Work Lessons From The Muppet Movie

Explore Opportunities

The film opens with Kermit in the swamp and an agent discovers him. This leads to a cross country journey to Hollywood.

Have a Proper Focus

Kermit the Frog's goal was not to make a lot of money or become famous. He probably had that from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. His goal was to make millions of people happy.

Jim Henson did that. One of my connections is a little too fascinated with age and the age of Norman Fell on Three's Company. Some people seem older than they are.

Jim Henson lived fifty-three years. A lot was accomplished in that time. This movie was another great success.

Amaze the Audience

The two greatest special effects I have ever seen in movies are the liquid metal from Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Kermit The Frog riding a bicycle. The string on his right arm was always visible on Sesame Street. It was acceptable because you knew there was a puppeteer. Nothing was visible and seeing the entire Muppet was uncommon. On a bicycle- movies are magic.

Remain True To Yourself

The subplot of Doc Hopper's relentless pursuit of Kermit as a spokesman has added resonance. Kermit did not want to make a lot of money at the expense of frogs. He was focused on the journey.

You Never Know Who You Will Meet Along the Way

Fozzie Bear annoys me for many reasons. In the era with too many little sisters, one of the little sisters called him "Fonzie Bear" which annoyed me.

The annoying little sisters probably grew up to be nice, attractive young ladies. They were out of my life by the time the definitive little sister arrived. A twelve year age gap made her a lot less aggravating. I could appreciate what she was experiencing.

"Drinks on the house". Don't try that at a rooftop bar.

Women Make All the Difference

There are not many female Muppets. There is no agenda, the creators were male and it happened that way. Janice in The Electric Mayhem is around. She was overshadowed by Miss Piggy.

As a goof there was a Miss Piggy calendar. This was the first celebrity calendar and now there are too many. She does take over every scene and the relationship with Kermit is strange.

Follow Through

Everyone they meet, every Muppet, joins them in Hollywood. There is more music than I recalled in this film. They did not sell out and become spokesman for a fast food chain.

There might be a loss of credibility now that Disney owns the Muppets. The post Disney Muppet projects have been good in the same way. You can't always say that about Star Wars.

I have eaten frog's legs. As a beloved friend at the time said "If they taste like chicken, just eat chicken." He had a point. It would not make a good fast food option. That might have made the stockholders happy. Millions of people would have been denied the rainbow connection.