What is Miss Piggy's real name (as opposed to her stage name)?
This -was- revealed during the course of The Muppet Show, though the first and last name were divulged on different episodes.
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
Piggy Lee
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Close.
So close!
Her last name -is- "Lee". Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Muppet-related randomness:
The Dixie Chicks have a GREAT cover of "Rainbow Connection" on the charity album Mary Had a Little Amp -- Amazon link Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Pigathius Lee.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Bella is correct!
New question tomorrow.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Sarah McLaughlin does a gorgeous cover of The Rainbow Connection. Amazon link Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
My favorite Muppet Show moment was when Statler and Waldorf sang "When I was Seventeen".
It was far and away better than Sinatra's rendition.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The caverns of Fraggle Rock are almost entirely lit to daytime brightness, despite there being only a couple of openings to the outside sky.
What was the source of all this "mystery light"?
(There was an episode that addressed this topic, believe it or not.)
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Here's my trivia question:
When does the 2nd season of the muppets come out on DVD? Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Despite The Muppet Show: Season One doing well, there has not been an announcement on the release of seasons 2-5 on DVD.
Inexplicably, Disney has chosen to release (ugh) 'Dinosaurs' this spring instead.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The answer: Whenever a Fraggle sings a song or plays music, a magical creature of living light is produced.
In return for the gift of life, these light creatures fill the Fraggles with pep and the desire to be active.
This was discovered on the episode where Gobo was having trouble composing a song, so he asked -everyone- to stop singing. He intended to clear his head, but was shocked as the entire Rock grew darker and darker...and his friends got sleepier...
New question tomorrow.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
What is the name of Scooter's "Uncle who owns the Theater"?
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
J.P. Grosse. But he doesn't own the theater anymore. Scooter inherited it and it is now the Muppet Theater.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Correct, J.P. Grosse was his name.
Scooter did not inherit it, but it does belong to the Muppets now.
(See It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie)
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
hmm, are you sure? ok, ok, i believe you. oh wait, thats right, some stuck up biznatch inherited it and tried to take it away from the muppets. good movie. i think whoopie goldberg really is god.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
In the film "Muppets From Space" it was revealed that the Great Gonzo's odd looks and unclassifiable species were due to him being an extraterrestrial creature.
However, in the book "Of Muppets and Men: The Making of the Muppet Show" a far different explanation for Gonzo's bizarre looks was put forth. What was the explanation?
A slightly easier, bonus question: Who (according to the bear) wrote Fozzie's jokes?
[ March 16, 2006, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
Puffy, are you making these questions up yourself or do you have a trivia book of some kind? I'm impressed.
--Enigmatic
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Ok Puffy, though I don't have the answers to your questions, I'm going to ask YOU a question. Has there been any buzz about getting Sesame Street on DVD? I was lamenting its absence the other day and found myself remembering some of this hilarity and all out brilliance...I actually got quite nostalgic. Do you know? Have you heard anything? I've only seen those obnoxious and really short "The best of..." collections on DVD. I own the best of Kermit and it was really underwhelming.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I'm just drawing from a childhood spent watching the creations of Jim Henson, Enigmatic. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Difficult question. Narnia.
Sesame Workshop tried rerunning "classic" Sesame Street episodes on the cable channel Noggin as Sesame Street: Unpaved...and apparently did not like the results.
For now, DVD releases will be limited to themed "Clips Showcases" and TV specials.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Thinking of old Sesame Steet episodes made me recall the vast difference in how they handled the passing of human cast members. When Mr. Hooper died, they dedicated a special episode to the subject on Thanksgiving Day the very next season.
When David's actor died? They just stopped mentioning him. Like he never existed at all.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Wait. Sesame Street isn't on anymore?
I've only been able to get my kids to watch a few episodes but there were some new characters: Zoe, Baby Bear (with a speech impediment no less), Goldilocks.
And I have to admit that I thought Fraggle Rock was a Canadian tv show because it was just a little too out there in strange-land. But I was also becoming a teenager at that point too so...
Fun trivia Puffy!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Sesame Street is still on, but as years go by certain episodes are "retired"...some of the segments are still repeated, but one is unlikely to see an episode where Maria is a teenager and single these days.
Fraggle Rock was a true "International" show. Each country it was broadcast in had its own version of "Doc" and "Sprocket".
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Your memory is fantastic. I'm sure I can only answer a couple of your trivia and yet, it's so great to be reminded.
The retired thing makes sense now that you put it that way! (*feeling rather dense*) Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I would only want Sesame street from 1974(?) to about 1990 or so. Is that too much to ask?
Thanks for the info. I wonder if we can start lobbying or something. I really want to have it for my (future and eventual) kids.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
i heard somewhere that they (i'm not sure who 'they' is in this case) won't allow Burt and Ernie to take a bath together anymore. is that true?
aside: when i was younger, our golden retriever was named Ernie Bigbird Vonk. good dog.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Sesame Street died when Maria and Luis hooked up. I'm sorry, but there's simply no question about it. Maria and David for-evah!
(Arguments can also be made for its sucking re: David's unmentioned death, Snuffy's visibility, and the addition of the "Elmo's World" segment.)
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
It's that last one. Elmo killed Sesame Street with his egocentric, camera hogging, improper speaking little red self.
I have serious Elmo hatred.
Posted by Jeesh (Member # 9163) on :
Really? Ask anyone I know and here's the exact response:
"I LOVE Elmo! He is soo cool!"
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
You're 12, though, right? So you never had the chance to see Sesame Street before it sucked.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
is snuffulufugus(sp?) still on there? god, that guy was great. or girl. was snuffulufugus a boy or a girl? for that matter, was bigbird a girl or a boy?
