Jim Henson, Kermit, and Rowlf on The Arsenio Hall Show (1989) 

I think this is the secret of the amazing work he did💕💕💕

Love it 💜💜

8:38

I'm 56 and I still watch The Muppets, show,toons and movies 🎥

​@@baileighpaisley3859 and just like that, in that moment I knew. My life is a lie ( sorry! 😂)

Not to mention how charming and quick witted IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY when he brings out Rolf. A true performer.

@@baddabaddabaddaswing Yeah, shocking how easy that transformation went , greets

That's the way introverts work. It's easier to communicate with the world through some form of medium (puppets, art, acting) than with direct communication.

@@kelaarin I totally relate.

He needs a shield. Lol

I'm in my 30s and I still love the Muppets.

49 here. I was reading when I was two years old thanks to the shows on PBS.

@@martyklestadt6766 I was reading when I was two, but I've always chalked it up to my amazing intelligence. I watched Sesame Street a lot though. Actually for reading I credit my mom more than any TV show, but I'm sure it helped.

@@anonamatron Good points. I'm certain my god-given and parents-given intelligence had a lot to do with it, as well as my folks nurturing me along as well. All of those factors, including Sesame Street, had a lot to do with my reading at the age of two.

I am 64 and I still watch the Muppet show on DVD!

Rich people with talent don't go fancy

The neolithic cave drawings on the sweater make me want one just like it.

I mean he’s a chill dude

It's fine and laid back and mellow and profitable.

@@iksigrek5084 Hey. Sammy Davis Jr was the most talented person I ever seen. and he always wore something expensive lol.

I would have loved to see him.do Miss Piggy. That would have been one existential trip.

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Miss Piggy was actually voiced by Frank Oz, who also voiced Fozzie, Animal, and Sam Eagle at the time.

8:38

there*

True that. Most, if not all, of us grew up watching the Muppets and Sesame Street.

Steven Holt same thing with Dave Goelz (who operates Gonzo). He sounds almost exactly like Gonzo, even out of his Gonzo personality/voice

Steven Holt yup

Steven Holt can’t read your username without thinking of “STEVE HOLT” from Arrested Development.

Lani Alvarado I get that all the time, don't worry about it.

Hahaha

11:44 say that again kid...

Kermit and Miss Piggy are amazing characters and Mr. Henson was a genius. He seems so kind and gentle as well. I'm so glad God gave us this wonderful man and his great gift.

Are you kidding? Kermit is a puppet. It’s a character puppet voiced and operated by Jim Henson. It’s not a real frog dude. I don’t really know where to start. I guess I’d tell you to look up what real frogs look like. They live, breath, eat and reproduce. This puppet called Kermit can’t do any of that. Don’t you realize that puppeteers are operating these things? Can’t you see that it’s made out of fabric? A real frog has a hydrated skin for its amphibious nature. Do yourself a favor and look up and compare real frogs to Kermit. Only then will you realize that it’s ridiculous to think that Kermit is a real frog.

I’ve been having a good laugh with friends telling them that somebody on RU-vid thinks that Kermit is a real frog. Haha 😂 unbelievable

S Stills They were saying although Jim Henson’s mouth moves, he does such a great job that Kermit seems real to them. It was a compliment of Henson’s performance. It was satirical. Have a great day! 😊

Kermit and the luigi Friends l

I know. I was so shocked when I heard that he'd died suddenly.

he is... he is very much alive in the muppets he created and all the shows and movies they were in... he is with us in our hearts and in spirit

Me too buddy.

I agree that Jim's passing was much too early, but this little section from his funeral is really awesome to watch: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KSE1Mtnnm4Y.html It showcases some of the best songs being sung by the original Muppet performers. It's about 15 minutes long. You can also find the entire funeral on here somewhere, a little over 2 hours long. Some good parts are at 6:54 (watch what they do to Frank Oz) and 10:07 (Nice and fun bouncy tune from Fraggle Rock). But my favorite one is at 13:00 "If Just One Person". Really well written and performed song that any Muppet fan will love (On par with "The Rainbow Connection", if you ask me). It's nice the way they do the fun songs in between the touching or sad songs to keep the spirits high. I wish I could have been there. :( By the way, a lot of people forgot that Sammy Davis Junior died on the same day.

Ikr Olivia hahahahahahaha

Same reaction when i heard porky pig say it

I was so shocked. 😆

That was a big deal in the 80s

Don't ruin the surprise, tho.

Is that geordi?

