Great conversation. If there's one thing I love it's waxing nostalgic. My earliest Muppet memory is receiving the set of the old 3-inch Fischer Price figures that included Kermit, Piggy, Rowlf, Scooter, Gonzo, Animal, and Fozzie. Each figure came with a white stick that you could insert into a hole in their backs to manipulate them. I was at my grandparents' house and I knew enough about the Muppets to be able to put on a show, though I don't consciously remember having watched TMS before that time. It was great because my grandpa was actually a big fan of TMS. Tothis day, I can still see myself crouched behind my grandparents' counter as they played the part the enraptured audience.
Just moments later my dad and uncles tackled the problem of trying to get the very top-heavy Animal to stand on his own. The solution: turn his bottom half 180 degrees and get his wiry arms turned upwards.