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Wait a minute, they made Snuffy visible to everyone? Did they move Oscar into a penthouse, too? Sesame Street is dead to me now.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Big Bird is a boy, as is Snuffy. And yes, both are still on the show, but I haven't seen Snuffy in a LONG time. I think they've largely replaced him with a variety of elephants, probably because the elephants are single-person suits and Snuffy was such an uncomfortable costume. Plus, once Snuffy became visible, he ceased to be remotely interesting as a character.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
wait, snuffy was invisible? i don't remember that, but then, i was, like, 6 at the time. i thought he always just walked out of the scene just as anyone else walked in.
one of my favorite moments was when BigBird sang the alphabet song out of order. I think that was the very first time i ever thought "outside of the box."
Posted by Jeesh (Member # 9163) on :
Yeah, I watched it when I was 6ish. I go back now and say "I actually watched that?"
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I would love to see some of the really early episodes, from back when Oscar was orange and Grover was greenish brown, but what I'd most like would be a DVD containing all of the animated sequences created in the first decade of production.
Posted by Jeesh (Member # 9163) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: back when Oscar was orange and Grover was greenish brown
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Boggles the mind, doesn't it?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Here is a site that provides what looks to me like an accurate sketch of the show's history. It confirms all of the points I was aware of, so I assume it's correct in the bits that were new to me.
I wasn't aware of the reasons behind the decision to let adults see Snuffy:
quote:Snuffy was originally conceived as a nod to imaginary friends children often have. However, the Children's Television Workshop ended this running gag in light of high-profile stories on pedophilia and sexual abuse of children that had aired on shows such as "60 Minutes" and "20/20" in the mid-1980s. The thinking was, if nobody believed what Big Bird says, children who were sexual abuse victims might be afraid to report what happened, since the adults would not believe them.
Despite the Children's Television Workshop's intentions, some longtime fans of Sesame Street said the revelation of Snuffy to the outside world created a suspension of disbelief. It is sometimes cited as a moment when Sesame Street "jumped the shark."
[ March 17, 2006, 04:50 PM: Message edited by: Noemon ]
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Snuffy was made visible -- if I recall correctly -- while the show was reworked to appeal to younger viewers and it was thought that encouraging kids to believe in invisible friends was a bad move.
(Edited to add: ah, I was wrong. Should have typed slower.)
Sesame Street is no longer a brilliant teacher. It's now a colorful babysitter. Not as much emphasis on problem-solving and interpersonal relationships, much more on a fiercely annoying little red thing.
quote: much more on a fiercely annoying little red thing.[
Maybe being twelve effects this...
How is Elmo annoying?
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Dude. Snuffy made real because of sexual abuse? And I didn't even know about the death of the actor that played David. He was cool.
Noemon, I would be very interested in such a DVD collection as well. A lot of the animated shorts and songs and whatnot really meant a lot to me as a kid. And I agree, Narnia, that that is about the time-span I would be interested in as well.
If they ever release the old episodes, there is no doubt in my mind that there will be lots of buyers.
Elmo does absolutely nothing for me. But as I had a daughter who was in love with him for a couple years, I cannot hate him, either. I have fond memories of sending a crawling 7 month old on "find Elmo" searches. We would put him in a remote, hidden part of the room, and she would crawl till she found him. She couldn't sleep without him. Thankfully, the Elmo-love has fallen by the wayside.
Edit: What I can't stand about Sesame Street anymore is the repeating formula. Seriously. Baby Bear's Super-Hero-Guy gets *really* old after awhile. And I dislike Baby Bear *far* more than I dislike Elmo. Ugh, and that finding Ernie thing? What's up with that?
Sesame Street was great in it's day because you never knew what was coming. It kept you guessing. Now it just kills brain cells.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
In thinking/remembering about Sesame Street, I've had "Ladybug Picnic" running through my head all afternoon! Ack!
I also really liked the pinball looking segment where it counted to a snappy tune 1,2,3--45-6,7,8--9-10-eleven, tweeeeeelve
Apparently the counting songs did it for me. Any other songs you remember that tend to stick in your head?
Edit to add: For me, Elmo was cute at first but I went into overload when he was everywhere all the time!
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Oh... so many. I once totally spammed a Sesame Street song thread with all my beloved lyrics. Lemmiesee... where was that thread?
Dang. I can't find it. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Lower Case N is a classic in my mind, as is D!D!D!D!.
My favorite animated sequence was the trippy "Just remember everything you passed, but when you go back, make the first thing the last". I have no idea what the actual title for it might be. Anyone remember what I'm talking about?
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Noemon, I found the full lyrics here. Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Puffy, what are the answers to the trivia questions about Gonzo's looks and who wrote Fozzy's jokes? I don't remember.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Lower case N is one of the best songs ever.
I love Captain Vegetable as well as Captain Breakfast. I also love their spoof puppet of Chubby Checker who sang some of the best songs on the show: "Tell me WHY do you always do the opposite of what I do?" "A rock's not alive No no no! and a sock's not alive no no no!."
Kermit's fairy tale news reporting was genius. "Rapunzel, rapunzel LET DOWN YOUR HAIR!!" and I still remember the 10 Commandments of Health song. One of the best IMO.
The animated shorts were also delightful (lower case N, ladybug picnic, the 11 song) and all of the Ernie and Bert skits are branded into my very brain forever. I think my favorite was when Ernie kept trying to think of things to count in order to fall asleep that wouldn't wake up Bert. I laugh just thinking about that.
