Are you all caught up on all the Muppet news from Disney's recent D23 convention? If not, you can click here or just scroll down for Tough Pigs' coverage of all the Muppet-related announcements.

Of course, the Disney people and the Muppet people act like everything they announce is the greatest thing ever. But in reality, a lot of this stuff is probably not going to be that thrilling, even to us fans, and I'll bet you a shiny new penny that not everything announced even sees the light of day.

And yet... Muppet news! Yay! So let me ask you this: Which of the Muppet announcements from D23 is the most genuinely exciting?

Is it the newly announced Muppet film, The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made? Is it the new viral videos, which all your friends will be e-mailing you, asking "Have you seen this?"

Or are you more excited about the new options for the Whatnot Workshop Muppets, which will allow you to own your own very furry Muppet? Or the Electric Mayhem bus at the Disney parks, giving kids of all ages the opportunity the chance to exchange sleepy mumbles with Zoot?

Or maybe the sure-to-be-terrifying upcoming Halloween special gets your motor running. Or the sure-to-be-adorable Muppet Pook-a-looz, or maybe the Vinylmation figures. What about the rockin' Muppets Revisited CD?

Or are you more like, "Hey, screw all this new stuff! The only thing I'm excited about is finally getting season four of The Muppet Show on DVD!"

Or maybe you're completely unmoved by all this stuff, and you're more worked up by something else I didn't mention here because I don't care about it very much.

Either way, let us know which announcement makes the Muppet aortas of your heart go pitter-pat by voting in the poll on the Tough Pigs forum, which can be found by clicking here. And while you're on the forum, feel free to join the discussion! We have a lot to say about all this stuff, and I bet you do too.

Click here to talk about Muppets and stuff on the Tough Pigs forum!

Labels: news, poll

Season 40 (FORTY!) of Sesame Street is scheduled to begin airing in November, which is, like, forever from now. But the Sesame folks have already gotten us excited by announcing all the guest stars who will be appearing this year. For the past few seasons, it seems like they've tried to cram a celebrity guest into every episode, which is lots of fun for parents and grown-up fans, and probably less fun for the children in the audience who have no idea who these people are.

Last year we held a poll to determine which upcoming guest star was generating the most excitement, and Neil Patrick Harris won in a landslide, taking 56% of the vote. And of course, he did a fantastic job in his role as the Shoe Fairy.

This year I want to know once again: Which upcoming celebrity appearance on Sesame Street is gonna be the awesomest?

Is it comic actor Ricky Gervais, whose interactions with Elmo promise to be a hoot? Is it everyone's favorite mutant awards show host, Hugh Jackman? Or basketball-playing guy Kobe Bryant? Maybe you're more a fan of Late Night host Jimmy Fallon, though I can't imagine why.

Perhaps you're looking forward to actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who will probably be talking about something other than sex for a change. Or comedian Adam Sandler -- based on that photo, I'm guessing he'll be playing an acoustic set with a Muppet dragon singing backup. Then there's singer Jason Mraz, who has a funny last name; and Cameron Diaz, who used to be a movie star; and racecar driver Jeff Gordon, who could teach kids how fun it is to drive at unsafe speeds.

Or... well dang, I'm just about out of slots in the poll and there are still more guest stars left. There's a list on Muppet Wiki's season 40 page, so check it out and then click here to vote in the poll and tell me which season 40 guest star you're most looking forward to!

Here's yet another link to the poll: Click here to vote in the poll and explain your choice!

Labels: celebrities, poll, Sesame Street

I’ve hesitated to bring this up for a while now, because I’m afraid it may ignite the kind of controversy that could rip the Muppet fan community apart, pitting brother against brother and frog against pig, but I can hold my silence no longer. I must stand up and ask this question, which has been gnawing at my brain for untold ages:

What’s the correct way to pronounce the name of Rowlf the Dog?

Rowlf is one of the oldest and most beloved major Muppet characters. He’s been around for four decades, so you would think everyone would know his name by now, yet there doesn’t seem to be a universally agreed-upon standard.

