Now, the finalized version of my
Muppet Quiz post.
From: Looking Back on Muppet Quiz (2015-2021)
Article by Tommy Maguire [1] for Maguire's Two Cents, March 30, 2022.
Guest post by @Trevor807; idea by @Shockeye7665
The Muppets have delighted audiences for more than 65 years. They have starred in many television series over the years, most famously
Sesame Street (which has run since 1969) and
The Muppet Show. In 2015, Walt Disney Television, Muppet Studios [2] and NBC brought us
Muppet Quiz, bringing the Muppets to primetime for the first time since
Too Late with Miss Piggy, and in time for their 60th anniversary. The Muppeteer lineup of Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Kevin Clash, Artie Esposito, Peter Linz, Karen Prell et al joined in for the ride, while Muppets creator and former Disney chairman Jim Henson served as an executive producer and creative consultant. Clash and Barretta, along with Kirk Thatcher, were the showrunners, and Whitmire, Goelz, Clash, Barretta, Prell, and Vogel were frequent directors as well.
Like
Too Late,
Muppet Quiz sought to modernize the classic
Muppet Show formula, with Kermit once again focusing on producing alongside Clifford, this time leaving hosting duties to affable piano-playing dog Rowlf [3], so he could focus on keeping the show from falling apart. This time, though,
Muppet Quiz was more of a panel show in the vein of
Match Game, with six different Muppets every week.
+
=
Muppet Quiz
Every episode began with a short
Muppet Show-like backstage skit of the two guest stars preparing for the show and interacting with a few of the panelists.
After the opening sequence (involving Kermit's traditional introduction of the guests in front of the KMUP station, followed by Rowlf singing the series' theme song as the show was being prepared, all six panelists being introduced during the song, and then Rowlf coming out on stage to a different, humorous introduction spiel that varied every episode), Rowlf bantered with the guests and some of the Muppets, before the gameplay began; the action took place on a set that parodied 1960s-1970s game shows such as
Match Game,
The Newlywed Game, and
Password. Yes, they even used old-fashioned eggcrate displays instead of LED monitors.
Rowlf would ask six questions for both guest stars to answer (playing for points), and their responses were followed by the Muppets giving their two cents as well, usually leading to comedy skits or musical numbers from either the guests or the Muppets. Plus, quite a few skits ran on meta humor, including comments Rowlf made towards questions, as well as some lighthearted digs at Muppet corporate sibling NBC (Enby the Peacock even made a cameo appearance in one episode!) and even parent company Disney. If a guest got the question right, they would earn three points, with an additional point for each Muppet who also got it right. After each question, the show would cut to a scene taking place backstage, where Kermit would check in on what was happening.
Once all six questions were completed, the guest star with the most points would team up with a Muppet determined by the "Wheel! Of! Muppets!" The guest would then compete in a wacky final round with their Muppet competitor; for example, a cook-off with the Swedish Chef, a drum-off with the crazy drummer Animal, or a roast-off with resident critic duo Statler and Waldorf. If they got more points than the Muppet, they would win the round. Both guest stars came out on stage, along with some of the Muppets of that episode. After the credits, Statler and Waldorf gave one final comment a la
The Muppet Show.
Of course, the best part was getting to see some classic Muppet antics on TV again after over a decade. Statler and Waldorf continued their usual brand of heckling from their front-row seats, Fozzie Bear told bad jokes for those two old coots to roast at like in the old days (they're practically a comedy trio at this point!), and Gonzo found new, insane yet cultured stunts to perform. Making his TV debut was Alvin (introduced in 2005), who acted as Rowlf's announcer/sidekick; he would sometimes join in the panel as well [4], though he was nothing compared to his energetic yet witty twin sister Audrey (also introduced in 2005). [5]
In Muppet tradition, the guest stars themselves each had their own skits as well, whether it's actor, voice actor and director Jude Barsi bonding with Uncle Deadly and Zondra, singer Ariana Grande attracting the jealousy of vain diva Miss Piggy simply for talking to Kermit backstage, or game show host Alex Trebek briefly taking over hosting duties from Rowlf before realizing that trying to get the Muppets under control is easier said than done. Who can forget well-known chef Gordon Ramsay trying to cook with the Swedish Chef, only for the Chef’s ineptitude and wackiness to frustrate Ramsay? Seriously, if this were a PFN reality show, he would've sworn up a storm. (“It's the bleepin’ Muppets! Families are bleepin’ watching!”) [6]
At the end of the day, much like how
Too Late was a variety show dressed as a talk show,
Muppet Quiz is a variety show dressed as a game show.
The series was a big hit among critics and audiences, running for six seasons before its final episode aired on May 24 last year. Clash, Barretta, and Thatcher did an admirable job maintaining the integrity of the characters, staying true to Henson’s intentions. We can only hope that the next Muppet series, whenever that comes, continues the tradition of success.