Ah....*sigh* All of that is such a huge part of my family culture and childhood, I really really want to have it preserved.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
thinking back on all of the Sesame Street stuff made me start thinking about Pinwheel Playhouse. anybody else remember that show? it was great. probably not up to par with SS, but still, it stuck with me, that's for sure.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
They didn't even originally plan to have Elmo take over the show, but it happened anyway. When Jim Henson died and Frank Oz all but completely abandoned the Muppets for his career as a director, they were left without most of their non-Big Bird & Oscar "core Muppets".
Plus, there was pressure to skew the show younger and younger...it was decided that Big Bird (the eternal six year old) wasn't the best focus, so they shifted things over to Elmo (the eternal three year old).
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
According to "Of Muppets and Men", Gonzo's mother lived near the Los Alamos testing grounds in New Mexico, where she admired what she called "spectacular sunsets".
Fozzie always claimed his jokes were actually written by the legendary "Gags" Beasley, and once or twice convinced Kermit of the reality of this person.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Thanks bev! I could hear the dialog in my mind's ear when I was reading that.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
New trivia questions:
1) Kermit was not originally conceived of as being a frog, believe it or not. In fact, it was not until a Muppet TV special that he was given a species and "the Frog" was made an official part of his name.
What was the name of the special?
2) One of the longest-running Muppet sub-plots is the largely unrequited love Miss Piggy has for Kermit. But, if one watched The Muppet Valentine Show (one of two failed pilots for what would eventually become The Muppet Show), the original plan was for Kermit to have an unrequited crush. Another "Miss" character, even...yet not the pig. Who was it?
3) And, a slightly easier question: Which member of 'The Electric Mayhem' got a sex-change operation at some point between Jim Henson's original sketch and the actual building of the Muppet?
[ March 18, 2006, 05:19 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
I thought (think) that the eleven-twelve song was from The Electric Company. No?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Nah, it's from Sesame Street. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
beverly, that 'lost' skit you posted reminds me of "A loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter." Do you remember that one? Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I remember Pinwheel. ^_^
I also remember "Read Along" and "The Great Space Coaster." Anyone remember those?
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Narnia, yeah, that was the skit that first came to mind when Noemon mentioned it. Me and my sis used to recite that, accent and all, and laugh. Good times. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
o/` Come on board, step inside...take off on a magic ride... o/`
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
:beams:
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I also miss Today's Special...now there's a series that really needs a DVD release.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Narnia, I always think of "a carton of milk, a loaf of bread and a stick of butter"...takes me right back to childhood.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The answers to last night's trivia questions:
1) Hey, Cinderella!
2) Miss Mousie
3) Janice, who in Jim Henson's original sketches was going to be a guy.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's questions:
The Jim Henson Hour normally included a 23 minute segment called MuppeTelevision. In addition to well known characters like Kermit and Gonzo, it included a mix of (relatively) brand new Muppets as regular cast members.
Which of the following Muppets was -not- a part of this mix?
1) Digit, a keyboard-playing android.
2) Bean Bunny, a cute rabbit from a storybook-type view of reality.
3) Waldo, a living computer graphic.
4) Vicki, a bespectacled young woman who tries to maintain an air of unflappable calm as Kermit's personal assistant but is deep down a wide-eyed, rather nervous Muppet fangirl.
5) Lion, a white-furred, blue-eyed lion who does not speak save on exceedingly rare occasions.
6) Milton, a sleepy-eyed bird who acts as a handyman, janitor, and tech support.
EDIT: To clarify, all of the above characters did turn up on the JHH, but one of them was not a regular cast member of MuppeTV.
[ March 19, 2006, 02:13 AM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
I remember Waldo during one of the specials where Jim Henson spilled all the secrets to how the muppets worked -- Gonzo was relieved because he was convinced that explaining Waldo would take the rest of the hour. So not Waldo.
I remember the janitor from the Muppet Show, but I don't know if he was ever in MuppeTelevision.
Posted by Jeesh (Member # 9163) on :
*Sigh*
I never realized how much I never knew about the Muppets.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
That's why we need EVERYTHING on DVD. Kids your age should be able to partake in the Sesame Street/Muppety goodness that was Jim Henson's and Frank Oz' genius. You see why we're nostaligic?! Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
You're probably thinking of Beauregard, who was the janitor/handyman on seasons 4-5 of The Muppet Show. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Part of the problem with getting everything Henson on DVD is that the stuff he worked on (even the Muppets) is no longer owned by just one company. Some of the Muppet stuff (such as The Muppet Show) is owned by Disney. Some (such as "Fraggle Rock" and the various "Storybook Specials") are owned by what's left of the Henson company. All Sesame Street Muppets are now owned by the Sesame Workshop.
Making things especially difficult is a Muppet such as Kermit, who has made appearences in pretty much all of the above named shows and -more-...it's a legal rights nightmare. Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
That sounds right. I definetely didn't think his name was Milton.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
An interesting thing about Beauregard: He's one of the few characters -every- writer on The Muppet Show really liked...yet he was also one of the few they could rarely think of good jokes and stories for. He was a sweet, likable, expressive character...yet he lacked a hook.
Gonzo thinks of himself as an artist, yet his ideas on "art" are...unique. Miss Piggy desires above all else to be a STAR. Kermit appreciates the bizarre, yet desires to impose enough order to run a show. Fozzie wants to get laughs, and to be liked for getting those laughs.
Beau...desired to keep the Muppet Theater more or less swept, and was a little on the slow side. Not much of a hook. Hence, he's rarely turned up.
Posted by Amilia (Member # 8912) on :
I thought you all might get a kick out of this.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
Amilia, that made me so sad! I think Grover was my favorite character on Sesame Street, and it's sad to see him go. That little brat, Elmo, "stole his thunder"! I agree, we need the old Sesame Street episodes to show kids about life. These new ones just entertain, instead of teaching, like they should.
