The Great Muppet Survey: Lucas Ervin

Answers from Lucas Ervin

1.   Who are your three favorite characters from The Muppet Show, Muppets Tonight, The Jim Henson Hour, the Muppet movies, etc. and why?
It’s obvious that Kermit is the greatest on The Muppet Show, but I’d have to say Fozzie, Floyd and Rowlf. Fozzie was incredibly sweet, Floyd had a fantastic singing voice and I loved watching Rowlf play the piano... but what all three of them had in common was that they were really good at being incredibly funny without trying too hard.

2.   Who are your three favorite characters from Sesame Street and why?
Ernie, since he’s just so sweet and lovable; Cookie Monster, because he’s hilariously impulsive; and Kermit the Frog, who was the perfect teacher.

3.   Who are your three favorite characters from Fraggle Rock and why? 
Wembley, I feel like I’m the most like him... Mokey, because she was bubbly, poetic, motherly, funny and just a tad bit air-headed without seeming unintelligent... Convincing John and Cantus are tied here, because they’re both very unique to the show; I loved how Convincing John was just wild and all over the place, like a combination of a used car salesman and Krusty the Clown. Cantus was fantastic for being quite silly in displaying wisdom.

4.   What is your favorite television program starring any of Jim Henson's creations (e.g. The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, Dinosaurs, etc.) and why?
While The Muppet Show means the world to me, Fraggle Rock teaches you everything you’ll ever need to be a decent, honest person in life. I think every kid should be made to watch that program at some point.

5.   What is your favorite Muppet movie and why?
The Muppet Movie. The first film encapsulates everything the Muppets stand for.

6.   What is your favorite Muppet/Sesame/Fraggle song and why?
"We’re Not Gonna Stop" from The Muppets at Walt Disney World, "Do The Rubber Duck" by Ernie on Sesame Street, and "The Rock Goes On" from Fraggle Rock.

7.   If you could have dinner with any living Muppet performer who would you choose and why?
Frank Oz. Even if he’s somewhat quiet and distant, I still would be sitting there in awe of everything this guy has accomplished.

8.   If you could tell Jim Henson one thing, what would it be?
Can I give Kermit a hug?

9.   If the President called you and asked to discuss Muppet projects, what would you tell him was the "Greatest Muppet Moment of All Time"? 
Seeing all the Muppet characters holding hands as they’re about to go on stage and sing Rainbow Connection with Kermit and Piggy in The Muppets. There is no greater underdog story out there than these wild but loving characters doing their best to put on a show.

10.   What's the name of that song?
Just an Old Fashioned Love Song

11.   If a judge ruled that Grover had to be your personal assistant for a month, what jobs would you have him do?
Grover is just a puppet. Next.

12.   In your opinion, what is the worst Muppet production ever made?
I’d have to say Muppets Tonight… it’s the worst in that it’s the most detrimental of all projects. Here is where we see the decline in central characters and disrespect towards the franchise that Jim worked so hard to build, and because of this loss of focus, the projects that came after were more and more difficult to watch, all the way up until 2009’s Bohemian Rhapsody video.

13.   Who is one celebrity you would love to see cameo in the next Muppet movie?
I’d love to see Steve Carell. He has this amazing discipline about himself when he’s being funny.

14.   If you could take a picture with any Muppet, who would you choose and how would you pose? 
With Lew Zealand, and with both of us freeze-framed at throwing boomerang fish.

15.   What is your favorite piece of Muppet merchandise that you own? (Feel free to include a picture!)
I’ve got plenty of neat Muppet stuff but my Palisades collection shelf is still my favorite thing.

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

Lucas Ervin's Hopes for the Next Muppet Movie

Lucas Ervin - Hey everyone, Happy Holidays! I'm sure you all are ready for the Muppet sequel to get under way next month. With filming starting in January, and Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell signed on as the human leads, I'm sure a lot of you have your own thoughts on how this movie should go, and how they can improve from the first. What I'd like to do is to share some of my thoughts on how they can make the second movie even better. Without further ado, here's my list on how the upcoming sequel can be an even stronger film than its predecessor!

