Authentic air date: September 14, 1985
We’re simply a few days away from the fortieth anniversary of Little Muppet Monsters. Are you able to consider it? Forty years of Tug, Molly, and Boo! Right here at Robust Pigs, we’re commemorating the event with opinions of each episode, however first I’d wish to share some historical past, each Muppety and private.
When the primary season of Muppet Infants aired in 1984, it was a giant hit. Children in every single place beloved seeing their favourite Muppet characters, however smaller, and carrying completely different garments, and supervised by a girl with striped socks and no head. The next season, the Muppet individuals determined to develop their presence on Saturday morning with one other half-hour present: Little Muppet Monsters. Alas, the brand new present solely aired three episodes, with numerous materials going unused, and as time went on it grew to become notorious amongst Muppet followers as a uncommon failure in Jim Henson’s profession.
After I was a child, my mother and father taped the TV particular The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years for me, and I watched it again and again on our VCR. I beloved it, however I used to be puzzled by one montage launched by Huge Chicken. The Muppets have achieved nice stuff for teenagers, he says, beginning with Sesame Avenue… and now, he says, “there’s Muppet Infants, Little Muppet Monsters, and Fraggle Rock too!” I knew concerning the infants and the Fraggles, however who have been these guys speaking about making their very own TV present and dancing with a Muppet carrot?
The reference grew to become much less mystifying after I learn Jim Henson: The Works, which devotes two and a half paragraphs to summarizing the present, and which quotes Michael Frith explaining that the objective was to “think about what youngsters’ fantasies could be in a world the place digital toys can change into inventive instruments.”
A number of years later, one thing outstanding occurred. I used to be now a teenage Muppet geek, and my buddy Justin discovered a tape of stuff his mother had recorded from TV one Saturday morning within the ‘80s. The tape was labeled “Saturday new premiere – wonderful.” We put the tape in my buddy’s VCR, pressed play… and there it was: The Wuzzles!
Half an hour later, there it was: Little Muppet Monsters!
I couldn’t consider it. By that point, I knew that the present had a really quick life on the air, so it felt like a miracle to have entry to an episode of it. (Keep in mind, this was at the beginning ever made may very well be discovered on the click on of some buttons!) We watched the episode, which turned out to be “Within the Starting,” the collection premiere. I believed it was a enjoyable, entertaining present… or a minimum of, I feel I did. I’m truly unsure how a lot I preferred it, though I do bear in mind liking it greater than Justin, who was unimpressed.
You already know what? Justin was extra appropriate than I used to be. Sure, it was exhilarating to view a “misplaced” Muppet present again then, however I’m afraid I can’t say Little Muppet Monsters is a hidden gem. It’s extra like an outdated bookmark you discover once you open a e book for the primary time in years and also you go “Huh, that is type of a cute bookmark!” and you then overlook about it.
Anyway, concerning the episode. The title “Within the Starting” invokes the Biblical creation story, and there are some similarities. Tug, Molly, and Boo discover themselves in their very own private Backyard of Eden, the place they stay alongside animals (particularly, penguins and rats). However not like Adam and Eve, who have been banished from the backyard for breaking the principles, the Little Muppet Monsters are banished to their new paradise by an offended Scooter for committing the sin of taking part in water polo in the lounge. (Hmm… I’m unsure this analogy is tortured sufficient. Oh nicely!)
See, on this program, the Muppets we all know (Kermit, the Electrical Mayhem) stay in both a home or an condominium constructing with a basement, and on a darkish and stormy evening, Scooter tosses the three titular little Muppet monsters in stated basement so he can clear up their mess. Whereas the monsters are exploring their new environment, lightning strikes, and a contraption that appears like a washer abruptly lights up. It’s a TV! And have you learnt what it means when you could have a TV in your room? You possibly can produce and broadcast your individual TV present!
If that doesn’t make a lot sense to you, I don’t blame you. The logic just isn’t precisely hermetic. Much more curious are the animated segments, which make up about half the episode and which star cartoon variations of the acquainted Muppet Present characters. A few of them arbitrarily seem on the monsters’ monitor with none effort on their half, however others (like a “Pigs in Area” quick and a detective story starring Kermit) are offered as tasks the characters are working to create.
And what’s the monsters’ relationship to the traditional Muppets, anyway? Why do they stay on this constructing? They deal with Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo as “Uncle,” which could counsel that they’re the kids of one of many Muppet monsters. However they only name Scooter “Scooter,” which means that both that concept is incorrect or they’re mad at Scooter for throwing them within the basement in order that they’re insulting him by not utilizing his title.
