Why is Steve Whitmire the voice of Kermit?

[That Announcer]

To those wondering about Noel Blanc, he voiced Bugs in a 1992 Tiny Toons TV movie, and Porky at the end of "Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers."

 

[Vic Romano]

But Kermit spazz's out a litle too often now. He gets flustered really easily. He was always the calm one until ti got really nuts.

I don't think I could possibly agree with you more. I do not really care for Steve's Kermit; but that is not to say I don't care for Steve. Steve is a simply brilliant puppeteer, but all of his characters seem to have the same attitude, rather brash and sometimes rude; a tough guy personna; rather low class. These really set up a great character in Rizzo (and the turkey from A Muppet Family Christmas). but Kermit just isn't like this. I do not have a problem with the voice Steve gives Kermit (in a quiet subtle opinion, I think Steve has a better singing voice then Jim did and is also capable of pulling off very nice harmony as opposed to always singing lead), but I think Kermit's new attitude just sucks. Kermit gets all crazy now and loses it too easy, he can't seem to hold it together. In the begining when Steve took him over, Kermit was too passive and subdued, in MFS; I thought he was close. He was very caring, he was aknowledged as the sole leader, and every decesion was directed to him; and he was of the ability to handle it (albeit he may not have always wanted to or felt he was able to.)

Sorry this is dragging on;

I think that Kermit defined himself in TMM when he's in the desert questioning his motives for dragging everyone along and has the discussion with himself basically about being the leader he's destined to be. If Steve took that approach, I would love Steve's Kermit and endorse him whole heartedly. What snubbed it for me was when Kermit appeared on the Craig Kilbourne show and was asked if Snoop Dogg was cut from IAVMMC because of his pornography line he'd released. Kermit (or rather Steve) said that wasn't the reason and actually said (as Kermit) "Porn is fine!" My jaw hit the floor and I felt sick. That basically buried the Muppets for me. Recovering from that ever since has been the lump in my throat that prohibits me from trying to accept the Muppets since Jim died.

If you like or hate porn, that's up to you; but for Kermit to endorse that...

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I don't endorse it, but Kermit was on a late night show for adults. Probably meant to be funny. I heard Clifford once say "D--n" on Vh1 during a late-nite deal. Basically, I think it depends on which audience they are performing for. I mean, Grover was trying to talk what's-his-name (from Wings) outside for a street fight!!

They're playing to the audience.

Just like I have to do with Muley sometimes. He's a 7-year-old mule who's smarter than he should be, and around kids and families he's very family-friendly and the true integrity and personality he's supposed to be. However, at the events he performs as guest host (Bosco's Celebrity Waiter Night, RMH Leather Ball, etc.) as the night wears on and the attendees get drunker and drunker and they start saying things that are...alternative...Muley's humor also has to change and he becomes more sarcastic and more .

I hate to drop that integrity, but sometimes to play to your audience you have to.

 

[MWoO]

Also you have to consider Steve was in a spot there. He is whenever he is on a live show. Any performer is really. Even Jim found him self in a pickle now and then when he was doing Kermit live. I can't really take a live spot and judge the muppets on it.

I think MFS had a good Kermit who didn't Spaz out too much. He went a little creazy with Fozzie because he just washed his hands, but that makes sense. They were sneaking into a government building full of security and Fozzie just washed the inviso spray off. It fit. I think Kermit fit in AVMMC too. He really didn't go nuts until he had lost everything. In MWoO Kermit spazed a bit too much, way too high pitched, and was down right annoying. Of course to be fair again, that was not technically Kermit. Technically it was a very similar scarecrow.

What really is needed is better writing and we need to see more muppet productions.

 

[BEAR]

I agree with some of you. It does depend on the audience that you are in front of. It is late late night comedy (for adults), not daytime. Also...Kermit is an adult, as are Miss Piggy, Oscar, Gonzo, and some others. Remember in The Great Muppet Caper during the fashion show scene?:
Statler: Waldorf, here come the bikinis.
Waldorf: Oh boy, we better synchronize our pace makers!!

Was THAT offensive? They are old men! Now, if it had been say Big Bird (a 6 year old), or Elmo (a 3 year old), saying this, it would be inappropriate and out of character. The Muppeteers know this.

By the way, I am not new to this site, but new to the forums. Thanks for providing a great place to discuss.

 

[MWoO]

You are totally right. It's all about who the characters are as well as the audience. The pron line is still a bit out there. I think that is simply because of who Steve is and you can assume his personality based on who his original characters are and how they act.

 

[That Announcer]

I agree that Kermit is a tad mean now, but you've got to remember that Kermit is supposed to be passive-agressive. However, now he mainly just shouts everything out very quickly, which does not work.

 

[BEAR]

I think Steve's Kermit is much better on Sesame Street that he is in the Muppet films, etc.

 

[MWoO]

I believe that is because the Kermit on Sesame Street is much more simplified than the Kermit on TMS.

 

[BEAR]

Excellent point. Does anyone know how often the "new Kermit" appears on the Street? I would think that the others miss him being around. They need him for guidance. Remember in CESS when Big Bird seeked him out for advice?