1. Human actors shouldn't sing! In the first three films, hardly any of the human leads ever sang a song. And the one person who did--Charles Grodin--didn't even use his real singing voice: it was an opera singer, and it was done in a silly fashion. We really don't need another movie with songs like "Me Party" or "Let's Talk About Me." Part of the magic of the Muppets is that they can take something that wouldn't be as funny if a person had done it, and not only make it acceptable, they make it enjoyable. If you don't believe me, how about the scene in The Muppets where they took what is one of the worst songs of the 1980s, "We Built This City," and made it one of the most memorable scenes in the film.

2. Animal is NOT a main character! We all love Animal. Who doesn't? But as Frank Oz once stated, he's monosyllabic, and his only thoughts are food, women, pain, sleep, and drums. He's a one-dimensional character who is strictly there for laughs. We now live in a world where new, outstanding Muppeteers can take up old favorites like Scooter and Rowlf who used to be the leads, and when Animal has more lines than they do, it's unfitting to the Muppet world. He's the mascot of the Muppets, and when does a coach ever ask the mascot to suit up for the big varsity game? I would love to see him eating furniture, yelling "WOMAN!" or with the band doing a number.

3. The Electric Mayhem should sing! Now is the perfect time to bring them back to do another number together. The Electric Mayhem is an integral part of any Muppet film, and they are definitely due a new song. I'm not talking about just Dr. Teeth or Floyd doing a song; I mean all six members--yes, including Lips--do a number together. Bret McKenzie did a phenomenal job with "Man Or Muppet" as evidence of his Oscar, so let's see what else he's got!

4. Put some danger into it! There was once a time where the Muppets were puppet versions of Monty Pythons, but endearing, honest, and loveable. Nowadays, loveable-ness outweighs the anarchy the Muppets were once so famous for. At this point, we've seen the Muppets broke, homeless, hit by cars, blown up, thrown from a plane, kidnapped, held at gunpoint, and even put in the electric chair. And all of these scenarios were done in an entertaining fashion. When it comes to the potential of this upcoming Muppet film, it could be every bit as epic as any great Pixar movie if they just trust their gut and know that these characters are unlike any other.

5. We don't need new characters! Walter was a good addition to the Muppet family, but the Moopets will most likely be lost in the annals of Characters Forgotten. Do we really need more one-note Muppets? Characters like these aren't always terrible, but they are one-dimensional, and never seem to last past the movie they were in, which is a shame. I think that Uncle Deadly stating that he's a Muppet and not a Moopet was a subtle way of stating that the Muppets are best when they're all on the same team.

6.    Don't call this sequel The Muppets 2! While the first movie was simply called The Muppets it worked, because some would find it odd calling it The Muppet Show Movie. The new one should definitely have the word Muppet in it, but to just have the number 2 beside it seems lazy. And calling it The Great Muppet Caper 2 is just as bad. Don't think too hard about it, just give it a nice title so that it stands out on its own.

 What are your hopes for the next Muppet movie? Let us know and we might feature them on the site!

4 DAYS UNTIL THE MUPPETS!!

Lucas Ervin - Well here we are, folks. It's the final four sketches presented for the 100 Days of Muppets series. It's unreal how fast time has flown by! This has been a lot of fun to do, and I certainly hope you have enjoyed reading and watching these as much as I've enjoyed putting them together. Well, enough stalling; here are the top four moments of Kermit and Miss Piggy history from The Muppet Show.

 

4.   I Won't Dance - There has always been a "Will they/Won't they" dynamic between the two leads on The Muppet Show, and what better way to illustrate that point than with this song from season two when the hilarious comedian, George Burns, was the guest star. Here we see an “At The Dance” spot turn into a fun duet of a Frank Sinatra classic between Kermit and Piggy. Miss Piggy is pining for a certain someone to dance with, but Kermit would rather not. Despite her coaxing and flirting, Kermit just won't dance, until Miss Piggy finally gives up and teaches him that she's not somebody you want to say no to...

3.   The Wedding Sketch - In one episode of season three, two very unique events took place; we meet Lew Zealand for the first time, and Piggy tries to marry Kermit by telling him he's starring in a "silly wedding sketch" at the end of the show. While Miss Piggy is busy booking a priest and trying on her wedding gown, Kermit keeps getting pestered by the boomerang fish-thrower and tells Lew he's not fit for the show. Kermit reluctantly agrees to do the wedding sketch, not knowing that it's for real until right before he's about to say, "I do," and instead says, "I... I... I want to introduce to you, the amazing Lew Zealand and his boomerang fish!"