Of course, I’m writing these words and not speaking them, so it would be pretty darn clever for me to just say, “It’s easy! His name is pronounced ‘Rowlf!’ HAW! HAW!” But no, that’s not good enough. I want to get to the bottom of this vitally important issue once and for all. So I’m writing this Muppet fan website article, which I believe will soon be considered one of the finest examples of journalism ever produced by man. Let’s look at the evidence.

One way is to say it like this: “Rolf.” It rhymes with “golf” (the popular sport) or “Dolph,” as in Dolph Lundgren (the popular actor who starred in the 1991 film Showdown in Little Tokyo). I had twelve of our Tough Pigs interns hit the archives for some research, and they found a few Muppet productions in which various actors used this pronunciation. For example, the audio clip below features Lesley Ann Warren on The Muppet Show. This is where she thinks she’s doing a song with Rowlf, only to find Marvin Suggs onstage.


But honestly, is the chick who played Cinderella on TV really an authority on Muppet names? So for further credibility, here’s another one. It’s the announcer from John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.



It’s not unreasonable to think he received some kind of coaching on how to say the characters’ names at the recording session, right? Even more persuasive than that, though, is this clip from one of the recent Muppet videos on YouTube, in which Rowlf’s fellow Muppet, Rizzo, clearly says “Rolf.”



So that’s one pretty crappy example, one so-so example, and one good example. But I have to say, I don’t think this is the correct pronunciation.

For one thing, the name has a W in it. Where is that W when you make Rowlf’s name rhyme with 18 holes and the guy who played Ivan Drago? For another thing, Rolf is a German name, and while I don’t think it’s ever been revealed what breed of dog Rowlf is, he’s definitely not a German shepherd.

So let’s look at another option: Pronouncing it the same way as the name “Ralph.” Here’s one guy who says it that way: It’s Jimmy Dean, the fellow who gave Rowlf his big break on national television. This next clip is from a sketch on The Jimmy Dean Show, naturally.



So there’s that. But you might say, “Jimmy Dean is just some yokel country singer who happens to make delicious sausage-and-egg biscuits. What does he know?” And you’re absolutely right -- Jimmy Dean does make delicious sausage-and-egg biscuits. But here’s a presumably more reliable source, a lady who never had a hit country song in her life: It’s Jane Henson, and this clip is from the PBS Great Performances special, The World of Jim Henson.



And check this out… From the same documentary, a guy even closer to the character than Jane: It’s Frank Oz, the man who was chiefly in charge of making half of Rowlf’s fingers wiggle in the early days.



To my ear, they’re definitely pronouncing it “Ralph,” as does Rowlf’s co-worker Scooter in this clip from The Muppet Show.




You might think I’ve come to the conclusion that “Ralph” is definitively the correct way to pronounce Rowlf’s name. Well… not exactly. The way I’ve always understood it, Rowlf’s name should be pronounced almost like “Ralph,” but not quite. When I say it, it’s kinda like “Raowlf” or “Raoulf” or maybe “Raaouhwlff.” I’m pretty sure Jim Henson intended for the character’s name to recall the sound of a dog barking, so I figure “Rowlf” is the canine version of “Ralph.” Like, maybe if dogs could talk, that’s how they’d say it.

Fortunately, Rowlf is, in fact, a dog who can talk, so he’s the ultimate authority on his own friggin’ name. Now here’s where the definitive evidence comes in. This first clip is from The Muppets Go Hollywood.



And here’s one we’ve all heard at least fifty-five thousand times: It’s from the intro to “I Hope That Somethin’ Better Comes Along” on the Muppet Movie soundtrack.



I’ve just listened to those two snippets four thousand times each, and no matter how I twist and bend my ear, I just can’t get it to hear “Rolf.” To me, it sounds mostly-but-not-exactly like “Ralph,” so that’s the pronunciation I’m sticking with. If Lesley Ann Warren wishes to challenge me on this, she can contact me at the e-mail address below.

