Methods of Persuasion
06/28/09 06:00 PM
One of the unique things about Henson’s creations, beyond the obvious artistry of their construction, was the complex nature of their personalities. Even as a kid I remember being aware of the subversive nature of what Henson was doing. Here were these fuzzy, felt creatures that looked like three-dimensional versions of children’s cartoon characters, but which spoke and acted like full-grown adults. The dialogue was filled with sophisticated, often acerbic, wit and thinly-veiled innuendo in nearly every scene.
Seeing The Muppet Show at that tender age was a revelation for me and it helped shape my understanding of both humor and art. As unexpected and unfiltered as Henson’s opus was, it turns out that he was even edgier back in his early days. Check out these ads for Wilkins Coffee featuring a pair of proto-Muppets:
Needless to say these commercials make watching Kermit rag on Miss Piggy about her choice of outfit seem positively tame by comparison. I know Stadler and Waldorf were pretty harsh critics, but neither of them ever put a bullet through Gonzo’s beak over one of his failed Evil Knievel-inspired stunts, though secretly I’m sure they wanted to.
I can’t imagine what viewers seeing these spots thought, but I’m willing to bet they didn’t go over so well. Thankfully the feedback from the experience probably saved Henson from having his later work yanked from the air before it ever found its audience.
Still, it would’ve been quite a sight to see Bunsen throw Beaker into an industrial blender and let the red felt fly.
Hmmm, maybe I should stop watching gory horror flicks right before I type these up.
-Quoth the Raven
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