Hercule Poirot is a fictional detective created by Agatha Christie in 1920 whose exploits have been filmed many times, including a series of movies starring The Muppet Show guest star Peter Ustinov. He is a Belgian investigator (often irked when mistaken for French) known for his moustache, ego, and deductive reasoning. As with other works by the author, the character has occasionally been spoofed or referenced in Muppet productions.
References[]
- Jason Alexander portrayed Hercule Poirot, named directly, in episode 108 of Muppets Tonight, in "Murder on the Disoriented Express", spoofing the best known Christie film Murder on the Orient Express (1974, based on the 1934 novel). Jason even makes a point of clarifying that he's Belgian. The passengers, including Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Bobo the Bear, frustrate Alexander by confusing the detective with the Greek demigod Hercules (and very briefly, Superman).
- Jean Pierre Napoleon in Muppets Most Wanted, according to Ty Burrell in the film's presskit, is "sort of an amalgam of all the French police inspectors that have ever existed... We went back to the '60s films, with Clouseau or Poirot-- it's sort of a mash-up of all of them."