My Favorite Muppets, Part 3: Richard Hunt

My my, where does the time go?  Let's see...where was I?

Oh yes, my favorite Muppets!  Today I wanted to look at Richard Hunt.  I've discussed this puppeteer at length in my posts on Scooter as well as the failed series Dragontime, but I never actually nailed down who his greatest characters were.

The important things to know about Hunt were that he was born to be a puppeteer.  He never truly felt as free or as outgoing as he did when there was a puppet attached to his arm.  Through his characters, he showed his childlike wonder, his boundless energy, and his array of funny voices.  He loved to help others.  He was often found performing as the extra arm for a live-hand puppet, meaning he'd be right up alongside Henson, Oz, or Nelson as they performed their iconic roles.

But most importantly, he loved to make people laugh.  He was the puppeteer who would most likely entertain guests by grabbing a random puppet and putting on an improvised performance.  These fun-loving elements bled into his characters, and it's a shame that soon after Henson passed away, Hunt followed.  While he may be gone, he is not forgotten.

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10) Belmont - The Christmas Toy

I always try to include one Muppet based on a pure-design aesthetic and to me, none of them are cooler than Belmont the rolling horse.  (Even the builder Ed Christie chose Belmont as his greatest creation in 22 years of work back in 2000.)  Hunt plays him as more of a dim-witted character who is at once easily-excitable and slow-talking, creating a strange speaking pattern.

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9) Gunge - Fraggle Rock

While Hunt is better known for his turn as Junior Gorg in Fraggle Rock, there is another childish ogre character of his that I prefer more.  So instead, I chose Gunge as the representative from this show.  Along with Philo, the two rat-like creatures serve as right-hand-men to Majory the Trash Heap.  Like Hunt, Gunge is the more naive and energetic of the two creatures.  Hunt tends to find himself playing the "child" character to a more mature counterpart, possibly due to his youth when he joined the Muppet repertoire.  (Of the main five original puppeteers, he was the youngest.)

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8) Don Music - Sesame Street

Before I began this blog, I had no idea who Don Music was.  He was cycled out of the show by the time I had started watching it regularly in the early '90s, allegedly due to the bad influence he had on children (namely, banging your head on hard objects when things don't go your way).  Maybe that's true and maybe it was a good thing to remove him from impressionable eyes, but hey, Hunt was an artist.  And artists get frustrated.  And sometimes they need to release that frustration in destructive ways.  Every Muppet puppeteer used their characters to unleash the feelings that they couldn't reveal in public, and Don Music only provided a cushy felt medium that also produced a funny sound whenever Hunt got upset.  If you can't use a puppet to slam against a piano, what can you do?

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7) Right Head of the Two-Headed Monster - Sesame Street

Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson were quite the dynamic duo.  They portrayed many live-hand puppets and puppet pairs together so it was only a matter of time before those were combined into a single puppet with two heads.  The Right Head (named "Stein" according to some sources) always seemed to be the more light-hearted and bouncy of the two heads, fitting with Hunt's childlike wonder.  He was the brother who was more likely to get his ego hurt and his confidence shattered.  Hunt enjoyed playing vulnerable characters, and he especially enjoyed playing off other characters, and the wide-eyed Right Head allowed him to do both.

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6) Janice - The Muppet Show

Okay, so Hunt has some very impressive voices in his arsenal, but I always felt his choice for Janice was out of place.  It sounded too much like a more masculine Scooter, which isn't quite the persona that Janice was aiming to capture.  That being said, Janice has an impressive wit.  While based on the valley girl stereotype, she is not a ditz.  She holds her own during the "Veterinarian's Hospital" sketches and she really shines with her ad-libs during the Muppet movies.  Hers is a character I would have liked to see more from outside of the hospital and Electric Mayhem appearances.

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5) Placido Flamingo - Sesame Street

Placido Flamingo is just another Sesame Street pun Muppet.  But that bird can sing with the best of them.  It seems as if all of Hunt's Sesame Street characters had a musicality to them (Don Music, Gladys the Cow, even the mute construction worker Sully could play the piano).  But Hunt really showed off his impressive vocal abilities when performing operatic parodies that taught children how to use the phone.

