1 Talk

Pops

Performer:

Jerry Nelson

Pops is the stage doorman for the Muppet Theater. He's supposed to greet the guests when they first arrive -- though the nearsighted and forgetful Pops invariably needs to ask "Who're you?" in his slight country accent.

Pops was first introduced during the fifth season of The Muppet Show, where he was featured in the Cold Open of each episode, in a departure from previous three seasons, which had featured Scooter talking to the guest stars in their dressing room. (No cold open was used before the credits during Season 1.)

Pops appeared about three times onstage. First, in the episode 508, he appeared as Geppetto to perform "Puppet Man" with Pinocchio. He then performed "Once in Love with Amy" with Fozzie in the UK Spot in episode 512. His last onstage appearance was in a sketch where Professor Salamander hypnotized him in episode 520. In The Muppets comic strip, he also took on the responsibilities of running the wardrobe and props departments.

His most famous role was as the owner of the Happiness Hotel in The Great Muppet Caper. He also appeared briefly at the end of the musical number "Scrooge" in The Muppet Christmas Carol.

After that, Pops wasn't seen for a decade. In Muppets Tonight, the greeter at the studio door -- and also the security guard -- was Bobo the Bear.

However, when the Muppet Theater re-opened in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Pops was back on hand selling tickets. And most recently, in "Kermit's Story," the first in Roger Langridge's four-issue run of The Muppet Show Comic Book, Pops was seen delivering the mail to the Muppets, including the letter to Kermit that sets off the main plot. He often makes appearances in the comic book. At the end of part 2 of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Muppet Mash, when Calistoga Cleo chooses Pops over Statler or Waldorf, Waldorf says "Well, we knew she preferred older guys", implying that Pops is older than Statler and Waldorf. Pops spoke for the first time since performer Jerry Nelson's retirement in an online behind-the-scenes video for the music video of OK Go's cover of "The Muppet Show Theme" performed by Matt Vogel.