What I've Learned From The Muppets
(Fozzie) Bear with me on this one ...
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been watching The Muppets. I can remember going to the Tommy K’s video store in Wallingford, CT with my Gram and brother, and immediately running to find the compilation VHS of The Muppet Show. Those rerun tapes made way for all of the Muppet movies I could get my hands on - I’ll rank them at the end of this post.
The Muppets have always represented diversity, inclusion, and love, however odd that love may have been - Gonzo and Camila the chicken, anyone? Their journeys and hijinks have always been about hope, determination, and no dream being too big to achieve. Their movies, shows, gags, and skits were all-inviting, as adults and children alike could find humor in what they were watching. And the cameos! Don’t even get me started on the cameos. To this day, are you even a celebrity if you haven’t done a feature on Sesame Street or some segment with The Muppets?
It obviously wasn’t until I “grew up” - a term placed in quotations because I’m truly a big kid at heart - that I really started reflecting on why The Muppets have been so important to me.
Kermit is the obvious starting point here. I imagine everyone can see a bit of themselves in Kermit, and isn’t that the point? He represents determination and hope, while also constantly being challenged by self-doubt and the desire to be accepted.
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But, why wonder? Why wonder?
I'm green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be
- “Bein’ Green”, Kermit the Frog
When that self-doubt about what makes us “green” starts to pervade our thoughts to tell us we don’t belong or we’re not good enough, Kermit has taught us that our own shades of green will “do fine.”
Miss Piggy, being the clear opposite of Kermit and an icon of self-confidence, has taught me to love the skin I’m in! While her outbursts of violence are sometimes unwarranted, the message is clear: you don’t have to love me or think I’m beautiful because I know that I’m the prize pig in this county fair! Throughout the movies, Piggy plays a supportive role to Kermit - the love of her life - while also ensuring that everyone else knows her value and that she is a star.
Beauty is all about loving who you are. And if you have a problem with that, may I suggest you try loving who I am?
- Miss Piggy
Fozzie Bear, the comedic relief that never was but always has been. From the first introduction of Fozzie, I learned that it’s so important to love what you do. Fozzie’s ineptitude with comedy - at least in the eyes of his Muppet counterparts - would be more than enough for any of us to give up and move onto something else, but not Fozzie. He loves the stage and he loves making people laugh, even when they’re laughing at him and not with him.
Kermit: It's too bad the dancing girls are on vacation; this crowd's getting ugly.
Fozzie: Huh. If you think this crowd's ugly, you should see the dancing girls.
If Gonzo can teach us anything, it’s to embrace your inner weirdo and be unapologetically yourself - not to mention, to always keep em’ guessing. No one knows what Gonzo is or, ignoring Muppets in Space, where he came from, but no one cares. He is brave, quite whacky, and always down for a stunt! Gonzo has always been who he’s wanted to be, loved who’s wanted to love (even though it was a chicken), and taken us through some marvelous Muppet adventures.
“The world will forever wonder who I am!”
- The Great Gonzo
Those are obviously four of the main Muppets - quite typical examples actually - but if I took the time to go through all of the Muppets from whom I’ve learned valuable lessons, I think I’d have more recommendations for therapy than I’d be willing to accept. What I can say is that the Muppets have always provided me with a comfort and an innocence that I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life. I still love hearing Rowlf the Dog provide philosophical advice to his listeners and watching poor Beaker be the guinea pig for one of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew’s experiments. I love the hippie mindset of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, particularly Janice’s stories whenever the crowd around her gets quiet.
“Look buddy, I don’t take my clothes off for anyone. I don’t care if it is ‘artistic’ …”
- Janice
I’d like to think that everybody has a piece of their childhood that they carry with them throughout life, whether it’s a TV show or movie character that they love; a book that they read; or a toy they really loved to play with. Being an adult can really suck sometimes, so the purposeful time spent being nostalgic can be very therapeutic - just be sure to allow yourself to enter the “child realm” again, as opposed to viewing those childhood favorites of yours with your adult lenses on.
At the end of The Muppet Movie, after the dream of making a movie has crashed down around him, Kermit and the rest of the Muppets begin singing (as they often do), “Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.” And if that’s not the biggest lesson to learn from Jim Henson (creator of The Muppets), then I don’t know what is, because that’s exactly what he grew up and kept doing.
And now, I will rank the eight major Muppet motion pictures. My opinion is my opinion, and your disagreements with my rankings will be respected, but not heard. :-)
Muppets Most Wanted - Yeah, terrible. I appreciate the efforts made to bring The Muppets into a new generation of viewers, but this wasn’t it.
Muppets in Space - I get it. We needed some sort of origin story for Gonzo AND a way to capitalize on the success of the show, “Muppets Tonight.” But even the great use of “Shining Star” and the awesome soul/funk soundtrack couldn’t save this one.
The Muppets - A much better effort to bring the crew into modern times. I liked the introduction of Walter and the effort that Jason Segel, a fellow Muppets diehard, put into the movie.
Muppet Treasure Island - Another retelling (see #1) of a classic story, but replace Michael Caine with Tim Curry. This whole movie will make you laugh, and with supporting roles by Jennifer Saunders and Billy Connolly, you really can’t go wrong.
The Muppets Take Manhattan - The lights, the production, more phenomenal cameos - among them Gregory Hines, Joan Rivers, and Liza Minnelli. A lovely tale of almost having to give up on your dreams, but the support of your chosen family lifting you back up again! Plus, we finally see Kermit and Piggy get married!
The Muppet Movie - Obviously a classic. Obviously amazing. Obviously so important to the whole story. This is the blueprint for cameos and dry humor. A true masterpiece but also a fairly basic storyline, which is why it’s not higher.
The Great Muppet Caper - This is a storyline I can get behind. A mystery in London. A creative tale of the whole crew coming together to solve it. And don’t even get me started on the Happiness Hotel music number. Plus, Diana Rigg!?!? Come on …
The Muppet Christmas Carol - There is no argument here. The musical numbers are unmatched. The casting of each Muppet is perfection - Statler and Waldorf as Marley and Marley, even though there was only one Marley in the book!?! So good. Plus, I quote the Ghost of Christmas Present to this day - “Come in! And know me better, man!” I watch this every Christmas, and it remains at the top of my general Christmas movie list as well.
Who/what are YOUR favorite Muppets and/or Muppet movies? Let me know in the comments!