And why did their machine must get struck by lightning? Why couldn’t they’ve simply discovered some common cameras and a monitor within the basement? These sound like issues the Muppets would have mendacity round.
Am I making use of an excessive amount of scrutiny to a foolish youngsters’ puppet present? MAYBE! However the lack of coherence may simply have one thing to do with the truth that it was reportedly Jim Henson’s concept to drag the exhibit the air. I’ve at all times had some questions on Muppet Infants — the place are their mother and father? — however “The Muppets are infants hanging out in a nursery and utilizing their creativeness” is a way more easy idea than this one.
The episode ends with Tug, Molly, and Boo and their newfound rat and penguin buddies doing a stunning musical quantity known as “On TV,” during which they announce their formidable plans for his or her new roles as tv writers/administrators/producers/stars. After I watch it, I can’t assist however really feel unhealthy for them. They do not know how rapidly their small-screen careers are going to finish.
However I’ll always remember that for one temporary, shining second, I used to be very excited to see them… “On TV!”*
*Through a decade-old residence VHS recording.
Most Invaluable Muppets: It’s not any of the monsters, and even any of the recognizable Muppets. It’s the rats! The rats dangle across the basement including visible curiosity, as they typically do in Muppet stuff, and on just a few events their antics made me snigger.
Greatest Animated Section: “Muppet Sport Shorts.” This cartoon options Animal enthusiastically however clumsily trying to make use of a gymnastics bar, which ends up in slapstick shenanigans. Tug narrates the entire thing, which makes it really feel like a tribute to these traditional Goofy sports activities cartoons (or a ripoff, in case you’re much less charitable). Animation permits Animal to do bodily comedy stunts that may be way more tough for his puppet self.
Dumbest Joke That I Laughed at Anyway: In that cartoon, Tug says “First, the athlete should deal with the excessive bar,” and Animal says “HELLO, BAR!” Heh.
Weakest Animated Section: I remorse to report that it’s “Fozzie’s Comedy Nook.” He tells us that he’s going to clarify not why the hen crossed the highway, however how. Was it on curler skates? Or a stunt bike? An animated hen enacts these situations on a display screen behind Fozzie, after which it’s over. Wait a minute… We’re watching a display screen, and on that display screen the Little Muppet Monsters are watching a display screen, and on that display screen Fozzie is watching a display screen! It’s solely 1985, and the Muppets are subtly commenting on the alarming ubiquity of screens in our lives. Hmm, possibly this present is extra profound than I believed…
First Look Of…: Tug Monster! Molly Monster! Boo Monster! Nicky Napoleon and His Emperor Penguins! They’re all right here!
Most Prophetic Cultural Second: Because the trio brainstorms concepts for his or her broadcast, Tug broadcasts that he’s going to a characteristic on meals. However “not cooking,” he clarifies. “Consuming!” Molly protests: “You possibly can’t simply go on tv and eat, Tug. It’s not entertaining.” At present there are lots of of food-focused “content material creators” on YouTube and TikTok with hundreds of thousands of followers who earn money by consuming numerous meals on digital camera, and the annual Coney Island sizzling canine consuming contest attracts massive boffo rankings on cable. Tug was forward of his time! I can solely assume that, had this present been a success, he would have appeared on Scorching Ones by now.
Most Astonishing Cameo: Within the animated detective story, a collection of clues leads Kermit, Fozzie, and Miss Piggy to the South Pole, the place they run right into a polar bear. Kermit rapidly deduces the bear’s true id and unmasks the mastermind behind the scheme to steal Piggy’s piggy financial institution: Banana Nostril Maldonado!
What?! Banana Nostril Maldonado a Muppet who appeared in ONE episode of The Muppet Present, in ONE “Bear on Patrol” sketch! How on the planet did he find yourself making his triumphant return on this present?
One Extra Factor: The animated variations of Kermit and Fozzie are voiced by the identical actors who performed Child Kermit and Child Fozzie on Muppet Infants. This wouldn’t be so distracting if not for the truth that Miss Piggy doesn’t sound like Child Piggy and Animal doesn’t sound like Child Animal. And within the “Pigs in Area” cartoon, Dr. Strangepork is voiced by Muppet Infants voice actor Greg Berg and it feels like Child Scooter doing an accent.
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by Ryan Roe – [email protected]
