One hundred and one Muppets
July 14, 2009 6:53 PM   Subscribe

How well do you know your friends from Sesame Street? Scroll over this illustration of 101 Muppets to find out their names, a brief bio, and the season in which they appeared. Slimey is still my favorite.
posted by kimdog (49 comments total) 33 users marked this as a favorite
 
Slimey is my favorite too!
posted by contessa at 7:35 PM on July 14, 2009


More of a Guy Smiley man, myself.
posted by brundlefly at 7:36 PM on July 14, 2009


Definitely needs a link to Parody Muppets. Real people are muppets too!
posted by twoleftfeet at 7:44 PM on July 14, 2009


Betty Lou got RIPPED OFF.
posted by mightygodking at 7:49 PM on July 14, 2009


There was an episode where Snuffy's parents get divorced but it didn't test well with kids so it never aired.

Snuffleupagus has parents?

I have to confess, I'd like to see this episode.
posted by JaredSeth at 7:51 PM on July 14, 2009


Well given I'm 31, I can't say I remember all the characters I became so familiar with during my childhood but I remember most of the big ones. Smiley, Oscar, Kermit, Cookie Monster, Grover and Ernie are my faves.

My knowledge of many of the newer characters is obviously limited; all I really know about 'today's' Sesame Street is that Elmo pretty much owns the place and runs it like some sort of dictatorial fiefdom, with everyone else pretty much relegated to toil in his vast network of underground salt mines.
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:53 PM on July 14, 2009 [10 favorites]


And, over the course of millions of years, all of the muppets evolved into Doozers, making Fraggle Rock a far-future sequel to Sesame Street. SEE? It all ties together!
posted by brundlefly at 7:58 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]


They don't have HypnoBert....
posted by GavinR at 8:10 PM on July 14, 2009


The Muppet Wiki will probably consume your life.

Sorry.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:13 PM on July 14, 2009 [6 favorites]


I am so old that I think of Elmo as "the new muppet."
posted by rokusan at 8:28 PM on July 14, 2009 [6 favorites]


Roosevelt Franklin sure got shrivelled up in his old age.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:38 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]




WTF! they don't have the Nixonian eagle one ... what was it's name? AUGH! gotta go to that wiki :P
posted by liza at 8:58 PM on July 14, 2009


Has anyone ever seen Vincent Twice and Guy Smiley in the same room?
posted by vapidave at 9:07 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]


Sam the Eagle? Wasn't he just on the Muppet Show?
posted by brundlefly at 9:07 PM on July 14, 2009


Sam The (mothef***ing) Eagle. i guess you can tell i am from the first generation of Sesame Streeters 'cause i remember this fucker exactly because i got the joke --that he was some sort of Nixonian character.

FFF, that is wiki IS mesmerizing. can't believe the first Muppet Show was titled, "The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence" --the opening title looks like out of Monty Python and the show was actually about sex and violence (on TV).

i've got to get my hands on that STAT.
posted by liza at 9:11 PM on July 14, 2009


Gods, I just spent over an hour on the wiki. Too much LOL with the memories.

I miss the Muppets.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:15 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]


Semi on topic - has anyone in Seattle been to the Jim Henson Muppet exhibit at EMP? Is it good? Great?
posted by tristeza at 9:26 PM on July 14, 2009


The first season of the Muppet Show on DVD has the Sex and Violence pilot on it in the extras if I recall correctly. I'm pretty sure it is on the last disc. Also, the original link is about Sesame Street characters and not Muppets in general. Most of the Muppet Show muppets were never on Sesame Street such as Same the Eagle and Beaker.
posted by GavinR at 9:27 PM on July 14, 2009


WTF! they don't have the Nixonian eagle one ... what was it's name? AUGH! gotta go to that wiki :P

liza, the original post is about the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street... not the Muppet Show.
posted by crossoverman at 9:32 PM on July 14, 2009


LOL! i can't parse in my head that they were different shows what with Kermit being in both of them. to me the muppets were sesame street only at night --but i have the impression that Sam was indeed in some Sesame Street shows. or maybe am hallucinating that.
posted by liza at 9:47 PM on July 14, 2009


