The Periodic Table of Muppets
June 18, 2013 8:59 AM Subscribe
Soooo...way down in the middle and off to the side? You want Miss Piggy to karate chop you with a loud "Hi-Yah!"? Interesting choice.
posted by sexyrobot at 9:13 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sexyrobot at 9:13 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
That was my thought exactly, sparklemotion. I rather like the eyes on appropriately coloured squares though. Also his alphabet posters are kind of adorable.
posted by bethnull at 9:16 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by bethnull at 9:16 AM on June 18, 2013
Apparently they are listed in the order in which they first appeared.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 9:18 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 9:18 AM on June 18, 2013
Apparently they are listed in the order in which they first appeared.
But that's only one data line. The beauty of the periodical table is the sheer amount of information encoded in it.
The beauty of the muppets is the sheer amount of good cheer encoded in them, so I am not exactly complaining, although I agree with sparklemotion.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:30 AM on June 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
But that's only one data line. The beauty of the periodical table is the sheer amount of information encoded in it.
The beauty of the muppets is the sheer amount of good cheer encoded in them, so I am not exactly complaining, although I agree with sparklemotion.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:30 AM on June 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
Being listed in order is reasonable, but what's special about the top 4, or the whole bottom row that they are separate?
I don't want to poop on this because it seems like a cute idea, but what makes periodic tables _cool_ is that you can divine something from simply the arrangement of the different elements. This cargo cult version of one just makes me sad all over.
I like the alphabets though.
posted by sparklemotion at 9:32 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't want to poop on this because it seems like a cute idea, but what makes periodic tables _cool_ is that you can divine something from simply the arrangement of the different elements. This cargo cult version of one just makes me sad all over.
I like the alphabets though.
posted by sparklemotion at 9:32 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think that it would be extremely dangerous to ask Miss Piggy for permission to list her atomic weight.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:33 AM on June 18, 2013 [15 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:33 AM on June 18, 2013 [15 favorites]
I was all like, "Where's Bip Bippadotta?" Then I saw he was renamed Mahna Mahna and placed in the Muppet Show section.
Because I think of him as more Classic Sesame Street than Muppet Show.
And that whole "SEE THE RED HEAD BEING FED BREAD ON HIS SLED MADE OF LEAD AS HE SPED TO BE WED BUT HE FLED INSTEAD OUT AHEAD UP TO TED IN HIS BED" is way ahead of its time in 1973, no? Joe Raposo. Genius.
posted by droplet at 9:37 AM on June 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Because I think of him as more Classic Sesame Street than Muppet Show.
And that whole "SEE THE RED HEAD BEING FED BREAD ON HIS SLED MADE OF LEAD AS HE SPED TO BE WED BUT HE FLED INSTEAD OUT AHEAD UP TO TED IN HIS BED" is way ahead of its time in 1973, no? Joe Raposo. Genius.
posted by droplet at 9:37 AM on June 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
OK, I agree, not in the slightest bit effective as a periodic table, but super cute and made me smile.
BTW - Mahna Mahna is my wake-up ringtone. :O)
posted by Sophie1 at 9:39 AM on June 18, 2013
BTW - Mahna Mahna is my wake-up ringtone. :O)
posted by Sophie1 at 9:39 AM on June 18, 2013
Being listed in order is reasonable, but what's special about the top 4, or the whole bottom row that they are separate?
They are divided by TV Series: Sam & Friends, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock
posted by cardboard at 9:40 AM on June 18, 2013
They are divided by TV Series: Sam & Friends, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock
posted by cardboard at 9:40 AM on June 18, 2013
Top section: original muppets
2nd section: sesame street
3rd section: muppet show
Bottom row: fraggle rock
posted by sexyrobot at 9:40 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
2nd section: sesame street
3rd section: muppet show
Bottom row: fraggle rock
posted by sexyrobot at 9:40 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
This cargo cult version of one just makes me sad all over.