Edit to add: Amilia, where did you find this story? I've seen others like it, but I don't know what site they're on. Can you help me out?
Posted by Amilia (Member # 8912) on :
I'm afraid I won't be too much help for you. A couple of semesters ago, I took an Intoduction to Information Science and Technology course. One of our first assignments was to run the same search on three different internet search engines and compare the results. Someone else did a search on Sesame Street, and this was one of their results. The professor got such a kick out of it that she shared it with the rest of us.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The answer is: 5)Lion...while this character did turn up once during a MuppeTelevision song, for the most part Lion acted as the rumbling counterpoint to Jim Henson during the host segments of the main JHH show.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Sunday's questions:
1) On the episode of The Muppet Show where George Burns guest starred, what new act was the Great Gonzo working on?
2) Why was Don Music "retired" as a Sesame Street character?
3) Who replaces Rugby Tiger as 'the Christmas Toy' in The Christmas Toy?
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
2) Think I remember this... Don Music would play the piano, and as he'd be singing the alphabet, he'd get frustrated and say "Oh, why can't I remember what comes after 'D'??!!!" and he'd hit his head on the piano keys.
Some parents reported that their kids were imitating this and hitting their heads on pianos, etc.... so no more Don Music.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Anyone else have fond memories of The Animal Show? It was pretty short lived, but the episodes that were made were brilliant, I thought.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
plaid got the Don Music question!
Anyone wanna get the others?
All I remember about The Animal Show is that it had Kevin Clash voicing a skunk using one of his non-Elmo voices.
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
Here's a question:
What TV special did Kermit's "nephew" Robin show up in, and what was his full name?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Tales from MuppetLand: The Frog Prince.
He was "Sir Robin the Brave".
That special was also the first appearence of Sweetums, one of the most popular "Full Body" Muppet Monsters.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
According to This site, Dave Goelz did the voice for Stinky (the skunk).
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I stand corrected. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The answers:
1) Gonzo was working on his new act - "Gonzo fiddles while George Burns." To which George retorted: "Every once in a while, it's a pleasure to hear a joke that's older than I am."
2) plaid got this one.
3) Meteora, Queen of the Asteroids!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Todays' question is a fairly easy one. Starting with the second season of The Muppet Show, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew did with Muppet Labs segment with the help of his assistant, Beaker. Many agree that the funniest Muppet Labs sketches were done after Beaker was introduced...yet one of the first season sketches often gets mentioned as a favorite, Beaker-less as it was.
This sketch was so popular, in fact, that when they made a Dr. Bunsen Honeydew action figure, the invention featured was included in the package.
What was the invention?
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I don't know the answer, but I have to put in a shout out to Don Music...and I have to admit that I did bang my head on the piano keys at least once before I realized that he was a puppet and therefore it didn't hurt him.
"I'll never get it! Never! *crash*"
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Yep Narnia. I pretty much did the head-on-the-piano thing every time I was able to sit down at one. I always made sure not to hurt myself in the process though.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer: The Gorilla Detector!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
Which relative of Kermit's has been mentioned a few times over the years, but never seen onscreen?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I should know this one, but I'm drawing a blank.
By the way, Puffy Treat, I'm loving this thread. Thanks for starting it.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
his mom? as in "look ma! no hands!"?
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
AUGH! I remember the Gorilla detector! That was great fun!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Not his mother. Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
My daughter rented the first disc of the Muppet Show season one from Netflix a couple of weeks ago. It reinforced what I've always thought about TMS...
I never really understood why the Muppet Show was popular. It wasn't funny, most of the guests weren't especially talented (at least early on in the series)... it's all a big "whatever" to me.
That said, I LOVED Sesame Street, and all of the Muppet movies, but the series... I don't get it.
Oh and this:
quote:According to "Of Muppets and Men", Gonzo's mother lived near the Los Alamos testing grounds in New Mexico, where she admired what she called "spectacular sunsets".
is wrong. Los Alamos is where the research and work was done, but all of the testing was done at White Sands, several hundred miles south of Los Alamos... I'm just saying.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
You're just saying that an off-the-cuff joke about a fictional being's origin might not be fully factual? Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
quote: I never really understood why the Muppet Show was popular. It wasn't funny...
Somewhere, Baby Muppet Jesus is crying.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The answer: Kermit's sister (Robin's mother) has been mentioned several times over the years, but never seen onscreen. Or named, to my knowledge.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
During the five seasons of Fraggle Rock, very few "adult" Fraggles were seen. In fact, one can literally count on one hand the adult Fraggles who made more than one appearance. Name them.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer:
The only adult-aged Fraggles with recurring roles were:
Uncle Matt
The Storyteller
The Oldest Living Fraggle
Convincing John
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's trivia:
On the very briefly lived Muppets Tonight! series of the late 90s, who was the host?
(Hint: It wasn't Kermit. Man...Muppets Tonight! was such a clumsy, unfunny show. Classic Muppet writers like Jerry Juhl weren't involved, new characters that lacked charm and chemistry were heavily featured, the guest stars dominated the shows instead of acting as guests...*sigh*)
Posted by cosmictheclown (Member # 8257) on :
Ooh! Ooh! I know this one! Pick me!
It was that big purple guy with the red Rastafarian locks. I think his name's Clifford. Rizzo the rat was his cohost/cohort too, if I remember correctly.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Rizzo the rat, now that is something I haven't thought of in ages... Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I remember the good Sesame Street, though I think Maria was with Luis by the time I was born (I'll have to look that up) one of my elementary school teachers taped a ton of episodes soon after she got a VCR, so we watched them a lot. (not that I remember when VCR's came out).
