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Kermit the Frog

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Template:Infobox Sesame Street character

Kermit the Frog is a Muppet who was first introduced in 1955 and is one of puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous and beloved creations. Kermit was performed by Henson until his death in 1990. Since then, he has been performed by Steve Whitmire. He was voiced by Frank Welker in Muppet Babies and occasionally in animation also.

An early version of Kermit appeared in 1955, in a 5-minute puppet show for WRC-TV's Sam and Friends. The prototype Kermit was created from a green ladies' coat that Henson's mother had thrown in the trash can, and two ping pong balls for eyes. The early Kermit was a sort of lizard-like creature; Kermit's first appearance as a frog was in the television special Hey Cinderella in 1969, and he's been a frog ever since.

Kermit had his big break later in 1969 with frequent appearances on Sesame Street, often as a news reporter interviewing nursery rhyme characters. One of his most memorable works was the song "Bein' Green" from this series. Closely identified with the show Sesame Street, Kermit appeared frequently enough on the show to be considered a member of the regular cast along with Big Bird. Kermit's song "The Rainbow Connection" was also a big hit from The Muppet Movie and, for some time, had become something of a signature song for The Jim Henson Company (it is also the only movie song sung by a "frog" to be nominated for an Academy Award).

On April 2, 1979, Kermit guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. That same year Kermit and creator Henson spoke at ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's funeral. Kermit published One Frog Can Make A Difference, Kermit's Guide to Life in 1993 in hardcover with Pocket Books. In 1996, he gave a commencement speech at Southampton College in which he emphasized his environmentalist side. In 2001 he appeared in the TV show Hollywood Squares.

Kermit also served as the mascot for The Jim Henson Company, until the sale of the Muppet characters to The Walt Disney Company. [1] Kermit, known around the world as a master of ceremonies, comic and crusader for tolerance can be seen at the National Museum of American History.

Biography

Kermit's earliest incarnation on Sam and Friends

On Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Kermit commented to Ty Pennington, "You know, as a tadpole in the swamp, I had 3,265 brothers and sisters!" More of his childhood was chronicled in Kermit's Swamp Years, including that, at the age of 12, he was the first of his siblings to leave the swamp, and one of the first frogs to talk to humans. He also encountered a 12-year-old Jim Henson (played by Christian Kebbel) for the first time.

After this, Kermit returned to the swamp, although he had picked up an interest in show business from watching movies. According to The Muppet Movie (which Kermit described as "sort of approximately how [the origin of the Muppets] happened"), a passing agent noted he had talent and, thus inspired, he headed to Hollywood, encountering the rest of the Muppets along the way. Together, they were given a standard "rich and famous" contract by Lew Lord of Wide World Studios (a play on Lord Lew Grade, who commissioned the Muppet Show in reality), and began their showbiz careers.

In The Muppet Show television series, Kermit was frontman and the long-suffering stage manager of the fictitious theatre show. He continually struggled to produce a quality program, for a sparse and disaffected audience. Kermit also appeared in several Muppet movies and spin-off series, including Muppets Tonight. On Muppets Tonight, Kermit was the producer, and gave hosting duties to Clifford. However, Kermit was still a major character on the series. Kermit appeared in many parody sketches such as NYPD Green, City Schtickers, Flippers, and The Muppet Odd Squad, as well as in the Psychiatrist's Office sketch.

Kermit also sang "Firefly" with Tony Bennett, and he attempted to sing "I Remember It Well" with Cindy Crawford. On his own, he sang "Once in a Lifetime" and "Dancing in the Dark", the latter a flashback to Kermit's short-lived mid-life crisis.

In one episode, Kermit was part of a contest, "Win a Date with Kermit." The winner turned out to be Gilbert Gottfried, who was a big fan of Kermit. In another episode, the station got a new owner, Ernst Stavros Grouper, and after being annoyed with Grouper's demands, his insistence that Kermit become Virgil the Monkey, and his treatment of the Muppets, Kermit quit. After Mr. Grouper apologized, Kermit agreed to come back.

As a running joke in the shows, Kermit was pursued by leading lady Miss Piggy. He is close friends with Fozzie Bear and has a nephew, Robin.

In 1984, Kermit and Piggy may have been married on the set of The Muppets Take Manhattan. The minister who officiates at the ceremony in the movie is a genuine minister. Kermit, who was still recovering from amnesia at the time, insists that this was not a real marriage, although Piggy has said otherwise.

