Jim Henson's The Muppet Show Debuting On Disney Plus In February - Ranking The 10 Best Muppet Characters

Kermit The Frog issued a press release yesterday announcing The Muppet Show, the beloved Jim Henson Company TV show, is coming to Disney Plus. Appearing first in 1976, The Muppet Show was such an entertainment force that its characters are still relevant 40+ years later. To test that out, try mentioning Kermit The Frog to random people; you will undoubtedly hear a few "Kermit The Frog here" impersonations or mentions of a nonchalant tea-sipping Kermit meme.

To celebrate this great news, we at The Nerd Habit have ranked our favorite Muppet characters from best to most "bestest." (We know "bestest" is not a word, but, really, how could we call any of the characters "worst," that would be rude. Plus, we would like to avoid upsetting Miss Piggy; she might karate chop us upside our heads.)

# 10 Rowlf The Dog

"Why wasn't I in the montage? I thought my story was pretty interesting!"

Rowlf, you are in our montage, and we agree, your story is fascinating! Becoming the first Muppet to reach national stardom as a cast member of The Jimmy Dean Show, Rowlf was the resident piano player for The Muppet Show house band. Rowlf also performed the role of Dr. Bob, a silly surgeon, on a recurring sketch titled Veterinarian's Hospital.

# 9 Bunsen And Beaker

Beaker: "Mee mee moo meep meep mind." Bunsen: "Yes, I think you have a beautiful mind, too."

We could not bear seeing these two apart, so we ranked them together. Watching Dr. Bunsen use Beaker as his test dummy and seeing Beaker's wild reactions are some of the funniest bits in The Muppet's history.

# 8 The Swedish Chef

"Bork! Bork! Bork!"

The Swedish Chef first appeared on the 1974 Muppet's pilot The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence, where he demonstrated how to make a submarine sandwich. Watch his appearance below. Is it hilarious? "Yoo Betcha."

# 7 Sam The Eagle

"It seems the words on my coffee mug are right: 'It is hard to soar with Eagles when you work with turkeys.'"

Sam The Eagle is a true patriot. Sam The Eagle does not tolerate nonsense. Sam The Eagle does not put up with questionable morals. Sam The Eagle tries to keep The Muppets in line—and we love him for it.

# 6 Animal

"EAT DRUMS! EAT DRUMS!"

The wildest Muppet of them all, Animal is the drummer for The Muppet Show's house band. Watching Animal perform Mahna Mahna is pure, crazy bliss. Watch Animal's performance below; you will find yourself singing "Mahna mah" the rest of the day.

# 5 Gonzo And Rizzo

Gonzo: "You were never a lonely child?" Rizzo the Rat: "I had twelve hundred and seventy-four brothers and sisters."

This duo is so fun to watch, so they had to be ranked together. Experiencing their telling of A Christmas Carol in The Muppet Christmas Carol leaves us with the desire to listen to Gonzo and Rizzo tell as many stories as The Jim Henson Company will allow.

# 4 Miss Piggy

"I am a pig, and as a pig, I have always stood out."

Yes, Miss Piggy, stood out you have certainly done. Miss Piggy is a beautiful, karate adoring singer who's love for fame and Kermi (her pet name for Kermit) has put her in the spotlight of many Muppet performances.

# 3 Statler And Waldorf

Waldorf: "They aren't half bad." Statler: "Nope, they're ALL bad!"

The finest pessimistic hecklers to ever look down on a stage, Statler and Waldorf bring some of the best laughs to The Muppet Show. With the duo usually waiting until the show's end to heckle The Muppets, they always made sure the show ended with a hearty laugh for the audience and a nice ribbing for the Muppets.

# 2 Fozzie Bear

"Did I tell you the one about the man with the light bulb in his nose? He was lightheaded! Get it? Wocka Wocka Wocka!"

Ever the steadfast comedian, Fozzie Bear never wants to see any of his friends without a smile. Fozzie's love for comedy began when he was a small child, and his desire to be a comedian saw him learn the ropes at the El Sleezo Cafe until his best friend Kermit The Frog convinced Fozzie to go to Hollywood to find fame. Fozzie eventually found his fame with The Muppet Show; he even understudied at Disney's Country Bear Jamboree.

# 1 Kermit The Frog

"Movin' right along, footloose and fancy-free. Getting there is half the fun, come share it with me."

Kermit The Frog is the most famous Muppet, by far. Always carrying a positive outlook on life, Kermit usually leads the Muppets into and out of trouble. Kermit gained notoriety with his appearances on Sesame Street starting in 1969, but his TV debut was in 1955 on Sam and Friends, a children's show on WRC-TV. With many decades of fame behind him, being part of the Disney family will now keep Kermit in the spotlight for generations to come.

Those are the top 10 best characters from The Muppets in the eyes of The Nerd Habit crew. What would your list look like? Come by our Facebook page and share your thoughts!

The Muppet Show will debut on Disney Plus on February 19, 2021, with all five seasons available to watch. This will be the first time seasons four and five will be available on a streaming service.

Source(s):

Variety, The Muppet Wiki, The Muppet Mindset