Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Mew

Today's article was written by our frequent contributor Kyle Mahoney.

MEW

Performed by...
Steve Whitmire (1986)
Nigel Plaskitt (1994)

First Appearance...
The Christmas Toy (1986)

Last Appearance...
The Secret Life of Toys (1994)

Best Known Role...
Cat toy; Old friend, dear friend, friend who has gone away

WHO IS MEW?
Mew is a simple cat toy made to look like a mouse who appeared in the 1986 TV special The Christmas Toy and the subsequent series The Secret Life of Toys. His owner is Wee-Gee the Cat and he resides in the playroom with the rest of the children’s toys. He is small and has no arms or legs, just wheels which he uses to somehow propel himself. Mew isn’t hated among the kids' toys, but in a way is treated as a lower class citizen for being a cat toy. Upon arrival to any gathering, all toys will say “Pew it’s Mew!” in unison, in reference to the scent of cat nip that he emits (being a cat toy and all).

Mew’s best friend in the playroom is Rugby Tiger, even though he will make fun of Mew and the scent of catnip causes him to sneeze. But it’s because of Mew that the rest of the toys go out to save Rugby after he leaves in the playroom. While trying to help Rugby, Mew discovers Meteora: Queen of the Asteroids and develops a crush on her.  He also has the ability to mimic Wee-Gee which saves the rescue team from being discovered after Meteora begins knocking things down.

While returning to the playroom, Mew is discovered out of his spot by Mr. and Mrs. Jones and is therefore frozen forever. Instead of the Joneses bringing him to the playroom, they put him in the cat’s bed near the Christmas tree. Rugby leaves the playroom and goes to say a final goodbye to his friend who has stood by his side no matter how much of an abusive, one-sided relationship they shared. According to Mew being frozen was very dark and cold, but after Rugby showed his true feelings for Mew and admitting that he was beginning to like the scent of Cat Nip, it got brighter and warmer, and then he woke up. On Christmas morning, we see the Wee-Gee got a new cat toy, whose name also happens to be Mew.

Mew appeared in the series The Secret Life of Toys which featured some of the characters from the special, but also added new ones. Mew had changed in design and in performance. Instead of his wheels he was given arms and legs and he was now performed by Nigel Plaskitt instead of Steve Whitmire. Although Mew was not as criticized for his smell and his social status among the toys, the others would still comment on his stench and refer to him as a cat toy.

WHY DO WE NEED MEW?

Without Mew, Rugby would have successfully gotten into Meteora’s box under the Christmas Tree and the entire Toy Community’s cover would have been revealed leading to every toy becoming frozen forever. He acts as Rugby’s sense of reason, and maybe because he leads a much harder life as a cat toy, he has just about the same wisdom as Balthazar the Teddy Bear.

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

Other Christmas Productions Muppet Fans Love

Yesterday we showcased how much Muppet fans adore the 1987 special A Muppet Family Christmas. And of course they have every reason to love it, because it's awesome. But today we'll show off the other responses we got to the question "What is your favorite Muppet Christmas production?"

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
"My favorite Muppet Christmas special is definitely Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. Rather than a bunch of lights and tinsel, it takes place in a tiny little country town. It's so un-Christmasy, but the message of warmth and heart is still present. It truly is a reminder of what Christmas is really all about, and done so through a bunch of wonderful songs, a colorful cast of characters, and an all around awesome storyline." ~ Hubert A.

"Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas times infinity." ~ Brian Heck

"Emmet Otter. Why? It's Emmet Otter! And also Christmas Branch! Paul Williams songs! Barbeque! Jumping ferrets! Riverbottom Nightmare Band! And it has a singing frog in it who is not Kermit!" ~ Craig C.

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

"My all-time favorite is definitely Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. As funny and entertaining as the special is, it's the lessons of selflessness, trust, and peace that resonate most with me. I think I've cried each and every time I've watched it. This is Sesame Street at it's zenith. When I first heard the cast sing 'Keep Christmas with You All Through the Year' I took it to heart. To this day, I still sign all my Christmas cards with that sentiment. This song is like a prayer of peace for the world. When I think of the reason for my undying love of Muppets and Jim Henson's work, it's this special that comes to mind first. A truly remarkable show." ~ Bruce Aguilar

"My favorite is Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. I grew up with a copy my parents taped off of PBS and nearly wore it out--I'd even watch it in the middle of summer, keeping true to the message of 'Keep Christmas with you all through the year.' I also love that the mystery of Santa Claus is left a mystery. I think this is probably Carroll's best work as Big Bird, aside from Mr. Hooper's death." ~ Beth Kondrick

"My favorite is Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. It is such a classic that everybody loves (and if they don't, they're crazy). My favorite parts are the ice skating bit at the beginning, specifically when Oscar gets thrown down those stairs. I also love Kermit's brief part. Ahh... classic Jim Henson moment. My favorite songs from that are 'Keep Christmas with You,' 'True Blue Miracle,' and 'I Hate Christmas.' Oh, but I can't forget 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' with Bert and Ernie. So SWEET!! I watch this movie every single Christmas." ~ Anonymous

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

"It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a great made-for-TV movie. It came out at a time when it looked like the Muppets were losing popularity aside from nostalgiac value. I like all the pop culture references and more adult jokes. 'Everyone Matters' is a really good number. And best of all I like the fact that this is the first Muppet movie to take place at the Muppet theater." ~ Michael Wermuth, Jr.

