Time's fun when you're having flies
November 21, 2011 10:20 PM Subscribe
One of the biggest stars of TV and movies talks about his 30-year career, his relationship with Jim Henson, and his brand new movie. Jian Ghomeshi talks to Kermit the Frog, on the video version of Ghomeshi's radio show, Q.
Unfortunately, you have to put up with some ads before and during the interview.
I shall use this opportunity to shamelessly promote my favourite Kermit and Miss Piggy interview, one with an Irish language show on BBC Northern Ireland: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas/guests/
posted by lesbiassparrow at 10:27 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by lesbiassparrow at 10:27 PM on November 21, 2011
And thanks for posting this! I am looking forward to the film with a shameful amount of anticipation.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 10:36 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by lesbiassparrow at 10:36 PM on November 21, 2011
I was quite impressed with this Kermit interview by some-Canadian-with-a-Greek-name-longer-than-the-zeroes-on-the-Greek-debt. The current Kermit, Steve Whitmire, had a very good handle on things that happened way back on The Muppet Show and that was almost spooky, like he was channelling Jim Henson's ghost, but then I saw he joined the Muppet troupe while the show was on and even as a Muppetteer-In-Training had to have seen a lot. Anyway, if he's not being very spontaneous in these interviews, he's faking it masterfully.
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:51 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:51 PM on November 21, 2011
I can't believe the rapt attention I gave to the parts about the status of Kermit and Piggy's relationship.
posted by JHarris at 10:54 PM on November 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 10:54 PM on November 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
Now interview a Gelfling! We have to pressure Genndy Tartakovsky to get back on the Power of the Dark Crystal train!
posted by Mooseli at 1:37 AM on November 22, 2011
posted by Mooseli at 1:37 AM on November 22, 2011
I watched the very first episode of Sesame Street when it aired in 1969. And I just can't get passed the fact that Kermit's got an entirely different person doing his voice. (Does anyone else have this problem?!)
posted by destinyland at 1:47 AM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by destinyland at 1:47 AM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
I agree, destinyland.
I heard they were selling satnavs with Bert and Ernie giving the directions. Except it want Bert & Ernie. It was just some guy.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 3:07 AM on November 22, 2011
I heard they were selling satnavs with Bert and Ernie giving the directions. Except it want Bert & Ernie. It was just some guy.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 3:07 AM on November 22, 2011
Unfortunately, you have to put up with some ads before and Jian Ghomeshi during the interview.
Sorry. Still a little bitter about the Moxy Früvous days.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:59 AM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sorry. Still a little bitter about the Moxy Früvous days.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:59 AM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I watched the very first episode of Sesame Street when it aired in 1969. And I just can't get passed the fact that Kermit's got an entirely different person doing his voice. (Does anyone else have this problem?!)
I remember the first episode of Sesame Street, too. It was a much smaller street back then.
And, yeah: I saw Kermit on "Saturday Night Live" last week, and I couldn't get past the new voice. Since I've grown up hearing Henson's voice coming out of that felt mouth, it feels a little like a demon possession to me, to hear a different voice coming from the same mouth. It's somehow even creepier that it's a similar (but not quite right) voice than it would be if it was totally changed. It's like I'm in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," and I know my dad isn't my dad, but I can't quite put my finger on how I know... And other people are saying, "What are you talking about? He sounds JUST like your dad..."
posted by grumblebee at 4:57 AM on November 22, 2011
I remember the first episode of Sesame Street, too. It was a much smaller street back then.
And, yeah: I saw Kermit on "Saturday Night Live" last week, and I couldn't get past the new voice. Since I've grown up hearing Henson's voice coming out of that felt mouth, it feels a little like a demon possession to me, to hear a different voice coming from the same mouth. It's somehow even creepier that it's a similar (but not quite right) voice than it would be if it was totally changed. It's like I'm in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," and I know my dad isn't my dad, but I can't quite put my finger on how I know... And other people are saying, "What are you talking about? He sounds JUST like your dad..."
posted by grumblebee at 4:57 AM on November 22, 2011
You know, whenever Jian Ghomeshi does something that's not a new Moxy Fruvous album, I get mad at him all over again. And then I watch or listen to it, and well, goddammit, Jian, you got me again, you rascal.
posted by Etrigan at 5:00 AM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 5:00 AM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yeah, Steve Whitmire doesn't have the voice perfectly. He's by far the best of the replacement voices (in that he's not in the Muppet version of the Uncanny Valley), but no-one could quite replace Jim.
