The RHLC!

[Muppet Newsgirl]

(laughs) As Cinders said in the "Puppetman" pilot (or would have said, anyway): "My mommy says you're a bad influence with no socially redeeming value."

And according to "Of Muppets and Men," when Richard was doing one of his shows in front of the puppet racks for the group of kids, he brought down Animal and had him lunge at one of the adult chaperones, "sending the kids scattering and shrieking."

Needless to say, it looks as if of all the Muppet performers, Richard was one of the most popular with the kids.

 

[BeakerSqueedom]

Richard certainly was a mischevious little devil!
*In the best way did she mean it*
Something you do not see commonly in the average man.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Richard certainly was a mischevious little devil!

Lol, yup, that was definitely one of the reasons I liked him in the first place. It's always refreshing to see people who don't mind being a little eccentric.

It's like I said once - during the Muppet Show years, I imagine more than one teacher or chaperone spent a lot of time telling the kids, "Now, the Muppet people are very nice to let us in, so let's all be on our best behavior and not disturb them while they're hard at work..." only to open the door to find Jim and the gang goofing off on the set.

Hehe, they were very lucky to be part of such a unique group. Having been through several drama club experiences, hehe, I can tell you it's a rare and precious thing when you find a group of people you can work and have fun with. It's a wonderful feeling that doesn't always last forever.

Speaking of "Scared Silly" again, I hadn't noticed before that Jerry was also joining in with the "Scaredy Cat" stuff. Just not quite as loudly, hehe (reminiscent of the Two Headed Monster dynamic hehe). Kathy seems to particularly enjoy pointing and Steve, and Karen is just laughing and enjoying it all (would love to have been in her shoes! lol).

 

[CensoredAlso]

I just noticed this 1978 article from TIME magazine. I haven't read it all yet, but it's very detailed and comlimentary. If anyone today wonders what the bit deal was with the Muppets, they should read something like this (Richard does get a brief mention, and Scooter is referred to as "a human boy, caricatured." Lol)

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,948400,00.html

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

Ah, yes, the "young, curly-headed, outgoing fellow."

I liked the bit with Scooter telling Raquel Welch she doesn't have to wear the form-fitting, revealing costumes, "unless you want to," and then the monsters pop up and beg, "Oh, please want to!" Good stuff.

Let me get this straight: Jim, Frank, Jerry, Richard, Dave and Steve were all crammed into that Studebaker at the same time?

 

[Ilikemuppets]

I guess that's because theres no room for Kathy. *shrugs*

 

[Muppet Newsgirl]

Well, she was down in the tank in the swamp with Jim.

But those car scenes must have been awfully uncomfortable. The article called them "conditions that would not be acceptable to tunnel rats."

Dave: Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Steve: Dave, your foot's in my eye.
Richard: Ow...Frank, I can't breathe - your foot's in my ribs.
Frank: Sorry, but Jim's got his elbow in my liver.
Jim: I'm trying not to, but...
Jerry: Well, boys, if there's such a thing as reincarnation, we're all coming back as sardines.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

But those car scenes must have been awfully uncomfortable.

Was it in the Muppet's & Men thing Where Frank Oz explains that the more uncomfortable you are, the better the performance is on on Camera?

 

[CensoredAlso]

Let me get this straight: Jim, Frank, Jerry, Richard, Dave and Steve were all crammed into that Studebaker at the same time?

Yeah I know! We take it all for granted when we watch those puppet scenes, we have no idea all the crazy work that's behind it. It's also cool when watching the Muppet projects to realize that Richard's contribution was strong even when one of his characters wasn't on screen. In what other film can you know your hero is in the scene even when he's not actually "in" the scene? Lol

Reminds me of when the Beatles used to lay on each other in the back of their van to keep warm on their way to gigs (true story!). Lol How can you not become a tight-nit group in such, em, close quarters?

Yeah Frank did say that on "Of Muppets and Men" while he's getting ready for a Piggy shot, hehe.

I've seen photos of Kathy with Jim in the swamp scene. I think they said it was the first project she worked on. I wonder what that was like...

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Wasn't Kathy on the Muppet Show in the last season, though? I don't know it it can exactly be considered a project though?