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4) Scooter - The Muppet Show

Oh wait, I forgot.  No one cares about Scooter.

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3) Beaker - The Muppet Show

I'm a bit of a Muppet hipster, so when it comes to extremely popular Muppets, my knee-jerk reaction is to say, "Yeah, he's funny but he's no Link Hogthrob."  So, I'm always trying to come up with ways as to why Beaker is just a one-note Muppet, unworthy of fame.  But, that one note ("Meep") is such a hilarious one that I can't justify my scorn.  Beaker is quite similar to the character Mr. Bill, in that they both suffer with their falsetto screams.  Even as a child, I was instantly drawn to Beaker because he is such a simple character to grasp, and his lack of a consistent language makes him relatable to everyone, regardless of age or ethnicity.  This was one of Hunt's "fun" characters, and it shows.

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2) Sweetums - The Muppet Show

Although he didn't portray him in his first appearance in The Frog Prince, Hunt made Sweetums his own, allowing the giant's heart and excitement to become a central aspect of his character.  (The first Sweetums was a lot meaner initially).  It's clear that Hunt enjoyed playing around in the puppet, as can be seen in behind the scenes photos and footage.  For the first time, Hunt could really get lost inside of a puppet.

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1) Mudwell the Mudbunny - Fraggle Rock

I know it seems blasphemous to place a one-shot Fraggle Rock character above all of Richard Hunt's iconic characters, but Mudwell was a truly special creature.  His personality, his mannerisms, and even his voice were unlike any character Hunt had portrayed before.  Hunt usually tries to find the humor in every scene he is in, filling in the role as resident clown when needed.  But, due to the story line of his signature episode, Mudwell is a more serious and introspective creature.  It's hard to discuss Mudwell without spoiling the storyline of his episode, but it's kind of obvious what's going to happen when his only episode is titled, "Gone, But Not Forgotten."

After getting injured in the deep caves of Fraggle Rock, Wembley is rescued by Mudwell.  Although Mudwell is more mature than Wembley, they still quickly bond over fun games and songs and food.  However, after his injuries heal, Mudwell rudely kicks Wembley out of his home, and tells him never to return.  Upset, Wembley returns to confront Mudwell for his rude behavior and learns that a Mudbunny's life is very short.  Mudwell passes away in front of him, crushing Wembley's spirit.

Yes, Mudwell is the center of an episode teaching the Fraggles (and the young viewers at home) all about death, and having someone taken away from you so suddenly.  Much like Hunt, Mudwell provided as much joy as he could in his short time on Earth.  This episode would have been production right as Hunt became diagnosed with HIV, so it isn't too far of a leap to conclude that this storyline was influenced by the sad news.

Richard Hunt passed away five years after this episode aired, and while he may be remembered for his more wacky characters, this "farewell" will always represent Hunt's softer side.  However, there was one thing I left out of my episode synopsis.  After Mudwell literally turns to dirt and dust, a new creature is born from his remains.  A young Mudbunny who, while different, retains some of Mudwell's memories and philosophies.

Hunt also plays Mudwell's reincarnated form and establishes that while his body may leave, his spirit may live on.  Whether it be through a metaphysical means or just through memories of the past, he will never truly be gone.  I almost interpret this reincarnation as Hunt's acknowledgement that he is survived by his characters.

While characters like Scooter were momentarily retired after Hunt's passing, the Muppets have the gift of immortality.  Scooter will return, Sweetums will return, Beaker will never go away.  Hunt left a myriad of gifts filled with life and energy that allows us to always remember him.  And that's why I appreciate Mudwell as much as I do.  He was real.  As real as the man who loved to play pretend.

It's All Gaelic to Me

In over 50 years of Muppet history, there has only been one major St. Patrick's Day tribute.  In the 5th season of The Muppet Show, the Leprechaun Brothers took the stage for the first time to sing that classic tune, "Danny Boy."

