Kermit the Frog - "It's not easy being green"

 
If Euripides was right and one can judge a man by the company he keeps, then fuzzy green showbiz mainstay Kermit the Frog must be top of the hops. Back in the heady days of The Muppet Show – a chaotic operation that he led with frazzled determination – he shared a stage with John Cleese, Elton John, Rudolph Nureyev, Liza Minnelli, Debbie Harry, Sylvester Stallone and Johnny Cash, as well as assorted chickens, monsters, bears, rats and whatever Gonzo is. In various Muppet movies, he’s starred alongside Orson Welles, Michael Caine, Billy Connolly and Peter Ustinov. Having risen to stardom from a swamp, he’s nothing less than a poster-frog for the American Dream.

But since 1999’s cinematic flop, Muppets from Space, the world has been just a little less green. Aside from a couple of TV movies and some very funny web videos, including a spectacular version of Ode To Joy by shock-haired squeaker Beaker, it’s been all quiet on the felt front. This week, however, marks the return of the multi-species troupe to the big screen. With a bit of help from superfans Jason Segel and Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie, Kermit is yet again leading the funniest frog-bear-pig-chicken-rat-alien puppet chorus the world has ever seen.

Their latest cinematic outing, The Muppets, has already charmed audiences in the States and been given an Oscar nod for best song, stoking excitement in the UK for its release this week. Their reappearance comes just in time. As Muppet expert Andrew T Smith points out on the next page, the Muppets have always helped us through times of financial turmoil with their can-do attitude and belief in co-operation. Kermit found time in his packed schedule of promotional duties and catering to Miss Piggy’s every whim to talk to us about comebacks, Michelle Obama and the heart-warming friendship that’s kept the Muppets going all these years…

Does it feel good to be back on the silver screen?

It’s wonderful! Green actually goes great with silver. 

The movie opens with the Muppets disbanded – is this the great comeback?

It’s a comeback in the sense that this is our first big-screen movie in a dozen years, but we’ve been very busy during that time.

We’ve done a lot of internet videos [two of them won Webby Awards: Bohemian Rhapsody and Beaker’s Ode To Joy]. Plus we’ve made lots of appearances, written books and all that other celebrity-type stuff. The part about us being ‘disbanded’ was what they call in Hollywood ‘creative embellishment’, but what most folks call ‘fibbing’.

Were Jason Segel and Amy Adams fun to work with?

Jason Segel is wonderful. Not only is he a funny actor, but he co-wrote the script for the movie. In fact, it’s because he’s such a big Muppet fan that we made this movie. As for Amy Adams, she’s as beautiful and talented as she looks on the big screen. I only wish I could have gotten to know her better, but Miss Piggy wouldn’t let me.

Bret McKenzie has just been nominated for an Oscar for his song Man or Muppet from the movie – are you a fan of Flight of the Conchords?

I love Flight of the Conchords and Bret is an incredible talent. He’s got that Muppet sensibility – odd, silly, enthusiastic, inspired and just a little bit askew. By the way, if Bret is reading this, I mean that as a compliment.

There was a campaign to see the Muppets present the Oscars this year – would you do it?

We were flattered, but we’re very glad Billy Crystal is going to host again. We love him as host. And he’s also worked with us, so we’re friends. Fozzie Bear has even agreed to write some of Billy’s jokes. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

You’ve been in showbiz since 1955 – do the Muppets still have something to say in 2012?

Yes. Y’see, we’re kind of this big, multi-species dysfunctional family, and yet we somehow manage to get along and make dreams come true. I think a lot of people can relate to that.

You’ve worked with all of the top stars of the last five decades – who’ve been some of your favourites?

We’ve been so lucky. We’ve worked with everyone from Bob Hope and Gene Kelly to Lady Gaga and Elton John. I mean, who else has had an opportunity to sing with both Johnny Cash and Ozzy Osbourne? It’s been great.

With the world economy in the doldrums, do the Muppets have a lesson for people in hard times? When times are tough, it’s easy to lose hope. But you have to hold on and believe in yourself… and surround yourself with folks (or in my case pigs, bears and chickens) who believe in you. Even when it’s not easy being green, I try not to feel blue. And remember: if a talking frog can make it in Hollywood, anything is possible.

We all know it’s not easy being green, but what do you make of climate change?

I like it wet and I hope it stays that way. Frogs are like that. As for the environment, I try to speak for all species who are lower than humans on the food chain. This is home for all of us. Let’s keep it clean, safe and green.

At the end of 2011, you turned on the Christmas tree lights with the Obamas – what did you make of the First Family?

That was fun! I don’t know if you saw the event, but the First Lady let me call her Michelle (Miss Piggy makes me call her ‘Your Majesty’). It’s such a beautiful time of the year all over the world, but especially in Washington DC. The houses are decorated, the Christmas carols are playing and, best of all, Congress is out of session. What’s not to love?

It was a sad day for people and Muppets alike when Jim Henson died in 1990 – do you still miss him?

Jim will always be part of us. We wouldn’t be here without him. And while I’m not really sure what he did, he seemed to have a hand in everything. It was tough going on, but we knew he would’ve wanted us to keep making people happy, just like he did.

Will there be a new Muppet TV series?

It would be great to have a new Muppet Show or something like it, but I can’t really say when or if that will happen. We’d love to be in people’s living rooms once a week. We’d even clean up after ourselves.

It seems the world has rediscovered its love for the Muppets – why do you think we all adore you guys so much?

You see yourselves in us. In fact, you’re starting to look a little green. Is that normal?