American Express
From Muppet Wiki
American Express is a global finance company best known for their credit business.
In the late 1970s, Jim Henson appeared in a commercial for the company with the Green Frackle, Nigel, Floyd, Scooter and a Muppet pig. He speaks to the audience from a faux production set, and articulates that people know the Muppets, but not him. That's why he carries an American Express card with him when he travels -- it's backed by hundreds of offices around the world. The ad, playing on the card-holder's combination of celebrity and anonymity, was similar to a 1975 spot starring Mel Blanc.
The commercial features the familiar shot of the cardholder's name being typed out on the card, as seen in so many other advertisements for the company at the time. Likewise, the famous tagline "Don't leave home without it" closes the commercial.
On August 8, 2008, a new commercial began airing featuring footage of Jim Henson, Robert De Niro, John Cleese and Ellen DeGeneres among others.[1]
References
- The song "Happiness Hotel" from The Great Muppet Caper features Joe Raposo's lyric, "...and the whole dang thing has been condemned by American Express," as sung by Dr. Teeth.
- Kermit notes a variation of the company's tagline in The Muppets at Walt Disney World when he offers to pay for admission to the park with his credit card. Of course, he left home without it.
