Something I've been wondering about Bean

[Drtooth]

(or lack thereof)


Since Bean isn't used as much anymore, I have a theory about his disapperance. I'm guessing that Steve Whitmire doesn't like the character or playing it all that much anymore.

I think I read a bit into this, but... I was watching MFS with the live commentary, and during the Breakfast scene, when Bean gets smacked by the door, Rizzo (Whitmire) laughs and replies with a "I love to see that guy get it" type response.

My therory here is that either A) Whitmire was giving a self relization in joke about performing the character, or B ) he expressed his boredom of the character.\

What do you guys think?

 

[Harvey Towers]

Firstly, I think it is a very likely possibility that Steve Whitmire is simply to tied down with Kermit and Rizzo (as well as to a lesser extent Beaker and Statler) to manage a third major character.

Secondly, Bean would appear to have a limited lifespan to the extent that he is sometimes "too cute." That, of course,is part of the joke: the Muppets poking fun at theie squeky-clean cute image. Perhaps he needs some further role to let him become more important a character. On "The Muppet Show" - this could have been been given suitable acts/songs on stage with some "cute" jokes during the backstage interaction.

I can't answer whether Steve likes him - but I know that of his three main characters Bean will probably always be the first one pushed aside. Using other Muppeteers from outside "the inner-ring" to play Beaker and Statler would allow perhaps Bean to become more prominant again.

 

[MWoO]

I don't think the joke from Rizzo is some kind of look into Steve's mind. It's a bit of a strech.

Speaking of MFS comentary, during the doctor's in the hall way scene Rizzo actually talks like Kermit vecause apprently Steve got a little confused there. The line is "See?" after Rizzo accuratly predicts the lines in the scene (because Steve did thel ines as Kermit). It's quite funny becayse Rizzo then clears his throat and repeats the word "see?" as Rizzo.

 

[TogetherAgain]

Oh gosh, I didn't notice that! Now I have to watch it with commentary again. Mwa ha ha ha ha

 

[unclematt]

As far as Bean goes I thought I had onceeard that he was going to be a replacememnt for Scooter after Scooter's retirement when Richard Died. He was going to take on the Go Fur type role. Maybe I am wrong, Does anyone know?

 

[minor muppetz]

I think that it would have been funny if bean bunny was one of the flying monkeys in the muppets wizard of oz. he would be too cute to be one of them. or he could have been one of the evil bunnies, instead of two generic-looking bunnies who just appear for a fe seconds.

considering that most of the performers can usually perform most of their characters in each major production, it is surprising that steve whitmire can't work bean bunny in somehow. Of course, Rizzo has also appeared less since muppets from space.

 

[MWoO]

I actually think Bean shoud have been an evil bunny too. That evil bunny thing went no where. Perhaps something with them was cut.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

My opinion?

Steve performs Kermit and Rizzo, among many other characters nowadays. Bean was always pretty much a background character...even on Muppets Tonight I only recall seeing him on there once. He's been around, but just in the background.

I do not recall seeing anywhere, or hearing, that Bean was to take Scooter's place. I do know that Steve has discussed both Bean and Rizzo (at MuppetFest for sure) and he says as he gets older the cynical humor of Rizzo is easier to acheive, so perhaps there is SOME of Steve in Rizzo's actions??

Bean represents all that is cute in The Muppets, the Happy Hoppy Wittle Bunny Wabbit! Which is why he always ends up suffering some kind of abuse: doors slamming open on him, wreaths being thrown at him, lifting things that are 200x his own body weight!!

 

[minor muppetz]

Bean was always pretty much a background character...even on Muppets Tonight I only recall seeing him on there once. He's been around, but just in the background.

actually, he has not always been just a background character. he was around right before jim henson died, he was the star of the television special tale of the Bunny Picnic, he was one of the main characters on The Jim Henson Hour, and he had big parts in The Muppets At walt disney world and muppetvision 3D, and he had a semi-big part in the muppet christmas carol. although the role wasn't too big, he was featured on the movie poster/ album/ video/ dvd cover, something that did not happen with bunsen, beaker, sam, belinda, betina or peter, characters who were either more major or just as major as bean was in that movie.

another way that he could have been used was in Muppet treasure Island. he could have been a "cute" pirate, using his cuteness for evil, and then either getting kicked out of the pirates for being too cute, or he could have decided to use his cuteness for good.

 

[Xerus]

Bean did make an appearance in The Muppet Party Cruise game. His game was Speed Bingo. (Which is the only game I seem to be good at.) Bean has a major speaking part in this. You can hear him calling out the names of the bingo balls. And when Gonzo won, Bean goes. "You were always my favorite, Gonzo."