Something I found interesting on IMDB.com

[Aerosmith]

After Henson's death, the character of Rowlf the Dog was "retired". Since Rowlf was one of Henson's trademark characters he is now only seen and never heard.

If thats true why was he speaking in the Making the Video of Weezer's Keep Fishing?

 

[kansasteen14]

well I cant really answer your question but it does seem that besides that he hasn't talked lately.I mean at WDW and DL for muppet vision they have a poster of Kermit,Piggy,Fozzie,gonzo,rowlf,and animal yet Rowlf isnt in the show.and he didnt have speaking role in the last 3 muppet movies.

 

[Gonzo]

Muppet Vision was made before Jim Henson's death--so Rowlf not having a speaking part in that was more circumstantial than anything else; in "the Muppets at Walt Disney World" special (made to coincide with the opening of Muppet Vision), Rowlf had a significant role, and even had his own song with a bunch of other dogs; one of my favorite Rowlf performances, actually.

I do hope they manage to revive him, along with Janice and Scooter, in some future Muppet production.

Quinnnnnn

 

[kansasteen14]

wasnt the film of muppet vision made in 1990-91.I thought it was.

 

[salthemonkey]

I was wondering if the Rowlf thing is true....do you suppose the same is true for Scooter who was performed bu Richard Hunt?

 

[MuppetQuilter]

IMDB is far from flawless. A lot of their information comes from fans emailing them-- or at least some of it does. I suspect this is simply a case of misinformation. There were any number of rumors of characters being retired after Jim's death.

Rowlf was in fine voice at the Live Muppet Show at Muppet Fest last year. It takes time to find replacement voices for all the characters Jim, Richard, and Frank performed. I'm hopeful Scooter, and others, will return in the future.

 

[Gonzo]

Yeah--I would hate to see these characters permanently retired, becoming either sacred cows or martyrs for the cause...I think they should remain part of the Muppet family and they should just find replacement voices/performers for them. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Jim Henson and Richard Hunt, but I think continuing the legacy of entertainment and laughter they created with their wonderful characters shows more respect than pulling the plug on them....and after all, if Kermit and Piggy can be transitioned into new performers' hands, why can't these admittedly second-tier characters?

Quinnnnnn

 

[radionate]

See, I too had read somewhere that Scooter had been retired after Richard's death, and the same with Rowlf. I have mixed emotions about it. They both were such fabulous characters, that retiring them would seem right, but it also is a shame to loose such good "friends" in the muppet world.

One of these days I'll look through my scrapbook to see if I can find the article that talks about those retirements.

 

[Aerosmith]

radionate Id like to read that artical.

 

[Traveling Matt]

Originally posted by MuppetQuilter
A lot of their information comes from fans emailing them-- or at least some of it does. I suspect this is simply a case of misinformation.

Absolutely. The IMDB is often never (or hardly ever) updated, so their news is just out-dated. I've been reading that quote about Rowlf for a few years now, I think.

- Billy