The RHLC!

[Muppet Newsgirl]

Heralde: just found the article you mentioned. I went looking through one of the academic databases on the library's web site.

At the bottom, after listing Jane and the others as the survivors, it says, "His father, Richard B., died in 1976." And then it goes on to list the details of the arrangements, the name of the funeral home and all that.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Oh great, glad you found it, MN! Yes it probably was difficult to lose a parent so young and right when the new show was starting.

Not to insensitively change the topic o) but I just found this Two Headed Monster clip. Richard's monster really seems to like that cow at the end! Lol

http://youtube.com/watch?v=v0wHQLHsQvM

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

The article got my attention because it listed Richard as "Richard H. Hunt" instead of "Richard Hunt," the way most other obituaries did. That might have been how I heard about his middle initial - and now we know that the reporter needed to distinguish between father and son.

True...Richard seemed cheerful enough on camera in season one, but off-camera...well, like I said, we weren't there, so we don't know how he was feeling. But judging from what we know of Richard, maybe getting right to work with the Muppets was good therapy. After all, he owed his energy to three things: DNA, orange juice and the Muppets.

You know, when Jim does his Guy Smiley persona (which I haven't heard in years), he sounds just like Convincing John.

I'll bet Richard and Jerry felt much more comfortable with the Muppet cows than with the real, live cow that appeared on TMS.
I have this really funny mental image of the Muppet performers reading their horoscopes, or opening up fortune cookies, which all say, "Beware: you may be crushed by a falling one-ton side of beef," and they all laugh it off - until they walk into the studio to find the cow being led in.

 

[CensoredAlso]

True...Richard seemed cheerful enough on camera in season one, but off-camera...well, like I said, we weren't there, so we don't know how he was feeling. But judging from what we know of Richard, maybe getting right to work with the Muppets was good therapy. After all, he owed his energy to three things: DNA, orange juice and the Muppets.

I think that's a good use of that quote, perhaps that is partially what he meant.

You know, when Jim does his Guy Smiley persona (which I haven't heard in years), he sounds just like Convincing John.

Lol, I love Guy Smiley, especially whenever he's annoyed at guests but still trying to sound excited. Like when he says, "Will you get these sheep out of the studio!" Or in another sketch he ushers an old man out saying, "You gotta get outta here, we're shooting a TV show!" Lol

I'll bet Richard and Jerry felt much more comfortable with the Muppet cows than with the real, live cow that appeared on TMS.
I have this really funny mental image of the Muppet performers reading their horoscopes, or opening up fortune cookies, which all say, "Beware: you may be crushed by a falling one-ton side of beef," and they all laugh it off - until they walk into the studio to find the cow being led in.

"Kermit, that's a cow!"

"I KNOW IT'S A COW!"

My friend pointed out to me that you can tell the Cow was just as terrified as the puppeteers. When Kermit yells out, "Scooter!" the Cow's ears move back which indicates she was startled, lol.

 

[Skye]

Lol, I love Guy Smiley, especially whenever he's annoyed at guests but still trying to sound excited. Like when he says, "Will you get these sheep out of the studio!"

Lol, I just have to start by saying, I haven't seen much of Guy Smiley, but I can totally imagine him saying this. And it made me crack up! I love it, lol.


How cool that you found that article too, Erin! But just like you said, I'm sure that the Muppets created a much-needed outlet and distraction for Richard. It must have been nice for him to have them at that point in his life, as well as many other points in his life.

Lol, heralde, that was a really funny part between Scooter and Kermit when they saw the cow. I adore Scooter's "Kermit, that's a cow!" Lol, I thought that was so cute! And the cow was cute, too. Awww, I feel kinda bad that she was startled there (and who wouldn't be, lol), but she was sure a good actor!

And speaking of cute, what a cute YouTube clip! Thanks for posting that, heralde. That was so great... and what a fun way to win the game show! Lol, I thought it was so funny how much Richard's monster liked the cow at the end, too! And I love all the craziness in the clip... so normal in Muppet Land, lol! Very fun clip!

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

That's right; the Muppets are funnier - not to mention cheaper - than a therapist. Plus, the sofas in the performers' lounge seem more comfortable than the standard shrink's couch.

