Is Jerry Nelson still performing? [Archive]

Splurge

12-25-2002, 03:57 PM

Maybe I haven't been properly keeping up.

I know his characters in the new Christmas special were performed by others while he contributed his voice. But he hasn't retired, has he?

Maybe if you're reading this, Jerry (or "Scred" :) ) you can directly shine some light on this.

Ryan

12-25-2002, 08:07 PM

Occasionally. He performed Herry in "Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!"

Secret Squirrel

12-29-2002, 07:06 PM

Jerry is still very much an active performer.

He has taped a number of appearances for the upcoming season of Sesame Street and continues to perform his classic Muppet characters whenever he can.

secret squirrel

radionate

12-29-2002, 07:17 PM

Don't you just love our mystery posters? ;)

Skeeter Muppet

12-29-2002, 09:21 PM

Originally posted by radionate
Don't you just love our mystery posters? ;)

Yup, gotta love 'em.

And (I'm sorry, I can't resist this...):

Hey, Secret Squirrel! Where's Morroco Mole? ;)

-Kim

ScottMonster

12-31-2002, 01:15 AM

Originally posted by Secret Squirrel
Jerry is still very much an active performer.

He has taped a number of appearances for the upcoming season of Sesame Street and continues to perform his classic Muppet characters whenever he can.

Really? So he's been performing the Count in those new sequences where he plays the organ to find out the number of the day? I saw a few of those not long ago and I thought the Count's voice sounded different and thought someone else was probably performing him now. Not that it would automatically mean it's not him. Caroll Spinney gave Big Bird a different voice after the first season, and Dan Castanelleta's voice for Homer Simpson didn't originally sound as slow and dull now and as it now has for the last twelve or so seasons.

And the performer list at ToughPigs.com says nothing about an alternate performer for the Count.

Phillip Chapman

12-31-2002, 12:41 PM

Jerry did indeed perform the Count for this season of Sesame. As we all get older, our voices change and those changes are naturally reflected in a character's performance as well.

Ryan

12-31-2002, 04:49 PM

Yeah, take Frank Oz, for instance. Very different voice indeed.

The Flying Sheep

01-05-2003, 08:25 PM

In VMMC Robin and Statler sounded weird.

ryhoyarbie

01-07-2003, 05:26 PM

Originally posted by swedish chefs
In VMMC Robin and Statler sounded weird.

i think jerry performed them both, or did the voices for them in the movie..i maybe wrong..

ryan

Secret Squirrel

01-08-2003, 06:16 AM

Jerry voiced all his characters except Lew Zealand. Lew was played by Bill Barretta.

secret squirrel

scarecroe

01-08-2003, 09:36 AM

You know, as fun as it is to speculate (secret squirrel not included), Tough Pigs *does* have an official performer list for VMC...

http://toughpigs.com/extrachristmascast.htm

Stryder Wolfe

01-08-2003, 12:16 PM

now I want to watch it again...I thought Robin sounded a lot different....maybe Jerry had a cold or something?

also, why did he NOT play Lew Zealand?

Secret Squirrel

01-09-2003, 08:16 AM

"maybe Jerry had a cold or something?"

Jerry is older now. He has had some health problems, but he's a remarkable man and an astounding performer.

"also, why did he NOT play Lew Zealand?"

Have you ever tried to record dialogue to match someone else's lip-synch? It's a pain in the neck. Bill's version sounded fine.

The only one of Jerry's characters he's not dubbing on an ongoing basis is the Two-Headed Monster, mainly because it's hard to dub gibberish. Joey Mazzarino is performing Jerry's half now.

secret squirrel

Secret Squirrel

01-09-2003, 08:19 AM

"Tough Pigs *does* have an official performer list for VMC..."

Scott/Scarecroe: Thanks for posting that link. I don't know where that casting info came from, but it's 100% accurate.

secret squirrel

scarecroe

01-09-2003, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by Secret Squirrel
Scott/Scarecroe: Thanks for posting that link. I don't know where that casting info came from, but it's 100% accurate.Well that's good to know. I believe Danny credits his 'Anonyfrog' source who I'm assuming works for Henson.

