and I just really like seeing them in the film. Also, the Hari Krishna line and some of the more adult humour in the film (there’s some I was surprised was in it) is great.
Thanks Grok, ‘cause a you I had to find the words to "Movin’ Right Along" (You started the thread, it’s your fault)
I found a web site with pretty much ALL the song from the Muppets. Thought I’d share.
The muppet show episode guest staring Christopher Reeves, wiht lots of Superman jokes. Miss Piggy gives him her patented HI-YA, karate chop and nearly breaks her hand on the “Man of Steel”. Once she’s off camera Reeves winces and rubs his side.
[kermy voice]
Why do birds suddenly appear,
Everytime you are near?
Just like me,
They long to be,
Close to you.
[/kermy voice]
When Senor Vasquez (the puppet guy, I may have the name wrong) was on, and Fozzie Bear did a good three minute tirade on how stupid it was to have a whole show of puppets, and after he ran offstage Kermit looked at the audience and said “I didn’t have the heart to tell him.”
When they did Aladdin and came to the door and said “Open Sesame,” and the music started “Sunny days, keeping the clouds away.” One of the best cross-overs ever.
The other best cross-over: The Muppets on the Simpsons. Hi, I’m actor Troy McClure, starring with Miss Piggy.
It was Statler and Waldorf who sang “A Very Good Year”. The scientist Muppet sketch you’re thinking of featured “Time in a Bottle”.
I’ve been dying to see the Spike Milligan episode again. I only saw it once, when it first aired - the humor fried my toddler mind. How the hell could anyone be that damn loony and be that hilarious?!
The Muppet Family Christmas has two good moments too:
-Bert and Ernie are talking with one of the Muppet Show cast, and every so often they turn to each other and say “[Word]! That begins with [letter]!” The third Muppet asks “What are you doing?” and Ernie says “Oh, that’s small talk where we come from.”
-The other one was when the Swedish Chef comes out with the major portion of the Christmas dinner and shouts “God Jul!” which, if I remember correctly, is the only time he’s spoken actual Swedish rather than Bork.
The Muppet Show which had Harry Belafonte was a riot from start to finish, especially when Belafonte sang “The Banana Boat” song with “help” from “Tally-Man” Fozzie. Narrative here cannot do it justice, but suffice to say Belafonte said that this was the first time he’s sung that song on TV and he wanted it to be perfect, Fozzie said, “Trust me” and then everything went wrong. Fozzie was in charge of loading the boat while Harry just kept singing It was absolutely hilarious.