Wow! I think I already know my muppets from Sesame Street and the last thing I need is to scroll down and all over to see my friends that I already know. Having said that, it so happens that I enjoy seeing muppets anyway, as a matter of course, throughout my daily schedule, in addition to hot dogs. So you see, this post is a good thing. Such as it is. And, which, may allay the one or two questions I have about the muppet world on Sesame Street such as why doesn't anyone drive a stake through the counts heart? He's a vampire. Isn't it clear to you all that he doesn't deserve to live. It's crazy. Really. That, this undead monster should be counting objects on a children's television show in the afternoon, when, the light from the sun should burn the flesh from his inhuman form. Perhaps, I'm still stuck in the Walken thread. I'm sorry, I need a minute.

Bert: I'm the Anti-Christ. You got me in a vendetta kind of mood. You tell the angels in heaven you never seen evil so singularly personified as you did in the face of the muppet who killed you. I work as counsel for Mr. Oscar "The Grouch". I hear you were on Sesame Street so I can assume you've heard of us before. Am I correct?

Ernie: I heard of Oscar the Grouch.

Bert: Mr. The Grouch, he's sad, because, he's happy. *facepunch* That smarts, doesn't it? Getting slammed in the nose.

Ernie: It makes me sad.

Bert: We spoke to your neighbors. Mr. Hooper, saw, a studebaker, parked in front of your place yesterday. Muppets are great liars. The best in the world. I'm a muppet. My father, Bart, was the world heavy-weight champion of muppet liars. Now, what we got here is a little game of show and tell. You don't wanna show me nothin', but you're tellin me everything. I know you know where they are, so tell me before I do some damage you won't walk away from.

Ernie: Hey Burt, you know muppets are spawned from green socks? *chuckling laugh*
(etc.)
posted by Smedleyman at 9:59 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]


Wait, wait. They forgot "Teeny Little Superguy." I mean, I know he was there, I can still sing that whole freaking song.

In fact ... oh, what's that? He was just painted on a cup? Well... damn.
posted by Kimothy at 10:06 PM on July 14, 2009 [4 favorites]


sam the robot used to give me nightmares as a kid (apparently i wasn't the only one...he wasn't on the show very long) and until the advent of the internet, i was unable to convince anyone else that he ever existed. i felt like big bird fercryinoutloud...
posted by sexyrobot at 10:09 PM on July 14, 2009


Couldn't find Miss Piggy. She must be sulking in her trailer.

(I met my husband when I heard him playing the Sesame Street theme on a harmonica on a secluded part of the bach and I went to see where the music was coming from.)
posted by angiep at 10:14 PM on July 14, 2009 [1 favorite]


Umm, that's secluded part of the beach. Bach is what he plays now, on the violin.
posted by angiep at 10:15 PM on July 14, 2009


I feel bad for Lefty and Beautiful Day Monster. Sure, they're there, in the very back row toward the right, but considering that they started on "the Street" in Season 1 they can't be too happy about their position. Not with that young upstart Elmo way up front. Friggin' Elmo didn't come along until Season 11.
posted by twoleftfeet at 10:23 PM on July 14, 2009


When I was a kid, my favorites were Telly, the Honkers, and the Two-Headed Monster, though at the time I think Telly was the only name I knew. Also the Yip-Yips, and Super Grover, who was my absolute favorite.

Was Muppet Babies as great as I remember it being? Just off-the-wall, and unrestrained by the physical limitations of puppets? Or was I just the right age to enjoy it?
posted by paisley henosis at 10:46 PM on July 14, 2009


My knowledge of many of the newer characters is obviously limited; all I really know about 'today's' Sesame Street is that Elmo pretty much owns the place and runs it like some sort of dictatorial fiefdom, with everyone else pretty much relegated to toil in his vast network of underground salt mines.

Caveat: I have a toddler who asks for "Melmo" (how she says it) and hands me the Tivo remote, so... uh... feel free to call me a bad parent. Anyways--

Elmo doesn't actually own the place! The "newer" Sesame Street is a little bit more structured than how you remember. Generally, it goes:

- Ten minutes of the "story" of the day
- Ten minutes of the letter of the day and more story
- Ten minutes of the number of the day and more story
- Ten minutes of story wrapup and recurring-gag-du-jour
- And twenty minutes of Elmo and final goodbyes

Now, that may seem like a lot of Elmo, and it is, but he only shows up in the rest of the episodes very sparingly, and almost never as a primary character. Yeah, you'll see "Elmo and Zoe's Hat Wearing Contest" as the "story" of the day, but for the most part it's all the classic characters too. Cookie Monster reenacting King Midas, only with cookies. Stinky the Plant wanting to learn to dance. Telly in "Texas Telly and the Golden Triangle of Destiny" (Indiana Jones spoof) etc.

The structure lends itself to a better show than I remember, in that while there's still some of that hyperkinetic ADD-promoting skits every couple of minutes, it tends to keep kids attention on one thing for a longer period of time.

Now, what do I mean by "recurring gag-du-jour"? Generally it's a recurring skit; "Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures", where claymation (!) Bert and Ernie visit whatever strange lands inhabit their dreams, which also sort of tie in with the main theme for the episode. (Ernie actually gets the Midas touch, for example) There's also "Murray Has A Little Lamb" which I really wish was playing when I was growing up on Sesame Street-- Murray, a big bright orange monster with a New York accent, and Ovejita (Spanish for Little Lamb), his lamb who speaks, uh, Spanish, and gives Murray three clues about the school that they're visiting that day. ("Gardening school!" "Karate school!" "Irish stepdancing school!" etc) There are also the random things, too; Supergrover, Ernie singing a song, etc.

So anyways, back to Elmo, he's really only one segment of the show, and because he's so likeable he tends to keep the interest of a toddler who would otherwise totally zone out after 40 minutes of Sesame Street, at least until they get to the end of the show, where "this show was brought to you by the letter Q, and the number 18. Bye bye!"
posted by mark242 at 12:43 AM on July 15, 2009 [1 favorite]


Elmo is still one of the worst things to ever happen.

I mean, Sesame Street already had an adorable young monster who got into silly scrapes-- GROVER! Elmo has dumbed down the show so much that I want to cry.

VIVA GROVER!
posted by beelzebub at 1:47 AM on July 15, 2009 [12 favorites]


Bah, Spanish muppets in the USA!

Bah, French muppets in Canada!

Sesame Street is better in South Africa. You've not really lived until you have heard Muppets singing and giving lessons in Swahili.
posted by rokusan at 2:05 AM on July 15, 2009


to me the muppets were sesame street only at night

That's how I always thought of it, too.

Sesame Street.... After Hours!
posted by rokusan at 2:06 AM on July 15, 2009


Sesame Street came along too late to teach me how to read and count, but I remember liking Grover and Herbie as entertainment.
posted by pracowity at 2:27 AM on July 15, 2009


I liked Pino the best, but him, Tommy and Ieniemienie are only in the Dutch version I think.
posted by kudzu at 3:34 AM on July 15, 2009


Anyone who thinks that Elmo is taking over hasn't watched the show recently; yes, he is prominent (and rightly so, kids looooove him) but he is definitely not dominant.

One thing I've noticed while watching with my son is the number of characters who don't speak normally. Obviously, there's Elmo who speaks about himself in the third person, but other examples: Cookie Monster says "me" instead of "I" ("Me want a cookie"), and Baby Bear has a speech imediment. And almost all the monsters have some sort of accent. Does anyone know why this is? I've been wondering, because it seems surprising for a show whose goal is to teach kids language (among other things).
posted by Simon Barclay at 6:01 AM on July 15, 2009 [1 favorite]


you know muppets are spawned from green socks?

Got your facts of life wrong there, Ernie. It's COATS.