Yeah, I wanted to like this even though I don't give a rat's for Muppets, but I'm with the other negative vibe merchants. 'Periodic' actually means something; hence(son), there is no joke here, and nostalgia and cuteness does all the heavy lifting.
I recommend returning this for regrooving. In the right hands, perhaps some periodicity could be found. Ideally, it should predict the existence of previously undiscovered Muppets, right?
/Del Close mode off
posted by Herodios at 9:40 AM on June 18, 2013 [8 favorites]
Yeah, I wanted to like this even though I don't give a rat's for Muppets, but I'm with the other negative vibe merchants. 'Periodic' actually means something; hence(son), there is no joke here, and nostalgia and cuteness does all the heavy lifting.
I recommend returning this for regrooving. In the right hands, perhaps some periodicity could be found. Ideally, it should predict the existence of previously undiscovered Muppets, right?
/Del Close mode off
posted by Herodios at 9:40 AM on June 18, 2013 [8 favorites]
I would love to see what Muppet isotopes look like.
posted by DaddyNewt at 9:42 AM on June 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by DaddyNewt at 9:42 AM on June 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also, I have recently introduced my 6 year old niece to Classic Sesame Street (available on Netflix) mostly because the Leap Frog cartoons were driving me insane and I don't even live with her! But the husband and I have started watching them and they are frankly AWESOME!
Pre-Portlandia, There's a bird on me
posted by Sophie1 at 9:43 AM on June 18, 2013
Pre-Portlandia, There's a bird on me
posted by Sophie1 at 9:43 AM on June 18, 2013
I would love to see what Muppet isotopes look like.
Isn't Elmo a Grover isotope? And an unstable one at that?
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:44 AM on June 18, 2013 [17 favorites]
Isn't Elmo a Grover isotope? And an unstable one at that?
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:44 AM on June 18, 2013 [17 favorites]
sparklemotion: "I don't want to poop on this because it seems like a cute idea, but what makes periodic tables _cool_ is that you can divine something from simply the arrangement of the different elements. This cargo cult version of one just makes me sad all over."
Contrast the muppet table to this one for Tolkien's characters. With that one, you look at the first one or two in a period, and you already know who the next one in the column is going to be.
posted by radwolf76 at 9:47 AM on June 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Contrast the muppet table to this one for Tolkien's characters. With that one, you look at the first one or two in a period, and you already know who the next one in the column is going to be.
posted by radwolf76 at 9:47 AM on June 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
BTW - Mahna Mahna is my wake-up ringtone. :O
You wake up to soft-core porn music?
Mondo mutamento!
posted by Herodios at 9:48 AM on June 18, 2013
You wake up to soft-core porn music?
Mondo mutamento!
posted by Herodios at 9:48 AM on June 18, 2013
What struck me was that the first comment on his post was basically, that is awesome work you did...can I have it for free?
posted by slmorri at 9:53 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by slmorri at 9:53 AM on June 18, 2013
Contrast the muppet table to this one for Tolkien's characters. With that one, you look at the first one or two in a period, and you already know who the next one in the column is going to be.
I found the column with Galadriel. Next: Celeborn. Next: Celebrían? No, Gildor.
Sadness.
Still, not bad with such limited space.
posted by rewil at 9:54 AM on June 18, 2013
I found the column with Galadriel. Next: Celeborn. Next: Celebrían? No, Gildor.
Sadness.
Still, not bad with such limited space.
posted by rewil at 9:54 AM on June 18, 2013
Thing is, I think you could make a periodic table of Muppets, with a little effort. Like obviously Bunsen Honeydew belongs in the same column as Ernie, and beaker the same as Bert. There are the various groups: Bald Muppets, Crazy Shaggy Muppets, Man Sized Muppet Monsters.
posted by Chuckles at 10:38 AM on June 18, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by Chuckles at 10:38 AM on June 18, 2013 [8 favorites]
They've got my sentimental favorites — Sam the Robot, Lew Zealand, and the Snowths, so I approve.
posted by sonascope at 10:51 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by sonascope at 10:51 AM on June 18, 2013
Not to mention Muppets With Human Body Parts.
