Statler and Waldorf – both named for hotels in New York. As I recall, it was Waldorf’s wife who was named “Astoria”, quite appropriately…
– Bob
It’s been mentioned once and quoted at least once that Jim’s son performs Kermit now. That is not correct.
Jim’s son, Brian Henson, has headed up Henson Associates since Jim’s death. Brian does perform characters (Dr. Phil Van Neuter and, I believe, Sal, among others), but the gentleman who performs Kermit and Ernie since Jim’s death is Steve Whitmire. Steve has been a Muppeteer from the days of the Muppet show, when his main character was Rizzo the Rat. Steve still performs Rizzo, along with Kermit.
They weren’t looking for someone to duplicate Jim’s performance. They were looking for someone to give Kermit life and who could make Kermit his own. Steve has done that admirably. Has Kermit changed? Yes. He doesn’t have the same edge that Jim’s Kermit had.
But he’s still my favorite Muppet.
And just for the record, it’s LEW Zealand, not Lou.
Early on in the thread, someone asked if Alf and Yoda were Muppets. They most certainly were not in any sense of the word. They were puppets, but not Muppets. Only characters created by the Jim Henson Company (and not even ALL of those, for instance those created by the Creature Shop for productions such as Babe and Animal Farm) can be called Muppets.
No one said Telly Monster???
How can that be???
Poor Telly is such a mess. He is easily the most neurotic of all of the Sesame Street gang. You can’t help but love him.
Granted, I don’t remember him from childhood, so possible it is because I have small children. But if you haven’t met Telly, check out the show. He’s sweet.
And besides, my daughter would love a stuffed Telly, and he is ignored as a licensed character.
SO LET’S ALL HEAR IT FOR TELLY MONSTER.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU for identifying the martians for me! Occasionally I find myself quoting their “Yuuup yuup yup yup yup yupyupyupyupyupyup!” but I simply could not remember who said it–though I was pretty sure it was from S.S.
My first & enduring love goes to Kermit The Frog; after that it’s harder: Grover, Oscar, Bert (“I’ve got one, Ernie: la, la, la, linoleum!!”). When my grandson is a little older, I’ll get to see what’s new, but from what I’ve happened to watch of late, they could stuff little red Elmo in a jar of marshmallow fluff & be done with him. …guess I’ve been away too long! (Anybody else got nominees for characters We Could Do Without? Can’t be many…)
M.S.: Statler & Waldorf, Beaker, Rowlf, Gonzo; and then All The Rest.
My son & his g.f. had visited the Smithsonian just after Jim Henson’s death, and when they described how Kermit and the other Muppets on display were wearing little black armbands, I lost it all over again.
And yes, indeed, Snuffleupagus became visible to all because of advice from consultants that adults not believing in him gave the wrong message to children
I don’t especially like Elmo, though sometimes his sense of humour sneaks through, but Kevin Clash rocks the house! I would so loooove to meet him, of all the muppeteers. He plays Clifford the catfish-lookin-rastafarian muppet from Muppets Tonight, but more importantly, he’s Baby Dinosaur, he of “Not-the-Mama” fame, and that is one of the all-time best characters to ever come out of the twisted minds that inhabit the Muppet Universe.
try clicking here: Least favorite Muppets?
Thanks for clearing that up, PRNY–I’m the one who started the misconception. Because the voice is so close, and I knew his son had a hand in it, I assumed it was him.
And I think evilbeth just created another hell of a sig line…
Here’s a true story (speaking of child abuse): When I was little, my mother told me that she actually knew Guy Smiley. I didn’t believe her, of course, so she told me to go look in the family address book. Shore 'nuff, there was Guy Smiley’s name and phone number! Wow, was I impressed! But when I went back to look again, the name was gone! :eek: She still claims no knowledge of this incident, but I wonder if she is just messing with my mind.
My favorite Muppet? I sure can’t decide on just one, but I do have a favorite Muppet moment: at the beginning of the Muppet movie, Kermit is riding a bike. There is something about seing him on a bike with those long skinny legs…well, it just kills me every time.
I LOVE that song! Though actually I never heard it till recently… I know exactly where you can get it… You know Elmopalooza? Well one of the videos on it is that song and its a duet of Ernie with Shawn Colvin! Its on the CD there are several good songs on it and the video isn’t bad either (if you overlook all the Elmo in it… and Rosie as well…) But its got some interesting things in there also a bit of neat comedy… (In one scene Bert and Ernie are in the control room and Bert is yelling “Ernie! The machine is spitting at me!” and the video machine has tape spewing from it and its tangling up Bert… Ernie says “Didn’t its mother teach it any manners Bert?” I love that!)
Um in answer to the OP
SS: I LOVE the aliens (they were the ones I first thought of) Grover, and Snuffleupagus (sp?) They are all neat.
MS: The old guys, Kermit, Gonzo and Rizzo
PS has anyone here heard the Sesame Street on Pot thing? Its hilarious!