(Kermit the Frog was actually created from Jim Henson's mother's coat.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:16 AM on July 15, 2009


And I'm so glad they included the Geefle and the Gonk. I was worried there for a minute, but there they are in the back. They were my favorites, except for the Yip Yips.
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:16 AM on July 15, 2009


Semi on topic - has anyone in Seattle been to the Jim Henson Muppet exhibit at EMP? Is it good? Great?

I saw the exhibit when it was in Atlanta. If you're any sort of Muppet fan, I think you'll enjoy it. There are several display cases with Kermit, Mahna Mahna, Bert & Ernie, and other lesser known Muppets. The walls are lined with conceptual art, scripts, and video displays.

It's really a deeper look into the development behind the Muppets. I enjoyed it.

Yes, I took photos and I wasn't supposed to. I'm a naughty person.
posted by Fleebnork at 7:02 AM on July 15, 2009


My favorite bit of trivia from this site is that the letter "W" was interviewed by Larry King.
posted by kimdog at 8:06 AM on July 15, 2009


Sweet screaming Jesus, but do I love the Yip Yips. It just about makes me want to cry remembering my hysterical Chucky laughter whenever they showed up.
posted by Skot at 8:23 AM on July 15, 2009


My favorite was always Don Music.

"Oh, I'll never get it! Never! NEVER!" SLAM HIS HEAD ON ALL THE PIANO KEYS
posted by Lucinda at 8:54 AM on July 15, 2009 [2 favorites]


I was extremely (and probably irrationally) anti-Elmo until I had a kid. I was going to only let her watch really old, pre-Elmo Sesame Street borrowed from netflix. Then, about a month ago at Grandma's she had her first exposure. We are not going back.

Elmo is like toddler crack. The opening notes to Elmo's world can turn her from a screaming, headspinning little monster to a clapping, smiling child in seconds. Elmo is the only reason I have any time to write this right now. My kid likes the other muppets a lot but Elmo is the only one with the magical mood changing properties.

There is probably something scary or wrong about that - but I for one welcome our furry red overlord.

Oh - and I cannot find my two favorite characters in the picture - Ovajita and Prairie Dawn. Ovajita I understand because she is so new , but Prairie Dawn has been around a long time. She is the perfect foil for Cookie Monster's impulsive cookie madness.
posted by Lapin at 9:33 AM on July 15, 2009 [3 favorites]


I cannot find my two favorite characters in the picture - Ovajita and Prairie Dawn

Prairie Dawn's there. Look three Muppets to the right of the big sign that Big Bird's holding (right behind the scary baby, who I don't know). She's right near the Amazing Mumford.
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:53 AM on July 15, 2009


This post declared to be brimming with fuzzy Muppety Win!

thanks Kimdog.
posted by djrock3k at 10:23 AM on July 15, 2009


"And almost all the monsters have some sort of accent. Does anyone know why this is? I've been wondering, because it seems surprising for a show whose goal is to teach kids language (among other things)."

Of course they all have accents. Everyone (except possibly the Monarch of England) has an accent. That's part of the point. You don't hear your accent because, well, it's how you speak, but I assure you if you left your regional area to another part of the english speaking world, you'd have an accent.

I suspect that's part of why they do it that way -- a kid with a bronx accent will have someone on the show to empathize with, and so will the kid with a hispanic accent, and the one with a stutter, and so on.
posted by Blackanvil at 10:51 AM on July 15, 2009


I feel as though this thread is not complete without reference to Grover's introspective.

"But what many of us didn't see behind that brave exterior was a monster cowering in the face of his own insecurities, a monster so unsure of himself he wouldn't even watch his own performances, and a monster who ultimately allowed his own weaknesses to overcome him and nearly ruin his career. "
posted by zizzle at 1:11 PM on July 15, 2009


This scared the everlovin' crap out of me until I was, like, 27 years old.
posted by everichon at 1:11 PM on July 15, 2009 [1 favorite]


Got your facts of life wrong there, Ernie. It's COATS.

S'why Bert shoots him.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:17 PM on July 15, 2009


So anyone got theories about why Elmo is like lithium carbonate for toddlers?
posted by five fresh fish at 4:27 PM on July 15, 2009


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