Muppet character
Fictional character
Fozzie Bear
|
---|
|
|
First appearance
| The Muppet Show
(1976)
[1]
|
---|
Created by
| |
---|
Voiced by
| |
---|
Performed by
| |
---|
|
Species
| Muppet
bear
|
---|
Gender
| Male
|
---|
Occupation
| Stand-up comedian
|
---|
Family
| Emily Bear (mother) Rozzie Bear (sister) Father Bear (father)
|
---|
Nationality
| American
|
---|
Fozzie Bear
is a
Muppet
character from the
sketch comedy
television series
The Muppet Show
, best known as the insecure and comedically fruitless
stand-up comic
.
Fozzie is an orange-brown
bear
who often wears a brown
pork pie hat
and a pink and white
polka dot
necktie
. The character debuted on
The Muppet Show
, as the series' resident comedian, a role where he uses the
catchphrase
"Wocka wocka!" to indicate that he'd completed a joke. He was often the target of ridicule, particularly from balcony
hecklers
Statler and Waldorf
. Fozzie was performed by
Frank Oz
until 2001, after which
Eric Jacobson
became the character's principal performer.
History
[
edit
]
Fozzie Bear was specifically created to act as a "
second banana
" to
Kermit the Frog
.
[3]
He was built around the concept of a comedian in the style of
Red Skelton
and
Milton Berle
. Designed by
Michael K. Frith
, the origin of Fozzie's name has been traditionally thought to be a pun of performer
Frank Oz
's name (F.Oz). It was also believed that the character was actually named after Al Fuzzie, the mascot of the
Alpha Xi Delta
sorority in the mid-1970s; Henson's wife,
Jane
, was a member of the sorority.
[4]
[5]
However, Oz confirmed on
Twitter
in 2018 that Fozzie was named after
Franz Fazakas
, a Muppet workshop person, who was nicknamed "Faz".
[6]
Fazakas created the original puppet's ear-wiggling effects.
[7]
Fozzie Bear was originally Oz's main character. The popularity of
Miss Piggy
overtook Fozzie's, but he remained popular. One of his largest roles ever was in
A Muppet Family Christmas
, where he took all of his friends to his mother's farm for Christmas.
In 1988, Fozzie was featured in the VHS release
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
, part of
the Jim Henson Company
's "Play-Along Video" series. In the video, Fozzie instructs young viewers in various comedy techniques. The concept for the "Play-Along Video" came from Jim Henson's idea that television could be used as an interactive medium and encourage children's creativity.
[8]
During the 1990s, his roles became much smaller, due to the fact that Oz had turned his focus to directing non-Muppet films and reduced his time with the Muppets. Fozzie was only a supporting character in
The Muppet Christmas Carol
,
Muppet Treasure Island
, and
Muppets from Space
, and only appeared in six episodes of
Muppets Tonight
. However, he returned to prominence when
Eric Jacobson
took over in 2002, beginning with
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
, in which Fozzie was the focus of a number of scenes.
[2]
An original puppet is kept in the
teddy bear museum
in
Newby Hall
near Ripon, UK.
[9]
Performers
[
edit
]
Frank Oz
first performed Fozzie in 1976 on
The Muppet Show
. He remained Fozzie's main performer until his departure from the cast in 2001. In 2002, Eric Jacobson became Fozzie's main performer and has continued to perform the character since then.
[2]
Kevin Clash
and
John Kennedy
puppeteered Fozzie for much of the production of
Muppet Treasure Island
and
Muppets from Space
, respectively, with Oz dubbing Fozzie's voice.
Victor Yerrid
performed Fozzie for a 2006
Disney Cruise Line
stage show,
Muppets Ahoy!
. Voice actor
Greg Berg
provided Fozzie's voice for the Saturday morning cartoon
Muppet Babies
, as well as its short-lived spin-off,
Little Muppet Monsters
. In the reboot of
Muppet Babies
, Fozzie is voiced by
Eric Bauza
.
Characterization
[
edit
]
Origins and personality
[
edit
]
Frank Oz has described Fozzie as "desperately insecure" and cites the character's close friendship with
Kermit the Frog
to be essential to his core.
[10]
Oz elaborated that "with Kermit, he would want to find a way to be funny. That's not altruistic for Fozzie. He's not trying to make people feel better. He just wants to be a great comedian. But the main thing is that he would need to be with Kermit. He feels alone without Kermit."
