# What Is It About The Muppets? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138 "2001-01-21T17:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beakerxf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@beakerxf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beakerxf)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/21 "2001-01-22T05:52:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Feynn \* > I don’t think I have ever met a Beaker. [Beaker waves hi] Actually, I’ve always imagined the human version of Beaker would be some little brother or sister who is constantly “experimented” on by their older siblings. Beaker ---
**Author:** ![Nymysys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Nymysys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nymysys)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/22 "2001-01-22T06:24:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > The name “muppet” comes from “mannequin” and “puppet”, because it shares the attributes of both. > > > > Not according to Homer Simpson who says that a Muppet is “not quite a mop, not quite a puppet”. \*\* > > I humbly stand corrected. \*\* Stand corrected again. The word “muppet” comes from the words “marionette” and “puppet” according to the Sesame Street - Unpaved book. And it’s a GREAT book, BTW. I heartily recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Philbuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@Philbuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philbuck)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/23 "2001-01-22T06:44:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nymysys \* > \*\*according to the Sesame Street - Unpaved book. > > And it’s a GREAT book, BTW. I heartily recommend it. \*\* Which reminds me…I would just like to mention that during the Unpaved tour of several colleges they came here (Maria, who did most of the talk/presentation, got her degree here), and I got to see Kermit as well as Ernie (who both took a cheap shot at my school and personally denied more-than-friendly involvement with Bert). ---
**Author:** ![Palmyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/57b2e6/32.png) [@Palmyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palmyra)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/24 "2001-01-22T06:46:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TopazAntares \* > \*\*Oh and has anyone else seen the movie where everyone goes to the museum but Big Bird and Snuffleupagus (is that spelt right?) get lost and so everyone goes searching and gets locked in. What happens though is Big Bird and Snuffleupagus are helping this Egyptian boy (Pharoah?) to get his soul weighed against a feather to see if he is worthy to join his parents among the stars… \*\* I remember seeing that when I was about 10… I missed the begining, but I remember the rest of the movie. It was sweet, like the rest of the Muppet movies, but it had a distinct Seasame Street feel to it [not that that’s a bad thing ;)] ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/25 "2001-01-22T06:50:10Z")
Yah I know… for some reason I equate Sesame Street and Muppets together because they both have the same sort of stuff. That isn’t weird is it? I’m not the only one who does that? ---
**Author:** ![Nymysys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Nymysys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nymysys)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/26 "2001-01-22T07:20:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TopazAntares \* > \*\*Yah I know… for some reason I equate Sesame Street and Muppets together because they both have the same sort of stuff. That isn’t weird is it? I’m not the only one who does that? \*\* Not weird. Muppets are a Jim Hensen creation, as is (in part at least) Sesame Street. They ARE the same thing, or at least have the same premise within the muppetry. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/27 "2001-01-22T07:26:58Z")
My first teddy bear I named Mr. Macintosh, after the guy on Sesame Street that had that applecart. One of the saddest things I’ve ever seen on television was after Jim Henson died and they did that special where they were trying to explain to one of the other Muppets what “dead” meant. And how weird is this? As I’m typing, the commercial for the Muppet Show on video just came on! ---
**Author:** ![Quark\_W.Griswold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Quark\_W.Griswold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quark_W.Griswold)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/28 "2001-01-22T07:43:28Z")
You can see the Sesame Street crew any day, but to see Gonzo and his chickens, you’ve either got to be watching the Muppet Show or one of the movies, which are a lot more entertaining than Sesame is. It’s like bringing out the good china for Sunday dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/29 "2001-01-22T08:30:21Z")
> [@](#): > > One of the saddest things I’ve ever seen on television was after Jim Henson died and they did that special where they were trying to explain to one of the other Muppets what “dead” meant. Rasa, darlin, that was when Mr. Hooper died. Jim Henson died many years later. Another satisfied owner of “The Works” here. I’m also a collector of Muppet mp3s…I have most of the prominent ones, but if you have any odd ones (i.e., Ben Stiller singing “Cheese is a Person in your Neighborhood” let me know!) Btw, we just got the Muppet Show video. Have yet to watch it, but I betcha it’s good. \ ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/30 "2001-01-22T09:14:16Z")