That said, that bit at the end of the Jim Henson tribute show? When Kermit walks in as they finish singing "If just one person believes in you"? Still gives me that little shiver-down-the-spine, but in a good way. That is also one of the few bits of TV that gets me very near to crying every time I see it.
posted by ZsigE at 5:34 AM on November 22, 2011
That said, that bit at the end of the Jim Henson tribute show? When Kermit walks in as they finish singing "If just one person believes in you"? Still gives me that little shiver-down-the-spine, but in a good way. That is also one of the few bits of TV that gets me very near to crying every time I see it.
posted by ZsigE at 5:34 AM on November 22, 2011
Er, why are people mad at Jian Ghomeshi with regards to Früvous? Did he quit, thereby breaking up the band or something? I loved them, but I always assumed they just sorta finished up and parted ways to do other things or whatever.
posted by Jinkeez at 6:02 AM on November 22, 2011
posted by Jinkeez at 6:02 AM on November 22, 2011
same here. i cant unhear Jim Henson's voice whenever Kermit opens his mouth.
i want the real Kermit back :(
posted by liza at 6:31 AM on November 22, 2011
i want the real Kermit back :(
posted by liza at 6:31 AM on November 22, 2011
Er, why are people mad at Jian Ghomeshi with regards to Früvous?
I'm not sure they are, exactly, but he's certainly the most visible member of the band nowadays, and as such a natural magnet for Fruvous withdrawal-based scorn. Murray's in Great Big Sea, though, and they're pretty cool.
I only got to see them once, so I have my own brand of post-Fru soreness. Hopped on the wagon a little late, though that didn't impede the fairly uncanny friend-making ability that being a fan seems to have given me. I get "I thought no one but me knew about them!" every couple of years from uniformly sterling people.
posted by lumensimus at 7:07 AM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure they are, exactly, but he's certainly the most visible member of the band nowadays, and as such a natural magnet for Fruvous withdrawal-based scorn. Murray's in Great Big Sea, though, and they're pretty cool.
I only got to see them once, so I have my own brand of post-Fru soreness. Hopped on the wagon a little late, though that didn't impede the fairly uncanny friend-making ability that being a fan seems to have given me. I get "I thought no one but me knew about them!" every couple of years from uniformly sterling people.
posted by lumensimus at 7:07 AM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was quite impressed with this Kermit interview by some-Canadian-with-a-Greek-name-longer-than-the-zeroes-on-the-Greek-debt.
Generally speaking, I find that Strombo is a much better interviewer than Ghomeshi. I find that Ghomeshi tends to talk waaaay too much and doesn't always let interviewees speak for themselves as much as he should.
posted by asnider at 7:35 AM on November 22, 2011
Generally speaking, I find that Strombo is a much better interviewer than Ghomeshi. I find that Ghomeshi tends to talk waaaay too much and doesn't always let interviewees speak for themselves as much as he should.
posted by asnider at 7:35 AM on November 22, 2011
Love Jian. Cannot bear Strombo. I find that he cannot sit still and always has his legs stretched all over the place. Maybe if I just listened to him and didn't watch him it would be better. I find I want to yell at the TV, "George, for god's sake, pick a spot and stay there!"
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:40 AM on November 22, 2011
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:40 AM on November 22, 2011
Unfortunately, you have to put up with some ads before and Jian Ghomeshi during the interview.
Sorry. Still a little bitter about the Moxy Früvous days.
Would you say that to Tom Petty?
