Nigel- performed by Jim Henson in the Sex and Violence pilot and in the second episode of TMS, performed by John Lovelady in the Kaye Ballard episode. On TMS he was the orchestra conductor, but not with a mustache. He was also a background chorus member in various episodes, particularly in the first and second season.
Hilda- Eren Ozker left the show after the first season; she returned to U.S. to get married. The character of Hilda was summarily dropped. Sadly, Eren Ozker died in 1993 of AIDS.
Mildred- when Piggy became Oz's central character, I think they pushed George and Mildred to the back.
George the Janitor- didn't do much after that first season. He appeared seated in the audience with his fellow cast members to watch Steve Martin perform during the auditions, he played one of the hunters in the "For What It's Worth" number on the Bob Hope episode, he appeared at the end of Peter Sellers's closing number, "Cigarettes and Whiskey", and in At the Dance on the Petula Clark episode. The puppet popped up in the beginning of The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Uncle Deadly- not used on TMS after the two melodrama sketches in season three (Gilda Radner and Jean Stapleton episodes.) I heard he appeared on The Tonight Show when Kermit hosted and Vincent Price was a guest. There's a TV show in development called "Uncle Deadly's House of Weirdness", which indicates they're trying to bring the character back after all these years.
Annie Sue- didn't appear after the series; Louise Gold, her performer, is no longer with the Muppets
Zelda Rose- nobody knows the name of the performer who played her in the Milton Berle episode- they were auditioning female puppeteers at the time, one on the Zero Mostel episode, one on the Milton Berle episode, and Louise Gold in the Rich Little episode (Gold was hired). The puppet was still used on the show (most prominently in the Carol Burnett episode) and the puppet is apparently still used today.
Wayne & Wanda- Wanda, or a variation of her, in a silver wig, appeared variously throughout the second season (Steve Martin and Julie Andrews eps., maybe more). Wayne appeared in some third season episodes: the melodrama sketches in the Gilda Radner and Jean Stapleton episodes, the wedding sketch in the Marisa Berenson episode, an ill-fated solo, "Catch a Falling Star", in the James Coco episode, plus a brief appearance in the UK Spot of the Danny Kaye episode, "Jogging", and he performed the UK Spot of the Spike Milligan episode, "Dog Walk". In the Linda Lavin episode, as part of a salute to Kermit on his birthday, Wayne & Wanda visited the show, remarking how Kermit fired them and manipulating him (with guilt) into hiring them back. Kermit couldn't even remember why he fired them, but once they start singing- off-key- he remembers why and fires them again. That was the last time they appeared, unless you count the season 2-5 opening credits where you can see them in the top right corner of your TV screen just before we cut to Gonzo in the 'O'.
The Houses- with the change in format- fewer, longer acts instead of a greater number of shorter acts, "The Houses" (or "Neighborhood Gossip" as I like to call it) was a sketch that didn't make it into Season Two.
David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole
Welcome to the Muppet Central Forum!
Jim Henson Idea Man
Back to the Rock Season 2
Bear arrives on Disney+
Sam and Friends Book