 

2.   Miss Piggy is Fired - In the final season, we get to witness one of the most heated arguments between the frog and the pig. When Kermit finds out Miss Piggy has been planting gossip items in the tabloids about the two having been secretly getting married in Las Vegas, Kermit flips his froggy lid. The heated, one-sided argument ends with Kermit firing Piggy. Miss Piggy has other plans though, and marches right onto the Swine Trek and takes her spot back from guest star Loretta Swit. When Kermit objects, Loretta reminds him that you can't possibly replace Miss Piggy, and also tells Piggy that she wouldn't be anywhere without Kermit.

 

1.   Ukulele Lady - I honestly couldn't think of a way to end this perfectly, so I figured I'd use a quote from The Kermit and Piggy Story, an clip-compilation video from the 1990s, since it sums up their relationship--as well as the entire ensemble of The Muppet Show--just perfectly: 

Kermit: We've certainly had some rough times together, Piggy.

Piggy: I'll say!

Kermit: But on the other hand, we've had some good times, too.

Piggy: Well... heh, yeah.

Kermit: So I guess we ought to remember the good times.

Piggy: Yeah... let's.

Thanks to Jason Segel, James Bobin, Nick Stroller, the incredible Muppeteers, and the entire cast and crew of The Muppets for giving me a reason to do this, as well as the wonderful people who brought us The Muppet Show over 35 years ago and made everything possible in the first place. Also, a very special thank-you to the head of The Muppet Mindset, Ryan Dosier, for letting me have a little fun here. And now, after twelve years of waiting, in just four days, it will FINALLY be time to play the music, time to light the lights... time to see The Muppets!

ONLY 4 DAYS UNTIL THE MUPPETS!!!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com

9 Days Until "The Muppets"!!

Lucas Ervin - Well here we are only nine days until The Muppets is in theaters! What's even better is that Kermit and co. are appearing everywhere to promote the movie; from Ellen to The Tonight Show, and everything in between! We're about to wrap up the 100 Days of Muppets series, and in these final days we're going to cover that famous, oft troubled couple, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Kermit's role as host of The Muppet Show mirrored Jim Henson's own role with the Muppeteers, and Miss Piggy rose to stardom after pushing her way to the forefront after just being a simple chorus pig. Together, they make the perfect Hollywood couple. Kermit is an excellent host, trying to hold all the crazy together. When Miss Piggy wasn't starring in sketches--such as Veterinarian's Hospital and Pigs in Space--she would be leading a song, hitting on the male guest stars, or trying to manipulate her frog into doing something she wanted... and if that didn't work, he learned quickly that you don't tick off the pig. But even with all that, Kermit and Piggy really do love and care about each other (more or less). Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the best of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

9.   Temptation - In the very first episode in The Muppet Show, we see the first time Kermit and Piggy work together. This is the sketch that marks the beginning of their relationship. During the first season, both Frank Oz and Richard Hunt took turns performing Miss Piggy, and Frank didn't solidify himself as her sole performer until season two. As you can see, Miss Piggy's looks have changed dramatically since then. During the five-year run of The Muppet Show, there were eight different Miss Piggy puppets. She really didn't start to resemble her current look until season 4. If the glee club on that famous show was more like this glee club, I'm pretty sure I'd tune in each week...

8.   Being Green - I'm almost positive that we've all heard this song at some point in our lives. It's beautiful, it's insightful, and it's Kermit's official anthem. Written by Joe Raposo during the first season of Sesame Street in 1970, this song was performed twice on The Muppet Show, and Kermit has sang it a number of other times as well. Big Bird even sang it while wearing a green ribbon at Jim Henson's memorial service. In recent years, the song has been used for a number of environmental ads and even car commercials. But it is most important for people to remember the song's message, and I believe Ray Charles said it best, "Jim Henson took a simple song and turned it into a message of great power. This song is about knowing who you are, and Jim's message is clear; we should learn to love who we are, and be proud of it. And that's how we learn to love each other."