Erm, it also depends on the generation. I was in high school when Reading Rainbow debuted. I was blessed in that i was read to by my family, starting in infancy. I also watched Sesame Street, which also teaches those values.

Definitely

keevy hazelton, yes, he played Geordi on Star Trek.

@@kroakie4 He also played Kunte Kente in Roots:The Miniseries

Don't sully Jim Henson with that word.

@@chrismichaelgardner You're right, and I'm sorry. Besides, how do WE know he was straight?

@@wizkida981015 Very good, Sir. That was really good.

secretbranch uh wife?

@@chrismichaelgardner Straight man in comedy means serious character.

good point

Brilliant work.

I thought the exact thing! "Why is no one standing?!?!" 🤨

Nobody expecting him to die so young a couple years later. America took Henson for granted.

I dont think the crowd appreciate the genius of Henson..

He should've gotten his face on Mt. Rushmore.

Well, he did get a whole bunch of whoop whoop whoops.😂❤

Absolutely, have you seen the video of Big Bird singing It ain't easy being green at Jim Henson's funeral? At the end of the song, Big Bird stops and says,"Thank you Kermit." Because to the muppeteers Jim WAS Kermit, as well.

last Koresh what is this preschool? Us big boys don’t use terminology such as “crybaby” anymore. Edit: well my comment looks dumb since mr. irresponsible decided to delete his comment. So how’s everyone’s day?

🥺

@@picklefish74 😭

Yeah, I was a kid in the 80's and thinking about the impression Jim Henson left on me and many others.. it's really incredible how something like puppetry gets imprinted into the mind. I'll never forget sitting with my grandma and watching "The Dark Crystal" for the first time... She was horrified and said to my mum, it was much too scary for me. To this day, it's still one of my favourite childhood movies. 😄

🤣

Shops Shire he’d be 83

He was also the voice for Ernie, Guy Smiley, Waldorf, Link Hogthrob, Sinister Sam, Delbert the La Choy Dragon (for La Choy), Fred (for Munchos), Nutty Bird (for Royal Crown Cola), Kenner Goony Bird (for Kenner). He sure is a legend.

Totally agree

Anyone is better than Dave Coulier

Shops Shire he worked himself to death from what I understand! He developed walking pneumonia and by the time he decided to receive treatment it was too late.

I don't know that I have ever heard it described more accurately, thank you.

maybe because we are use to seeing these puppets, but yeah he is a pro. Although his lips are moving somehow he is more convincing than ventriloquist

To be honest, they are so expressive that you're not even watching Jim Henson

0

❤ I love this comment! ❤

Ribbit ribbit

The OG Muppet performers were all about staying in the moment and inhabiting the characters.

I noticed that too! Absolutely brilliant!!

As a Furry I have seen the most shy timid person come out of their shell when in character. The same with puppet performers.

Daniel Bathen his mom always told him, he was ment to bring joy and laughter into the world

I can see that. 😃

🥺

Same to me man, same to me

What's it called when you see both the puppet AND their animator in the one space - suspension of disbelief?

A true puppeteer !

@thedys70 ventriloquist

Something like that anyway.

Yeah and did you notice that it seemed like the direction of the voice changed a little, too? It seemed like the voice was coming from Kermit's side of the camera, not from Jim's. That was a trip!!!

He is real. I never looked at Jim doing him. Only at Kermit.

Hears that in the voice of “The Genie”.

The actor to the right of him seemed particularly cold and unenthusiastic.

Single Tax, I believe that other actor is LeVar Burton, from Star Trek The Next Generation & Reading Rainbow.

I would like to change the world just like Jom did

Hear hear.

SingleTax 😂😯😂

I admit it freely. My eyes went wide, and I whispered, "ohmigodhejustcussedonTV..."

I had to stop the video because I couldn't stop laughing.

Great find; this is brilliant TV. Vale the genius of Henson.

Ever thought this is supposed to be family-oriented?

Yes, Rowlf part of the interview stole the show.

I find it hilarious that Arsenio needed several seconds to figure it out, ever after all the hints. Arsenio KNOWS Rowlf is a puppet, he can SEE the puppeteer, and yet the illusion that Rowlf is a living being is so compelling that Arsenio needed to overcome a mental barrier before understanding why Rowlf couldn't move his other arm.

The gentle pressing of the sling arm with the functional paw whilst explaining ... magical.

Wtf is meta

@Rancid Crawfish basically it's when a person or entity refers to itself and what they are doing. In this case, Jim, as Rowlf, explains how the Muppets operate.

