mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
I, like a lot of you, grew up on Sesame Street and the Muppets. But do you ever stop to wonder where they came from? Some of the characters we know and love today were recycled from other T.V. shows and commercials Jim Henson worked on and others were invented by using whatever materials were around. Be prepared for a little nostalgia for today’s Q10. And don’t be offended if I left out some of your favorites (I know, Big Bird?!) – not all of the characters have interesting background stories. But if you know the story behind one that I left out, share with us in the comments!
The Origins of 10 of Your Favorite Muppets
1. Cookie Monster. Jim Henson drew some monsters eating various snacks for a General Foods commercial in 1966. The commercial was never used, but Henson recycled one of the monsters (the “Wheel-Stealer”) for an IBM training video in 1967 and again for a Fritos commercial in 1969. By this time, he started working on Sesame Street and decided this monster would have a home there.
2. Elmo. The way it’s described by a Sesame Street writer, apparently this extra red puppet was just lying around. People would pick him up and try to do something with him, but nothing really panned out. In 1984, puppeteer Kevin Clash picked up the red puppet and started doing the voice and the personality and it clicked – thus, Elmo was born.
3. Telly Monster was originally the Television Monster when he debuted in 1979. He was obsessed with T.V. and his eves would whirl around as if hypnotized whenever he was in front of a set. After a while, producers started worrying about his influence on youngsters, so they changed him to make him the chronic worrier he is now.
4. Count von Count made his first appearance in 1972 and was made out of an Anything Muppet pattern – a blank Muppet head that could have features added to it to make various characters. He used to be more sinister – he was able to hypnotize and stun people and he laughed in typical scary-villain-type fashion after completing a count of something and thunder and lightning would occur. He was quickly made more appealing to little kids, though. He is apparently quite the ladies’ man – he has been linked to Countess von Backward, who loves to count backward; Countess Dahling von Dahling and Lady Two.
5. Kermit was “born” in 1955 and first showed up on Sam and Friends, a five-minute puppet show by Jim Henson. The first Kermit was made out of Henson’s mom’s coat and some ping pong balls. At the time, he was more lizard-like than frog-like. By the time he showed up on Sesame Street in 1969, though, he had made the transition to frog. There are rumors that he got the name Kermit from a childhood friend of Henson’s or a puppeteer from the early days of the Muppets, but Henson always refuted both of those rumors.
6. Real Swedish Chef Lars “Kuprik” Bäckman claims he was the inspiration for the Swedish Chef. He was on Good Morning America, he says, and caught Jim Henson’s eye. Henson supposedly bought the rights to the Good Morning America recording and created the Swedish Chef (who DOES have a real name, but it’s not understandable). One of the Muppet writers, Jerry Juhl, says that in all of the years of working with Jim Henson on the Swedish Chef, he never heard that the character was based on a real person.
7. Animal - Everyone’s favorite member of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem may have been inspired by Keith Moon of The Who. This is speculation, but people who support this theory will point out that Jim Henson named one of the Fraggle Rock characters “Wembley”, which is the town Moon was born in.
8. Miss Piggy is apparently from Iowa. Makes sense. Anyway, she started as a minor character on The Muppet Show, but anyone who knows Miss Piggy can see that she wouldn’t settle for anything “minor”. Her first T.V. appearance was actually on an Herb Alpert special. It wasn’t until 1976, when The Muppet Show premiered, that she became the glamorous blonde with a penchant for frog that we know and love today. Frank Oz once said that Miss Piggy grew up in Iowa; her dad died when she was young and her mother was mean. She had to enter beauty contests to make money.
9. Rowlf the dog, surprise, surprise, was first made in 1962 for a series of Purina Dog Chow commercials. He went on to claim fame as Jimmy Dean’s sidekick on The Jimmy Dean Show and was on every single episode from 1963 to 1966. Jimmy Dean said Rowlf got about 2,000 letters from fans every week. He was considered for Sesame Street but ended up becoming a regular on The Muppet Show in 1976.