Kermit was awarded an honorary doctorate of Amphibious Letters on May 19, 1996 at Southampton College, where he also gave a commencement speech.[1]

Kermit served as the grand marshal of Michigan State University's Homecoming Parade on September 29, 2006.[2]

As a television personality

File:Kermit the Frog star.jpg
Kermit has a TV star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.
File:TV video the best of kermit on sesame street
Kermit (here with Grover) appeared often in the early episodes of Sesame Street.

Kermit has made a number of guest appearances on other shows. In 1979, Kermit was a guest host for the Tonight Show, substituting for Johnny Carson. He continued to make appearances long after The Muppet Show ended in 1981.

In 1987, Kermit and other Muppet characters co-hosted an ABC News special which attempted to explain the stock market and the potentially disquieting events of the Black Monday stock price decline in a manner that both informed and entertained the audience about the complex subject.

As an April Fool's joke, Kermit hosted CNN's Larry King Live in 1994.[3], and interviewed Hulk Hogan, who was promoting his television series Thunder in Paradise, and after accidentally flubbing the wrestler's name immediately exclaimed "Oh boy, I'm in trouble now." Naturally, as the show ended shortly thereafter, Kermit likely did not wind up in an altercation with Hogan. This would not be the only time Hogan and Kermit shared the same studio. The two co-starred in Muppets from Space, a 1999 production which told Gonzo's origin as an extraterrestrial. The Kermit episode was replayed in 2004 on the same date. The Muppets were also bought by Disney in 2004, but had also shared the Disney/MGM studios with Hulk Hogan and the entire roster of WCW, which produced two shows there regularly; WCW Saturday Night, and WCW Worldwide throughout much of the 90s, as the Muppets filmed three movies in the Disney/MGM studios: Muppet Treasure Island, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppets from Space.

Kermit was also given the honor of being the Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1996.

In 2000, he also appeared in the audience on a celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Such was his popularity in the UK that in 2000 he hosted the "1976" episode of the BBC's nostalgia series I Love the 70s (amongst other things, he recalled the phenomenon Mahna Mahna, punk rock, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and, naturally, The Muppet Movie) and even joined fellow American Ruby Wax for a couple of between-band links at the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert in 2002.

On February 13, 2001, Kermit appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

In 2001, Kermit performed alongside Kylie Minogue on An audience with Kylie Minogue, where he dueted with her in a performance of Especially for You.[4]

In 2005, he was the star of a German BMW commercial.

In January 2006, in a commercial for the Ford Escape Hybrid premiering during the Super Bowl, Kermit was featured singing "Bein' Green"; he is also featured in Ford's print ads for their hybrid vehicle. He also has co-starred alongside Miss Piggy and Jessica Simpson in Pizza Hut commercials in previous Super Bowl commercials. In previous years, he and Miss Piggy were part of the "We want to race the truck" UPS ad campaign involving NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett and his sponsor's "prodding" him to drive a brown UPS truck in a race.

In April 2006, Kermit appeared on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to take over as crew leader for that episode.

He has appeared on several Vh1 programs, such as I Love the '70s.

On May 10, 2006, he was featured in a music video for the American Idols in season 5. [citation needed]

On June 28, 2006, Kermit made a surprise appearance on Good Morning America for Charlie Gibson's last appearance as co-anchor of the program. Referring to a picture of Gibson and his family posing with Kermit from a few years earlier that had been shown on the air, Gibson affectionately referred to Kermit as his "adopted son", to which the famed frog began this exchange with Gibson:

Kermit: Dad, can I borrow the car tonight?

Gibson: OK, but stay out of the back seat.

Kermit: With my luck, I'll probably end up in the trunk.

Kermit reappeared at the end of the show, sitting on Gibson's shoulder.

On August 21, 2007, he appeared as a guest star on the finale show of America's Got Talent, season two. Kermit the Frog was the surprise duet singer paired with Terry Fator, a multi-talented singer, impressionist, and ventriloquist. The Fator/Kermit duet sang "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor.

On November 21, 2007, Kermit appeared on Turner Classic Movies as a guest programmer.

Filmography

Wikiquote has quotations related to Kermit the Frog.

International

Sesame Street is localized for some different markets, and Kermit is often renamed. In Portugal, he's Cócas, o Sapo (sapo means toad). In Latin America his name is la rana René (René the frog). In Spain Kermit is named Gustavo. In Brazil his name is Caco, o Sapo. In the Arabic Middle Eastern version, he's known as Kamel (not to be confused with the animal, camel (jamal in Arabic.) Kamel is a common Arabic male name that means "perfect".)