And Scooter leaned in and asked, "Who do you belong to?"
And after the Swedish Chef sketch:

Kermit: Scooter, erase the cow, will you?
Scooter: Oh, sure, boss. (pause) Erase the cow?

You lose points for scaring the cow...and you lose even more points if you scare the cow enough to cause it to tumble off the platform, crushing you and your fellow performers in the process.

 

[Skye]

Lol, "erase the cow." I remember the first time I saw that episode, I think I had the same expression on my face that Scooter had on his.

...and you lose even more points if you scare the cow enough to cause it to tumble off the platform, crushing you and your fellow performers in the process.

Ha, I was thinking the exact same thing. Poor cow... but, I think that would make me a little nervous!

And heralde, I also want to say that I love your new signature... those are some of my favorite lyrics from "The Peace Carol." So beautiful and meaningful.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Yeah, especially when the train showed up out of nowhere at the end of the sketch! LOL

"Erase the cow?" Lol, classic! I also love "Who do you belong to?" Hehe

I was listening to Dave's interview in the podcast some more; I really found it interesting when he described the moment when he realized his experience with the Muppets contributed to his spiritual journey. We always hear Muppet fans saying that, but I didn't realize it was just as real for the performers themselves. That makes it even more special somehow.

And how it all goes back to the performers' relationships with their characters. It is amazing how closely the performers' personal evolutions seemed to mirror their characters' development (though obviously in a more complex, realistic way). Gonzo started out quiet and insecure (much the way Dave described himself in the early days) and grew into a rich, unique and talented character (the way Dave grew into a great performer and recent spokesman for the Muppets).

Jerry Nelson once described how he identified with Floyd:

"I always thought of Floyd as a character who had probably been a beatnik first, and then -- just like real life -- probably been a beatnik, and then he was into jazz and poetry, and then he probably went along with the chase into rock and roll, because he needed a job. He drew the line at punk, as I probably did myself, I think. That's why I can relate to Floyd..."

At the memorial Jerry also said he started out his career wanting to be a Folk singer or maybe an actor, and that he was able to become all these things through the Muppets. Definitely reminds of Floyd, who so desperately wants to be taken seriously as an artist, and finds an outlet in the Muppets (even though it's not always to his satisfaction hehe).

In many later Muppet specials, Miss Piggy is away from the group, off somewhere trying to become a star in her own right. Which in a way, parallels her puppeteer's journey to gain new skills in the Film world and become more than he was.

We don't know as much about Richard obviously, but it does seem that so many of his characters enjoyed being crazy and tough and sort of bad boys (which many of Richard's peers said of him as well, hehe). But in the end, his characters manage to find a soft side to themselves as well, perhaps the same way their puppeteer "became noticeably more spiritual" when faced with adversity.

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

And in one article written just after Jim's death, Richard told the reporter that Kermit was to the Muppets what Jim was to the performers.

Yes, Richard loved to play the smart-alecky tough guys...and yes, they almost always have a gentle side. I mean, we see Beige's security Fraggle facade start to crack when he talks to Mokey, Turbo admits to Wrench that he's grateful to him, Gunge admits that he'd miss Philo, and we can't help but love the Wizard...and of course, Statler reveals his affection for Valerie Harper.
And conversely, Richard's more mild-mannered characters reveal that they themselves have a tough side. I mean, Beaker stands up to Bunsen more than once (see also: the Beaker clones), and Scooter certainly has his moments from time to time.

And I agree that the Muppets' softer side is closely connected to Richard's spiritual side - I mean, to listen to Richard speak at Jim's memorial, you'd honestly think that it was Scooter up at the microphone...and then we had Scooter perform "The Peace Carol" with John Denver, of course.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Yes, Beige was such a good character, you really see the struggle he's going through. In the beginning he really doesn't mind putting Mokey in a cage, he just really wants to be a good efficient "Security Fraggle." But as he gets to know her, he begins to struggle with his conscience, which thankfully wins out in the end.

You know if Richard had been around during "Muppet Christmas Carol" one of his characters could have easily taken the Scrooge role, which is all about finding your way back from darkness and learning to "embrace and open up your love."

(Not that Michael Caine isn't great, because he is, he always is! Hehe)