10. Oscar the Grouch is performed by the same guy who does Big Bird, Carroll Spinney. Spinney said he based Oscar’s cranky voice on a particular NYC cab driver he once had the pleasure of riding with. He was originally an alarming shade of orange. In Pakistan, his name is Akhtar and he lives in an oil barrel. In Turkey, he is Kirpik and lives in a basket. And in Israel, it’s not Oscar at all – it’s his cousin, Moishe Oofnik, who lives in an old car.
Shhh…super secret special for blog readers.
I’m predicting a hundred other posts such as mine, but my favorite muppet wasn’t listed: Sweetums!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetums
posted by Phraktyl on 7-2-2008 at 4:35 pm
Brilliant! I was always an Oscar fan, but loved all the Muppets. My brother and I spent many an hour singing “you’re ali-ii-ii-ii-ive, you’re alive; breathe in, breathe out.” Check out Chrissy and the Alphabeats on YouTube for a blast from the past.
posted by Megan on 7-2-2008 at 5:09 pm
What about Kermit’s beloved nephew Robin?
Robin initially appeared in 1971 as the titular character in a one-hour stand-alone special called “The Frog Prince.”
Instead of being a relation of Kermit, Robin the frog was actually “Sir Robin The Brave”, a mullet-haired prince cruely transformed into an amphibian by the curse of a wicked witch.
Other frogs living in the pond (who also appear in numerous episodes of the Muppet Show) were named Gawain, Kay, Garth, and Ector.
posted by Troy on 7-2-2008 at 5:38 pm
More Muppet trivia:
Statler and Waldorf (the two curmugeonly critics who sit in the balcony and shout insults at Fozzie Bear) were named after two famous New York City hotels (you can probably guess which two.)
If you’re not sure which is which, Waldorf is the one with the bushy white moustache sitting on the left, and Statler is the one with the pointy nose and grey eyebrows on the right.
posted by Troy on 7-2-2008 at 5:55 pm
Just gotta say–AWESOME ARTICLE. =D
posted by Courtney on 7-2-2008 at 6:24 pm
Any info about the Muppets that Jim Henson created for Saturday Night Live. I just saw it recently when they aired the first episode of SNL in tribute to George Carlin.
posted by Miss Nae on 7-2-2008 at 7:59 pm
Its alllll about the Swedish Chep.
posted by SoLinkable on 7-2-2008 at 9:10 pm
I’d like to see a second Quick 10 on this, featuring Statler & Waldorf, Sam the Eagle, Snufalufagus, Beaker, and Rizzo, just to name a few.
posted by Zach on 7-2-2008 at 9:36 pm
I’m always happy to read a good Muppet article on Mental Floss! It also give me a good chance to mention my Muppet fan site: ToughPigs.com. Thanks for keeping the frog alive!
posted by Joe on 7-2-2008 at 9:37 pm
Awesome list, but it didn’t include my favorite muppet:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Bunsen_Honeydew
posted by S on 7-2-2008 at 10:08 pm
AWWWW BEAKER!!!AWESOME
posted by elwhy on 7-2-2008 at 11:25 pm
Loved the article! If you’ve seen the extras on the Muppet Show Season 3 DVD, there’s a bit where Rowlf mentions ping pong eyeballs to Kermit. It was pretty subtle but fantastic.
posted by Mel on 7-2-2008 at 11:53 pm
I love the muppets. Sesame Street was an integral part of my childhood and seeing them now brings back fond memories (Cookie Monster’s guest appearance on the Colbert Report was hilarious and cute)
My favorite muppet has to be beaker, though he used to weird me out when i was younger (maybe it was his head lol). But the Swedish Chef cracks me up whenever he’s on screen, as do Statler and Waldorf (thanks Troy for the trivia, I had wondered what their names were). Great article guys, keep it up!
posted by heather on 7-3-2008 at 12:53 am
What about Floyd from the Electric Mayhem band he was based on the lead guitar player from the Doobie Brothers
posted by Gonzzo 60 on 7-3-2008 at 1:37 am
Animal was based off of John Bonham, the Led Zeppelin drummer, not Keith Moon. I’ve heard this confirmed, just watch the two and decide for yourselves.
posted by Toshiro Mifune on 7-3-2008 at 4:18 am
I always figured Wembley was named after the stadium.
