Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: 80s Robot

Written by Ryan Dosier.

80s ROBOT

Performed by...
Matt Vogel

First appearance...
The Muppets (2011)

Most recent appearance...
Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

Best known role...
Android made in the 1980s; butler to Kermit the Frog

Famous quote(s)...
"Gnarly to the max dude!"
"Gag me with a spoon!"
"Help! I've been mugged!"

WHO IS 80s ROBOT?
80s Robot is one of the few entirely mechanical characters in the Muppet world. He joins the rankings of Robot Kermit, Digit, Bunsen's Steel Rabbit, Robot Abraham Lincoln, Vendaface, and Otto the Automatic Entertainer. He is the first robotic character to appear in a Muppet movie. Is he a Muppet or is he a fully-robotic man? No one can say for sure.

In The Muppets (2011), 80s Robot's first role, the old robot was introduced as Kermit the Frog's butler and driver. When Gary, Mary, and Walter visit Kermit at his Beverly Hills mansion, 80s Robot is there to immediately offer the group cans of surely-expired TaB and New Coke. He shows his clumsy side afterwards when he crashes into some of Kermit's more kitschy home items, perhaps eluding to his obsolete nature.

Later, when Kermit and company set out to reunite the Muppets, 80s Robot drives Kermit's car all around the country (and outside the country). His comically loud, out of date modem was crucial to locating Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, and all of the other Muppets spread around the world. Throughout the rest of the movie he appears to play guard of Kermit's Rolls Royce car, keeping it upright during Gonzo's explosion, and falling prey to Tex Richman's evil plot by being thrown from the passenger's seat.

80s Robot's main contribution to The Muppets were his fantastically out-dated catchphrases. "Gag me with a spoon," "Gnarly to the max," and "Totally tubular" are sure to reenter the national vernacular based solely on 80s Robot's dynamic turn in the film.

80s Robot has been seen in a few shots in trailers for Muppets Most Wanted and will reappear in the film.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED 80s ROBOT?
The Muppets can use 80s Robot for a menagerie of reasons. He is a portable internet resource (when their iPhones run out of battery), a competent driver (when Fozzie's correspondence course license is expired), and he's a robot (for Bunsen and Beaker to fiddle around with). He's a good back up and a constant reminder of the 1980s, the decade where the Muppets hit their popularity peak. 80s Robot works for many reasons, but mostly he's just gnarly to the max, dude. What more could you need?

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

The Muppet Madness Tournament 2012 - ROUND 3

 ROUND 3

March 24 - March 26

VOTE EVERY SIX HOURS
at MuppetFans.com

Ryan Dosier - This year's Muppet Madness Tournament, hosted by we at The Muppet Mindset, ToughPigs, and The MuppetCast, has really been moving super fast. Why, it seems like only yesterday Uncle Deadly, Fozzie, Gary, and many of our other favorites were still in the game... Wait. They were. Because Round 2 ended yesterday, leading the way for Round 3 to begin today. And so it has! The rules have changed slightly for Round 3, allowing you to vote every six hours for your favorite characters instead of the usual every 24 hours. So now instead of hating us for making you choose between Kermit and Gonzo and Rowlf and Scooter, you can love us for letting you vote more! Right? Anyway... here are my predictions for Round 3...

NEW CHARACTERS

WALTER vs. 80s ROBOT - The final two characters in the New Characters quadrant aren't much of a huge surprise to me. Walter was the obvious winner of his last two matchups, and 80s Robot has proven himself quite capable of taking down two major actors and rolling his way to victory. However, 80s Robot's winning streak will most certainly come to an end after this round, as the unstoppable Walter quickly makes the little robot retro. 

CELEBRITIES

NEIL PATRICK HARRIS vs. JIM PARSONS - This is probably going to be the most heated matchup in Round 3--and it's between two humans! Two very Muppety humans, however. Neil Patrick Harris, the huge Muppet fan with little screentime in The Muppets, and Jim Parsons, who played Human Walter, and received one of the biggest laughs of the picture. If I was placing bets on this one (and who says I'm not?), I'd put my money on Neil Patrick Harris sneaking ahead of Jim Parsons for the win. But if Parsons does win... we'll have Muppet Walter vs. Human Walter, which would be awesome.

CLASSICS

KERMIT THE FROG vs. GONZO THE GREAT - This is seriously like choosing between two heroes for me. Gonzo is my all-time favorite Muppet, but Kermit is Kermit. I would love to see Gonzo win... but I honestly don't know if he can do it. I think Kermit will advance on to the Final Four... but I hope Gonzo's fans can rally around him and at least help him put up a good fight.

OLD FAVORITES

ROWLF THE DOG vs. SCOOTER - Another incredibly hard matchup for Muppet fans. How do you choose between the two characters who made the most prominent returns in The Muppets after years of obscurity and hiding in the background. I don't know... which is while I'll be alternating my votes between the two of them. I'm expecting Rowlf to topple Scooter here, if only because he's had such a steady number of dedicated voters the past two rounds... but anything can happen here. 

Well there you have it. Four extremely tough matchups in Round 3. Virtually any of these eight contestants could move on to Round 4... so only time and your votes will tell. Remember to go to http://muppetfans.com to vote every six hours for your favorites! Voting for Round 3 ends on Monday... so you'd better vote fast!






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