Muppet Classic Theater
Encyclopedia
Muppet Classic Theater is a program featuring The Muppets
that was released direct-to-video on September 27, 1994. It consists of six stories from the fairy tale tradition, all performed by the Muppet characters and narrated by Rizzo
and Gonzo
. They were previously the main characters in The Muppet Christmas Carol
.
"
In this segment, Miss Piggy
must protect her two naïve brothers from a big bad wolf
and his various attempts on their lives and homes.
2. *"King Midas"
Kermit the Frog
plays the ill-fated king with the golden touch, who, despite the protestations of his wife (Miss Piggy), grows disillusioned with being king.
3. *"The Boy Who Cried Wolf
"
The repeated overreactions of a shepherd (Gonzo) cause villagers to doubt his word, even when genuine danger is near.
4. *"Rumpelstiltskin
"
Miss Piggy plays the heroine forced by fate to give up her firstborn in return for the desperately needed services of the titular character (played by Gonzo).
5. *"The Emperor's New Clothes
"
Fozzie Bear
plays a king who, encouraged by his sycophantic circle of friends, is fooled into believing that his vestments are made of an invisible cloth.
6. *"The Elves and the Shoemakers
"
A shoemaker (Kermit) faces ruin until his livelihood is saved by a group of philanthropic entertainers (The Elvises
).
The Muppets
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
that was released direct-to-video on September 27, 1994. It consists of six stories from the fairy tale tradition, all performed by the Muppet characters and narrated by Rizzo
Rizzo the Rat
Rizzo the Rat is a Muppet, performed by Steve Whitmire. Rizzo first appeared in episode 418 of The Muppet Show, as one of a group of rats following Christopher Reeve around backstage. He can be seen mugging and reacting to practically every line of dialogue. He remained a scene-stealing background...
and Gonzo
Gonzo the Great
Gonzo the Great is a puppet character, one of Jim Henson's Muppets. He was developed and performed by Dave Goelz. The character made his first appearance in a 1970 Christmas special entitled "The Great Santa Claus Switch". Known as a "Whatever" , he is considered one of The Frackles...
. They were previously the main characters in The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 musical comedy film adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, starring Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, directed by Brian Henson, produced by The Jim Henson Company, and released by Walt Disney Pictures...
.
Stories Presented
1. *"Three Little PigsThree Little Pigs
Three Little Pigs is a fairy tale featuring anthropomorphic animals. Printed versions date back to the 1840s, but the story itself is thought to be much older...
"
In this segment, Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing the role, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
must protect her two naïve brothers from a big bad wolf
Big Bad Wolf
The Big Bad Wolf is a term used to describe a fictional wolf who appears in several precautionary folkloric stories, including some of Aesop's Fables and Grimm's Fairy Tales.-Interpretations:...
and his various attempts on their lives and homes.
2. *"King Midas"
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...
plays the ill-fated king with the golden touch, who, despite the protestations of his wife (Miss Piggy), grows disillusioned with being king.
3. *"The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Boy Who Cried Wolf, is one of Aesop's Fables, numbered 210 in the Perry Index. From it is derived the English idiom 'to cry wolf', meaning to give a false alarm.-The fable and its history:...
"
The repeated overreactions of a shepherd (Gonzo) cause villagers to doubt his word, even when genuine danger is near.
4. *"Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin is the eponymous character and protagonist of a fairy tale which originated in Germany . The tale was collected by the Brothers Grimm, who first published it in the 1812 edition of Children's and Household Tales...
"
Miss Piggy plays the heroine forced by fate to give up her firstborn in return for the desperately needed services of the titular character (played by Gonzo).
5. *"The Emperor's New Clothes
The Emperor's New Clothes
"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent...
"
Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear is a Muppet, created by Jim Henson. He is an orange, particularly fuzzy bear who works as a stand-up comic and has a catchphrase, "Wocka Wocka Wocka". Shortly after telling the joke, he is usually the target of rotten tomatoes and ridicule, especially from hecklers Statler and Waldorf...
plays a king who, encouraged by his sycophantic circle of friends, is fooled into believing that his vestments are made of an invisible cloth.
6. *"The Elves and the Shoemakers
The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Elves and the Cobbler or The Shoemaker and the Elves is an often copied and re-made story about a poor shoemaker who receives much-needed help from elves....
"
A shoemaker (Kermit) faces ruin until his livelihood is saved by a group of philanthropic entertainers (The Elvises
The Elvises
The three Elvises are Muppet characters parodying rock-and-roll icon Elvis Presley. They have been performed by Bill Barretta, Brian Henson, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, and others....
).