I didn’t realize Elmo had been around that long. I thought he came on SS after I stopped watching it, but maybe not..?
Awesome article. I feel the need to find out the origins of all the other characters now!
posted by Celeste M. on 7-3-2008 at 5:34 am
I grew hearing that Animal was inspired by Ginger Baker from Cream (the flailing head of red hair) not Keith Moon.
posted by brotherclone on 7-3-2008 at 5:38 am
This is totally a FOAF story - but my friend Jacquie’s uncle is/was the voice of Count von Count. He did other voices as well, but mainly the Count.
I’m a Grover Girl myself.
posted by Christina Sayer on 7-3-2008 at 7:04 am
My faveeeee muppet has always been Snuffleupagus (not spelled Snufalufagus). I loved that his first name was officially Aloysius. I couldn’t pronounce it when I was little, but I had just mastered “spaghetti” (pasketty, which I thought was right) so my mom said I called him “paskettyupagus.”
posted by Kelly J on 7-3-2008 at 8:09 am
Some of this is very interesting, some of it, not so much. But what about Gonzo? He was always so fun - like the Swedish Chef!
posted by Gwendolyn R on 7-3-2008 at 8:40 am
I’m SO glad I’m not the only muppet-head out there! I L-O-V-E the muppets and always have! It was great to hear some back story on 10 characters. My personal favorite is a fairly recent addition: Pepe the King Prawn. I’d LOVE to hear more about him.
posted by ashley on 7-3-2008 at 9:10 am
I hear poor ol’ Cookie Monster is shooting up cookie dough in bathroom stalls nowadays, poor guy.
posted by Brittany on 7-3-2008 at 9:44 am
I second the request for a follow up Quick 10 on this. If that’s allowed in Quick 10 rules.
posted by kate on 7-3-2008 at 10:15 am
Anyone looking for more great Muppet info should check out the Muppet Wiki
muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Muppet_Wiki
I lost over 3 hours in there one night.
posted by CoffeeJedi on 7-3-2008 at 10:27 am
Refuted? How did he refute it?
posted by plsk on 7-3-2008 at 10:35 am
Actually most of the muppets are based off of real people that Jim Henson went to school with at the University of Maryland. In fact, the character/personality of Miss Piggy is actually an ex-girlfriend of Henson
posted by Ironman89 on 7-3-2008 at 11:29 am
The Muppets are a phenomena unto themselves. When my friend Eric and I began casting a Pulp Fiction version of the muppets the roles (for the most part) simply fell into place. (you can see our final results on the website clicking on my name - but enough advertising).
Jim Henson’s creations are amazingly versatile and brilliant ‘types’ that can be molded to fit any storyline…even ones not ‘fit’ for kids.
posted by Rob on 7-3-2008 at 11:46 am
I am a huge Jim Henson fan. Love him. Love the Muppets, SS, “Labyrinth”, “The Dark Crystal”, even the obscure short-lived series “The Storyteller”.
What about Bert & Ernie? In the early days Frank Oz & Jim Henson did the voices, respectively, and they were modeled partly from their own personalities. Kermit was also, according to Oz, “a facet” of Henson’s personality.
Celeste - Funny, I thought the same thing about Elmo. Maybe he’s just more in the spotlight nowadays?
(Funny, my recaptcha is: semi-final studs)
posted by Nerak on 7-3-2008 at 12:01 pm
Ernie & Bert — named after the cop and the cab driver in It’s a Wonderful Life…
Another vote for a follow-up!
posted by tiga_cff on 7-3-2008 at 2:12 pm
It took me a second to realise it wasn’t actually the taxi driver who was originally an alarming shade of orange and lived in an oil barrel.
