Weekly Muppet Wednesday: Doglion

Written by Ryan Dosier.

DOGLION

Performed by...
Jerry Nelson (1977)
Frank Oz (1977)
Jim Henson (1978)
Dave Goelz (1979)
Kevin Clash (1989)
Jim Martin (1990)
Bill Barretta (1996)

First appearance...
The Muppet Show Episode 209: Madeline Kahn (1977)

Most recent appearance...
Muppets Tonight Episode 208: The Cameo Show (1997) 

Best known role...
Large, hulking, gray Muppet monster; first Muppet to appear on the big screen in The Muppet Movie

WHO IS DOGLION?
Doglion is the huge, full-bodied Muppet monster who first appeared in Season 2 of The Muppet Show. Doglion appeared throughout the rest of run of The Muppet Show, performing mostly with the other Muppet monsters but also occasionally interacting with the special guest stars. Most notably performing a dramatic dance interpretation with Lesley Ann Warren in Episode 315 and chasing Cloris Leachman around a tiny desert island with Sweetums in Episode 224. Doglion also destroyed a park to spite Madeline Kahn, attacked Dom DeLuise at Sheppard's Institute of Animal Protection, begged for Julie Andrews' autograph, and danced with Lola Falana.

The most impressive item on Doglion's resume, however, is the fact that he was the first Muppet character to appear on the big screen in a feature film. In the opening shot of The Muppet Movie in 1979, Doglion can be seen pushing around scenery on the lot of World Wide Studios. After we find the Muppets in the movie theater, Doglion asks Miss Piggy if the seat next to her is taken... and then takes it, most literally.

Doglion would not appear in any of the other Muppet movies, but did have brief appearances in The Muppets Go Hollywood and The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years. Doglion had a slight resurgence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing in two episodes of The Jim Henson Hour in 1989 and also in the episode of The Cosby Show which guest starred a bunch of the Muppets. In the episode, Doglion assisted Sweetums in man-handling Bill Cosby.

Doglion has not appeared since Muppets Tonight in 1996-1997. In the series, however, Doglion appeared three times, appearing after Sandra Bullock says "Shave and a haircut" to respond with "Two bits," dancing with Paula Abdul in "Opposites Attract," and briefly in "The Cameo Show." Doglion has appeared in books and comic books since Muppets Tonight, and also had a Mini-Muppet figure made of him during the Palisades Toys era, but Doglion has not appeared onscreen since 1997.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED DOGLION? 
Doglion is just one of many in the Muppet monster pantheon from The Muppet Show. What sets him apart isn't just that he is a full-bodied monster, but that he is so distinct in appearance. He is bigger than Sweetums and most of the others (except Thog) and just has an awesome design. In the age where Thog and the Mutations can be rebuilt for The Muppets last year, why not bring back Doglion into the fray as well?

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com