I’ve just written way, way, way, way, way too many words on this topic (way, way, way), but now I’m curious, and I’d love to know which pronunciation is more prevalent among Muppet fans, so I went ahead and started a poll on the Tough Pigs forum. It’s a poll, technically, but I see it more as a survey. The question: How do you pronounce Rowlf’s name? “Rolf?” “Ralph?” Or the more nuanced “Raoulf?” Or maybe you have yet another pronunciation.

So click here and place your vote now! Meanwhile, I can’t help but think that all this hullaballoo could have been avoided if Jim Henson had just named his dog puppet “Waggington” like he considered.
Click here to talk about Rowlf’s name on the Tough Pigs forum! Or did I already say that?

Labels: controversy, fanaticism, poll, The Muppet Show

While the ToughPigs staff is off having our fill of cranberry sauce and awkward family moments, we thought we'd bring a little Thanksgiving joy into your homes. And as much as I'd like to stop by for some leftovers, we'll have to settle for a good old fashioned ToughPigs poll.

In our ongoing quest to humanize your food, thus making it that much more difficult to stomach (oh come on, it's not like the Muppets haven't been doing that since the dawn of time), we'd like to know: Who is your favorite Muppet turkey? Let's take a peek at the nominees!

The Turkey, from The Muppet Show. If you look past the humongous eyeballs, you'll see a gobbler who was almost dinner in the Danny Kaye episode, nearly skewered in the Arlo Guthrie episode, and a terrifying sight to Gonzo (whilst in the 'O') in the Mac Davis episode.
The Christmas Turkey, from Muppet Family Christmas. As far as I know, this is the only turkey to have been decked out in a driving cap, sunglasses, and tennis racket. Though he does suffer from multiple personality disorder, claiming to be both a dairy cow and a seagull, so it might be best to just disbelieve anything he says.
Taylor the Turkey, from Muppets Tonight. Known for being oblivious to the difference between an oven and a sauna, and for being one of the most spread-eagled of the Muppets, Taylor was featured in an episode of Tales from the Vet. According to Brian Henson, he was delicious.
The Turkey, from Sesame Street. This little guy was eaten by Grover. I haven't seen this episode, but it's still a pretty good guess.
Camilla the Chicken, from Studio DC: Almost Live. In what is arguably the worst production of the Muppets' long career, Camilla (magically, temporarily, and off-screen transformed into a turkey) provides the sole shining light by providing the straight line to the only funny bit in the whole episode. It went a little like this: CAMILLA: Blubalubala? GONZO: Yeah, blubalubala. Comedy gold or simply funny by comparison? You decide.
Big Bird. Often referred to as a turkey by Oscar, this bit of information was enough to fool Waylon Jennings into giving him a free ride. I really don't know who's more susceptible in this situation.
Gonzo the Great. He's kinda like a turkey, but not much.

Head on over to the ToughPigs forum by clicking here to vote for your favorite Muppet turkey! Gobble Gobble!

Labels: poll, Thanksgiving

Season 39 of Sesame Street is coming to PBS this summer, and we're all vibrating fiercely with excitement. As usual, it's going to be a star-studded affair, and we've already seen announcements about several celebrities who will be dropping by the neighborhood to educate, entertain, and maybe grab a milkshake at Hooper's.

Which celebrity appearance do you think will be the coolest? Will it be Canadian rocker Feist, who is reportedly doing a variation on her hit "1234"? Will it be LL Cool J, whose very last name has often been the Letter of the Day?

What about David Beckham, who will be teaching Elmo the meaning of the word "persistence" as only a Spice Girl-marrying soccer star can? Maybe Sandra Oh of Grey's Anatomy will be the highlight of the season, as she portrays the Cookie Fairy. Ah, but Neil Patrick Harris just might top her -- he's playing "the greatest fairy in the world," the Fairy Shoeperson.

I know which one I'm most looking forward to, but which one are YOU anticipating? Let us know by dropping by the Tough Pigs forum to answer the very important question: "Which upcoming celebrity appearance on Sesame Street is gonna be the awesomest?"

Click here to place your vote in this poll on the Tough Pigs forum! (Hey, didn't I just say that?)

