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Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear is a Muppet character best known as the insecure and comedically fruitless stand-up comic on ''The Muppet Show.'' Fozzie is an orange-brown bear who often wears a brown pork pie hat and a pink and white polka dot necktie. The character debuted on ''The Muppet Show'', as the series' resident comedian, a role where he uses the catchphrase "Wocka wocka!" to indicate that he'd completed a joke. He was often the target of ridicule, particularly from balcony hecklers Statler and Waldorf. Fozzie was performed by Frank Oz until 2001, after which Eric Jacobson became the character's principal performer. History The origin of Fozzie's name has been traditionally thought to be a pun of performer Frank Oz's name (F.Oz). It was also believed that the character was actually named after Al Fuzzie, the mascot of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority in the mid-1970s; Henson's wife, Jane, was a member of the sorority. However, Oz confirmed on Twitter in 2018 that Fozzie was named after Franz ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Muppets
The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, burlesque, and self-referential style of variety- sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, they are the focus of a media franchise that encompasses television, film, music, and other media associated with the characters. Originally owned by The Jim Henson Company for nearly five decades, the franchise was purchased by The Walt Disney Company in 2004. The Muppets originated in the short-form television series ''Sam and Friends'', which aired from 1955 to 1961. Following appearances on late night talk shows and in advertising during the 1960s, the Muppets began appearing on ''Sesame Street'' (1969–present), and attained celebrity status and international recognition through '' The Muppet Show'' (1976–1981), which received four Primetime Emmy Award wins and twenty-one nominations during its five-year run. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Muppets diversified into theatrical films, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Catchphrase
A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass media (such as films, internet, literature and publishing, television, and radio). Some become the de facto or literal "trademark" or "signature" of the person or character with whom they originated, and can be instrumental in the typecasting of a particular actor. Catchphrases are often humorous, but are never long enough or structured enough to be jokes in themselves. However, a catchphrase can be (or become) the punchline of a joke, or a reminder of a previous joke. Culture According to Richard Harris, a psychology professor at Kansas State University who studied why people like to cite films in social situations, using film quotes in everyday conversation is similar to telling a joke and a way to form solidarity with others. "People a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Kennedy (puppeteer)
John Kennedy (born November 17, 1967) is an American puppeteer who has worked with The Jim Henson Company since 1990. He hails from Plainfield, Indiana. From 1991 until 2003, Kennedy took over Jim Henson's role of Dr. Teeth, after which Bill Barretta took over in 2005. Kennedy has also performed Kermit the Frog on Disney Cruise Line, replacing Steve Whitmire. Characters * Dr. Teeth (1991–2003) * Floyd Pepper (2005–2006) *''The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss'' – Horton the Elephant, Mr. Knox, Sam-I-Am, Little Cat C, Uncle Docks, Etc. *''Sesame Street'' *Kermit the Frog (''Disney Cruise Lines'') *Apollo (''Jim Henson's Pajanimals'') * Floyd Pepper (''The Muppets' Wizard of Oz'' (2005) & The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas (2006)) *''The Muppets' Wizard of Oz'': Angel Marie (2005) *Bernie the Pig (''Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman'') (2006–2010) *''Kermit's Swamp Years'': Blotch and Arnie the Alligator (2002) *''Animal Jam'': DJ 1 (2003) *''Sesame Street episode 4111: Cookie World ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kevin Clash
Kevin Jeffrey Clash (born September 17, 1960) is an American puppeteer, director and producer known for puppeteering Elmo on ''Sesame Street'' from 1984 to 2012. He also performed puppets for ''Labyrinth'', '' Dinosaurs'', '' Oobi'', and various Muppet productions. Clash developed an interest in puppetry at an early age and, in his teen years, performed for local television children's shows in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. He joined the cast of ''Captain Kangaroo'' in the early 1980s and began performing on ''Sesame Street'' in 1984. He was the fifth puppeteer to perform Elmo, who became his signature character, and he also served as an executive producer and director for the show. Clash worked in various productions with The Jim Henson Company and occasionally on other projects. Clash's autobiography, ''My Life as a Furry Red Monster'', was published in 2006; he was later the subject of the documentary '' Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey'' (2011). Clash resigned from ''S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Teddy Bear Museum
A teddy bear museum is a museum about teddy bears. There are many teddy bear museums around the world. The world's first Teddy Bear Museum was based in Petersfield, Hampshire, England. It was founded by Judy Sparrow in 1984, and housed a collection of antique teddy bears and related items. It closed in 2006. The British broadcaster Gyles Brandreth founded a Teddy Bear Museum in Stratford-upon-Avon. After 18 years it was relocated to the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, London and then, in 2016, relocated again to Newby Hall, near Ripon, in North Yorkshire. The V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green also has an extensive range of teddy bears. The Jeju Teddy bear museum in South Korea has many kinds of teddy bears from various countries. The Izu Teddy Bear Museum opened in Itō, Shizuoka, Japan in 1995. It has a collection of various teddy bears, including "Teddy Girl". Other notable museums * Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester, England * The Merrythought Teddy Bear Shop & Muse ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'' is a 2002 American musical fantasy comedy television film directed by Kirk R. Thatcher and written by Tom Martin and Jim Lewis. The film premiered November 29, 2002 on NBC and the first film to be made for television for ''The Muppets'' franchise. It stars Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, Dave Arquette, Joan Cusack, Matthew Lillard, William H. Macy, and Whoopi Goldberg. The plot centers on Kermit the Frog who, after losing all hope for saving the Muppet Theatre, is assisted by an angel who shows him a world in which he was never born. The film is a homage to Frank Capra's 1946 film ''It's a Wonderful Life'', which has a similar plot. This was the first Muppets production without the involvement of veteran Muppet performer Frank Oz. Instead, Eric Jacobson performed Oz's characters Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal, marking his feature film debut as those characters. The film is also one of the few Muppets ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Muppets Tonight