:P
posted by v.dog on 7-3-2008 at 4:43 pm
Miss Piggy was named Miss Piggy Lee in honor of the entertainer Peggy Lee. In one of the early episodes in Season 1, she is actually called that, however that is the only time in the show she is given a last name.
Fozzie Bear got his name from one of the men who actually made the muppet charcaters, Faz something, you can see his name in the credits.
posted by seanoss34 on 7-3-2008 at 5:06 pm
If anyone’s watched the 1953 movie Stalag 17, Stanaslas Kasavas is nicknamed “Animal” and has the same maniacal ravings when he hears the name “Betty GrabLe” or any suggestion of her much like Animal’s ravings when he hears “drums.” I don’t buy that Animal was inspired by any drummer because all drummers act like crazy people.
posted by Tom on 7-3-2008 at 6:48 pm
LOVED Sam and Friends when I was a little guy. Sam, by the way, evolved into Rolf the Dog
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 7-3-2008 at 7:47 pm
I saw Mick Fleetwood play drums and instantly thought of Animal. Hairy, scary and having a great time behind the set.
posted by Staffhog on 7-3-2008 at 10:36 pm
Fozzie Bear *IS* Frank Oz — or Foz.
posted by Mitch on 7-4-2008 at 12:01 am
Which came first? Kermit’s appearance in Jim Henson’s ‘Hey Cinderella’ (1969)(I remember seeing it back then too) or his appearance in Sesame Street?
‘Hey Cinderella’ is posted on YouTube, if anyone is interested… Pretty funny stuff, and entertaining for adults too.
Jim
posted by Jim on 7-4-2008 at 11:54 am
im sad to say one of my cats once duked on a muppet :/ long story :(
posted by jo blow on 7-4-2008 at 2:31 pm
im sad to say one of my cats once duked on a muppet :/ long story :(
posted by Laparazi on 7-4-2008 at 2:47 pm
I remember Moishe! We used to watch the “Jewish” edition of Sesame Street in Hebrew School. In one episode they were hunting for Hebrew letters, and when they hit lamed Moishe got excited because it was the first letter of “lo,” which means “no.” And, you know, being a Grouch, that’s an exciting word.
posted by Bethama on 7-6-2008 at 6:59 pm
Carroll Spinney (aka Big Bird and Oscar) went to my high school, in Acton MA : )
But my fav is definitely the Swedish Chef. bork bork bork!
posted by annie on 7-7-2008 at 10:23 am
Um, Gonzo is the one who’s origins needs the most explaining. What exactly is Gonzo anyway?
posted by Dan on 7-9-2008 at 1:19 pm
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STORY OF WHY HENSON’S OWN SISKEL AND EBERT- STATLER AND WALDORF- GOT STARTED. I LOVE THOSE TWO OLD GUYS FROM UP IN THE BALCONY. OR WHY NO ONE MENTIONS LIPS’ SHORT LIVED STINT IN DR. TEETH AND THE ELECTRIC AS THIER TRUMPET PLAYER.
posted by MAL on 7-9-2008 at 3:41 pm
Great stuff! Had to catch up before inhaling Part 2. FYI: According to Henson himself, Ernie and Bert weren’t named for the characters in “It’s A Wonderful Life”, just a happy coincidence. Thank you, Jim, for the heads-up on “Hey Cinderella!”, what a great find! Technically speaking, Kermit appeared there before “Sesame Street”, by a matter of months. Oh, and both ToughPigs.com and muppet.wikia.com rock, I’ve been visiting for years as part of my own Sesame Street/Muppet obsession (click my name!).
posted by Tiny Dancer (aka Rhonda) on 7-11-2008 at 10:59 am
i could be wrong. . .but i’ve heard that in Sweden the Swedish Chef is called the Norwegian Chef
posted by roncs on 7-11-2008 at 11:53 am
Rizzo the Rat is based on Dustin Hoffman’s character in Midnight Cowboy.
posted by preston on 7-13-2008 at 11:18 pm
the best muppent ever has to be Beaker.
posted by madmanstruth on 7-28-2008 at 9:32 pm