Posted by JLM (Member # 7800) on :
quote:Originally posted by Narnia:
I think my favorite was when Ernie kept trying to think of things to count in order to fall asleep that wouldn't wake up Bert. I laugh just thinking about that.
1 fire engine (clang clang bee boo bee boo...) 2 fire engines (clang clang bee boo bee boo...) 3 fire engines (clang clang bee boo bee boo...) ...
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Correct. Clifford was originally created to play the guitar on Solid Foam, MuppeTelevision's in-house band. For some reason, he was chosen to be the host of Muppets Tonight...the show that also introduced *shudder* Pepe', the King Prawn Who Is Crammed Down Your Throat Over and Over Again In Every Muppet Project Since 1996. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
According to The Muppets Take Manhattan, what is Brooke Shields' opinion on inter-species dating?
(Bonus: What was the context this was revealed in?)
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Didn't she make some reference to having dated some rats?
Posted by LeoJ (Member # 9272) on :
I used to like Muppets when i was a kid, but now i think that big bird is a homosexual, and the count a q-nt, well not how they act but how they look
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
quote:Originally posted by JLM:
quote:Originally posted by Narnia:
I think my favorite was when Ernie kept trying to think of things to count in order to fall asleep that wouldn't wake up Bert. I laugh just thinking about that.
1 fire engine (clang clang bee boo bee boo...) 2 fire engines (clang clang bee boo bee boo...) 3 fire engines (clang clang bee boo bee boo...) ...
I know! My favorite is Bert's screaming reaction to the balloon popping. It's so choice!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by sweetbaboo: Didn't she make some reference to having dated some rats?
Yes.
Muppet Rat: (panting) "Pardon me...but could you tell me your opinion *gulp* on...er...inter-species dating?"
Brooke Shields: "Well, I have dated a few rats before, if that's what you mean."
(The rat swoons.)
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
New trivia question:
Muppet Babies was a spin-off of a very popular segment in The Muppets Take Manhattan, in which Miss Piggy fantasized that she and Kermit had known each other as toddlers. It began in 1984, and for the next seven years was one of the most popular shows on CBS' Saturday Morning Line-Up.
CBS requested that Jim Henson make a spin-off of the spin-off, and in 1985 Little Muppet Monsters began showing immediately after Muppet Babies. This show featured a trio of brand new, live action monster Muppet kids who lived in a basement of the adult Muppets' home. 18 episodes were made, yet only two episodes were ever broadcast.
What was the reason?
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
I never watched Muppet Babies. The concept seemed way too annoyingly, calculatedly, cute. Was it actually any good?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I liked it.
I was eight years old at the time, though.
It should be noted that I do recall more often than not much fun was poked at how cute the characters were...especially after Bean Bunny was added as a Muppet Baby.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer: Jim Henson himself decided to cancel the show, as he felt it did not match the high standards he set for his projects for children.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
Why does Bert state tell Ernie that it's "no big deal" that the pigeon Bernice knows how to play Checkers?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I liked Muppet Babies, I still get the theme song to that show stuck in my head every now and then.
I like that Bunsen and Beaker were prominant characters.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Bunsen and Beaker lived next door, and they came to visit, but I don't think they were in every episode.
I *loved* muppet babies when I was growing up. I'm so sad that they don't run them anymore as reruns.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I liked Muppet Babies a lot, but I'll admit I was a bit freaked by the episodes where Baby Robin visited. It raised so many questions about Baby Kermit. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer-
In Bert's own words: "Out of the five games we've played, she's only beaten me twice."
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
This thread is making me so happy! I love reminiscing about what a good show these all were. Keep them coming Puffy!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
During the first season of "Saturday Night Live" (way back in 1975), Jim Henson's Muppets were regulars on the show. Not the bunch seen on any other projects or skits...but a decidedly adult, bizarre bunch of Muppets who haven't been seen since.
The human SNL performers (with the possible exception of Gilda Rander and Chevy Chase) were infamous for -hating- the Muppets. In fact, after Jim Henson returned from taping the pilot episodes of The Muppet Show over the the UK halfway through the season, what had been done to the Muppet sets? And when did he find out?
(This is a rather obscure question, so I'll give a bonus.)
Bonus question:
Who is Oscar the Grouch's best human friend? (Though he'd never admit it.)
[ March 27, 2006, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer:
Henson returned to find out that all the sets for the SNL Muppet skits had been scrapped, and subsequently the SNL Muppet characters were fired on the air. Ouch.
Bonus Answer: Maria.
[ March 27, 2006, 08:00 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
Dangit. I knew the Maria one.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
This was Jim Henson's favorite song. It was used on The Muppet Show, put on one of Rowlf the Dog's records, and was even sung at his memorial service.
What was the song?
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Ah! I think I know this one -- "Turn the World Around," which was sung by Harry Belafonte on the show and at Henson's memorial service.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
quote:Originally posted by Puffy Treat: Henson returned to find out that all the sets for the SNL Muppet skits had been scrapped, and subsequently the SNL Muppet characters were fired on the air. Ouch.
Huh, by "fired on the air," do you mean that it was actually announced that they'd no longer be appearing? (Like how Andy Kaufman was voted off SNL?)
By the way, I'm really enjoying this thread, thanks!!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Close. Very close. That was one of Henson's favorite songs, but it's not the song I'm referring to.
Hint: It was also sung by Groucho Marx, in one of the Marx Brothers films.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Ummm... "Hello, I Must Be Going"? (Only Marx Bros. song I can remember.)
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Let's just say the remainder of the SNL Muppet skits that season (they still had a contract to fulfill) became increasingly short, grim, yet strangely funny.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
plaid: Oooh, getting colder. Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Ack.