7.   I'm a Woman - Miss Piggy never really had an issue with the male guest stars... but when it came to the females who came on the show, she would often get envious and find ways to remind them who the star was. There really is no better example of this than when Miss Piggy forces Raquel Welch's solo number into a duet. Piggy is, essentially, as Morley Saver of 60 Minutes once said, "Charlie McCarthy and Mae West with roles reversed." Her flamboyant attitude and her need to constantly be in the spotlight and upstage anyone who tried to be a bigger beauty than her solidified Miss Piggy as a Hollywood star, and that star is still burning bright today.

6.   Happy Feet - Both "Rainbow Connection" and "Bein' Green" are beautiful songs that Kermit sang, but sometimes he got into more upbeat tunes like "Lime in the Coconut," "Disco Frog," and of course, that famous song from the 1930s, "Happy Feet." And this particular number is one of the most famous in the history of The Muppet Show. Kermit sang it during the second season in order to answer the age-old question: Can the frog tap dance? While it's just as catchy as "Mahna Mahna," the most unique thing about the number is that you never see Kermit’s feet throughout the entire song. This song has been featured on four different Muppet albums... all of them ending with Waldorf saying, "You know, on the show it wasn't funny... but on a record, it doesn't even make sense!"

5.   The Amazing Foo-Foo - Miss Piggy was featured in a lot of guest spots and various sketches. But if there's one sketch that always makes me laugh, it's this act that she did with her dog Foo-Foo, backed by Rowlf at the piano. This is one of many terrific examples of how well Jim and Frank worked together. While Miss Piggy is trying to show the audience her "amazing" dog, Rowlf keeps interrupting the act with hilarious one-liners, providing the irony that he's a dog that not only talks, but plays the piano and tells jokes, rendering Foo-Foo's talents useless. But Piggy doesn't take it lying down, pointing out that, "If I wanted [Foo-Foo] to do something simple, I'd have her play the piano and make dumb remarks!"

4.   Lydia the Tattooed Lady - Miss Piggy has never been very good at hiding her envy whenever a female guest star like Linda Ronstadt or fellow girl performer like Annie Sue sang a song or so much as looked at her frog. In fact, her jealousy was shown as early as the second episode of The Muppet Show, and Kermit did this little ditty from the Marx Brothers. In an opening number that may or may not be suitable for young kids, Kermit points out all of the tattoos on Lydia while giving us a few lessons in history. The tattoos on the Lydia puppet were actually drawn by Jim Henson. When the number ends, Lydia chases Kermit off the stage with kisses, and when they see Piggy waiting in the wings, Kermit asks her if she’s met Lydia, to which Piggy replies, "No... have you met my left fist?" This is actually the first time we ever see her knock Kermit out, and her famous "Hiii-yaa!" came shortly after this.

Stay tuned for the final installment of 100 Days of Muppet: Part 2 of the Best of Kermit and Piggy!

ONLY 9 DAYS UNTIL THE MUPPETS!!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com

16 Days Until "The Muppets"!!

Lucas Ervin - It's officially November! Before the month is over, we'll have a new Muppet movie in theaters. And while we wait, we bring you everyone's favorite furry, fuzzy, funny-man: fabulous, free-wheeling, fast, and frantic, Fozzie Bear! Fozzie was originally performed by Frank Oz, and now performed by Eric Jacobson. Fozzie has been around since the first episode of The Muppet Show and is Kermit's best and closest friend. Known for his terrible jokes, undying eagerness to please, and over-sized heart, Fozzie brought us plenty of classic moments over the five year run of The Muppet Show. Whether being heckled by Statler and Waldorf, giving the wrong introductions for the guest star, or trying some ridiculous new act to make people laugh... Fozzie Bear became a staple in the Muppet world by being so loveable, so caring, and so darn funny. Who cares that he bombs every week? (The audience. That's who cares.) So let's hear it for a week of Fozzie Bear!


16.   Good Grief! The Comedian's A Bear! - In one of the first bits to feature Fozzie and Kermit, the audience, performers, and writers began to grasp what Fozzie is all about. With this corny yet classic moment the bear and the frog of his heart, Fozzie and Kermit solidify their relationship almost immediately. Fozzie was much different in the season one, and the writers felt that the audience couldn't sympathize with an always-failing comedian. In the second season, Jerry Juhl decided that it would be best to focus on the positive aspects of the bear, and Fozzie became the lovable furry fellow we know today.