Yes, it took five seasons for the Muppet crew to realize the comic potential that could arise by combining the talents of three of the most popular characters together.  There's something to be said for the fact that Animal, Beaker, and Chef responded to such a large audience.  Although each had distinct personalities, they connected over their shared (lack of) language.  Through various forms of gibberish, the three communicated and it was only fitting to have them try and sing one of history's most beautifully tragic songs.

Together for the first time!

We rarely see these three at once, but it provides much comedic potential.  But strangely, it would take a long time for the trio to reunite.  After the deaths of Henson and Hunt, it was no surprise that there would be a disappearance of these popular characters for a while, but the idea once again resurfaced in a 1996 computer game.

Sans Beaker, but still singing public domain ditties.

In recent years, the "Danny Boy" clip became popular enough to bring the group out of retirement.  Dropping the "Leprechaun Brothers" name and opting for "the ABCs," the gang was back to create/mutilate great music.

This is a fake album, so don't try looking for it.

Two viral music videos were made.  A seasonal "Carol of the Bells" cover and an always timely cover of "Habanera" from Carmen.

The gang also made other appearances together, showing their daily interactions via the "Secret Elevator Tapes" series, which hinted at the chemistry they share as actual characters.  It's...odd, to say the least.

They also filled in for the judges on America's Got Talent for an episode, where, out of the three of them, the Chef made the most sense.

The hit comedy trio of the 2000s.

Sadly, the luck of the Irish was not on the Leprechaun Brothers' side and they never legitimately spun-off into their own comedy series.  Perhaps the creators didn't know what else to do with three characters that struggle to communicate.  But, like all spinoff musical groups, the trio became a footnote in Muppet history.  Beaker returned to repeated lab injuries, the Chef returned to slaying killer food, and Animal returned to blending into the background with the rest of the Electric Mayhem.  Sometimes these side projects don't take off the way you had dreamed.  But at least they'll always have "Danny Boy."

Stuck In Everything BUT the Same Old Routine

An unofficial mantra that The Muppet Show regularly stands by is "Expect the unexpected."  Very rarely does the straightforward occur on the show.  Traditional songs are covered in non-traditional scenarios, abstract creatures speak made-up languages, and sketches don't end without something going horribly wrong.  The show became increasingly bizarre because the writer's always had to top what had appeared the previous week.  By the third season, Henson and his crew had to change the game.  And that game-changer appeared with the introduction of a seven-foot-tall carrot singing tunes from The Pirates of Penzance.

And this is just the first act of the show! (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

"Episode 304: Gilda Radner" is considered by many to be a classic due to the presence of its guest star.  Known for her work on Saturday Night Live, Radner was one of the few cast members who actually appreciated Henson and the Muppets when they worked on the show in its first season.  She happily brought her comedic charm to the set of The Muppet Show for the chance to work with her old friends again.  And while she is a great asset to this episode, a guest star cannot carry an full episode by his or herself.  She is just half of the reason this episode is fondly remembered.

The episode starts right away toying with expectations.  Radner appears as her classic character Emily Litella who, like many SNL characters, has a common schitck.  Litella often mishears key words and gets worked up into a repressed outrage over her misinterpretation before being corrected and stating sheepishly, "Nevermind!"  This time she confuses "Muppets" for "Muffins" and the audience would be so familiar with this routine that they could say her catchprase in unison with her.

Easing the audience in with a smile.

The opening number involves a classic bit of Muppet misdirection where "a traditional Eskimo lullaby" turns out to be the "Lullaby of Broadway."  Songs like this are so common to the show that it'd be weird if they actually did sing an Eskimo luallaby.

Lulling us into a false sense of security.

Then, we get our first hint that this show will be different.  Radner prepares for her first number, and discovers her singing partner for the "Parrots of Penzance" number is here for the "Carrots of Penzance."  As Kermit says, "I introduce 'em, I don't explain 'em."

It's a shame this character never appeared again.

