top 10 muppet role models
'Piggy Fatale' by Peter Savieri
The votes are in - with Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Ernie tied for first place as the Muppet role model of choice!
Muppet fever swept Melbourne this September, making our Focus on Jim Henson season one of our most successful ever!
We received close to 150 entries to our Jim Henson trivia competition and would like to extend a big heart-felt thanks to all those who took the time to enter.
And now, let's get this started - here are the trivia answers, plus the winning answers to question 10 (in no particular order) ...
1. After his news report on Sesame Street, Kermit the Frog would always return us to what?
"Your regularly scheduled program."
2. Who is the host of Monsterpiece Theatre?
Alistair Cookie (aka Cookie Monster)
3. In The Dark Crystal, what do female Gelflings have that male Gelflings lack?
Wings.
4. What is the 'catchphrase' of Mr. Snuffleupagus, Big Bird's friend on Sesame Street?
"Ohhhh dear." or "Oh boy oh boy..."
5. What was the name of Dudley Moore's musical robot, which he brought onto The Muppet Show to replace the Muppet Band - and which caused Animal to attack?
M.A.M.M.A: the Music and Mood Management Apparatus
6. At Ruff Barker's Obedience & Music School, what did Rowlf the Dog major in?
Piano playing, punning and fetching
7. Which part of Bert's body does Ernie often remove?
His nose!
8. What are The Swedish Chef's ingredients for chocolate mousse?
Chocolate, and a moose (a moose named Mickey, to be precise)
9. What is the main symptom of Fraggle 'flu'?
It makes you itch
10. Which Sesame Street character or Muppet is your role model and why?
"I love Miss Piggy. I was obsessed with puppet building as a kid, and my holy grail was to build a great Miss Piggy... She's as glamorous a pig as there ever was, and an example of assertiveness, and the complex face of love... She's also a hot plus-size style icon who never had a nose-job! (i've attached a drawing of her to illustrate my adoration)"
Peter Savieri (illustration above)
"Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. Who else could come up with a device for sharpening bananas or a solid state gorilla detecting machine for those moments where you wake in the middle of the night in the dark and you say to yourself "Is there a gorilla in here?". Not to mention the genius involved in creating a nuclear powered shaver where you don't have to shave (once you put on the lead helmet to protect your hair from nuclear fallout). Dr. Honeydew through his early influence on me as a child is the reason I became a scientist."
Luke Kirkwood
"Cookie Monster is my hero (His appetite is great) And though he stuffs in endless cookies He NEVER adds more weight!"
Linda Steabben
"There's a number at this stage in my life who are role models for various reasons.. I am 7 months pregnant at the moment and have taken on the following 'role model' qualities from Sesame Street and Muppets characters ..
Aunt Agnes Snuffleupagus: I like cream cakes (just not the moss-cream variety so much!).
Cookie Monster .. an insatiable appetite. I love cookies and of late can consume anything and everything (excluding letters!).
Oscar the Grouch . am not so furry nor green, but was certainly grouchy in the first few months!
Kermit the Frog .. Love 'Rainbow Connection' and sing it to my 'little one'.
Fozzie Bear . he's been a role model all my life . daggy jokes are a must in life.
And so Rowlf the Dog is also a role model with his wisecracks.
Gonzo . I have had my weird moments as well as my hapless (baby brain?!) moments just like Beaker ..
Zoot . no saxophone playing here but plenty of sleepiness ... Zzzzz
Lucky I guess I haven't had any Crazy Harry tendencies though . Ka Booom!
And then there's Lubbock Lou and his Jughuggers .. The Jughuggers just makes me think of the maternity bras I've had to succumb too .. ! (Sorry!)"
Kate Robertson
"As far as role models go, I'd have to say Rowlf. He always seems so relaxed, almost zen, quietly confident and ridiculously talented musically - like a canine Tom Waits. In reality though, I'm probably closer to Gonzo - awkward, large-nosed and with musical ambitions and grand dreams of stardom that never quite work out."
Chris Lumb
"It'd have to be Ernie. He's actually a very subversive character - a devoted hedonist in a show that is ostensibly about teaching kids responsibility. While other characters are learning about crossing the street safely or treating others kindly Ernie is just single-minded in his pursuit of fun. Whether playing pranks on Bert, making up silly songs, teaching an Egyptian mummy to tap-dance, splashing in the bath or just making as much noise as he can, he rarely spares a thought for those around him (other than urging them to join in the fun). You can't help but think that he'd be annoying to live with in real life, but somehow he always manages to fall short of being downright selfish or rude - in part becaue of his charm but also because he has a huge heart and clearly loves Bert and the other residents of Sesame Street. As a kid I found Ernie's lust for life very appealing. I like to think he helped to teach me about the need to live in the moment. These days, if ever life feels boring or the responsibilities of grown-up life start to weigh me down, all I need to do is ask myself "WWED?*" and a solution to my troubles is never far away. * What would Ernie do?"
Ian Campbell-Fraser
"Ernie - well when I was young he always resembled me - black spiky hair, orange skin, round face, affable, looks good in horizontal stripes, doesn't want to live on the moon, dances himself to sleep, enjoyed a bath with a rubber duckie. So I always admired him, and wanted to live just like him that in fact I lived with a paler skinned guy, taller than me, quite a string-bean with a long face and mono-brow. He was a bit of a dull, frustrated stiff who enjoyed weird things, like paper-clip and bottle-top collecting and pigeons (and dancing like them too). The relationship also was not at all amorous too, purely amiable housemates. I hate those unfounded rumours! Also you must respect a guy who can have such control of a banana in his ear, it's damn hard work!"
Alan Ly
"I personally look up to Beaker as the epitome of achivement and integrity.
His contribution to science, and the scientific community is endless.
With Beaker its not all about "ME, ME, ME..." as it is with other scientists...
He really knows a lot of about self sacrifice and really puts himself in harm's way in order to prove scientific theories.
He is a fantastic example of true dedication and his head is the same shape as a toilet roll which I also think is important."
Rob Peters
"The Swedish Chef, for his sense of gay abandon in the kitchen, his disregard for correct ingredients and quantities, his lively gung-ho attitude, and his ability to continue singing throughout the most disastrous of situations."
Emma Howell
"Snuffleupagus, because he might have been imaginary but he still got a nice bird."
Brett Bean
And now, this is ACMI returning you to your regularly scheduled program. Thanks for all your inspirational, muppetational remembrances! All of the above folks win a copy of the Sesame Street: Old School DVD courtesy Madman.
Published Tuesday, 30 September 2008
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