Bananas

Muppet Bananas

Bananas are a fruit that grow on trees in tropical regions of southern Asia. Of the various types of banana, the Cavendish is the most prominent, having been cultivated in the 19th century by farmers. The banana is often the source of comedic references due to its shape and the slippery texture of its inner peel.

The Muppet Show

The banana first appeared backstage on The Muppet Show in episode 103. Performed by Frank Oz, he was featured alongside Gonzo, Joel Grey, and Joel's hat in the episode's Guest Star Gag.

The banana later became part of the Singing Food, and would become fixtures in the background of several Muppet productions over the years. A pair of bananas tell jokes on Fozzie Bear's page on the DXD version of Muppets.com.

Merchandise

The banana was released as a pack-in with the Swedish Chef Action Figure in the ninth series of Palisades Toys' line of action figures.

Book appearances

• A Very Silly Songbook (1995)

Sesame Street

Multiple bananas have appeared on Sesame Street, both as part of the singing food, and individually. A group of bananas dressed as Carmen Miranda sang the song "One Banana", as well as a bunch of bananas still hanging from their tree.

The Top Banana visited Elmo's World in a segment dedicated entirely to bananas.

A bunch of bananas from "One Banana"

A Carmen Miranda Banana singing "One Banana"

Mopatop's Shop

In the Mopatop's Shop episode "Mischievous Monkey," a large banana was seen in the possession of Fred Forget-It. (YouTube)

References

• Bananas are featured in a number of Ernie and Bert sketches. The most notable sketch consists of Ernie's inability to hear what Bert is saying because he has a banana in his ear.

• Fozzie Bear referenced the Bert and Ernie joke in an AMC Theatres policy announcement. The joke had previously been connected to Fozzie in the Winter 1986 issue of Muppet Magazine.

See also

• Banana Nose Maldonado
• Banana Tree Shirts