By now you're probably wondering how someone as quiet, mild-mannered, unassuming and, well, normal as Scooter hooked up with Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie and the rest of the Muppets. Well, here are all of the various ways that Scooter became a part of the Muppet family as seen on television or on the big screen.
- The Muppet Show
Probably the most well-known story to any Muppet fan. During the sixth episode of TMS' first season, we (and Kermit) are introduced to a young kid named Scooter who has been hired as the theatre's new "go-fer" (he'll go fer sandwiches, go fer coffee, etc). Kermit is reluctant to hire this kid, until he casually mentions that his uncle owns the theatre that the show is performed at every week. After this Scooter's duties expand to include catering to the guest stars' needs and eventually performing in the occassional song or skit. He's not above using his uncle's influence to secure a spot onstage, either.
- The Muppet Movie
Not halfway through the movie, Kermit and Fozzie make the acquaintance of the band known as "The Electric Mayhem." Traveling with them is Scooter, their road manager. He helps the band repaint the Studebaker while the frog and bear catch up on their sleep, and eventually rejoins the pair in the desert and travels to Hollywood to become a big star.
- The Great Muppet Caper
Scooter is a guest/tenant at the Happiness Hotel in London. Later on he helps Gonzo, Kermit and Fozzie thwart the robbery of the Baseball Diamond, then joins the others on the way back to America (or wherever that plane was headed).
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (and by a stretch, Muppet Babies)
In this movie, Scooter is a cast member of Kermit's hit musical Manhattan Melodies. Since the entire group appears to be such good friends, it stands to reason that Scooter has known Kermit and the others for quite some time. The longest span of time could be four years, since his freshman year at college. Scooter also made an appearance in Piggy's "Muppet Babies" fantasy as a toddler (and a darn cute one at that). This scene later helped set the premise for Jim Henson's Muppet Babies, which chronicles the baby Muppets' various adventures in their nursery and introduces two new babies to the regular cast: Animal and Skeeter, Scooter's twin sister. So it could stand to reason that Scooter grew up with Kermit and the rest.
Miscellaneous Info
- Scooter was created in 1976 for The Muppet Show. His first appearance was in the first episode starring Juliet Prowse, although his formal introduction didn't come until episode 6 with Jim Nabors.
- Just what is Scooter, anyway? Most schools of thought label him as human since his uncle J.P. is human. The FAQ at rec.alt.henson+muppets gives this interesting little tidbit:
Christopher Finch, in the almost-definitive "Of Muppets and Men," relates the following ad-libbed exchange on the backstage of "The Muppet Show": "Kermit/Jim Henson turns to Scooter/Richard Hunt and asks, 'What are you anyway?' 'My mother was a parrot,' Scooter replies. 'We don't know about my father. It was during the war.' 'Really?' says Kermit. 'Which side was he on?'"
Of course the exchange was done completely in fun, but it sure does make you wonder (or maybe it's just me)...
- Scooter was a regular member of the Muppet cast until 1992, appearing in TMS, the first three movies, various Muppet specials and the pre-show of Muppet*Vision 3-D. After the death of Richard Hunt, Scooter dropped from sight. The next time he was seen wasn't until around ten years later, in Muppets From Space (sporting a new wardrobe and voiced by Richard's brother Adam), and as part of the chorus at MuppetFest in 2002 (where he was performed by an unidentified female Muppeteer). Needless to say, a lot of fans were happy to see him!
- In 2003 Scooter showed up once again, this time in the TV movie "A Very Merry Muppet Christmas." He was back in his usual (if a bit updated) wardrobe of the yellow turtleneck and green jacket, although in once scene he did a brief turn as a cage dancer in a club (yes, you read that correctly). This time Scooter was voiced by Brian Henson (also the man behind/beneath Sal Manila Gentleman Monkey and Dr. Phil Van Neuter). It appears that Scooter is still working mostly backstage at the Muppet Theatre, but the theatre has obviously passed out of J.P. Grosse's hands.
- This year Scooter reappeared on the small screen in "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz". In this TV movie (based on the book by L. Frank Baum, not the MGM movie), Scooter played himself as the First Assistant to the Wizard of Oz. His duties included greeting Dorothy (Ashanti), the Scarefrog, Cowardly Lion and Tin Thing and making sure they were presentable to have an audience with the Wizard. For MWoO Scooter had another new performer - Rickey Boyd, who's credits include MFS, Animal Jam and the Jim Henson Hour. Hopefully Scooter will soon have a permanent performer and not be passed around like a Whatnot.
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