The Sesame Street pitch reel...

[Chris Casino]

Mr. (or Mrs., or Miss or Ms.) Moderator, if this is not in the right forum, would you be so kind to move it.

I just saw this on the Old School DVD set today and it's fascinating as it features a Muppet (Rowlf) who, while he was admittedly a bigger star at the time, only appeared on the show once, pitching the show to another Muppet (Kermit) who, while he acted weary in the pitch reel, went on to become one of the biggest stars of the show from 1969 to about 1989. Does anybody happen to know why Jim Henson chose to save Rowlf for the Muppet Show?

And also, were there preliminary plans for Bert and Ernie to be on the Muppet Show as well as Sesame Street like Kermit was at the time since they were on both initial pilots?

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Good question. I do know that one reason Jim choose Kermit to be his main Character was because He was not as heave to carry around with him.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Interesting to know. I can't imagine Rowlf deemed not appropriate for anything.

 

[Barry Lee]

Im also thinking the reason why Rowlf was featured in the pitch tape was for a sort of 'celebrity' type of host. To draw the producers (or whoever controlled airing the show on stations) and its like "OH thats Rowlf from the Jimmy Dean Show!" some sort of familiarity. And at one time even (second or third season?) Kermit was going to be out and they created Herbert Birdsfoot as the replacement -- though that didnt work too well they eventually went back to the frog. The only other appearance of Rowlf on Sesame was one of the Counting Songs (with the flashy numbers from the first season)

And regarding the Bert & Ernie question, the two have appeared on both of the pilots also television appearances with the Muppets (not SS muppets) including the special with Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. I think it goes the same for Rowlf, it may have been just a celebrity way (run on gag in some sorts) that Bert & Ernie were on the pilots.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Im also thinking the reason why Rowlf was featured in the pitch tape was for a sort of 'celebrity' type of host. To draw the producers (or whoever controlled airing the show on stations) and its like "OH thats Rowlf from the Jimmy Dean Show!" some sort of familiarity.

That is a really good point.