The Muppets Get A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Geekscape Was There!

Though both Kermit The Frog and Jim Henson both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it wasn’t until today that the furry and felt-made folks of the Muppet clan had their very own collective award.

Created by Jim Henson as a combination of marionettes and puppets, the Muppets have wormed their way into pop culture and the hearts of kids and wanna-be kids the world over. From Sesame Street to the new-to-home-video “The Muppets,” the cuddly creatures have taught generations the value of being good citizens, how to count and that C is for “cookie”.

Through “The Muppet Show”, Kermit led a fabric-ated force of new characters to the living rooms of America, bridging the gap between the preschool set and their long-suffering parents. Celebrity cameos and edgy humor made the show a success with youngsters and adults and secured a legendary status for Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf the Dog, Gonzo and many others that we now inexplicably know by name.

Tuesday’s ceremony was a great honor, and just happened to coincide with the release of “The Muppets” on Blu-ray and DVD. On hand for the festivities were Disney Studios Chairman Rich Ross and Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson, daughter of Jim Henson. They each gave short (ill-rehearsed) speeches about the value of Muppets in their lives and then made way for a gallery of Muppet honorees, including Frog, Piggy, Bear, Gonzo, Prawn and of course the new and marketable Walter, who appears in the new movie.

Star and writer Jason Segel was seen prowling about, as well as several of the Muppeteers who pilot the iconic characters. Much mention was made of the Oscar-winning song, “Muppet or Man” and the crowd was assured this is only the beginning of the start of a new era for the Muppets.

Personally, I was more of a cartoon kid growing up but I found myself a bit wistful this morning while immersed in Muppetmania. I remembered how neat it was to have a show like The Muppet Show that had my parents laughing as much as I did. I also have a love of puppets in general and to see that art form elevated to its highest popular status is pretty incredible, humbling and inspirational.

Far from simply potholders with arms, The Muppets have now found their place of honor in front of Papa Disney’s El Capitan theater right on Hollywood Boulevard. Synergy at work. Here’s the video I shot of the occasion: