Should Walter be a main character in place of Rowlf and Scooter?

[BlakeConor14]

But walter had a good run 2011 to 2011 end it now

 

[Iscah]

Hey. So, when did this thread all the sudden become about replacing Rowlf and Scooter?

Probably when the thread title asked that question? Though confusingly that isn't what the poll is asking...

Didn't we already have characters that effectively did that that have now been double replaced by Rowlf and Scooter?

(Not sure what you mean by this bit, sorry.)

 

[Ladywarrior]

I'll say no. There are plenty of other muppets that deserve the limelight over him *cough the electric mayhem cough* It's not fair to have a new muppet place those older ones further into the shadows.

 

[CensoredAlso]

The only other choice would have been Scooter - and he did play that part in the similar plot from the comics, so perhaps using him again would be a bit too repetitive.

A lot of people probably didn't get to read the comics though, so it probably would have been fine to put Scooter in that position. In fact I would have preferred that because it was silly that none of the mainstay Muppets could tell they were being had by Constantine, lol.

 

[BlakeConor14]

The electric mayhem , rizzo rowlf and scooter should all be major muppets with kermit fozzie and piggy

 

[Iscah]

A lot of people probably didn't get to read the comics though, so it probably would have been fine to put Scooter in that position. In fact I would have preferred that because it was silly that none of the mainstay Muppets could tell they were being had by Constantine, lol.

I agree; it bugged me that nobody noticed. But at least it's "just a movie" (it must be, since Sam is playing not-himself) and they aren't "really" that unable to tell Kermit from Constantine, it's just for the story...

I went and skim-read the couple of chapters of the comic where Kismet turns up - everyone is pretty busy with other issues, except for Piggy who's trying to flirt (so in that state where she never really pays attention to what Kermit says anyway)... Constantine gets away with a lot more, despite being a worse impersonator, just because everyone is too self-absorbed.

 

[minor muppetz]

(Not sure what you mean by this bit, sorry.)

I think he means that Rizzo and Pepe kind of replaced Rowlf and Scooter, at least among the main six (since Rizzo was around long before the deaths of Henson and Oz, and Pepe was introduced several years later), and now Rowlf and Scooter are major characters again, while Rizzo and Pepe were barely in the last two movies (though they are still major characters in other recent things).

 

[BlakeConor14]

Frank Oz is still alive

 

[Drtooth]

I think he means that Rizzo and Pepe kind of replaced Rowlf and Scooter, at least among the main six (since Rizzo was around long before the deaths of Henson and Oz, and Pepe was introduced several years later), and now Rowlf and Scooter are major characters again, while Rizzo and Pepe were barely in the last two movies (though they are still major characters in other recent things).

Quite honestly, I feel Rizzo was gaining more screen time partially because Steve was far more comfortable with him than Kermit. The only real proof of that I have is the commentary track from MFS which Kermit left at the very beginning to return at the very end with Rizzo taking most of the commentary. Also, Henson's odd decision to ease Kermit in slowly put Gonzo in Kermit's role for a few projects (MCC, MTI, MFS and painfully obvious with MT), with Rizzo giving him someone to talk to. Starting with MFS, he tag teamed with Pepe.

I really think the unique situation with the last couple of Muppet projects is the new characters used to fill in gaps left by puppeteers that died or left have replaced most new characters with the original, classic, older ones. Brian going off to do Henson projects left us without Sal, and somehow that means no Johnny, even though Bill's still around. Even then, the only characters from MT that stuck around (thankfully) were Pepe, Johnny, Sal, and VanNeuter. So we're essentially left with just Pepe, and even he's been used more sparingly inside of the movies, yet not the promotions.

I do not think adding Walter to the cast replaces anybody. I mean, I could see Gonzo being with Fozzie in MMW, but considering he had the most to gain with Constantine in charge it wouldn't have made much sense. Scooter, maybe... The real problem? The Muppets were loads and loads of characters and while it works better in a television show, movies have always put a small core group (mostly Piggy, Kermit, and Fozzie... Gonzo to an extent) in the focus with the other characters basically sharing screen time as secondary and tertiary characters. Look how long it took to get Link Hogthrob an actual part in movies. Maybe MTI if you count his Gong banging cameo. The only tiny complaint I'd have with the last 2 movies is that we really should have had an entire solo Electric Mayhem song in both. But considering before that, but after MTM, their biggest role was in MTI where only Zoot and Floyd had a couple lines.

 

[CensoredAlso]

I went and skim-read the couple of chapters of the comic where Kismet turns up - everyone is pretty busy with other issues, except for Piggy who's trying to flirt (so in that state where she never really pays attention to what Kermit says anyway)... Constantine gets away with a lot more, despite being a worse impersonator, just because everyone is too self-absorbed.

See in the comics they did it right. The gang doesn't corner Kismet earlier because he's giving them reasons not to. He's easy going and doesn't order them around. But Scooter I guess has moved past his awkward 1st season stage and actually cares that his real boss might be missing, lol.