Steven Wright on Stealing

Jim Henson on Life

On Muppets and Nudity

Next week, ABC will premiere a re-imaged Muppet Show that is intended to be much more adult oriented than the beloved original family oriented variety syndicated series (1976-1980).

Conservative cultural commentator Todd Starnes bemoaned the direction of the new Muppet Show based upon the unaired new Muppet Show pilot, which focused on the awkwardness of  bi-species relationships, marijuana jokes and promos touting "Finally. A network tv show with full frontal nudity".  Starnes would echo Sam the Eagle's disassociation from such a "whole, weird sick show."

Admittedly, edgy humor can go awry, especially in the early prime time slot which had been dubbed "The Family Hour" in the 1970s and 1980s.   

However, it can matter how the humor is handled and highlighted.  Take this classic Sam the Eagle philippic from the original series.

The new Muppet Show seems like it is following the path the Brady Bunch Movie (1995) which took beloved characters and laced it with racy innuendo, like Sam the Butcher making meat deliveries to Alice or a latent lesbian spin to Marcia's sleepover friend.  This can make for a cheeky parody but can be tough to prolong. 

Steve Martin on Music

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers tried to bridge the gap between seemingly insurmountable points with their tune "Atheists Don't Have No Songs".  

Miss Piggy on Style

Orson Welles on Politics

R.I.P. Sesame Street's Jerry Nelson--Count Your Blessings

Sesame Street's Count Von Count & Puppeteer Jerry Nelson

Jerry Nelson, the voice of many Muppets for 40 years including Count Von Count, died at the age of 78. Nelson also voiced characters like Herry the Monster, Mr. Snuffeulupagus, and Sherlock Holmes. Nelson retired from physical puppeteering in 2004, but continued to voice character like the Count up until his death. 

Nelson was one of Jim Henson's early muppeteers, joining the troupe in 1965.  Nelson started on Sesame Street during the long running childrens' educational show in its second season.  On "The Muppet Show", Nelson played Sgt. Floyd Pepper, the bassist for the house band "Electric Mayhem" and Lew Zealand, the boomerang fish thrower. 

To give a better picture of the man behind the characters, here is a video of Nelson in 2002 making a cameo appearance as an ice cream vendor on Sesame Street.

But we must count our blessings of experiencing the magical Muppeteering of Jerry Nelson in our lives, despite feeling sad,  by reprising his role Count Von Count.

We the Peoples' Puppets

Now that Congress is on its Summer Recess, it is the right time to consider who are the people’s favorite puppets.

The Cloture Club did a pictoral study which compared a score of Muppets to supposed Congressional counterparts.

Here is the best of the bunch:

Maybe House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA 7th) should choose snappier suits if he wants to be a Muppet double.

Fish markets in the Bronx had better look out for Representative Jose Serrano (D-NY 16th).

Well,  Rizzo and Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA 30th) are both tenacious.

If you want to see the rest, I commend checking out the piece in the Cloture Club. 

Until Congress reconvenes in early September, perhaps we can be sustained by patriotic presentations by Sam the AMERICAN Eagle.