It would have been typical for The Muppet Show to include a giant parrot for this bit, but taking the pun one step further into a non-sensical outcome is "a terrible joke, but it's worthy of us," as Henson stated.  The number goes on much longer than the average song as it includes squabbling amongst Radner and the carrot as they attempt to prove to the other that they can sing better.  Having just the carrot perform would have been enough, but making him this vain operetta singer ready to allow his duet partner to look bad on stage takes this segment into a whole new territory.

And when there is one singing vegetable, more can't be far behind.

Contining with the theme of "unlike anything we've seen before," we are introduced to the first "Muppet Melodrama."  This was intended to be a recurring segment, but it only appeared once after this (possibly because there was only one joke and it worked well the first time it was told).  In a rare collaboration of characters, the trio of Miss Piggy, Uncle Deadly, and Wayne (of "Wayne and Wanda" fame) would reenact classic moments similar to The Perils of Pauline (the inspiration for Dudley Do-Right and any scenario where there is a dashing hero, a mustachioed villain, and a damsel-in-distress).

The Perils of Piggy

The plot is so obvious that it barely gets past the introduction of the hero for expectations to be thwarted.  Wayne appears and immediately bonds with the villainous Deadly over their shared passion for flamenco dancing.  And Piggy falls to her watery grave below, provoking her to reprimand her co-stars with some swift karate chops after the scene is finished.

Justice is served, with a side of bacon.

This is followed by a return appearance of the cruel ringmaster Marvin Suggs and his abused Muppaphones, but, in yet another reversal of expectations, Suggs gets a taste of his own medicine.



We have reached the halfway point of the episode, and despite all the wackiness, everything is par for the course on The Muppet Show.  Up next is an installment of the reliable recurring sketch, "Muppet Labs."  Bunsen will invent something, and Beaker will suffer as a result.  We're used to the routine.  But wait, what's Gilda Radner doing?

I don't make these episodes, I just report on them.

For the first time, a human guest star is appearing in a "Muppet Labs" sketch (not counting Peter Ustinov's appearance in the second one which was in the non-canon pre-Beaker era).  Since celebrities are always able to pick which Muppets they want to appear on screen with, it is evident from this arrangement that Radner's favorite Muppet was Beaker.  And when you choose Beaker, you're going to get stuck with him.  Literally.

As Mac Davis would find out in a later episode.

Bunsen invents super-adhesive glue and of course, the glue ends up everywhere.  Gilda gets trapped in Beaker's exercise equipment as Bunsen starts attracting all of his desk supplies.  Driving home the theme of this episode, Bunsen remarks, "It wasn't meant to go this way!"  Normally, this would be the end of the sketch but this small action affects rest of the episode permanently.

It's like the Butterfly Effect. 

Rowlf and Zoot can't put down of their musical instruments,...

...the Newsman is glued to his seat during a riveting news flash,...

...all of Piggy's dreams start coming true,...

...and Gonzo can't keep his eyes of the television set!

The show runs "normally" in an attempt to compensate for this added nuisance and it all leads to Radner's show-stopping final number "Tap Your Troubles Away."  This is an amazing spectacle as it greatly combines the comedy of both the Muppets and Radner perfectly.  There is a gracefulness to the mayhem and it is easily one of The Muppet Show's finest moments.

After all is said and done, the cast remains stuck together for their bows and Kermit tries to keep things under control by ironically stating, "Okay, that just about does it for another regular, nothing-out-of-the-ordinary, everything-under-control Muppet Show."

...Perfect.

This episode was far from ordinary and it knew it.  Up until this point, episodes were either a hodge-podge of moments or a small story involving the characters.  But now, the writer's started looking at the bigger picture.  It was as if Henson and his crew were turning a page, realizing that they not only should they avoid the limits set by others, they should avoid the limits set by themselves.  Many times, the crew conflicted with the artistic vision of the guest stars, many of whom had little imagination (which is a terrible thing to bring to The Muppet Show).  It took a brilliant comedienne to help raise the stakes, proving that there are always expectations to be subverted.  Creativity doesn't stop when the ideas run dry.  You just have to dig a little deeper.