I was fortunate enough to graduate from the University of Maryland, Jim Henson’s _alma mater_ and the place where he created the Muppets. Some highlights I experienced in my years there: [ul] [li]I’ve met Jane Henson (a UM alumna herself, she met Jim there) twice, and she was a delight both times. I was excited to learn from her that she lived in the same small dorm I did as a student; and she was inducted in a campus honor society the same semester as I was (me as student, her as alum).[/li][li]Kermit gave the commencement speech a couple Decembers ago(!)[/li][li]Many Muppets were based on campus people: **Statler & Waldorf** based on two profs who told Jim he should have ditched the puppets for a real job; **Fozzie** from the sorority mascot of his future wife, Jane; and so forth.[/li][li]When I gave tours of campus, I got to point out the dorm where Jim Henson supposedly lived. The word “Kermit” has been inscribed on the building by the University.[/li][li]The Class of '98 gift to UM is a life-size bronze statue of Jim and Kermit sitting on a park bench, to be placed in front of our Student Union in a couple years[/li][li]An exclusive Henson exhibit came to UM a couple years back, which included many of his original Muppets, including **Sam the Eagle** (his first one IIRC). There was Black Cauldron and Fraggle Rock stuff too, in addition to Sesame Street paraphernalia.[/li][li]While a student, Jim Henson freelanced to do a mural of a cowboy/rodeo scene in a local (College Park, MD) home. The mural has since been donated to campus.[/li][/ul] Pretty cool, in the humble opinion of this life-long Muppet fanatic. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/31 "2001-01-22T09:20:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peepthis \* > \*\*Many Muppets were based on campus people: **Statler & Waldorf** based on two profs who told Jim he should have ditched the puppets for a real job; **Fozzie** from the sorority mascot of his future wife, Jane; and so forth. > \*\* I should have included the word “supposedly” into this bullet somewhere. If these derivations are incorrect, I’m sure a Doper will be by soon to straighten me out. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/32 "2001-01-22T10:56:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Feynn \* > **I don’t think I have ever met a Beaker.** [Hated nicknames.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=55696) Hi, I’m Sublight. Nice to meet you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aglarond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@Aglarond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aglarond)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/33 "2001-01-22T14:40:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dichotomous \* > **You can see the Sesame Street crew any day, but to see Gonzo and his chickens, you’ve either got to be watching the Muppet Show or one of the movies, which are a lot more entertaining than Sesame is.** I wholeheartedly agree. I still watch the Muppet Show when I manage to get home from work in time. I can usually only see the last half of it, though. I never seem to get tired of it. A couple of quick questions. Are any of the other Muppet movies coming out on DVD? The only one I own is Muppets in Space and I’d love to have the rest. Also, I heard rumors that Fraggle Rock was going to come back on the air. Anybody heard about that? ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/34 "2001-01-22T19:48:34Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Kyla \* \*\* > [@](#): > > Another satisfied owner of “The Works” here. I’m also a collector of Muppet mp3s…I have most of the prominent ones, but if you have any odd ones (i.e., Ben Stiller singing “Cheese is a Person in your Neighborhood” let me know!) > \*\* I have Sandra Bullock & Kermit singing “Manamana”, if that counts as an odd one. ---
**Author:** ![muppetsoup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@muppetsoup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muppetsoup)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/35 "2001-01-22T20:08:51Z")
It’s because they make an excellent pre-dinner snack. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/36 "2001-01-22T20:19:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by Rasa_ > > One of the saddest things I’ve ever seen on television was after Jim Henson died and they did that special where they were trying to explain to one of the other Muppets what “dead” meant. > > _To which Kyla responded_ > Rasa, darlin, that was when Mr. Hooper died. Jim Henson died many years later. > \*\* Kyla, there was indeed a special along the lines of what Rasa is talking about. It was called, I believe, _The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson_. To the best of my recollection, there wasn’t a scene where they explained death, but there was a scene where the Muppets learned that Jim had died. It was in this special that Steve Whitmire’s Kermit first appeared – right at the end. **Juniper200** , I have a Kermit puppet with