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:54 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:54 AM on June 18, 2013
Not to mention Muppets With Human Body Parts.
*shudder*
posted by sparklemotion at 11:03 AM on June 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
*shudder*
posted by sparklemotion at 11:03 AM on June 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
So you're saying that exposure to radioactive Muppets killed Jim Henson?
posted by blue_beetle at 11:42 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by blue_beetle at 11:42 AM on June 18, 2013
Everyone else in the world: Look at this cute thing!
Metafilter: BUT IT'S NOT SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE!!!
posted by double block and bleed at 1:01 PM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Metafilter: BUT IT'S NOT SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE!!!
posted by double block and bleed at 1:01 PM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
If it isn't accurate you can hardly calculate how much fun you're having.
posted by mountmccabe at 1:13 PM on June 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by mountmccabe at 1:13 PM on June 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
Everyone else in the world: Look at this cute thing!
Metafilter: BUT IT'S NOT SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE!!!
The complaint isn't scientific inaccuracy, it's humourous inaccuracy.
posted by Herodios at 1:59 PM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Metafilter: BUT IT'S NOT SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE!!!
The complaint isn't scientific inaccuracy, it's humourous inaccuracy.
posted by Herodios at 1:59 PM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Emmet Otter shouldn't be in any of these lines. He should be off to the side like Unobtanium.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:04 PM on June 18, 2013
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:04 PM on June 18, 2013
For the record, Rowlf (his fellow dog Baskerville and a few of the others in the first row of the Muppet Show block) first appeared well before either Sesame Street or The Muppet Show, but after Sam and Friends, with Rowlf being the first Muppet to get Prime Time exposure with weekly appearances on The Jimmy Dean Show... I'd have put the Muppet Show block above the Sesame Street block just because of that (and put Rowlf before Baskerville).
There also have to be questions about separating Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker and putting Dr. Teeth after most of the members of his Electric Mayhem (and between Statler and Waldorf!). Is this a strict "first seen" sorting? Because some of the band were seen in the show opening (and before Miss Piggy's appearance, which in the first show was non-speaking and not her final design).
And then, if you include Muppets from elsewhere (which they placed a few of at the end of the Muppet Show block), from The Dark Crystal to Saturday Night Live, you can make a whole 'nother block (and a better place for Emmet Otter - hey, even Yoda and Farscape's Rigel XVI would fit in there).
Yes, there are many opportunities for Muppedantry*...
*I just made up that portmanteau. It's mine, all mine.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:22 PM on June 18, 2013 [4 favorites]
There also have to be questions about separating Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker and putting Dr. Teeth after most of the members of his Electric Mayhem (and between Statler and Waldorf!). Is this a strict "first seen" sorting? Because some of the band were seen in the show opening (and before Miss Piggy's appearance, which in the first show was non-speaking and not her final design).
And then, if you include Muppets from elsewhere (which they placed a few of at the end of the Muppet Show block), from The Dark Crystal to Saturday Night Live, you can make a whole 'nother block (and a better place for Emmet Otter - hey, even Yoda and Farscape's Rigel XVI would fit in there).
Yes, there are many opportunities for Muppedantry*...
*I just made up that portmanteau. It's mine, all mine.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:22 PM on June 18, 2013 [4 favorites]
DaddyNewt: "I would love to see what Muppet isotopes look like."
My guess would be a lot like Orbit.
posted by chaosys at 3:39 PM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
My guess would be a lot like Orbit.
posted by chaosys at 3:39 PM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
it should predict the existence of previously undiscovered Muppets
oh hell yeah
posted by russm at 5:53 PM on June 18, 2013
oh hell yeah
posted by russm at 5:53 PM on June 18, 2013
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posted by sparklemotion at 9:11 AM on June 18, 2013 [9 favorites]