Secret Squirrel

01-13-2003, 07:48 AM

Anonyfrog. He must be the green guy in the trench coat and dark glasses.

secret squirrel

Stryder Wolfe

01-14-2003, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by Secret Squirrel
"maybe Jerry had a cold or something?"

Jerry is older now. He has had some health problems, but he's a remarkable man and an astounding performer.

"also, why did he NOT play Lew Zealand?"

Have you ever tried to record dialogue to match someone else's lip-synch? It's a pain in the neck. Bill's version sounded fine.

I completely agree with your first point...no question...I'm glad to hear he's still in the loop!! He's always been one of my fav's

For your second, now that you mention it, I have, only once, and thinking about it, it WAS really hard...and that was me dubbing over myself (more or less). So yeah, that's cool....thanks for the input

WiGgY

01-14-2003, 03:22 PM

I may like Bill's Lew more than Jerry's. I never really saw Lew much. I haven't seen the muppet show in ages and his parts in the movie's was minimal. Bill's was kind of more "zanny" but the laugh needs work. I read in another post tha Jerry is 68! So I think we will need to get use to hearing other people do his characters sooner or later. Though Jerry may still be performing I think he should start training his own replacements. It would be a cool experience and it would ensure that if Jerry retires his characters will all have a voice.

Did Frank train Eric to do Fozzie and Piggy? It seemed like it. Eric's Fozzie and Piggy acted so much like Franks. If I didn't compare Eric's and Frank's voices side by side I wouldn't have realized there was a change.

Secret Squirrel

01-15-2003, 09:06 AM

"Did Frank train Eric to do Fozzie and Piggy?"

Wiggy: Eric is completely self-taught. Frank's time is very limited, and if he had the time to train someone else, he'd likely use that time to tape his own performances.

Eric has discussed the characters with Frank a couple of times, but the real improvements have just come from hours and hours of practice. Impressive guy.

secret squirrel

Sir Didymus

01-15-2003, 12:30 PM

I think Eric Does A great Job with Piggy. I have a hard time telling the difference between his and Franks.

Jake Lockman

Fozzie Bear

01-15-2003, 01:05 PM

I've still not been able to find out exactly what is wrong with Jerry, and I'm also curious about our friend Secret Squirrel, but it's likely best the name or position not be known seeing as how (in the past) our famed visitors were bombarded with posts and emails.

BTW, Squirrel, if you talk to Jerry, pass on my best wishes to him, will ya?

Thanks
FOZ

radionate

01-15-2003, 01:26 PM

Ditto from me "secret squirrel". I'm sure everyone at Henson knows how dear and special they are to us.

WiGgY

01-15-2003, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Secret Squirrel
"Did Frank train Eric to do Fozzie and Piggy?"

Wiggy: Eric is completely self-taught. Frank's time is very limited, and if he had the time to train someone else, he'd likely use that time to tape his own performances.

Eric has discussed the characters with Frank a couple of times, but the real improvements have just come from hours and hours of practice. Impressive guy.

secret squirrel

Wow! He did that all on his own? That's pretty darn amazing. I wish some of the other performers that took over old characters were like Eric. Waldorf has never been the same. The voice is way off and even the way he acts is off. David Gole does his best I'm sure, but it's just...weird. I think most of Jim's characters haven't been the same. Kermit went through a weird time but I think he's comming around, and Rowlf and Dr. Teeth haven't been there so who knows if their new performers are good.

I thought the retirement of Oz was going to be devastating to the muppets but it's actually been better. Oz can do the directing he wants and his characters live on as if he never left. One day, when Oz directs a new muppet movie, I'd like to see Franks Fozzie and Eric's Fozzie have a conversation. Maybe Bunsen could clone Franks characters, or should I say Eric's characters :D .

Fozzie Bear

01-15-2003, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by WiGgY
I'd like to see Franks Fozzie and Eric's Fozzie have a conversation.

This reminds me.

Some friends of mine and I were digging in my archives and I pulled out the original Muley puppet and was letting him talk (Man have I improved on making puppets since then), when I reached over and grabbed the newest Muley puppet. The two began having a conversation realizing that each WAS still Muley.

The big laughs came when they started asking each other:
"You mockin' me?"
"You mockin' me?"
for a few minutes.

No big whoop, just some fun that happened at home.

FOZ

ryhoyarbie

01-15-2003, 09:21 PM

hey secret squirrel, out of being curious, do you work for henson..possibly as one of the performers???....you seem like you know more about jerry than any of us here..

ryan

beaker

01-15-2003, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by ryhoyarbie
hey secret squirrel, out of being curious, do you work for henson..possibly as one of the performers???....you seem like you know more about jerry than any of us here..

Naw, why would you think that? ;)

Anyhoo...I see Eric has *really* taken over Oz' characters...he even performed Yoda in VMC I see! (Im surprised the Lucas gestapo wasnt sicking their retainers on JHC;) )

Thanks so much for posting Squirrel! It's really cool to get updates from inside sources. I think we were all concerned about him retiring, so its really cool to hear he's still working on Sesame and other appearences. I mean, the Count just wouldnt be the count without Jerry!

On the TP credits for VMC, I notice a few characters that arent voiced and puppeteered by the same person. Man, that must be a bit of a team effort syncing that kind of thing!

ryhoyarbie

01-16-2003, 04:44 PM

i found out on www.imdb.com although they could be wrong, john kennedy did not even do dr. teeth, it was bill baretta...i thought dr. teeth was johns character now??....

ryan

ryhoyarbie

01-16-2003, 04:49 PM

so is lew zealand bills character now or did bill just do it because jerry wasn't able to do the character for the movie for that one time?..

ryan

Phillip Chapman

01-16-2003, 05:46 PM

Bill did it because Jerry wasn't there. Jerry is still Lew's main performer though. Lew has not been recast like Piggy or Fozzie.

WiGgY

01-16-2003, 10:20 PM

Bill probably did Lew because he was there and could do the voice. It's better to have a live performer than a voice over. What I want to know is why is most of the electric mayhem silent? Were they in the Snoop Dog scene and then cut? I'd like to haer them all do at least a song.

Here is something else I noticed today that has nothing to do with anything. :D In the Kokomo music video, why didn't Zoot do the sax solo? I watched it today and it just bugged me is all. :D

Secret Squirrel

01-17-2003, 07:28 AM

Yes, the Electric Mayhem had dialogue in the Snoop scene. There was also a lot of neat Muppet Theater stuff that had to be cut for time. Maybe someday it will see the light of day, who knows.

secret squirrel

matleo

01-17-2003, 09:06 AM

hey Secret,
That sounds cool!! Can you tell us a little more about some of the cut scenes or are you not at liberty to say?

--Matt

Beauregard

01-17-2003, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by ryhoyarbie
hey secret squirrel, out of being curious, do you work for henson..possibly as one of the performers???....you seem like you know more about jerry than any of us here..

ryan

I think it would be best not to ask that. Squirrels are very tempermental and I don't think that people who work for Henson are meant to be here, so prehaps it would be best for us to just pretend we didn't know.

Fozzie Bear

01-17-2003, 11:47 AM

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by ryhoyarbie
hey secret squirrel, out of being curious, do you work for henson..possibly as one of the performers???....you seem like you know more about jerry than any of us here..
ryan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I think it would be best not to ask that. Squirrels are very tempermental and I don't think that people who work for Henson are meant to be here, so prehaps it would be best for us to just pretend we didn't know."

***********
THAT, and if they DO work at JHC and let us know that information, they will be bombarded with TONS of posts and e-mails. At least at first, but once they're "used to" by the members it'll all slow down. I think it's best for our friend the Squirrel to not disclose any information whether they do or don't, and as long as they provide real and honest info to us, more power to the "secret" I always say!!

