TRIVIA TODAY - Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Greetings Infomaniacs,Did you know the Muppets are returning to the big screen in a new movie this holiday season? This new movie will follow the Muppets as they unite to save the Muppet Theater from an evil oil tycoon. I'm excited - I love the Muppets! In honor of this upcoming film, I have some fun facts for you today on Jim Henson's famous Muppets... very interesting, I think you'll like them!
Enjoy!
MelissaComments? Questions?
Email MelissaTODAY'S MYSTERY QUOTEQUOTE: "Humor is just another defense against the universe."
HINT: (1926-), American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer.
RANDOM TIDBITSIn 1966, Jim Henson drew some monsters eating snacks for a General Foods commercial. Although the commercial never got used, Henson recycled one of the monsters for an IBM training video in 1967 and for a Fritos commercial in 1969. When he began working on Sesame Street, he decided this monster would be part of the show, and that's how Cookie Monster was born.
When Telly Monster debuted in 1979, he was known as the Television Monster. He was obsessed with TV and he would get a hypnotized look whenever he was in front of a set. Producers later decided that this might not have a good influence on children, so they changed him into the chronic worrier he is today.
Kermit first appeared in 1955 on "Sam and Friends," a five-minute puppet show by Jim Henson. Henson made Kermit using his mom's coat and some ping pong balls. At first, Kermit was more like a lizard than a frog, but by the time he showed up on Sesame Street in 1969 he had made the transition to frog.
The Who's Keith Moon may have been the inspiration for the character of Animal. Although just speculation, those who support the theory point out that Henson named one of the Fraggle Rock characters "Wembley," which is the town where Moon was born.
Oscar the Grouch is performed by Carroll Spinney, the same guy who does Big Bird. Spinney said he based Oscar's voice on a New York cab driver he once had the pleasure of riding with. Oscar was originally a bright shade of orange. In Pakistan, his name is Akhtar and he lives in an oil barrel. In Turkey, he is Kirpik and lives in a basket. And in Israel, it's not Oscar at all -- it's his cousin, Moishe Oofnik, who lives in an old car.
Jim Henson had no particular species in mind for Gonzo, who first appeared in 1970's The Great Santa Claus Switch. His name was originally Snarl the Cigar Box Frackle. He became Gonzo the Great by the first season of The Muppet Show and his thing for Camilla the Chicken happened almost accidentally. During one episode where chickens were auditioning for the show, puppeteer Dave Goelz ad-libbed, "Don't call us, we'll call you... nice legs, though!" It was decided then and there that Gonzo would have a bizarre romantic interest in chickens.
(www.cnn.com)
VIDEO CLIPMuppet Show - Chicken SongA lot of crazy things happen on the Muppet Show. For example, where else can you get a group of chickens play the piano?
Watch It Now: Muppet Show - Chicken Song*** Weekly Mind-Scrambler ***I am sometimes right, but never wrong.
I am sometimes an instrument much smaller than a gong.
Bermuda and love are both parts of me.
Can you guess what I am?
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TODAY'S MYSTERY QUOTEQUOTE: "Humor is just another defense against the universe."
ANSWER: Mel Brooks.
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