Somewhere in the middle of a swamp, on May 9th, a small tadpole was born. No, not the tadpole mentioned above, exactly. Because this tadpole could eventually talk, sing, dance, and even report the news. When he first rose out of the swamp, I have it on good authority that he yelled “Hi, Ho!!!” And he named himself “Kermit”.
Arguably Jim Henson’s most famous creation, Kermit grew up with thousands of siblings and has talked occasionally about other members of his brood His childhood adventures were chronicled in the 2002 direct-to-video film Kermit’s swamp years.
Henson began working as a puppeteer in college. In 1969, he worked as a producer on Sesame Street, and eventually created The Muppet Show, with Kermit the MC, in 1976.
In 2004, the Henson Company sold the rights to The Muppets and The Bear in The Big Blue House to The Walt Disney Company, who controls the rights to the subsidiary The Muppet Studio. The price of the sale is undisclosed – but is said to be under 200 million.
The most famous Kermit song, Rainbow connection
The song most recently debuted on American Idol, in a performance by Maddie Pop, on the finale:
And what’s on the other side
Rainbows are visions
But only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
And some choose to believe it
I know they’re wrong, wait and see
Some day we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it’s done so far
That keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see
Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me
And have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound
That called the young sailors?
The voice might be one in the same
It’s something that I’m supposed to be
Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