cardboard mouth inserts. Because I have used it as a cameo in a puppet performance, I worked the cardboard until it was flexible. Can’t tell you at the moment who manufactured it, but they are out there, certainly. Bert’s mouth (the actual Muppet) does appear to have a _small_ amount of flexibility, to allow him the “erk” expression you mentioned, but as far as I know, Fozzie’s and Ernie’s upper and lower mouth plates are rigid. They may have a bit of forward and backward leeway – in other words, to give them a temporary overbite or underbite – but I don’t think they fit the “erk-able” category. The more “foamy” puppets do – like Statler, Waldorf, Gonzo, and Piggy. Kermit is another category completely – he’s pretty much all cloth – the puppeteer’s hand completley fills the head. I once read a comment by someone visiting the set of a Muppet production (no cite – can’t remember where I read it), who said that it was strange to see all the Muppets on the rack, for the most part looking as though they could at any moment begin to speak. Kermit was an exception, though, since his head just deflated when there was no hand in him. **Aglarond** , there are plans to release all three of the first Muppet movies on DVD – The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and The Muppets Take Manhattan. I include The Muppet Movie in there because I understand that a re-mastered, better transfer version, with possibly some extras, will be released soon (in the next couple of months, I think), and the next two later this year. (All of that **may** be up in the air, however, because of the recent troubles with Henson’s parent company, EMTV.) ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/37 "2001-01-22T22:19:44Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by PRNYouth_ > **Kermit is another category completely – he’s pretty much all cloth – the puppeteer’s hand completley fills the head. I once read a comment by someone visiting the set of a Muppet production (no cite – can’t remember where I read it), who said that it was strange to see all the Muppets on the rack, for the most part looking as though they could at any moment begin to speak. Kermit was an exception, though, > since his head just deflated when there was no hand in him.** And I imagine this is why you don’t see any Kermits with flexible mouths/heads. As a small child, even though I knew Kermit was just a puppet, I would have been traumatized beyond all belief to see him with his head all deflated. I’ll have to keep an eye open for one with cardboard inserts, though. Most of the ones I see seem to have inserts that are made out of a bleach bottle-like plastic. Thanks for the tip. Did any of the southern MI Dopers get a chance to take in the puppetry exhibit at the Detroit Instiute of Arts late last year? The Kermit from the museum’s collection was featured prominently at the end of the exhibit. It was the first time I remember seeing a real Muppet “in the felt,” (though I know that, as a small child, I saw a touring puppetry exhibit that featured the Muppets) and it was a weirdly special moment for me. My mom stood on the other side of the room laughing as tiny kids vied for space with big 20-year-old me, gazing at the Kermie. I also got a chance to meet Jane Henson at the DIA once, where she was giving a talk about Jim’s life and his work with the Muppets. Wonderful anecdotes and amazing video footage, most of which I was almost totally unfamiliar with. Neat stuff like the making of the La Choy dragon (Fire breathing puppets! Yeah!) and behind-the-scenes stuff from the movies. I brought my News Flash Kermit along to hear the stories. I think he enjoyed himself too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/38 "2001-01-22T22:22:34Z")
At least I’m not insane about putting them in the same catergory. I really mis watching the Muppet Show and if they brought back the Fraggles I would have to get Dad to tape them. I’d be in heaven to see that show again! I also really have to buy all the Muppet movies… I love them all so much. I don’t collect them though. ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/39 "2001-01-22T23:15:40Z")
My favourite characters are Stadtler & Waldorf, and the Swedish Chef: “Herebedy the cabbage!” (tosses it in the air and fires a pistol at it) “Herebedy have the brussels sprouts!” (as it falls down in pieces all around him). That sketch always tickled me! In addition to all the other attributes, I think it’s that the muppeteers are trained differently in how they move them. The closest I’ve seen to muppets in motion are those made by Kevin Klash. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he also work with Henson at one point? And one of my favourite Henson movies is The Dark Crystal. As mentione earlier, from Sesame Street, I also like the Martians; “Yup yup yup, uhuh, uhuh!” We still say that around our house. And the way they would pull their lower lips up over their heads when startled! ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/40 "2001-01-22T23:22:32Z")
Fraggle Rock is on the air! Sunday mornings at 6(I think) on Odessy. The only problem is that Odyessey is only on Warner Cable. You might be able to convince a Warner subscriber to tape the episodes each week and send you a tape each month. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138.md?page=3)