The Christmas Toy

"My favorite would have to be The Christmas Toy. I've seen the movie every year since I can remember. My copy for the longest time was recorded off the TV and still had all the old 80's commercials on it, which made it even better. I did have to upgrade eventually when it came out on DVD and now I don't have to find a working VHS player to watch it. It's really not Christmas for me without a little Rugby Tiger." ~ Jennifer

John Denver & The Muppes: A Christmas Together (album and special)

"I'd say the John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together special/album combo. It truly is the best of both worlds... the special shows how good John Denver is as an all-around entertainer, and also how touching the Muppets can be without overdoing the schmaltz. The album is carefully crafted, musically and... well, just listen to 'Deck the Halls,' and you can tell that the writers spent time matching each Muppet to a line that represented them. It's no accident that Gonzo sings, 'TROLL the ancient Yule tide carol!'" ~ Bryan Snyder

The Muppet Christmas Carol 

"Honestly, I don't have a favorite Muppet Christmas production. Christmas is my favorite time with the Muppets and I lose myself in every one of their magical productions every December. However, this December one production really stood out to me, and that is The Muppet Christmas Carol. Perhaps it was the Blu-ray release that renewed my appreciation for the film, but I've never loved it more than this year. It is such a beautiful movie with so much in it. It represents not just what the Muppets can do, but it shows that they would continue to thrive after the loss of Jim Henson and Richard Hunt. Jerry Juhl's brilliant melding of Dickensian prose and Muppet lunacy makes for a perfect Christmas movie, in my opinion. Plus, this year it takes on added beauty as we remember Jerry Nelson, who plays both Tiny Tim (Robin) and the Ghost of Christmas Present so incredibly wonderfully. However... it will always be Gonzo and Rizzo that define brilliantly why I love this movie. 'Hoity-toity, mister god-like smarty pants!'" ~ Ryan Dosier

Finally, we close with some fun Christmas artwork from our friend Nickyle Edwards!

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

Muppet Retro Reviews: The Christmas Toy

Michael Wermuth, Jr. - Everybody should know that classic tale in which toys are alive when mortals aren't looking, focusing on the favorite toy who gets overshadowed by a new toy, a space hero who initially doesn't realize it's a toy. A great classic... And no, I'm not talking about Disney/Pixar's Toy Story, I'm talking about Jim Henson's 1986 classic television special The Christmas Toy.

The special begins with Kermit the Frog dressed as Santa Claus, who informs the viewers of the special's premise. The special takes place on Christmas Eve at the Jones family household. The Jones children, Jesse and Jamie, own many toys, including Rugby Tiger, a doll named Apple, an old teddy bear named Balthazar, and a rocking horse named Belmont. Even their cat has a toy, Mew, a mouse made of catnip. Unlike Toy Story, which never gave any explanation for why the toys don't move when mortals are around, this special gives an explanation: If a toy is even seen in a different place or position from where a mortal last saw them (even if it's a different mortal), the toy will be frozen forever.

When the toys learn that it's Christmas Eve, Rugby, who had been Jamie's favorite toy since she got him last Christmas, thinks he is supposed to be in a box under the tree, so he sets out to do what he thinks he's supposed to do. Mew informs the other toys of what has happened, and soon they set out to get Rugby back into the playroom before he gets spotted.

Eventually, Rugby gets to the tree and gets a box open, finding Meteora, a space warrior doll who doesn't know she's just a toy, and starts running loose in the living room. Apple tells Rugby that she knows how he feels because Jamie had gotten her the Christmas before she got Rugby and had previously been the favorite. However, Rugby still wants to be the favorite and gets into Meteora's box, only changing his mind when Mew points out that if Rugby is seen in the box instead of the playroom he'll be frozen forever. They quickly convince Meteora that she's a toy and to get back into the box. Then, as they head back to the playroom, Mew gets seen by the mother while in the hallway, and becomes frozen. A saddened Rugby mourns a frozen Mew and sings, but then Mew (and subsequently all the other toys that had become "frozen forever") becomes unfrozen. It's not explained why the toys are suddenly alive again, but it doesn't matter.

The next morning, the kids put their new toys in the playroom. Jamie likes Meteora, but also tells Rugby and Apple that she still likes them. As the toys all sing and celebrate the arrival of their new friends, Kermit shows up, his presence not causing them to freeze (well, as Gonzo said in The Muppet Christmas Carol, storytellers are omniscient) and joins them in song.