15.   Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor's Life For Me) - Rowlf the Dog is another good buddy to Fozzie. The two were paired up for many segments together on The Muppet Show. Their relationship, along with the relationship between Kermit and Fozzie, truly mirrored how well Frank Oz and Jim Henson played together for so many years, just making people (and themselves) laugh. One of Rowlf and Fozzie's best schticks was performing the song "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor's Life For Me)" from Disney's Pinocchio. Fozzie tells some terrible fish and hula-hoop jokes while Rowlf muses, "Leaving the stage is funnier than a lot of things the bear does."

14.   Confide In Me - When the sexy and talented Raquel Welch visited The Muppet Show, Fozzie decided to be more aggressive, trying to shake his previous image, much to the amusement of Kermit and Floyd Pepper. Of course, this new, assertive Fozzie didn't last very long and by the middle of the episode he's back to his old self. While moping around backstage, wishing he had the nerve to meet Raquel, Fozzie comes face to face (or face to slightly lower body area) with Miss Welch. When Raquel told the bear that she did the show just so she could meet him, Fozzie melts in her arms as she sings a sexy rendition of Diana Ross's "Confide in Me."

13.   Wally Whoopee - One thing Fozzie was never good at was learning how to deal with people upstaging him--or, even worse, possibly replacing him. One of the funniest times when Fozzie had to deal with another comedian on stage was when Johnny Cash guest starred and Wally Whoopee buried the bear in his own jokes, ruining his comedic spot for the night. You can't help but feel sorry for Fozzie, but you have to admit, it was pretty funny.

12.   Run Rabbit Run - Sometimes, Fozzie would try accomplishing whatever talent the guest star that week could do, which usually ended poorly. Case in point: the Doug Henning episode, when Fozzie decided to learn how to do hat tricks, showing off for Kermit's nephew, Robin. First he pulls out a Rabbi, then a robot, then, finally, a rabbit pops out, then another, then another. Suddenly, Fozzie has over a dozen rabbits following him around and calling him "daddy." The rabbits beg Fozzie to protect the group from a farmer trying to make rabbit pie out of them, and Fozzie sings "Run Rabbit Run" as he tries to protect his furry friends.

11.   English Country Garden - This sketch starts off with Rowlf playing the piano as usual, and then Fozzie comes to sit down beside him... and starts playing along perfectly. Rowlf is obviously astounded, and the two start playing together. Fozzie turns out to be a terrific piano player, and keeps up with Rowlf the whole way through, even after his hat falls off (turns out he can play hat-less). This is yet another fantastic collaboration of two wonderful and enigmatic performers, Jim Henson and Frank Oz. During the documentary The World of Jim Henson, writer Jerry Juhl points out that, "When the two of them got together and started working as a team, it was like a Laurel and Hardy situation. These were just two guys who were meant to work together."

10.   Top Banana - The thing that made Fozzie more nervous than anything else was having a fellow comedian as the special guest star. Enter Milton Berle, a comedy legend. Fozzie spends most of the episode entire episode hiding from Uncle Miltie, thinking that he couldn't possibly hold a candle to his idol. However, when Fozzie overhears Milton telling Kermit that he always wanted to do a number with the bear, he jumps out from his hiding spot and is more than willing to do an old-school musical salute to comics everywhere, complete with physical comedy and zany one-liners. Yes, folks... he's sweet, shy, fuzzy, loveable, friendly, loyal, and, no matter what Statler and Waldorf say, he's funny. He's the one and only, Fozzie Bear!

ONLY 16 DAYS UNTIL THE MUPPETS!!!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com

23 Days Until "The Muppets"!!

Lucas Ervin - We're nearly three weeks away from The Muppets and it's time to focus on none other than Gonzo the Great! Dave Goelz has performed Gonzo since the beginning. Gonzo is the artist of culture on The Muppet Show, delivering painful, dangerous, and weird acts week after week. In his personal life, Gonzo has a tender spot for poultry, and has been dating a chicken, Camilla, for many years (though he's not always sure the chicken he's with is Camilla). While he may be slightly misunderstood, Kermit will always let Gonzo perform, no matter how odd his attempts. Gonzo is Kermit's best friend, aside from Fozzie, and has had numerous unforgettable numbers with the many guest stars that have come through to host, like Peter Sellers and Paul Simon. While he is certainly indescribable, one thing is for certain... Gonzo truly is the greatest!


