Lew Zealand
Lew Zealand, originally performed by Jerry Nelson and now by Matt Vogel, began as one of the many one-off weirdos on The Muppet Show, a guy who could do one thing and would stick to that one thing, even if it wasn’t very interesting. Namely, Lew Zealand would throw fish. However, Lew became so much weirder and so much more interesting when he moved off the stage and into “normal” situations. We never fail to laugh when flying fish start popping out of crowd scenes, and his devotion to using paper towels in jewel heists goes beyond any sort of logic into a whole new level of weirdness.
Clifford
The many failed attempts to revive The Muppet Show past the early eighties aren’t exactly a point of pride for Muppet fans, but that doesn’t mean they lack charm. One of the more interesting experiments involved Clifford, the cool catfish-looking Muppet who took over hosting duties for Muppets Tonight. Performed by Kevin Clash, Clifford brought a different energy than the constantly-frazzled Kermit, which helped set apart Muppets Tonight from other iterations. Since that show came to an end, Clifford has been a background player at best, but it would be nice if new projects put him back in the spotlight.
Pepe the King Prawn
While Clifford has been largely forgotten since Muppets Tonight, Pepe the King Prawn has only grown in prominence over the past years, to the point that he may not even belong on this list. Still, we’re including him just because he’s not from the franchise’s most successful era and, therefore, doesn’t always get the attention he deserves. And he really does deserve attention, as performer Bill Barretta has created an infectious character, a guy whose self-confidence goes far beyond the limits of his stature. Need proof? Just go to social media, where you’re sure to find plenty of clips featuring Pepe charming, or attempting to charm, anyone who might find him attractive.
Zoot
Zoot doesn’t do much. Zoot doesn’t say much. But when he does, it always matters. I’m not just referring to the note he sounds (or attempts to sound) at the end of every episode of The Muppet Show. I’m also referring to the one-liners and reactions he gets to give. Take the moment when he jolts awake in The Muppets Take Manhattan. Yes, bandmate Floyd Pepper gets the more prominent joke (“Go back to sleep, nobody’s landed”), but it’s the combination of relief and annoyance that performer Goelz plays that suggests that Zoot’s very still waters do indeed run deep.
Bobo the Bear
Like Pepe, Bobo the Bear debuted in Muppets Tonight and continues to appear in projects. However, unlike Pepe, he doesn’t have a frequent social media presence or a following. And yet, he remains a delightful member of the Muppet cast, precisely because he has the exact opposite energy as Pepe and Clifford. Performer Bill Barretta somehow makes Bobo’s desire to just be part of the gang into something endearing instead of annoying, and his genuinely good attitude makes for a nice, calming presence amongst the overall chaos of the various Muppet shows.
Big Mean Carl
Most Muppet fans first encounter the franchise as children, and, as they age, the fans talk about these characters as a source of warmth and comfort. But there’s another aspect to some Muppet characters, an aspect that many young children first watching the Muppets know well: some of the Muppets are scary. Over time, guys like Sweetums reveal themselves to be big softies, and that’s why we need characters such as Big Mean Carl, first played by Goelz and now by Barretta. There’s an affability to Carl that softens his big meanness, but you never know when he’s going to suddenly swallow a bag-pipe.