MUPPET PERFORMERS
- Bill Barretta as Rowlf, Waldorf, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the King Prawn, the Swedish Chef (head and voice), Bobo the Bear, Sal Minella [7], Mahna Mahna, Big Mean Carl, and Other Muppets
- Steve Whitmire as Kermit, Statler, Beaker, Rizzo the Rat, Lips, the Newsman, Link Hogthrob, Benny Bunny [8], Ubu, Andy Pig, Barry Stirr [9], the Swedish Chef (hands), and Other Muppets
- Artie Esposito as Alvin and Other Muppets
- Kevin Clash as Clifford, Mulch, Enby the Peacock, and Other Muppets
- Eric Jacobson as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam the Eagle, Marvin Suggs, and Other Muppets
- Dave Goelz as Gonzo the Great, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, Digit, Chip, Randy Pig, and Other Muppets
- David Rudman as Scooter, Janice, Wayne, and Other Muppets
- Matt Vogel as Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Uncle Deadly, Sweetums, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Pops, Camilla, Angus McGonagle, and Other Muppets
- Karen Prell as Audrey, Yolanda Rat, and Other Muppets
- Peter Linz as Nigel the Conductor, Dr. Phil Van Neuter [10], and Other Muppets
- Alice Dinnean as Wanda and Other Muppets
- Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Zondra, Spamela Hamderson, and Other Muppets
- Julianne Buescher as Denise [11], Beverly Plume, and Other Muppets
- Tyler Bunch as Thog and Other Muppets
- Louise Gold as Annie Sue and Other Muppets
ADDITIONAL PERFORMERS
- Grant Baciocco
- Billy Barkhurst
- Rickey Boyd
- Wayne Brady
- Kanja Chen
- Frankie Cordero
- Stephanie D'Abruzzo
- Ryan Dillon
- Ben Durocher
- Ali J. Eisner
- Bradley Freeman, Jr.
- Aymee Garcia
- Dan Garza
- Leila Ghaznavi
- Andy Hayward
- John Kennedy
- Donna Kimball
- Tim Lagasse
- Bruce Lanoil
- Noel MacNeal
- Drew Massey
- Joey Mazzarino
- Brett O'Quinn
- Carmen Osbahr
- Anney McKilligan Ozar
- Martin P. Robinson
- Yinan Shentu
- John Tartaglia
- Allan Trautman
- Alex Villa
- Victor Yerrid
[1] A pun on Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland's names.
[2] OTL's equivalent to The Muppets Studio. I'd personally imagine its logo to look like
OTL's Jim Henson Pictures logo (go to 0:22).
[3] I had Rowlf be the host this time, because I wanted him to get his time in the spotlight again (he was the lead Muppet before
The Muppet Show due to his fame as Jimmy Dean's TV sidekick). Kermit still plays a major role as the producer like in
Too Late, and he's still the undeniable leader.
[4] Inspired by
this episode of
Match Game ‘75 in which Gary Burghoff (himself a substitute for Charles Nelson Reilly) missed the day's taping after forgetting about Daylight Savings’ Time, so announcer Johnny Olson filled in for him.
[5]
A crude mockup of Wendy's appearance.
[6]
OTL's equivalent.
[7] Basically OTL's Johnny Fiama as described in the
Too Late with Miss Piggy entry.
[8] OTL's Bean Bunny.
[9] OTL's Joe the Legal Weasel.
[10] Brian Henson performed this role IOTL. Here, because of his other commitments, I gave Peter this role instead.
[11]
The Whatnot, not the pig from OTL's 2015 series (whom Buescher coincidentally performed).
EDIT: Added Clifford as producer.
EDIT 2: Added mention of eggcrate displays.
EDIT 3: Elaborated on the opening.
EDIT 4: Added Denise the Whatnot from a Muppet Meeting Film and
Muppets TV, plus Joe the Legal Weasel and Beverly Plume from OTL's
Muppets Now. Honestly, I'd think Jim would encourage Disney to hire more new performers to create their own roles (e.g. Bill Barretta as Pepé), or make more obscure characters their own (e.g. Matt Vogel as Uncle Deadly, a character who only lasted a few years under Jerry Nelson, or how I gave Nigel to Peter Linz).
EDIT 5: Added Muppet Studios.
EDIT 6: Added Allan Trautman.
FINAL EDIT: Added Carmen Osbahr.
FINAL EDIT, FOR REAL THIS TIME: Replaced Joe the Legal Weasel with his TTL counterpart.
RETCON: I renamed Walter and Wendy to Alvin (Shockeye7665's suggestion) and Audrey, and cast Artie Esposito as Alvin. I realized that Walter's name and performer would be different due to butterflies.
