Monday, November 16, 2009

The Letter K


There once was a king from Kalamazoo/Who had a kicky kangaroo/Now the kindly kangaroo named Kay/Played a keen kazoo both night and day

There are no Muppets of any importance that begin with the letter K










Okay fine

Kermit The Frog


Starting from the humblest of origins, one of Elizabeth Henson's old coats and a ping pong ball cut in half, it's hard to believe that a lizard-like minor character on WRC's "Sam and Friends" would become one of the most beloved and popular fictional characters.

Kermit is everything in the Muppet world. He reports on news stories on Sesame Street, he's the frazzled host and stage manager of The Muppet Show, he's the executive producer of Muppets Tonight. If there's a Muppet production, Kermit is in it and usually playing a big role. He is without a doubt the de facto leader of the Muppets. Even outside of the Muppet world, he stands above all other puppets. He's hosted The Tonight Show and Larry King Live, he was a semi-regular for two years of Hollywood Square. Hell, he even accompanied Lady GaGa at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Kermit has some damn staying power.

More than any other Muppet, Kermit represents Jim Henson. In fact, Kermit basically is a froggier version of Henson. He was the spirit of Henson's creativity, originality, body, mind and soul. He's the voice to the things the usually quiet Henson wouldn't or couldn't say. He's Henson's wit and innocence rolled into one. Knowing the world isn't always beautiful but you have to make with what you have. We may not be that beautiful, either, but we should still love who we are.

Kermit is not Bugs Bunny or WALL-E or Mickey Mouse. Kermit isn't two-dimensional. He actually exists. His face and voice and character is all real. He can interact with a little girl who keeps putting Cookie Monster into the alphabet.

He can ride a bicycle and he can play a banjo

He'll fly across the room after getting brutally kicked by Miss Piggy. He can be hugged and kissed and felt and talked to. Kermit has dreams and hopes and feelings, moreso than other fictional character. Kermit is more human than any other frog would even dare to dream.

He's green and it'll be fine. It's beautiful and it's what he wants to be.

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