23.   Flight of the Bumblebee - Here's the beloved weirdo in his first act ever, long before he was beloved, eating a rubber tire to the tune of "Flight of the Bumblebee." Gonzo's first performance ended poorly, being booed offstage by the audience within the first few bites. When exiting, he exclaims to Kermit, "What do they know about great art?" Gonzo's first act in the first episode of The Muppet Show perfectly defined his misunderstood, never-say-die approach to performing. You'll notice that Gonzo is the only Muppet who wears a purple tuxedo as his main outfit throughout all five seasons of the show.

22.   Jamboree - Gonzo always seemed to sing songs that were just perfect for him. Case in point: "Jamboree," which was featured in the Raquel Welch episode in season three. In the song, Gonzo sings about not caring what other people say or think, and finding your own ways to have fun in life. This song was actually co-written by Frank Oz specifically for the show, and was so enjoyable that it appeared on The Muppet Show Music Album.

21.   Gonzo Hypnotizes Himself While Holding a 5000 lb. Weight - Here's Gonzo doing an act specifically for "students of the occult." He demonstrates his hypnotic talents by hypnotizing himself so that he can hold up a 5000 lb. weight with just one hand. Even Statler and Waldorf seem to be impressed. But, like all of Gonzo's acts, something goes wrong, and he accidentally snaps himself out of it, only to be flattened. This, of course, isn't the last time Gonzo wound up flattened after an act. He also became pancaked after his attempted free-falling rocket power act with Garth Brooks on Muppets Tonight.

20.   Act Naturally - Originally a UK spot on the show, Gonzo sings the Buck Owens classic "Act Naturally" in front of a mirror, and the mirrored version of Gonzo begins to take on a life of its own, startling him at first, but then turning into a rather nice duet. While Gonzo mostly wore the purple tux, here we see him wearing the same outfit he wore in The Muppet Movie when he was a plumber--a role which he will somewhat reprise in The Muppets in a few weeks. This is actually a really great number, so it’s a shame that Americans weren’t able to see it until several years later.

19.   Gonzo Rides a Motorcycle into Statler and Waldorf's Balcony - Here is one of the greatest--and most elaborate--Gonzo segments. He plans to ramp a motorcycle off the stage and land (safely) between Statler and Waldorf. The first attempt at his stunt backfires on him, and instead he rolls backwards off the stage. So when he comes back for a second try, Statler and Waldorf aren't worried at all. But Gonzo succeeds, crashing straight through their box, causing the two grumpy old men to faint. This is actually one of the most well-known clips from The Muppet Show, and can be seen quite often in Muppet documentaries and specials.

18.   John Cleese Fixes Gonzo's Arm Problem - In this episode, with the help of Crazy Harry, Gonzo catches a cannon ball with his bare hand. One problem though... his arm stretches out over five feet and is unable to do a duet with Robin later in the show. Tired of being teased by everyone backstage, Gonzo enlists in the help of John Cleese. As you can tell from the video, results were mixed at best. John Cleese later had a cameo in The Great Muppet Caper, where he helped a pig and a lizard who broke into his home find a restaurant (although, it's really more of a supper club).

17.   Wishing Song - This song acts as a sort of anthem for Gonzo. In the Madeline Kahn episode, Gonzo puts his love of chickens on the back-burner as he becomes completely enamored with Miss Kahn, and even dons a tuxedo and top hat to propose. When he finds out that Madeline didn't intend this, Gonzo starts feeling alone and depressed. He begins singing about his loneliness when Madeline reminds him that even though he should count the things in life that mean the most. It's a beautiful song whose message we tend to forget. Nobody can send a message about being happy with who you are like The Great Gonzo. This song was recently covered on The Green Album and appeared on a some of The Muppet Show albums.

