First of all, welcome Greenhoodie. It's certainly encouraging to have more 18+ mature posters on here(no offense to the kids! Just, sometimes it's good to see perspectives from long time fans)
And I bring that up because it's strange that if this massive discord had been going on with Steve and his colleagues/management, that less than two years ago things (at least outwardly) seemed so harmonious.
On the issue of recasts, I'm still blown away with how eerily good Eric Jacobson is with Frank Oz characters. There's no part of me that watches those characters and thinks its just an impersonation or is taken out of the moment. I feel like Rudman really came into his own with the revival of Scooter, same with Baretta's Rowlf.
And while I do feel like there is some room for tweaking/evolving with Matt's Big Bird and The Count, Vogel has shown he's a perfect Sesame recast choice and more than earned his place as a veteran in two decades. Which is to say, logically it wasn't a blind straw decision to give Kermit to Vogel. However it just feels weird politically given the whole situation.
First off, thanks for the welcome. It's a bit more of a welcome back.
![Smile :smile: :smile:](/forum/styles/muppetcentral/smilies/smile.gif)
Also, I love what you say about fandoms. Spot on.
Where I disagree a bit is the more speculation. Steve and Debbie certainly seem harmonious in public appearances, but we never know what was going on in emails or behind the scenes. It's' obviously far more complicated than we know.
I think it's natural to feel that it's weird. Because it is. No other original performer, or even any of the major new guys has been straight up fired from the Muppets. This was someone playing the literal main character and face of the brand. That doesn't just happen for no reason. He lost his job as Ernie as well. There has to be more going on than either side is revealing. Even if Steve meant well in his intentions, we don't know how those intentions were delivered.
We also don't know what contract negotiations were like. What we do know is that there are multiple performances and appearances over the past years where some or all of the Muppets show up and sing and speak, except for Kermit and Steve's other characters. Again, all of the other guys were there, doing the job they were payed to do, keeping the Muppets moving. With no Kermit in sight. That doesn't strike you as odd at all?
I love the guy and his work, but something doesn't add up from his side either. I'm not team Steve. I'm not team Disney. I'm team Kermit.