Because at The Muppet Show, you never know what you'll get yourself into.  And that's where the fun begins.

The Muppet Movie, Part 5: Write Your Own Ending

The crew pulls over in a nearby ghost town to face off against Doc Hopper.  There is a very quick introduction of Bunsen and Beaker, who are conveniently stationed here to perform experiments involving "Insta-Grow Pills."  I pretty sure there is no blatant foreshadowing occurring during this scene at all.  I'm sure the screenwriter Jerry Juhl just forgot about the duo until the last minute and had to squeeze them in and they are not going to proof to be some deus ex machina in any way.

Hopper shows up with his armed men, giving Kermit one last chance to join the Dark Side.  Kermit stands up to him with an award-winning speech, saying how he is just a lowly frog trying to follow is dream to make people happy.  And he's amassed quite a large number of like-minded individuals who have become like family to him.  If he had joined Hopper initially, it would only have made himself miserable.  But now the needs of the many are what he is fighting for, and he cannot deprive the world of joy.

Kermit and friends, standing up for what's right.

He implores Hopper to search within himself and do the right thing.  Hopper decides that Kermit is right, and it's time to kill the frog.  But, if you'll notice from the previous picture, one member of the group is missing.  Could it be...?

Welp, looks like those Insta-Grow Pills weren't just a meaningless prop.

Much how Animal overshadows the rest of his bandmates in terms of popularity, he grows to be a giant and saves the day with his impulsive tendencies.  Sure, Kermit's speech was heart-warming and everything, but it wouldn't be the Muppets without a big explosion to cap everything off.

And so, our heroes finally make their way to Hollywood with their conflicts far behind them!

They made it!

After receiving some trouble from the secretary at the production studios, the gang finally makes their way in to see the intimidating movie mogul, Lew Lord.

They have come so far...

Unlike all of the other celebrity cameos in the film (save for Edgar Bergen), this appearance is highly significant in a number of ways.  First, the character of Lew Lord is based on British film and television producer Lord Lew Grade, who was the only person in show-biz willing to give The Muppet Show a chance.  Without him, none of what we know about the Muppet franchise would be as it is today.  No show, no movies, no Muppet Babies.  Grade was the best thing to come into Henson's life and he made sure everybody knew it.

So, such an impressive person is entitled to be played by an impressive actor.  And the man Henson got for the job was none other than Orson Welles.

Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Welles is obviously known for directing and starring in Citizen Kane, which, like The Muppet Movie chronicles the events of one man's desire to become rich, famous, and powerful.  Welles put a lot of himself into the character of Kane, much as Henson has put into Kermit.  The mirrored paths their lives took indicated a special bond between Welles and Henson.  Although he was known for his serious demeanor, Welles loved Sesame Street and the Muppets.  He saw the greatness that Henson created and was proud to consider him a friend.  He was such a big Muppet fan that he knew each character by name and spotted inconsistencies in the refurbished costumes the puppets wore specifically for the movie.

Of course, his character was going to allow the Muppets to sign the Standard "Rich and Famous" Contract that all celebrities sign.

This contract later became an important plot point in the 2011 film The Muppets.

Suddenly, Kermit finds himself at the top, bursting with joy that all of his dreams are coming true with the song "The Magic Store."

Look at me now!

The team assembles their version of The Muppet Movie culminating in a scene representative of the whole journey they took together.  Set pieces representing the various iconic scenes from the movie flash by as the whole group sings a reprise of "The Rainbow Connection."  They update the lyrics to remind us that they are no longer only dreamers.  They are achievers.

The Muppet Movie in one frame.

But, it wouldn't be the Muppets without an explosion that destroys everything.

KA-BLAMMO!

Don't worry!  Just when you think everything is ruined, something magical comes through the massive hole they made in the studio space.

OOOOOOOOOHHH!!!

AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

Yes, it is the Rainbow Connection itself.  The colors bathe every Muppet (and I mean every Muppet) as they finish the song, showing that while the movie may be fake, the message is not.  It is uplifting and magical.  Our lives are what we make of them and this group made some pretty good lives.