ToughPigsRyan@yahoo.com

Labels: poll, reader participation, Sesame Street

posted by Ryan Roe  # 12:49 PM

With just over 2 weeks until the second season of The Muppet Show finally graces us with its presence, all of our internal timers have begun their ultimate countdowns here at ToughPigs.com. There has been a couple of early reviews popping up around the interweb and the news sounds good. But we would like to know what you're most excited about.

Is it The Muppet Valentine Show? Or how about the fact that Disney managed to get all of the episodes out without any unnecessary edits? I'm guessing it's the new Muppets on Puppets featurette. Yeah, definitely that. Or the ever-elusive Teresa Brewer episode. Yep, one of those two. Oh wait, I know, I know. You're a Weezer fanatic, so you're excited about their "Keep Fishin'" music video. Oh, what college has done to you!

Then again, you've been thinking about these titillating extras for months now. Perhaps you're more concerned about the features that didn't make it onto the new DVDs. What could those features be?

There's a very good chance you're missing the [sic] and twisted Muppet Morsels. Or maybe you had your hopes up for some straight-up commentary. Better yet, some interviews with the Muppeteers and writing staff. Or perhaps you're feeling jilted at the prospect of the Weezer music video without the accompanying making-of documentary that aired on MTV2. As for me, I'm quite upset at the gaping hole that is the Kermit-Gonzo-Animal Skateboarding picture. No Muppet production is complete without it. Or maybe you're upset that the Steve Martin episode has been completely cut. Just kidding.

So be a dear and head on over to the ToughPigs forum where you can cast your vote for stuff that doesn't exist and for stuff that will exist on August 7.

Click here and here to take the poll and the other poll on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: fanaticism, poll, reader participation, The Muppet Show

For generations, one question has been burning in the minds of heterosexual male Muppet fans - which female Muppet movie lead is the most attractive?

For years, there were only two contestants - Juliana Donald as sweet, adorable young Jenny in The Muppets Take Manhattan and Diana Rigg as high class hottie Lady Holiday in The Great Muppet Caper. The debate was civil in those days, as the two groups largely remained separate. The Jenny guys hung out at their personal Pete's Luncheonette, while the Lady Holiday men strove to find a 17 Highbrow Street of their very own.


Since the fabled Muppet comeback of 1992, things have gotten more complicated as three new contestants have entered the ring - Meredith Braun as Scrooge's (literally) scene-stealing lost love Belle in The Muppet Christmas Carol, Joan Cusack as delightfully evil vixen Rachel Bitterman in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, and Ashanti as Dorothy Gale, the Kansas girl with big dreams in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. The argument rages now more than ever, and only your input can help bring it to an end.


So, which human is the hottest? Has Lady Holiday won your love with expository dialogue? Would you let Jenny fill in your moustache? Perhaps Ms. Bitterman stole your heart and replaced it with Club Dot. Maybe you look forward to being an old man just so you can go back in time and sing a duet with Belle, or you wait outside for the tornado that will take you to Dorothy. Whoever you prefer, vote now so the debate can end peacefully. The owners of 17 Highbrow Street are getting a little tired of all the Lady Holiday fans hanging around.

Labels: Muppet movies, poll, reader participation

It's the eternal question that separates all Henson fans. Do you prefer the intricate art and stylings of the Dark Crystal or the fun adventurous characters of Labyrinth? Would you rather see the Trial by Stone or a Firey rip off his own head? Are you all about the Crystal Shard or the Crystal Balls?

There's only one way to solve this matter. Head on over to the ToughPigs forum and cast your vote!

Click here to vote for Gelflings or Goblins on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: Creature Shop movies, poll, reader participation

I simply MUST know! Could it be Harvey Fierstein? Or perhaps Large Lavender? Surely it's not Bernie!

Head on over to the Tough Pig Forums and go toe-to-toe with your fellow Muppet fans (I'll warn ya, some of them may have voted for John Candy).

Click here to join the debate on the Tough Pigs forum!

Labels: Easter, poll, reader participation