Have you seen the SNL skits? Are they out on DVD?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
No, but most of the SNL Muppet sketches can be viewed at the Museum of Televsion and Radio Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
quote:Originally posted by ElJay: Wait a minute, they made Snuffy visible to everyone? Did they move Oscar into a penthouse, too? Sesame Street is dead to me now.
Snuffy was made visible to everyone years ago as a teaching lesson for parents. Sesame Street was trying to teach parents that if a child tells you the same story over and over again (like someone touching them inappropriatly) they are probably telling the truth and should be treated that way.
Snuffy was made visible in the early 80s (I know because I was still young enough to be watching the show at that time), I'm surprise so many people were so shocked by that.
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
see this is what happens when you respond without reading the whole thread first. you end up repeating what others have already said.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I am loving this thread. Thanks, Puffy Treat.
Posted by Jack Bauer (Member # 9182) on :
Wow. I have the Rowlf the Dog album with "Lydia The Tattood Lady" on it, but had no idea it was sung at Henson's funeral.
Posted by LeoJ (Member # 9272) on :
The mahna mahna song!!!!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Rainbow Connection.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Jack Bauer is correct!
"Lydia" was sung at Jim Henson's memorial service, following his request.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's questions:
1) Unlike most of the Muppet projects aimed at children, Jim Henson had a definite ending in mind for Fraggle Rock. The last episodes featured all of the conflicts introduced in the first season being gradually resolved. What was the final conflict resolved, leading to a state of peace and happiness for all the characters?
2) What did Gonzo really want to try during the opening credit sequence of The Great Muppet Caper? And what was Kermit's rather dry reply?
3) Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas featured all of the following songs -except- A) The Underwear That Your Grandma Otter Wore B) We're Closer Now Than Ever Before C) It Feels Like Christmas D) Brothers E) Riverbottom Nightmare Band
4) Prairie Dawn, the intelligent and calm little girl Muppet on Sesame Street is eternally what age?
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
1) Darn, I should know this.
2) I _really_ should know this... Muppet Caper was my favorite muppet movie as a kid... EDIT: I did sort of know what Gonzo wanted, but I had forgotten the awesome reply by Kermit. Yay internet
3) Pretty sure it's D)
5) 4?
-Bok
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
If you know what they said, share! Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
1) Doc discovered the existence of the Fraggles. Even though he was moving to a new home, the magic of Fraggle Rock allowed him to keep in touch with his new friends...no more need for them to sneak around and hide.
2) Gonzo: "I'd like to try this without the balloon!"
Kermit: "Try what, plummeting?"
Gonzo: "Yeah!"
Kermit: "Well, I suppose you could try it once."
3) C- "It Feels Like Christmas" is a song from Muppet Christmas Carol.
4) Prairie is a (very mature) age 9.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
Rowlf the Dog has been pretty much a musical number/secondary character since the mid-70s, but he originally starred as the sole Muppet on another show. Name the show.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I know, I know....
"Rowlf the Dog's very own show"
no?
how about,
"David Letterman's not so stupid Pet Tricks?"
no?
I remember now.
"Seinfeld"
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
The Jimmy Dean Show
(Which I'd never heard of, only know because I read about in a Muppet book...)
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
plaid is correct!
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Darn, I could have sworn he was the wacky neighbor in Sienfeld.
Posted by JLM (Member # 7800) on :
quote:Originally posted by Puffy Treat: Correct. Clifford was originally created to play the guitar on Solid Foam, MuppeTelevision's in-house band. For some reason, he was chosen to be the host of Muppets Tonight...the show that also introduced *shudder* Pepe', the King Prawn Who Is Crammed Down Your Throat Over and Over Again In Every Muppet Project Since 1996.
Hey! I like Pepe'. Of the new muppets he is definitly the best. After all, he did save the muppet theatre from Ms. Bitterman. "Great news, everybody! Unless you happen to be an evil, sexy banker lady, then it SUCKS, okaaay"
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Ah, yes. He not only is continually crammed down one's throat, but he's used to steal Kermit's thunder.
Nope, not a Pepe fan.
Saying that out of the new (i.e. "Muppets Tonight" characters) Muppets he was the best is nothing to write home about. Johnny Fiama, Bobo the Bear, Mr. Poodlepants...anyone would look good compared to such characters.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
Wait, when did Snuffy become visible? I distictly remember that he was still invisible in the early 1990s, but I could be completely wrong. Tell me Puffy Treat, oh knower of amazing Muppet trivia!
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I looked it up, he became visible in the 80s, but I know there were episodes where he was invisible after I was born (which was 86).
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Yep, I was there the day that Snuffy came out of the closet. It was a momentous day and I was rather glad to see the grown ups feel all sheepish after they had doubted Big Bird for so long.
Posted by Dante (Member # 1106) on :
quote:Yep, I was there the day that Snuffy came out of the closet.
So we're just waiting for Bert, now?
Posted by Epictetus (Member # 6235) on :
Ernie keeps him opressed, its a very sad relationship actually.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Narnia: Yep, I was there the day that Snuffy came out of the closet. It was a momentous day and I was rather glad to see the grown ups feel all sheepish after they had doubted Big Bird for so long.
I remember too! (I wasn't watching SS that often by that time, but my mom heard about it in advance (newspaper? radio? I don't remember) and we watched the groundbreaking episode.)
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Bert has never denied that he's a very boring person who likes dancing the Pigeon and collecting bottlecaps. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
In The Muppet Movie, what is the name of the gentleman who draws up the standard "Rich and Famous" contract for Kermit and company?
Bonus question: Who played him?
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
I've got the bonus question. Orson Wells. No idea what his name was.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Correct, he was played by Orson Wells.