ONLY 23 DAYS UNTIL THE MUPPETS!!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com

30 Days Until "The Muppets"!!

Lucas Ervin - We're only 30 days away from The Muppets, and this week we're showcasing The Muppet Show's resident go-fer, Scooter! Scooter is Kermit's right hand man, and while he did have some memorable onstage moments and songs, he mainly served to help Kermit and to inform the guest star that it was "15 seconds to curtain!" As you know, Scooter got the job because his uncle owns the theater. Nepotism aside, Scooter is one of the greatest Muppets. Whether encouraging Fozzie to continue with his act, or trying to understand Gonzo, or paying off the audience to cheer for Miss Piggy, Scooter is always there to support his friends and make the show the best it can be. In The Muppets, Scooter returns to the big screen as a main character for the first time in over 20 years. No matter what, Scooter is one character we can always go-fer.

30.   Scooter's Official Introduction - While we do see Scooter in previous episodes, the sixth episode guest starring Jim Nabors was intended to introduce him. It's also the first time we see him use his relationship to his uncle in order to get what he wants. One thing I've noticed is that Scooter is one of the few Muppets who actually seems to get older as the show goes on. In The Muppet Show Style Book, it states that Scooter is 14 years old in the first season. If you look at the character during the fifth season, it's like he's a senior in high school. And in The Muppets Take Manhattan, he's a college graduate. Scooter has definitely come a long way since he began!

29.   Guest Star Song - If there's one thing Scooter is known for by all Muppet fans, it's his "15 seconds to curtain" cold openings, which he did from season two to season four with the guest stars. So, naturally, when the Muppets decide to put on an awards show, who would have been more suitable to sing about all of the guest stars who had appeared so far than Scooter? The song is set to the classical tune "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General." For those of you who paid close attention, Scooter mentions Senor Wences, who didn't appear until the fifth season. Instead, they used a picture of the back of Charles Aznavour from the first season.

28.   Mr. Bassman - Here's Scooter with Floyd during the first season, where Jerry Nelson uses a different voice for Floyd, which happens only one other time with "Ain't Misbehavin'" (also in the first season). Scooter definitely proves that he can keep up with the Electric Mayhem in this wild and fun number, and can even be seen as a sort of precursor to his role as the band's road manager in The Muppet Movie. Not only did this song appear on The Muppet Show Album, but it was just recently covered by Sondre Lerche on The Green Album. Personally, I like the former better, because I love when Scooter yells out "Yeah!" at the end of the song.

27.   On Her Doorstep Last Night - One of the constants throughout the show was the friendship between Scooter and Fozzie. They were good buddies who shared a lot of memorable moments both on and off the stage. So when an old gypsy woman puts a curse on the show and causes a meteorite to land on Kermit's flipper, Scooter takes the stage with his furry friend to sing Jack Payne's song, "On Her Doorstep Last Night," only to be upstaged by two aliens who emerged from the meteorite. The aliens scared the singing duo off the stage, finishing the song themselves. Yup, the show was definitely cursed.

26.   Jabberwocky - During the fifth season of the show, The Muppet Show had their youngest guest star ever on the show with Brooke Shields. During that episode, they dedicated the half hour to Lewis Carroll's classic, Alice In Wonderland. While Kermit is trying to find the shrunken Brooke, Scooter takes the stage and performs "Jabberwocky" with Rowlf, which, as he puts it, is "the weirdest thing we've ever done on this show"--and that's saying something! Brooke Shields actually spent time working with the people in the Muppet Workshop, and helped create some of the puppets used in this sketch.

25.   Six String Orchestra - During the Mark Hamill/Star Wars episode, Scooter spent his time practicing a number on the guitar, which came to fruition in the second act of the show. As he sings, he is joined by Floyd, Janice, Zoot, and Animal as his room transforms into a stage, where he and the others are in glittering outfits  being cheered on by wild fans. In the home video Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets, Scooter describes this song as being his personal favorite because he sings it. Plus, this definitely makes up for viewers having to listen to Angus McGonagle the Argyle Gargoyle gargling Gershwin.

24.   Simon Smith and the Dancing Bear - Scooter and Fozzie's great friendship, as seen here in Randy Newman's "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear," was the on-screen representation of the friendship of Richard Hunt and Frank Oz. Both Richard and Frank had wicked senses of humor and played so well together. They had a lot of love and respect for each other, and they're two big reasons why the Muppets work so wonderfully. Richard and Frank even sang this song during Jim Henson's memorial service in 1990. The Muppets can teach us all to be better people while being silly and fun--all without being cynical or crude, and that's what this song and the Muppets are all about.

ONLY 30 DAYS UNTIL THE MUPPETS!!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com