Yes, every single Muppet came together for the finale.

Alright, so, final impressions?

I agree with the tagline.

The Muppet Movie is about as perfect as a Muppet movie can get.  So let me get my minor squabbles with the film out of the way first.

Doc Hopper is a forgettable villain.

Charles Durning does just fine with the part, but he never poses much of a threat and is outshone by the numerous celebrity cameos that populate the film.  What makes the human actors memorable is that their characters are over the top.  Mel Brooks and Steve Martin in particular dominate their scenes.  If Hopper had been a little more Col. Sanders-esque, he would served the same purpose and would have hit that sweet spot between threatening and hilarious.  As he stands, he's just dull.

Scooter gets a raw deal.

I already mentioned how I didn't like him being lumped in with the Electric Mayhem, but to me, the real reason Scooter should have been dealt with separately was so that he could have his own musical number.  Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Piggy, Rowlf, and the Electric Mayhem each get their own song.  Scooter deserves one as well.  I'm not sure how it would have fit in, but since I view him as one of the core members of the group, it would have been nice to give him some more development to his backstory.  He could easily have been an intern at World Wide Studios.

Bunsen and Beaker's role is very random.

The flow of the movie, for the most part, makes sense.  But sticking these two in right before the climax feels like a hiccup.  Look at it from a storytelling point of view: Kermit refuses Hopper's offer, Hopper chases Kermit across the country, Hopper threatens to kill Kermit, Kermit tells Hopper he'll face him one on one, Bunsen and Beaker make Insta-Gro Pills, Kermit has a showdown with Hopper.  Now, Animal growing is humorous, but the same effect could have been earned had Bunsen and Beaker been introduced earlier in the movie at some point.  Maybe they were at the Bogen County Fair trying to sell their pills to farmers to make their vegetables grow larger and Fozzie or someone pockets a sample.  In fact, that would have been a lot more fluid and the pay off would have been more surprising.

Including Waldorf and Statler would have been funny.

This one I'll let slide since the film is just fine without their constant heckling, but I would like to see a version released with their scenes restored.  Because we missed out on stuff like this:

Riding on a Muppet camel?  Totally worth including!

Those are really my only issues with the movie, because everything else is just flawless.  There is a different kind of energy to movies that were made in the 1970s.  Everything is calmer and more whimsical.  There is less of a "Hey, look at what we can do!" feel to it.  Modern movies are very stylized and predictable.  While The Muppets was a great story, the film felt like a streamlined product manufactured to be enjoyable.  The Muppet Movie just feels natural.

Perhaps it was because a lot of it was shot on location and the puppets didn't class with the outdoor environment.  We see the beauty of the American landscape in nearly every scene.  In The Muppets, there are many driving scenes, but in The Muppet Movie I feel like we are watching an actual road trip.

And the comedy has a lot of subtle nuances to it that you rarely see in blockbuster movies.  A lot of the best lines are softly spoken, so even though I had seen this film multiple times as a child, I noticed 50% more jokes this time around.  Miniscule movements in the characters' expressions sell the idea that they are real people.

And most of all, this is a movie that is just happy to be a movie.  While a lot of the shooting may have been difficult, the final product comes off as a work of art that a whole team worked together to build and make great.  There isn't any sign of commercialism or cheap effects.  Blood and sweat and love went into the making of this movie.

Why The Muppet Movie is considered to be the best Muppet movie:

That's a whole lotta love.

Everyone has their favorite Muppet movie.  While I'm not yet ready to reveal my personal favorite, I'll admit that this one is tightly written and enjoyable no matter your age.  If this one is your favorite, I won't argue against it.  If you don't like this movie at all, then I feel truly sorry for you.  But I have yet to meet a person who dislikes this movie.  Some dismiss it as a children's flick, but there is so much more to it than that. This movie promotes optimism and an a lust for life.  It translates the journey of one very real dreamer into a tale that everyone can identify with.  It is not a kids movie.  That's just a myth!  

Yeth?