''Muppets Tonight'' is an American live-action/ puppet family-oriented television series created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring The Muppets. Much like the "MuppeTelevision" segment of ''The Jim Henson Hour'' (1989), the show was a continuation of ''The Muppet Show'', set in a television studio rather than a theater. Unlike the original ''Muppet Show'', most episodes of ''Muppets Tonight'' featured multiple guest stars. There would usually be one principal guest, but other celebrities would make small walk-on appearances. For example, the Garth Brooks episode features a cameo from Leonard Nimoy. It first ran on ABC from March 8 to July 14, 1996, with reruns on Disney Channel from 1997 to 2000. Format The premise of ''Muppets Tonight'' was that Clifford was the host of a variety/talk show on KMUP. The show stuck closely to ''The Muppet Show'' format of various skits (mostly featuring the show's human guest star) interspersed with some sort of crisis occurring backstag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Muppet Family Christmas
''A Muppet Family Christmas'' is a Christmas television special starring Jim Henson's Muppets. It first aired on December 16, 1987, on the ABC television network in the United States. Shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, its teleplay was conceived by longtime Muppet writer Jerry Juhl, and directed by Peter Harris and Eric Till (the latter of whom was uncredited). The special features various Muppets from ''The Muppet Show'', ''Sesame Street'', ''Fraggle Rock'', and '' Muppet Babies''. It also stars Gerard Parkes as Doc from the North American wraparound segments of ''Fraggle Rock'', and Henson as himself in a cameo appearance at the end. In the plot, the Muppets surprise Fozzie Bear's mother with a Christmas visit to her farmhouse, unaware of her planned getaway to Malibu. Due to licensing issues with songs featured in ''A Muppet Family Christmas'', some scenes have been cut from subsequent home media releases. Plot Fozzie Bear is driving many of the Muppets to his mother Emily's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is one of the Muppet characters known for her breakout role in Jim Henson's ''The Muppet Show''. Since her debut in 1976, Miss Piggy has been notable for her temperamental diva superstar personality, tendency to use French phrases in her speech, and practice of karate. She was also known for her on-again/off-again relationship with Kermit the Frog which never ends permanently. Frank Oz performed the character from 1976 to 2000, 2002 and was succeeded by Eric Jacobson in 2001. Miss Piggy was inspired by jazz singer Peggy Lee. In 1996, ''TV Guide'' ranked her number 23 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. In a 2001 Channel 4 poll in the UK, Miss Piggy was ranked 29th on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters. In 1996, a cook book entitled ''In the Kitchen With Miss Piggy: Fabulous Recipes from My Famous Celebrity Friends by Moi'' was released. Characterization Origins and description In a 1979 interview with ''The New York Times'', performer Frank Oz ou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Faz Fazakas
Franz "Faz" Fazakas (April 5, 1918 – September 28, 2013) was an American puppeteer, engineer, and special effects designer, best known for his work with The Muppets. He is the namesake for Fozzie Bear for whom he created the puppet's ear-wiggling effects. Fazakas was the director of electronic and mechanical design for the television show Fraggle Rock. Muppet technology He helped design a radio control system to move the Muppets so they would not all have to be manipulated by hand. This control system was used on movies such as Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. This system, called the Henson Performance Control System, won the 1992 Scientific and Engineering Academy Award. Versions of this system were what allowed Kermit the Frog to ride a bike and Emmet Otter to row a boat. Jim Henson called Fazakas “one of the true geniuses of the world.” His mechanical work on the eyes and facial movements of longtime Muppets such as Big Bird and Sweetums gave both characters more emotional ra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and 'Reblogging, retweet' tweets, while unregistered users only have the ability to read public tweets. Users interact with Twitter through browser or mobile Frontend and backend, frontend software, or programmatically via its APIs. Twitter was created by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams (Internet entrepreneur), Evan Williams in March 2006 and launched in July of that year. Twitter, Inc. is based in San Francisco, California and has more than 25 offices around the world. , more than 100 million users posted 340 million tweets a day, and the service handled an average of 1.6 billion Web search query, search queries per day. In 2013, it was one of the ten List of most popular websites, most-visited websites and has been de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jane Henson
Jane Ann Henson (Birth name#Maiden and married names, née Nebel; June 16, 1934 – April 2, 2013) was an American puppeteer and the wife of Jim Henson. Early life Jane Ann Nebel was born and raised in St. Albans, Queens, she met Henson when she was a senior and he a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park. Nebel was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Career Jane Nebel and Jim Henson worked together on the live 1950s television show ''Sam and Friends'', where Jane collaborated with Jim in performing The Muppets, Muppets and devising several of the show's technical innovations, including the use of television monitors to watch their performances in real time. When, in the late 1950s, Jim took a year off from ''Sam and Friends'' to travel in Europe, Jane ran the show, with the help of a UMD classmate. "Among the first of his assignments at WRC was ''Afternoon'', a magazine show aimed at housewives. This marked his first collaboration with Jane Nebel – the woman wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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