The character was named Lew Lord...partially in tribute to Lord Grade, the man who made The Muppet Show possible.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
This film is the last project the late Richard Hunt (Scooter, Janice, Beaker, many others) recorded dialogue for. Name the film.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Name the film? President Bush's 2002 State of the Union Address.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
My older brother and I used to pretend we were Bert and Ernie. He was Bert, I was Ernie.
I never understood why ANYONE would choose to be the Bert of that duo. To this day, I don't really understand my older brother.
I mean...weird.
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
When we were kids, we always thought Bert reminded us of Thomas S Monson. Part of that was the pigeon thing.
But part of it was the way the local stake center's projector always stretched his head out on the screen during confrence . . .
And speaking of Richard Hunt, my father in law still calls my wife Beaker, because of the way she talked when she was a toddler . . .
I thought these questions would get easier once we got away from Fraggles. Not having cable as a kid kills me on those . . .
But alas, I am still being schooled.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The film was MuppetVision 3*D, currently viewable only as the Disney theme parks.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
This TV special was broadcast as an episode of The Jim Henson Hour in 1989, won Jim Henson an Emmy for best direction, and later inspired a spin-off animated series.
Name the special.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by Scott R: My older brother and I used to pretend we were Bert and Ernie. He was Bert, I was Ernie.
I never understood why ANYONE would choose to be the Bert of that duo. To this day, I don't really understand my older brother.
I mean...weird.
Scott, my older brother idolized Bert as well. He expressed this in a number of ways, including collecting bottle caps and attempting to develop a taste for plain soda water (he disliked it, and would pour it out if he thought that no one was watching, but he insisted that it was delicious.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Don't know the answer, but just have to say again how much I like this thread. Go Puffy! Hooray!
[ April 01, 2006, 10:08 PM: Message edited by: sweetbaboo ]
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
Muppet variety #6: The Heartless Giant
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer: Dog City Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
How tall is the average Fraggle?
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
18 inches
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
andi is correct!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
re: Bert and Ernie...the characters were developed from the idea of having a child character on the show who would continually get the better of adults. It was decided that such would be too "Dennis the Menace"...but Jim Henson kept at the idea, altering it to a playful, child-like character who was continually joking around with a stody, adult-like character. Hence Bert and Ernie were born.
And a trivia question: What is the name of Bert's baby nephew?
(He only turned up once, but it was a very memorable skit.)
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
His name is Brad. And he has red hair.
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
Brad
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Boris & andi are correct!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question: What is the name of the pink creatures seen during the "Mahna Mahna" number?
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
The Snowths
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
You just had to put that song in my head. @#$@#$@#!
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
Do-Dooo Do-Do-Doot!
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
It's a cool song, but I prefer the song about worms
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
andi is correct.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
The Muppets Take Manhattan was directed by Frank Oz, except for one memorable sequence. What was the sequence, and who directed it?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer: The "Rizzo and the Rats Cook Breakfast" dance number.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
who directed it?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question:
Once Jim Henson had the idea of producing twelve "Storybook Specials". The Henson company would hire a children's storybook illustrator to design characters and a setting...the Muppet workshop would then build them, and a high quality family special would be the result. Of the twelve planned, only two were made before the project was discontinued.
What were the titles of the two specials?
Bonus question:
What character was spun off from one of the specials into various Muppet projects of the late 80s-early 90s?
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Was it Sweetums?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Sweetums predates this particular project. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The Tale of the Bunnies Picnic and The Christmas Toy. Bean Bunny, a character from "Bunnies Picnic" was for a few years included as part of the "core Muppet cast" on later TV series, specials, and films.
Posted by Ramdac99 (Member # 7264) on :
question?
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
I guess i need to re-watch the Christmas Toy, one of my favorite movies growing up -- i don't remember Bean being in that at all!
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I didn't say Bean was in "Christmas Toy". Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
What's the new question?
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
Ah, i misread. I thought your post said Bean was spun off from both the specials, not just the one Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
Alright, I'll ask a question.
"Telly" the monster was originally designed with a very differrent personality. The only thing that ended up being used of the initial idea was the name. What was the idea, why was it scrapped, and what did they go with instead?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Telly was originally going to be the "Television Monster"...just as Cookie Monster is obsessed with cookies, he would be obsessed with watching TV.
CTW decided this might be looked as as advocating poor TV viewing habits, so they made Telly a highly nervous, uncertain, angst-ridden, yet somehow lovable monster instead.
[ April 08, 2006, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
My question for today:
The Muppets Visit Walt Disney World was one of the last TV specials Jim Henson ever made. Part of the original Disney-Muppet deal, it featured the "core" Muppets visiting attractions at the Walt Disney World theme parks, as well as several musical numbers.
One of these musical numbers raised eyebrows from the Disney people, but made the cut because it was felt to be so light-hearted and innocent that no one would be offended.
What was the number? And in what context was is sung?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
This isn't a question, but this video never fails to crack me up. Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
As I understood it, the part they most specifically feared would be imitated was that the character would watch TV with his face pressed right against the screen.
As for the last third, I was looking for what obsession took the place of the television obsession.
Bonus Question: In addition to belonging to the organization devoted to his new obsession, Telly once created a group of "keteers" (ala Grouchketeers, Birdketeers) devoted to someone else on Sesame Street. Who was it?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Telly is obsessed with triangles.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Didn't Telly make a group devoted to Bob?
