# Why did they retire Scooter the Muppet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809 "2004-02-18T16:44:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/1 "2004-02-18T16:44:23Z")
1. The most information I can find on the topic is that Henson & Co. retired Scooter, but I can find very little information as to the why. 2. Any chance he’ll be brought back (especially in light of CNN’s report that Disney has just acquired the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House from Henson?) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/2 "2004-02-18T16:58:59Z")
He was caught with a dead hooker in his bed. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/3 "2004-02-18T17:00:01Z")
This is totally off the top of my head – or out my butt, one or the other – but wasn’t he mostly used in “The Muppet Show”? There are a bunch of characters from that show that you never see anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/4 "2004-02-18T17:18:36Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > This is totally off the top of my head – or out my butt, one or the other – but wasn’t he mostly used in “The Muppet Show”? There are a bunch of characters from that show that you never see anymore. That’s true, but when I think of the main Muppets, I basically think of: 1. Kermit 2. Piggy 3. Gonzo 4. Fozzie 5. Scooter 6. Animal 7. Rolf the Dog I just find it odd that they’d retire one of their main characters. ---
**Author:** ![mske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/5 "2004-02-18T17:23:30Z")
Scooter’s character was retired following the death of Richard Hunt, who provided the voice, in 1990-something. Think Phil Hartman/Lionel Hutz arrangement (although Hunt died of AIDS, not murder). ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/6 "2004-02-18T17:27:03Z")
I believe Rolf has been retired as well. The reason I’ve heard is that they wished to retire a Henson-voiced character in memory of Jim, but obviously they couldn’t send Kermit to the showers unless they were willing to hang up the business right then and there, so they retired Rolf. Perhaps the same applied to Scooter. (I’m not sure who voiced him, but from his voice I’d guess it was Henson.) –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/7 "2004-02-18T17:28:41Z")
I don’t have an answer for you, but I just wanted to chime in and say Scooter’s always been my favorite. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/8 "2004-02-18T17:39:28Z")
_Think Phil Hartman/Lionel Hutz arrangement (although Hunt died of AIDS, not murder)._ Phil who? ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/9 "2004-02-18T17:40:45Z")
If Scooter went into retirement, it was only temporary. He (and Rowlf, for that matter) was back for 2002’s [Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329737/combined). He was voiced by Jim’s son Brian Henson. Kermit of course is voiced by longtime Muppeteer Steve Whitmire. Steve subbed on Kermit even a few times while Jim was still alive, so it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/10 "2004-02-18T17:46:10Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > I believe Rolf has been retired as well. The reason I’ve heard is that they wished to retire a Henson-voiced character in memory of Jim, but obviously they couldn’t send Kermit to the showers unless they were willing to hang up the business right then and there, so they retired Rolf. Perhaps the same applied to Scooter. (I’m not sure who voiced him, but from his voice I’d guess it was Henson.) > > –Cliffy Rowlf is one of my favorites: “Man, it isn’t often you see a guy that green with the blues that bad!” “Rowlf, what’s this fish doing in your piano?” “Oh, that’s the piano tuna!” “He works for scale!” “The continuing stooooory of a quack whose gone to the dogs…” ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/11 "2004-02-18T19:11:00Z")
He was likely retired to protect the sanity of the children. The dude had no eyes, man! Just glasses! Where were his freakin’ eyes, I could see the pupils through the glasses but where were his eyes?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/12 "2004-02-18T20:25:12Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Phil who? Phil Hartman. He provides your voice. You do realize that you do not exist don’t you? It may be your mouth that is opening, but you are speaking his words. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/13 "2004-02-18T21:31:09Z")
> [@Fiver](#): > > If Scooter went into retirement, it was only temporary. He (and Rowlf, for that matter) was back for 2002’s [Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329737/combined). > > He was voiced by Jim’s son Brian Henson. > > Kermit of course is voiced by longtime Muppeteer Steve Whitmire. Steve subbed on Kermit even a few times while Jim was still alive, so it’s all good. For some reason, almost none of the regular muppeteers performed their characters in that somewhat pathetic TV movie. I was surprised and disappointed, I was. ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/14 "2004-02-18T22:32:02Z")
I love Rowlf. He’s my fave. The Very Muppet Christmas Special blew, unfortunately. ``` -K ``` ---
**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:** [February 19, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/15 "2004-02-19T01:59:03Z")
My personal favourite Rowlf bit was him playing the piano while Fozzie tried to sing “I Got Rhythm”, and getting the tempo all wrong. Rowlf: Here, gimme that. [takes Fozzie’s sheet music, scribbles on it briefly and hands it back] Now try it. [resumes playing the piano] Fozzie: [reading, trying to sing] I _don’t_ got rhythm. Rowlf: That’s right. Fozzie: I _don’t_ got rhythm. Rowlf: That’s for sure. Fozzie: I _don’t_ got rhythm. Rowlf: You said it. Together: Who could ask for anything more? Who could ask for anything more? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/16 "2004-02-19T02:47:48Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > For some reason, almost none of the regular muppeteers performed their characters in that somewhat pathetic TV movie. I was surprised and disappointed, I was. When I finally saw it (a year after it first aired), my first thought afterwards was that it was an hour too long. ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/17 "2004-02-19T02:54:20Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > When I finally saw it (a year after it first aired), my first thought afterwards was that it was an hour too long. Funny, my first thought was that it was 100 minutes too long. ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/18 "2004-02-19T03:09:52Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > My personal favourite Rowlf bit was him playing the piano while Fozzie tried to sing “I Got Rhythm”, and getting the tempo all wrong. > > Rowlf: Here, gimme that. [takes Fozzie’s sheet music, scribbles on it briefly and hands it back] Now try it. [resumes playing the piano] > Fozzie: [reading, trying to sing] I _don’t_ got rhythm. > Rowlf: That’s right. > Fozzie: I _don’t_ got rhythm. > Rowlf: That’s for sure. > Fozzie: I _don’t_ got rhythm. > Rowlf: You said it. > Together: Who could ask for anything more? Statler: We could! Waldorf: Yeah! Earplugs! > [@](#): > > _Rowlf and Fozzie: Who could ask for anything more?_ ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/19 "2004-02-19T03:58:05Z")
Everyone knows that Scooter and his sister “Skeeter” killed each other during their _battle royale_ at Reichenbach Falls. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809/20 "2004-02-19T04:01:18Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Everyone knows that Scooter and his sister “Skeeter” killed each other during their _battle royale_ at Reichenbach Falls. Silly! Skeeter never existed as a REAL muppet. Just on the animated Muppet Babies. So there’s no way she could kill the REAL muppet Scooter. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-retire-scooter-the-muppet/229809.md?page=2)