New and very interesting post from Steve Whitmire

[MWoO]

The thing about "One Muppet one voice" is that it doesn't mean a performer shouldn't be recast. It just means one performer at a time. Also, it should be noted that Sesame Workshop didn't do things that way, though for different reasons.

David and Eric took over for Frank Oz, Frank would still come back and perform once or twice a year for awhile. In one skit I recall, he started performing one character and then switched to another while Eric took over the first one. Of course, this isn't the same as having multiple performers out doing public appearances and cruises and such, but it still goes against the whole idea of "One Muppet one voice".

The same went for Big Bird. Matt and Caroll did Big Bird simultaneously for decades. But we all understood the purpose so there was no backlash.

At the end of the day, it was more about job security for the main performers (which I don't disagree with) than it was about the artistry.

It is interesting that Brian said his issue with Steve was around business ethics. I wonder what that means? Either way, it still seems clear that Steve disagreed with how things were being run and he was difficult to work with from a business perspective. I am sure he is a swell guy to perform with, and I am sure anyone who lost a job because Steve was protective of his job is going to be biased against Steve.

What is telling to me is that no one works with him anymore. Obviously there is something there. I think it is just a matter of Steve not "knowing his place", to put it bluntly. He seems to think he should have had much more creative control than he did. Even if he was right about everything, it wasn't his place keep giving unsolicited opinions and is rude to the people who are actually in charge. Voice one's opinion is perfectly fine when someone wants it, but can be downright rude if no one asked for it.

 

[Grumpo]

It is interesting that Brian said his issue with Steve was around business ethics. I wonder what that means? Either way, it still seems clear that Steve disagreed with how things were being run and he was difficult to work with from a business perspective. I am sure he is a swell guy to perform with, and I am sure anyone who lost a job because Steve was protective of his job is going to be biased against Steve.

What is telling to me is that no one works with him anymore. Obviously there is something there. I think it is just a matter of Steve not "knowing his place", to put it bluntly. He seems to think he should have had much more creative control than he did. Even if he was right about everything, it wasn't his place keep giving unsolicited opinions and is rude to the people who are actually in charge. Voice one's opinion is perfectly fine when someone wants it, but can be downright rude if no one asked for it.

Yep, it looks like Steve has been blacklisted, and apparently the whole thing was a result of some disagreement with management (what else?). Apart from that, no details are given. Knowing his devotion to authenticity and keeping "Jim's influence" alive that might well be the reason for the conflict. As for was it good or bad, who knows.... IF it was something like standing up against, like "hey, i got this swell idea, lets shoot Happytime Murders with Kermit" it is worth being respected. But it could be pretty much anything else, like mentioning that he liked early seasons of Two and a Half Men in the wrong part of the studio, or there was a talk about him being late for commercial because of SAG-AFTRA regulation (and SAG-AFTRA is not something to be taken lightly) -- but i am not going to believe rumors. make assumptions or pass judgement unless i know more. My biggest regret here is that whatever it was, it could and should be handled differently, in much less drastic way for the Muppets and fan community.

At the end of the day, it was more about job security for the main performers (which I don't disagree with) than it was about the artistry.

I sincerely hope not for main performers. All this community talk about "Jim's legacy" or keeping Muppet characters "precious" and "authentic" may sound like a delusion these days -- but it might just as well give Muppets that edge which makes a difference, and still keeps Kermit invited as a guest of honor to events and graduations, instead of Mickey Mouse.
Not that i have anything against job security for the main performers =)

Agree with the rest of your points, and if you read carefully, Steve says the same things as well, about passing this stuff to new performers gradually, almost on subconscious level, and not 'keeping it all to originators only' at all (at least the way i read his blog)

 

[antsamthompson9]

Billy Barkhurst responded to David's post. Look for the user ReadingBug: https://www.reddit.com/r/Muppets/comments/1r6e15y

 

[GonzoIsCool]

I have mixed feelings. I saw Steve Whitmire at his first convention after he got fired. I could see the life go back into his eyes when he saw my Sprocket puppet and when he talked about Jim. But otherwise he looked like his soul had left his body. I let him put on my Sprocket puppet and I could see him shed off the years of stress in an instant as he excitedly said it was the exact same size.
But I also like Matt Vogel's performance. Either way, someone is going to get hurt.
I will say this, it's very nice to see Disney hiring additional puppeteers. There just aren't that many great opportunities out there for puppeteers any more. I just wish it didn't come at the expense of the old guard.