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 7:44 AM on November 22, 2011 [3 favorites]
Sorry. Still a little bitter about the Moxy Früvous days.
Would you say that to Tom Petty?
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 7:44 AM on November 22, 2011 [3 favorites]
Cannot bear Strombo. I find that he cannot sit still and always has his legs stretched all over the place.
Yeah, that's Strombo for you: he's got nervous energy coming out all over the place. But other than that, he's a good host and smart interviewer, and on top of that he is generally a good dude.
Plus because of Strombo I got to see TRON Legacy a week early. SHUT UP I LIKED IT.
posted by mightygodking at 7:58 AM on November 22, 2011
Yeah, that's Strombo for you: he's got nervous energy coming out all over the place. But other than that, he's a good host and smart interviewer, and on top of that he is generally a good dude.
Plus because of Strombo I got to see TRON Legacy a week early. SHUT UP I LIKED IT.
posted by mightygodking at 7:58 AM on November 22, 2011
Love Jian. Cannot bear Strombo.
You've got that so backwards.
Now, is the enticement of Kermit and Kate Beaton enough to get me past having to listen to Jian Ghomeshi? I have been debating this since I heard the ad for it the other day. (I like Moxy Früvous fine, I just don't like JG's radio style.)
posted by jeather at 8:47 AM on November 22, 2011
You've got that so backwards.
Now, is the enticement of Kermit and Kate Beaton enough to get me past having to listen to Jian Ghomeshi? I have been debating this since I heard the ad for it the other day. (I like Moxy Früvous fine, I just don't like JG's radio style.)
posted by jeather at 8:47 AM on November 22, 2011
I remember when I found out that Ghomeshi was in Moxy Fruvous. It was only a few years back, one of my friends informed me as we were discussing Q. I was stunned, and automatically liked him a littled but more after that.
posted by aclevername at 9:26 AM on November 22, 2011
posted by aclevername at 9:26 AM on November 22, 2011
Er, why are people mad at Jian Ghomeshi with regards to Früvous?
Because we want more Moxy Fruvous. It's really just pure selfishness.
posted by Etrigan at 5:54 PM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Because we want more Moxy Fruvous. It's really just pure selfishness.
posted by Etrigan at 5:54 PM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I love that I can come to a place where people know that Moxy Fruvous existed. I do miss that band.
Also, Mr. Bad Example? There are not enough favorites in this world for you right now.
posted by Because at 12:58 AM on November 23, 2011
Also, Mr. Bad Example? There are not enough favorites in this world for you right now.
posted by Because at 12:58 AM on November 23, 2011
Er, why are people mad at Jian Ghomeshi with regards to Früvous?
I'm shocked to find actual Moxy fucking Fruvous fans in this thread. Most people aren't mad at him for quitting or the lack thereof.
We're mad at him for inflicting that on us in the first place.
Also, as an interviewer, well, my friend described him best, I think: "He's very breathless about everything."
And, irrationally, I blame him for the format change that lead to the death of Brave New Waves.
posted by converge at 5:33 AM on November 23, 2011
I'm shocked to find actual Moxy fucking Fruvous fans in this thread. Most people aren't mad at him for quitting or the lack thereof.
We're mad at him for inflicting that on us in the first place.
Also, as an interviewer, well, my friend described him best, I think: "He's very breathless about everything."
And, irrationally, I blame him for the format change that lead to the death of Brave New Waves.
posted by converge at 5:33 AM on November 23, 2011
Note: converge speaks only for him/herself. Not, like, sane people.
posted by Because at 6:00 AM on November 23, 2011
posted by Because at 6:00 AM on November 23, 2011
We're mad at him for inflicting that on us in the first place.
Anyone who had a hand in anything like Gulf War Song is awesome in my book.
posted by lumensimus at 6:03 AM on November 23, 2011
Anyone who had a hand in anything like Gulf War Song is awesome in my book.
posted by lumensimus at 6:03 AM on November 23, 2011
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posted by JHarris at 10:23 PM on November 21, 2011 [3 favorites]