Well, I don't ALWAYS say that, but I just did.
Nevermind... :rolleyes:

ryhoyarbie

01-17-2003, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by Beauregard
I think it would be best not to ask that. Squirrels are very tempermental and I don't think that people who work for Henson are meant to be here, so prehaps it would be best for us to just pretend we didn't know.

ya i guess, i was just curious though...it wouldn't be a big deal if secret squirrel said they worked for henson, or if they were a performer..i was just simply curious...

ryan

Fozzie Bear

01-17-2003, 01:51 PM

My feelings are hurt. I use Fozzie Bear for a screen name, and you've never asked if "I" work at JHC!

EmmyMik

01-17-2003, 04:25 PM

Originally posted by Fozzie Bear
My feelings are hurt. I use Fozzie Bear for a screen name, and you've never asked if "I" work at JHC!

So, do you?

:D

beaker

01-17-2003, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by Secret Squirrel
Yes, the Electric Mayhem had dialogue in the Snoop scene. There was also a lot of neat Muppet Theater stuff that had to be cut for time. Maybe someday it will see the light of day, who knows.

secret squirrel

It's funny some of the best dialogue and scenes get cut, but the horrific slow and destracting Heaven scene in the opening stayed. I think the fake Croc hunter and a number of other things should have ended up on the cutting room scene...to me the travesty wasnt Snoop Dogg being in it, it was some of the abhoirrent throw away pop culture references and cameos.

Super Scooter

01-17-2003, 05:26 PM

I know Jerry Nelson did the Count's voice for this season of Sesame Street, but, did Frank Oz do Cookie Monster for this season? I seemed to have heard that somewhere.

Thijs

01-17-2003, 05:43 PM

That`s a good question. If Frank retires, who is going to do Bert, Cookie and Grover? Erik jacobsson?

EmmyMik

01-17-2003, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by Tommie
That`s a good question. If Frank retires, who is going to do Bert, Cookie and Grover? Erik jacobsson?

Eric has been performing Bert and Grover. David has been performing Cookie Monster.

WiGgY

01-18-2003, 05:21 AM

What's the word on AVMMC DVD? Is one comming out anytime soon, or ever for that matter? If so, what are the chances of getting all the cut scenes on the DVD with a feature that lets you watch them where they were cut like the Austin Powers DVD? I'd buy it in a heart beat if it had that as a feature, especially since it seems all the best stuff was left out.

Phillip Chapman

01-18-2003, 09:22 AM

A VMMC (Very Merry Muppet Christmas) DVD is scheduled to be released next fall. As far as extras, it is too early to tell what will actually make it on the disc.

Fozzie Bear

01-18-2003, 09:54 AM

Originally posted by beaker
It's funny some of the best dialogue and scenes get cut, but the horrific slow and destracting Heaven scene in the opening stayed. I think the fake Croc hunter and a number of other things should have ended up on the cutting room scene...to me the travesty wasnt Snoop Dogg being in it, it was some of the abhoirrent throw away pop culture references and cameos.

I agree with some of the references making what could be a timeless film suddenly become dated. One day soon, Crocodile Hunter won't be known anymore, and folks are going to wonder what the heck is going on. Just like the "Hulkamania" junk in MFS!! That made me angry, and it wasn't even funny. Also, I felt that Whoopi was okay as God (after being promoted from Nun?) and the main problem there was that the writing could have made her be more compassionate. That actually was a note made by a friend of mine who isn't quite so religious, too!!

I hope in the future, they leave out the modern junk that will put a time-frame to the movie and just roll with it. That's why I try NEVER to write dates into anything I do, if it's a past date, fine, but I'll always ALWAYS write "Present Day"...which, of course, will be noticed that it ISN'T present day when it's viewed in the year--oh--2475!

WiGgY

01-18-2003, 04:52 PM

I hated the Hulk thing too. Hulk was in a lot of 80's movies and now he's back. I hated that scene. I did like Whoopi as god though. The whole even god can't work a remote thing was funny. They could have cut alot of the heaven scene. Like the whole thing with betting Danny L ( :D ) Was gonna get in trouble. That was really stupid, poorly acted, and not needed to extend the story.

I don't think putting in timely stuff ruins a movie, but stuff like the Hulk does. I mean not everyone in the future will know who half the people in the Muppet Movie are, but the parts the guest stars did were done well. When no one knows who the Hulk is, all that will be left is the bad acting.