[10]
Being best friends, Fozzie and Kermit have frequently been paired together in many movies, books, and specials. In
The Muppet Movie
, Fozzie is the first Muppet that Kermit meets on his journey. After Fozzie's unsuccessful comedy performance at the El Sleezo Cafe, Kermit invited Fozzie to come to
Hollywood
with him. The two friends sing the duet "Movin' Right Along" in the film. Several episodes show Fozzie as dedicated to Kermit, usually responding to his instructions with a chipper "Yes sir". On those rare occasions when Kermit must be away from the theater, he invariably leaves Fozzie in charge of the show, although he equally invariably regrets it (due to the bear's lack of skill as a showrunner). In
The Great Muppet Caper
, Fozzie and Kermit are portrayed as twin brothers.
Fozzie's mother,
Emily Bear
(performed by
Jerry Nelson
), appeared in
A Muppet Family Christmas
special. To Fozzie's surprise, she was friends with
Statler and Waldorf
, despite the heckling they inflict on him. Fozzie also has a cousin who appeared in the first season of
The Muppet Show
, also performed by
Frank Oz
. In
The Muppet Movie
, Fozzie makes reference to his uncle, whose
Studebaker
he traded in while his uncle was
hibernating
.
His cousin is an audience member. In one episode of
The Muppet Show
, he begged the other audience members not to insult his cousin Fozzie. He has a friend called Jasmine the tortoise.
On
The Muppet Show
[
edit
]
In the first season of
The Muppet Show
, the show's opening featured Fozzie telling a joke during an instrumental portion of the theme song. Fozzie was often featured in a sketch where he did a comedy monologue, in which
Statler and Waldorf
would heckle him (he was their favorite victim). In the second season, Fozzie's comedy routines often had gimmicks such as ventriloquism or performing on roller skates. As the series progressed, he did fewer comedy routines, becoming more involved in the show as a whole. He also performed as a magician occasionally.
Occasionally, Fozzie uses
Jewish humor
on the show, a nod to Frank Oz's Jewish heritage and the
Borscht Belt
comics that were widely popular in the mid-20th century. For example, "The Telephone Pole Bit" included a reference to Frank Oz's
Polish Jewish
father, and in Fozzie's magic act, he pulls a
rabbi
out of his hat.
Though his main job was to be the show's comedian, he has had a number of other roles on
The Muppet Show
. He sang and danced in many musical numbers, and frequently acted in sketches (most famously his recurring sketch
Bear On Patrol
where he plays an unlucky police officer). He also often helps backstage and even attempts to plan out the show in one episode, and write the script in another.
In one episode, he and his mother Emily do a performance of
Knees Up Mother Brown
, in which he sings and Emily dances as Mother Brown in the chorus.
In Episode 115, Fozzie constantly annoys Kermit with a
running gag
, delivering a number of
pun
items, such as a "wire" and a "letter" for
Kermit the Frog
which turned out to be a clothes wire and the letter R, respectively.
Another running gag is Fozzie's hat?as a bear, he is naturally covered with fur, all over. However, upon removing his hat, it is clear that his head shape is modeled on the
pate
of a
bald
headed man?thus, the juxtaposition of being both furred and bald simultaneously. This was referenced in the 2011 film
The Muppets
, where he saw an old picture of himself at the Muppet Theater and ridiculed the "'80s haircut" he sported back then.
Fozzie was also frequently teamed up with
Rowlf the Dog
. In Episode 101, Fozzie plays a western bandit to Rowlf's role as a western hero. Fozzie also appeared in two
Veterinarian's Hospital
sketches, in which Rowlf starred as Dr. Bob.
In Episode 218, Rowlf learns that Fozzie could play the piano, and they play the piano together in a performance of "English Country Garden". Rowlf has also played back-up to Fozzie's renditions of "
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor's Life for Me)
" and "
I've Got Rhythm
". During the latter number, Rowlf attempts to help Fozzie with his singing but is finally reduced to changing the hapless bear's lyrics to "I
Don't
Got Rhythm". The young incarnations of Fozzie and Rowlf are also frequently paired together on
Muppet Babies
.