Especially when he could of said something like "I broke my arm in a skiing accident"

Jim became his characters so completely.

I honestly made an effort to try and watch his mouth. Somehow, my eyes were brought back to the puppets every time.

His muppets are mesmerizing. I was only looking at Kermit lol

Jim Henson is a puppeteer but not a Ventriloquist

I’m too young to remember Jim Henson’s death but I was around that age when Shari Lewis died.

Jason Smith voice goes lil higher in kermit

@@thealtchannel8653 Still... basically.

More like Ernie

@@thealtchannel8653 And more nasal, but who's counting...?

The cameraman stayed focused on the Muppet which is the way it should be.

And then rowlf "hey son of a bitch"

"I'm a dog and I'm also a puppet"

I have the boxed set of the latter. Lol

Me too

Poignant lmfao 🤣

Carroll Spinney.

Henson

@@danielgraham1082 Oops. Thanks.

I love it too and if Henson had not deflected Arsenio's naughtiness I'm sure Sesame Street workshop staff would have been upset.

I’m sure Henson was in on the joke and that joke only works when Henson doesn’t “go there”. Good teamwork

@@Mgmt Arsenio would mention something naughty in every single monologue, and I am not surprised he went there. Yes, once he had, Henson going there for more naughtiness would not have really added to the humor as well.

Kermit's first job was the inchworm on Ed Sullivan.

Yes

ALWAYS

Time to put the bong down, now. Lol

I don't think you have to be loaded to feel some compassion for Kermit on that situation, we all know deep down that Kermit is alive.

🤣😂🤔🤪

Slow the playback speed down...lll

They don't, all they do is stare at their cell phones now

Stephen R I grew up with them. Capt. Kangaroo too. Those were simpler, kinder times.❤️

Muppets Christmas Carol is quite good

I know how you feel. I did not know the man but I get emotional whenever I see footage of him. Saw a documentary and really linked him with to the voices and work on Sesame street before his death. Talented and creative human being. Gone too soon.

Watch "Jim Henson's The Storyteller" series. If you haven't seen it all ready I think you'll like it.

Stephen R ever saw their angels?

BigBarnV1 Rowlf is right behind Kermit on my list of favorite muppets

Rolf was the best, always cracked me up when he would spaz out on piano lol

I wAs introduced to the Muppets through Rowlf on the Jimmy Dean show. Jimmy and Rowlf had a get together nearly every show, and it was always good. And I know that everything was probably written up and practiced ahead of time. But there was such a unique type of "bond" in-between Rowlf and Jimmy like two old close friends taking on life together. One highlight of a great old TV show.

Mine too. I believe this is probably his last appearance anywhere. The only other Muppet-related thing at the time was Sesame Street, and he never showed up there. And then when Jim Henson died the next year, Rowlf was permanently retired.

@@MisterTwit that sucks

Ice Fire I admire anyone who can do that kind of work

'Nuff said.

Amen! He was and IS A GENIUS AND A TRUE MUPPET MASTER!

JJHcars and yet you watch Kermit all the time -

soddof yet your and Mom watch ...... insert something creative mouth breather

why is your comment so funny

He was asking the DUMBEST questions. Luckily Jim handled it well.

I completely agree

Totally!!!!

Lol. Shocking

@@bigjohn08865 No Swearing, Rowlf! Jim Henson's Muppets supposed to be 'family-friendly'!

Are you forgetting a female dog is called a bitch? Rowlf wasn't cussing, he was speaking scientifically.

​Purely genetically speaking, Pernell.

I think you'll find that was Rowlf

Matt Vivian Yes may he Rest In Peace 😭😭🤧🤧

Died the same day as Sammy Davis Jr

The year I was born didn’t get a chance to see him while he was alive rip Jim

Matt Vivian l

he died of a disease thats curable too! pneumonia!

Thats the magic and the brilliancy

Man I was thinking the same thing!!! Dude, really? Who in their right mind brings on Jim Henson and makes it awkward by asking sexual questions? I was cringing at that

I was half waiting for Kermit to beg LeVar to bail him out there lmao

Im so glad that others are saying this. Sexualising a kids puppet what an inappropriate idiot. No wonder arsenio has the name arse it stands for ars*hole

I doubt it was that big of a deal, but if I was in Arsenio's shoes, I would have talked to Henson about that whole thing beforehand. Of course, esp. on national tv, knowing how I am, that's prob. one of the very last things that would be on my mind...

Well, it was The Arsenio Hall Show--one would assume Henson knew what he was getting into.