The RHLC!

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Thanks so much for the clip, Meep!

Sorry I couldn't deliver, Count! I got really busy towards the end of the day.

I adored Richard in that sketch! lol "It's hard work. The hours are long. But it's important!" Lol

Not sure yet who the others were, I'd have to listen again.

 

[The Count]

Heh... You should listen to Richard as the first teacher in history, Mr. Moses in another News Flash segment as he teaches about the letter N.

 

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Ohh, I did see that one! So funny!

"Quiet...quiet please...quiet...QUIET!"

I was able to go to The Museum of TV and Radio the other day. After awhile I was getting ready to leave, when I noticed they were showing The Muppets at Walt Disney World on the big screen, (yay!). At first I thought, "Nah, I have to get going." But something told me to stick around. Of course, it was very funny and touching, as expected. Then they got to the part when Kermit and Piggy participate in the Indiana Jones Stunt Show.

I already knew from Muppet Wiki that David Rudman had a small cameo during this scene, sitting in the audience. As the scene started, I briefly had a thought, "Gee...I wonder if anyone else had a cameo in audience!" I doubted it. I mean, if there was, Muppet Wiki would have reported it by now, right? But I decided to take a quick look at the screen anyway.

And to my utter amazement...well...it turned out my instincts were right! Sitting right there in one of the aisle seats was our very own Richard H! He was right in front there, with a red shirt and sun glasses clipped to his shirt collar.

I'm shocked that Muppet Wiki never noticed this! Then again, he is just sitting there, listening attentively to the show's announcer. He pretty much blends in with the rest of the audience unless you're looking. And I'm really glad I did! And just that day I was lamenting that there seemed to be no more footage around of him!

I really hope they put this on DVD someday!

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Yeah! I really love the sketch, Meep!

Yeah! I've really hoped that they would put this on for the longest time.

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

Oh, another Muppeteer sighting...and it is a lot of fun to play "Spot the Muppeteer" while watching one of the movies or shows.

And you're right - it would be easy for Richard to escape being noticed, since he's sitting there, quietly listening instead of goofing off. But it's true; the Wiki folks are going to have to dig up a screenshot of that.

 

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Since we were discussing Beverly Sills the other day, I thought this would be appropriate...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=f4jXBpPwJv0

Hehehe, so great! I'm sure she and Richard are still making beautiful music together somewhere.

I wonder if Richard ever considered doing theater, he definitely would have been good there. Then again, it probably would have cut into his Muppet time and I doubt he would have liked that. Where else could you be an Opera singing Pig alongside the likes of Beverly Sills? Hehe

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

(glances up at a cloud, where Richard and Beverly are at the moment performing a duet) I'm sure you're right, heralde. And as it said in Jim Henson: The Works, "he could sing in almost any style and had a sure way with accents," even when he was an 18-year-old kid just getting going with the Muppets.

Yes, I can certainly see Richard treading the boards...and one article commented that he would have made a good stand-up comedian as well. But it does seem that he was having the most fun when he had his right arm raised over his head.

 

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Btw, thanks for posting again, Bill!

I was reminded of something Emmy (of "Your Face!" fame) posted in a thread awhile ago, I think about watching Muppet Christmas Carol:

"The other week I was watching the Christmas movie. As I was watching the end, where all of the characters were singing together, I realized how weird that sounded. It was almost like one big voice. I miss Richard's glorious voice, shining above the rest. Somehow that makes everything that he's ever done much more special."

That's very true; I can't tell you how many times I've listened to Muppet songs and always heard Richard's voice because he'd still be going for a few seconds after everyone else had stopped, lol.

(Just watched a bit of the ending of MCC. Not my favorite film, but the songs are good and I LOVE Michael Caine in nearly everything he does! Lol)

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

Right; the film certainly had its moments, but to me it's always seemed rather bittersweet - and it certainly got off to a bittersweet start, with the "In Loving Memory" screen for Jim and Richard. I think that moment's stayed with me all my life.

And I've said this somewhere before, but when I watched MCC for the first time at the age of 8 or 9, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing. Took me several years to put my finger on it, but I felt that something was missing.

 

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That's so funny, I was just talking about all this with a friend the other day! He's a big fan of MCC, but he didn't mind discussing why I wasn't as much. And I don't mean to put down anyone else who is a fan. It's just an exchange of opinions.

Yeah, I remember my initial reaction to MCC was, "Well it's not Jim Henson." Perhaps in retrospect that was a bit close minded, and I have tried to move beyond that.

I think when it comes down for to it for me, it's a good kids movie. But it's not really a Muppet movie. The humor is just a bit too kiddie for me (and I usually do enjoy watching kid's shows even today) and the mood a little too restrained.

It's nice to see Gonzo in a more "leading man" role, but I like him more when he's weird and unique. Comedy and drama are very specific and sensitive and if something is changed, the whole project is affected. Change isn't always a bad thing, but there's a fine line between changing and losing what you were to begin with.

I did a monologue for a play awhile ago, everynight I got big laughs, especially with one particular line. But I always wanted to say that line in a slightly different way, I was convinced it would be funny. But when I tried it...silence! For the first time, that line got silence. Lol, well sometimes you can't argue with the audience.

But I'm not going to be too harsh about it. Because you're right MN, it is bittersweet. They were still grieving over two big losses. And of all the modern projects, I do think this was the best. (And again, Michael Caine! Eeeeeee! Hehe)