Trivia

  • Although it has been said and discussed many times, Kermit's birthday was known to be May 9, but since it was Jim's first and well-known creation, they had stated that he was born September 24, the same as Jim Henson, only 1955.[5]
  • Henson once claimed that Kermit's job on the Muppet Show is much like his own: "trying to get a bunch of crazies to actually get the job done."[6]
  • Kermit is the only amphibian to have the honor of addressing the Oxford Union.[7]
  • In the music video for Keep Fishin' by the band Weezer, most of the major Muppet Show characters made an appearance. Miss Piggy kidnaps Pat, the drummer. Kermit was also featured on two shirts the band issued; one with a spin on the famous "it's not easy being green" statement, changed to "it's not easy being weez"[8] and one featuring Kermit holding a Flying V guitar in front of the =w= Weezer symbol.[9] Kermit also appeared on the cover of the "Keep Fishin'" single.[10]
  • In the music video for Sunshine by Twista, at 1:37 Kermit can be seen in the background bouncing to the music's beat.
  • A statue of Henson and Kermit was erected on the campus of Henson's alma mater, the University of Maryland, College Park in 2003.
  • In 2006, the University of Maryland, College Park, introduced 50 statues of their school mascot, Testudo the Terrapin, with varying designs (chosen by different sponsoring groups). Among them was a statue designed to look like Kermit the Frog, called Kermudo.
  • In October 2005, Kermit embarked on a tour visiting 50 "incredibly fun - and some just plain strange - places around the world to celebrate my 50th year in showbusiness." His first stop was Kermit, Texas.
  • More so than with any of the other Muppets, the head of Kermit's puppet from the Muppet Show is asymmetric, often showing the shape of the hand that plays him.
  • Kermit the Frog is also featured on a pair of Adidas under the "Adicolor" line first introduced in 1983. The shoe is generally green and features Kermit on the outer side with his signature and of the inner part (Where the arch of someone's foot would be) shows the quote of "It's not easy bein' green" [citation needed]
  • It has been said by those who have worked with Kermit that he is never seen 'unoperated' and is brought into and out of a set under a black cloth, his operator will only talk as Kermit while performing and never use his own voice - all instructions or comments must be addressed to Kermit - and that his operator will never imitate Kermit's voice when not operating him.
  • A statue of Kermit dressed as the Little Tramp sits atop the company's headquarters, the Charlie Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles. Its previous tenant was A&M Records, but it was purchased by the Jim Henson Company following A&M's sale to Interscope Records.
  • In an episode of the Fox Kids Tv show Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, at the beginning of the epispde 'Attack of the mousers' while Mikeys narrating he says "as a wise frog once said its not easy being green but he didn't know the half of it"

Parodies

Due to his popularity, easy recognizability and distinctive voice, Kermit has become a popular target for parody.

Kermit has been referenced dozens of times on several television series, as Vomiting Kermit on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and in the internet fan video Sad Kermit. In Meet the Feebles, a parody by Peter Jackson with Muppet-like puppets, a scene featured a Jesus Christ figure that closely resembled Kermit the Frog on a cross. For a comprehensive list of Kermit parodies, see the References category on Muppet Wiki.

In the Family Guy episode The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Stewie complains that Jim Henson had a "wait-and-see" attitude and now we have wrong-sounding Muppets, then we see a Kermit and Swedish Chef with deep voices. Later in the same episode, we see Kermit and the Swedish Chef again, but then Fozzie Bear walks up and asks "Wokka-wokka, who wants to hear a funny-ass joke?" sounding like an African-American.

See also

  • Kermit (the computer communications and file-transfer protocol)

References

  1. ^ http://www.southampton.liu.edu/news/commence/1996/kermit.htm
  2. ^ http://homecoming.msu.edu/gm.html
  3. ^ http://www.toughpigs.com/anthking00.htm
  4. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0297751/
  5. ^ Muppet Wiki: Kermit's Birthday
  6. ^ http://youtube.com/watch?v=eRkmhJRl0Ec
  7. ^ The New York Times
  8. ^ http://www.hottopic.com/store/product.asp?W=63658&LS=0&SKU=566027-005-2130-0000
  9. ^ http://www.oneposter.com/UserData/Poster/CopiedImage_10416.jpg
  10. ^ http://chickenbutt27.skyblog.com/pics/119379140_small.jpg
  • Muppet Wiki: Kermit the Frog
  • Tough Pigs Anthology: Kermit's Sesame Street News Flash sketches
  • Kermit's commencement address at Southampton College in 1996
  • "Kermit's 50th". Muppets.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) Blogging and tracking Kermit's world tour starting October 2005.
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