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
Whoo-hoo! You're both right.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer: Gonzo and Camilla the chicken had a musical number called "Love in the Laundromat" that involved Gonzo and his chicken girlfriend getting -very- affectionate with each other...but done in such an innocent manner that it was allowed to pass.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Today's question: Back in the 60s Jim Henson planned to produce a Muppet TV special guest starring Johnny Carson. The special was never produced, but sketches of it (and a basic plotline) remain. What was the title of the special, and what would have been the plot?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Answer: "Johnny Carson and the Muppet Machine"...Mr. Carson would have gone to a atudio in order to film a TV special and instead have found a mysterious machine, filled with bizarre Muppets.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Since work's been walloping me, lately...I'm gonna take a break from posting new trivia questions. Anyone else wish to contribute?
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Here's a link to a Muppet clip over at Mark Evanier's website, letsee, hope I get the link right... I haven't actually watched it myself (trying not to exceed our daily bandwidth), but it sounds neat: link
quote:What we have here is a clip from The Tonight Show for January 23, 1974. Johnny Carson's guests that night included Jack Benny, Mel Blanc, Maria Muldaur, Dr. Irwin Maxwell Stillman and Jim Henson...and this is Henson's spot with Kermit the Frog. You can see a bit of Benny at the end.
It's really world-class puppeteering. Henson was not a ventriloquist but he manipulated Kermit so well and gave him so much personality that you never really notice that Jim's lips are moving. (Although I always suspected that he grew the beard and mustache, which he did not have when he first began appearing on television, because they helped hide his mouth.) It's also quite charming that Kermit forgets the lyrics to his signature song...
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Oh, it's lovely. I miss Jim Henson.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Ditto. I will never forget that Paul Conrad cartoon (which, alas, I cannot find online).
The only Conrad, ever, to make me cry.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Thank you for posting that.
*wipes tear*
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
How effortless Mr. Henson makes it appear to give such life and nuance to Kermit. Just amazing.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
The story goes that June Henson was introducing one of the children on Sesame Street to Jim.
"Do you know who this is?" she said.
"Yes," said the child. "That's the man who holds up Kermit while he's working."
And a trivia question!
What is Kermit's amphibiously-appropriate birthday?
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
quote: What is Kermit's amphibiously-appropriate birthday?
The Ides of Marsh?
--Enigmatic
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Great guess.
Q: What is Kermit's amphibiously-appropriate birthday?
A: Leap Year Day (February 29th)
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Today's Question:
Mr. Hooper never had a first name on the show, until one day when a prop forced the writers to come up with one.
What was the prop?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I didn't know (I do now, but I cheated); but Mr. Hooper was my favorite character.
And this STILL makes me cry.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Thanks for posting that link, Rivka.
Q: What was the prop?
A: When Mr. Hooper got his GED, they needed a full name to put on his diploma.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Today's question:
Elmo and Clifford have the same voice actor as a sage from a 1990 hit film from a Hong Kong production company. The sage and actor both returned for the sequel, which was dedicated to the memory of Jim Henson, but in the third film the sage was voiced by a differrent actor.
What was the trilogy and who was the sage?
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I thought Clifford's (as in the Big Red Dog, is that the Clifford you're referring to?) voice was done by Jack Ritter.
Is Clifford a creation of Jim Henson? I kinda don't think so but I have no idea.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I think there might have been a Clifford on Sessame Street, the big red dog is not a Jim Henson creation, and I believe it was voiced by John Ritter.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The "Clifford" they're referring to is a Muppet performed by Kevin Clash. He was a member of the band Solid Foam on the MuppeTelevision segement of The Jim Henson Hour.
He was also the host of Muppets Tonight.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Puffy's right about which Clifford I mean. So besides Elmo and Clifford, who did Kevin clash do the voice for?
Q: What was the trilogy and who was the sage?
A: The three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, and the sage was Master Splinter.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Today's question:
Why was the character of Harvey Kneeslapper, the practical joker, discontinued on Sesame Street?
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
breyer, I had moment of confusion with Jack Tripper and John Ritter. Thanks for the clarification.
And interesting about the Clifford, apparently I don't remember him or he has been eclipsed in my brain by the Big, Red Dog.
[ May 03, 2006, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: sweetbaboo ]
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
According to Wikipedia:
quote: Harvey disappeared from Sesame Street, because of mixed public response to the character, and his laughing was too hard on Muppeteer Frank Oz's throat.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Ding, ding!
Andi's got it. There was also some ambivalance on the part of the writers. He was kind of a one-joke character, and they'd done the joke.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Today's question:
When Ralph Nader appeared on Sesame Street, muppets sang, "The consumer advocate's a person in your neigborhood."
There was one more word changed in the song, at Nader's request. Which word was it and why?
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Answer:
Nader asked that the last line be changed to "The people whom you meet each day." He felt it was more grammatically correct.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
New Question:
Although Big Bird was originally envisioned as a giant canary, if you ran a DNA test on the costume's feathers, what kind of bird would you find him to be?
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
Ostrich!
--Enigmatic
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Why are you running DNA tests on big bird? Is your pet canary raising a 7 foot tall youngling without its father?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Why Dan? You have something to hide?
With a last name like that, I would worry too. Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Dan is free and clear.
A: Big Bird's costume is made of turkey feathers.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
I'll try a question, hope my memory's right about this:
One episode of The Muppet Show did NOT take place at the Muppet Theatre. Where did it take place?
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
A hatrack thread.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
A railroad station.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Puffy Treat is right!
OK, new question, and (should be) an easy one: how did Kermit and Miss Piggy's wedding on The Muppet Show get interrupted?
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
Instead of saying "I do" Kermit introduces Lew Zeland and his amazing boomerang fish. Lew runs onstage and starts throwing his fish around. Angry, Piggy karate chops Kermit. (It won't be the last time.)
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I know! My favorite is Bert's screaming reaction to the balloon popping. It's so choice!
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