Filmography
[
edit
]
Appearances in popular culture
[
edit
]
In television and film
[
edit
]
- In the comedy-musical
A Very Potter Senior Year
, which parodies the popular film and book series
Harry Potter
, and stars
Glee
's
Darren Criss
in the role of Harry Potter, Fozzie Bear is comically voted to be the new Head Boy at
Hogwarts
, due to a prank pulled off by the majority of the school's student body.
[11]
- Fozzie was featured on the #10
Valvoline
Pontiac
of Mike Wallace (who was filling in for the car's regular driver
Johnny Benson
) in the 2002 Tropicana 400 in an advertising campaign in which he and his fellow Muppets were featured on a select few race cars.
- Fozzie also appeared alongside his fellow Muppets in the Halloween 2011 episode of
WWE Raw
, where he and Gonzo encountered
Jack Swagger
,
Dolph Ziggler
, and
Vickie Guerrero
backstage.
- In the 2007
DreamWorks Animation
film
Bee Movie
, Fozzie is mentioned along with several other fictional bears when Barry, the main character, states that it's inappropriate for bears to be used to advertise honey.
- Fozzie appears in three episodes of
Family Guy
; at the end of "
The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou
" (voiced by
Michael Clarke Duncan
), "
Baby Not on Board
", and "
And I'm Joyce Kinney
". He is also referenced in
"Blue Harvest"
, in the form of Brian (as
Chewbacca
) using his "Wocka Wocka" catchphrase.
- In one episode of
Sesame Street
,
Baby Bear
remarks that "Fozzie" is a terrible name for a bear.
- Fozzie was a contestant on the May 24, 2016, episode of
@midnight
and beat
Kristen Schaal
and
John Hodgman
.
Other
[
edit
]
- OPI
, the nail polish company created an OPI Muppets Collection, Holiday 2011.
Warm and Fozzie
is a color in that collection that is bronze with dark gold tones shimmery foil color.
- Rap artist
Waka Flocka Flame
has been known to wear a Fozzie the bear diamond and gold charm on his
chain
during performances and music videos.
- Fozzie Bear appears in the mobile game Disney Heroes Battle Mode
[12]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Shemin, Craig (2014).
Disney's The Muppets Character Encyclopedia
. New York:
DK Publishing
. p. 70.
ISBN
9781465417480
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Setoodeh, Ramin (March 11, 2014).
"How Kermit and the Muppets Got Their Mojo Back"
.
Variety
. Retrieved
March 12,
2014
.
- ^
Hadley Freeman
(August 30, 2021).
"Frank Oz on life as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and Yoda: 'I'd love to do the Muppets again but Disney doesn't want me'
"
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
September 14,
2021
.
- ^
"Alpha Xi Delta"
.
students.washington.edu
. Retrieved
September 18,
2015
.
- ^
"muppets"
.
muppetslink.synthasite.com
. Retrieved
September 18,
2015
.
[
better source needed
]
- ^
Oz, Frank [@TheFrankOzJam] (January 18, 2018).
"Not, After Franz Fazakas, a brilliant workshop person at Muppets, who we called Faz"
(
Tweet
)
. Retrieved
January 18,
2018
– via
Twitter
.
- ^
Hogan, Michael (April 25, 2014).
"The 10 best fictional bears"
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
July 3,
2020
.
- ^
"Jim Henson's Red Book"
.
henson.com
. October 3, 2014
. Retrieved
April 25,
2014
.
- ^
"The Bear House | Newby Hall"
.
Newby Hall
. March 2021.
- ^
a
b
Kohn, Eric (May 14, 2020).
"Frank Oz Hasn't Seen Baby Yoda, but Loved Netflix's 'Dark Crystal' Prequel"
.
indiewire.com
. Retrieved
August 4,
2020
.
- ^
"A Very Potter Senior Year Act 1 Part 10"
. StarKid Productions. March 15, 2013.
Archived
from the original on December 11, 2021
. Retrieved
September 18,
2013
.
- ^
"3 Year Anniversary Celebration!"
.
Disney Heroes: Battle Mode
. May 7, 2021
. Retrieved
March 7,
2024
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
Manufacturers
| |
---|
Types
| |
---|
Museums
| |
---|
Fictional
teddies
| |
---|
Film and
television
| |
---|
Books
| |
---|
Music
| |
---|
Video games
| |
---|
Snacks
| |
---|
Related
| |
---|
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Artists
| |
---|