The Christmas Toy is a good special and I actually like it better than Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. The songs, written by Jeff Moss, are very good, particularly "Toys Love to Play," "Try the Impossible," "The Greatest Christmas Toy of All," and "Together at Christmas." The fact that the toys can become frozen forever is a bit creepy, but still a good idea, story-wise. The chemistry between Rugby and Mew, as performed by Dave Goelz and Steve Whitmire, is great. The other performers do a great job as well, including Richard Hunt as Belmont, Jerry Nelson as Balthazar, Kathy Mullen as Apple, and Camille Bonora as Meteora. I highly recommend checking it out this holiday season.

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

Christmas Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Meteora

Today's Weekly Muppet Wednesday article is written by Kyle Mahoney.

METEORA

Performed by...
Camille Bonora

Only Appearance...
The Christmas Toy (1986)

Best Known Role...
Queen of the Asteroids, Our Brightly Shining Christmas Superstar

Memorable Quote...
"You dare to touch the queen? The inhabitants of planets have died for less."
 

WHO IS METEORA?
Meteora is the main antagonist of the 1986 Jim Henson television special The Christmas Toy. She is left under the Jones' Christmas tree as Jamie's big Christmas present. Unfortunately she is unwrapped early by the jealous tiger cub toy, Rugby, who wants nothing more than to be in her box and have her place as this year's Christmas Toy.

After being unwrapped she immediately becomes hostile towards the other toys, believing them to be "Grizzbots," possibly the minions of her enemies. After meeting Mew, a mouse toy, he become instantly enamored with her, even if she believes his catnip aroma is horrible. As Rugby stows away in her box, Meteora examines her surroundings believing the living room to be a planet and the tinsel on the tree to be vegetation. Soon, Meteora beings a feud with the family chess set. She begins to knock over the pieces making noise and alerting the parents, putting the toys in danger of becoming frozen forever. Luckily Mew had been spending so much time with WeeGee the cat that he fooled the parents into thinking it was just the cat.

But Meteora wasn't ready to return into her box, what she believes to be a prison. But through the power of song, Rugby, Apple, and Mew convince her that her box is "a one way ticket to stardom" by telling her how wonderful she is and how she must share her glory. She returns to her box and is opened the next morning. She is brought to the playroom and is told by Jamie that she promises to love her forever and ever, the same promise she made to Rugby the year before, and Apple the year before that. But Jamie adds that she loves all of her toys which makes Apple and Rugby feel better. Meteora then joins the rest of the toys in the playroom (and Kermit the Frog) for the finale of "Old Friends, New Friends."

Many people have compared Meteora to the Disney/Pixar character Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story films. Both are put in similar situations and have similar personality traits. They are both the new toy in the playroom and they threaten the top toy for the love of their owner. Another shared trait is that they both believe that they are actually from space, not toys.

WHY DOES THE CHRISTMAS TOY NEED METEORA?
They need Meteora because without her Rugby would have gotten away with his plan to be opened up on Christmas morning, which would have led to him being frozen. Plus, she is responsible for my personal favorite song in the special.

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

Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Rugby Tiger

Today's Weekly Muppet Wednesdays article was written by Maxwell Jessop.

RUGBY TIGER

Performed by...
Dave Goelz

First appearance...
The Christmas Toy (1986)

Most recent appearance...
The Secret Life of Toys Episode 113: "Who Shares Wins/It's a Giveaway" (1994)

Best known role...
Conceited tiger toy

Best friend...
Mew

WHO IS RUGBY TIGER?
Rugby Tiger is the adventurous toy tiger that starred in the 1986 TV special The Christmas Toy. In the special, Rugby was a relatively new toy who selfishly traveled to the living room in hopes of reprising his role as the toy inside Jamie, his owner's, box. Little did he know, there is a new toy in the box instead.

Rugby was often paired with Mew, an innocent mouse toy. Despite Rugby's criticism for being a "cat toy," Rugby truly loves Mew and expresses this feeling after Mew is frozen.

Eight years after the special, Rugby starred alongside his fellow toys in a short-lived Disney Channel series The Secret Life of Toys. In the show, we see his adventurous side and see his relationship with the other characters build.

In the final episode, Episode 113: "Who Shares Wins/It's a Giveaway," Rugby was going to be donated to a children's hospital. He had mixed emotions about leaving, but, in the end, Jamie's dad decides to keep Rugby. 

RUGBY EPISODES
Instead of songs or moments, I've listed Rugby's starring episodes in the 13-episode run of The Secret Life of Toys.

• Episode 105: "Climbers/Be Plush"
• Episode 106: "Ditz and Datz/Mummies"'
• Episode 109: "Down with Dinkybeard/Mr. & Mrs. Rugby"
• Episode 113: "Who Shares Wins/It's a Giveaway"

WHY DOES THE SECRET LIFE OF TOYS NEED RUGBY TIGER?
Well, Rugby brings a fun atmosphere to the playroom just as other toys do! And even though he's sometimes conceited, Rugby is a very helpful toy who really loves his friends and the children. They need Rugby because he is deep down the friendliest toy of all.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier