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Changes: Rizzo the Rat

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{{performer|Steve Whitmire}}
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{{character|image=RizzoTheRat.jpg|performer=[[Steve Whitmire]]|debut=1980}}
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[[Image:RizzoTheRat.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  
 
[[Image:Rizzo-Rat.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  
[[Image:Rizzo-Rat.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:Swrizzo.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  
[[Image:Swrizzo.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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[[Image:Rizzo_concept.jpg|thumb|300px|Conceptual art of Rizzo's outfit for ''Muppet Treasure Island'']]
  
[[Image:Rizzo_concept.jpg|thumb|300px|Conceptual art of Rizzo's outfit for ''Muppet Treasure Island'']]
 
[[File:Muppets_Most_Wanted_Teaser_29.png|thumb|300px|Rizzo appearing in the teaser for ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''.]]
  
[[File:Muppets_Most_Wanted_Teaser_29.png|thumb|300px|Rizzo appearing in the teaser for ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''.]]
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'''Rizzo the Rat''' is a [[rat]] who has a tendency to crack mocking jokes at others or make fun of them. Sometimes, as seen in ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'', he tries to cheat people into getting something he wants. However, he also has a sensitive side (according to [[Tim Hill]] and [[The Great Gonzo|Gonzo]] during an audio commentary for ''[[Muppets from Space]]'') and is good friends with a couple of characters. He was created by Steve Whitmire after he took a fascination to a bunch of old rat puppets made from bottles by [[Don Sahlin]] for ''[[The Muppet Musicians of Bremen]]''. Whitmire made costumes for Rizzo, and the [[Muppet Show Fan Club]] newsletter (vol. 2, no. 4, 1980) claimed that "It is Rizzo's greatest ambition to wear a different costume every time he appears in a shot! Watch out for this well-dressed rodent -- he has every intention of succeeding. Rat on, Rizzo!"
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'''Rizzo the Rat''' is a [[rat]] who has a tendency to crack mocking jokes at others or make fun of them. Sometimes, as seen in ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'', he tries to cheat people into getting something he wants. However, he also has a sensitive side (according to [[Tim Hill]] and [[Gonzo]] during an audio commentary for ''[[Muppets from Space]]'') and is good friends with a couple of characters. He was created by Steve Whitmire after he took a fascination to a bunch of old rat puppets made from bottles by [[Don Sahlin]] for ''[[The Muppet Musicians of Bremen]]''. Whitmire made costumes for Rizzo, and the [[Muppet Show Fan Club]] newsletter (vol. 2, no. 4, 1980) claimed that "It is Rizzo's greatest ambition to wear a different costume every time he appears in a shot! Watch out for this well-dressed rodent -- he has every intention of succeeding. Rat on, Rizzo!"
   
 
Rizzo first appeared in [[Episode 418: Christopher Reeve|episode 418]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', as one of a group of rats following [[Christopher Reeve]] around backstage.<ref>[[The Muppet Show Fan Club]] Newsletter - [[:Image:Fanclub vol2num4pg1.jpg|Volume 2, Number 4]]</ref> He can be seen mugging and reacting to practically every line of dialogue. His first known mention by name on-screen was by [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] in [[Episode 422: Andy Williams|episode 422]]. He remained a scene-stealing background figure through the final season, occasionally performing with [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem]].
  
Rizzo first appeared in [[Episode 418: Christopher Reeve|episode 418]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', as one of a group of rats following [[Christopher Reeve]] around backstage.<ref>[[The Muppet Show Fan Club]] Newsletter - [[:Image:Fanclub vol2num4pg1.jpg|Volume 2, Number 4]]</ref> He can be seen mugging and reacting to practically every line of dialogue. His first known mention by name on-screen was by [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] in [[Episode 422: Andy Williams|episode 422]]. He remained a scene-stealing background figure through the final season, occasionally performing with [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem]].
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*''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]''
  
*''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]''
 
**also DVD [[Live-Video Menus|video menus]] and the [[Audio Commentaries|video's commentary]]
  
**also DVD [[Live-Video Menus|video menus]] and the [[Audio Commentaries|video's commentary]]
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*''[[Muppet Classic Theater]]'' (performed in one part by [[Dave Goelz]])
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*''[[Muppet Classic Theater]]'' (performed in one part by [[Dave Goelz]])
 
*''[[Muppets Tonight]]''
  
*''[[Muppets Tonight]]''
 
**''all [[:Category:Muppets Tonight Episodes|episodes]] save [[Episode 202: Rick Moranis|episode 202]]''
  
**''all [[:Category:Muppets Tonight Episodes|episodes]] save [[Episode 202: Rick Moranis|episode 202]]''
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*''[[Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular]]''
  
*''[[Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular]]''
 
*[[Toyota]]
  
*[[Toyota]]
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*''[[QVC]]''
 
*''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''
  
*''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''
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*''[[America's Got Talent]]''
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*''[[Vsauce]]''
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*''[[Muppet Moments (shorts)|Muppet Moments]]''
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* [[The Muppets 2015 Presentation Pilot]]
   
 
===Book appearances===
  
===Book appearances===
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[[Category:Muppet Show Characters]]
  
[[Category:Muppet Show Characters]]
 
[[Category:Muppets Tonight Characters]]
  
[[Category:Muppets Tonight Characters]]
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[[Category:The Muppets (2015) Characters]]

Revision as of 15:35, 13 August 2015

RizzoTheRat
PERFORMER Steve Whitmire
DEBUT 1980
Rizzo-Rat
Swrizzo
TMGTTM-Rats

Rizzo as he appeared on The Muppets Go to the Movies.

Notmytable

Rizzo working at Pete's Diner in The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Gonzo06

Rizzo playing sidekick to Charles Dickens in The Muppet Christmas Carol

Gonzo rizzo deleted scene

Deleted scene from Muppets from Space

TheMuppets-Behind-The-Scenes-Interviews-Rizzo-Gonzo

Behind the scenes on the set of The Muppets

Rizzo11
D23-eFX-Rizzo-FullBody

The unproduced Rizzo photo puppet replica

Rizzo concept

Conceptual art of Rizzo's outfit for Muppet Treasure Island

Muppets Most Wanted Teaser 29

Rizzo appearing in the teaser for Muppets Most Wanted.

Rizzo the Rat is a rat who has a tendency to crack mocking jokes at others or make fun of them. Sometimes, as seen in The Muppets Take Manhattan, he tries to cheat people into getting something he wants. However, he also has a sensitive side (according to Tim Hill and Gonzo during an audio commentary for Muppets from Space) and is good friends with a couple of characters. He was created by Steve Whitmire after he took a fascination to a bunch of old rat puppets made from bottles by Don Sahlin for The Muppet Musicians of Bremen. Whitmire made costumes for Rizzo, and the Muppet Show Fan Club newsletter (vol. 2, no. 4, 1980) claimed that "It is Rizzo's greatest ambition to wear a different costume every time he appears in a shot! Watch out for this well-dressed rodent -- he has every intention of succeeding. Rat on, Rizzo!"

Rizzo first appeared in episode 418 of The Muppet Show, as one of a group of rats following Christopher Reeve around backstage.[1] He can be seen mugging and reacting to practically every line of dialogue. His first known mention by name on-screen was by Kermit in episode 422. He remained a scene-stealing background figure through the final season, occasionally performing with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

He had a minor role in The Great Muppet Caper and a larger supporting part in The Muppets Take Manhattan, but his "big break" occurred when Jerry Juhl paired him with Gonzo to narrate The Muppet Christmas Carol. He has since become one of the principal Muppet characters, also starring in Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets from Space, Muppets Tonight, and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (appearing in the latter as the Mayor of Munchkinland).

Since The Muppet Christmas Carol, Rizzo and Gonzo have been best pals. However, that wasn't their first pairing together. They had previously interracted in The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson, and appeared in a sketch together on Good Morning America, broadcast March 10, 1992. Rizzo and Pepe the King Prawn also seem to have a strong friendship in Muppets from Space. Although Rizzo has no lines in the 2011 film, The Muppets, he and Gonzo were interviewed together behind the scenes. In an interview, Nick Stoller explained that they tried to include as many characters as possible, but couldn't find a spot for him (or Bean Bunny) in the movie.[2]  His absence is referenced in Muppets Most Wanted, in a scene where he and Robin point out that the previous film replaced older characters such as themselves with the new character Walter.

In the 1999 book Muppets from Space: The Making of Muppet Movie Magic, Whitmire said:

“[Playing Rizzo] was tough at first. I was much more inhibited about the performance because I wasn't sure who he was or what I should do with him. Plus, they wanted him to be a sarcastic sort of New York character. I'm from Atlanta, you know? I mean, I didn't know anything about a sarcastic New York character, so I sort of had to grow into him.”

Rizzo also tried to impersonate Mickey Mouse in Muppet Vision 3-D to get money from Sam the Eagle, though his disguise didn't work.

Rizzo is named after Ratso Rizzo, a character from Midnight Cowboy portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. This name was suggested by Frank Oz. [3]

Filmography

Book appearances

Albums

Video Games

Sources

  1. ↑ The Muppet Show Fan Club Newsletter - Volume 2, Number 4
  2. ↑ The Muppets’ Nick Stoller Reveals Its Origins, His Beaker Obsession
  3. ↑ Muppet Central interview with Steve Whitmire
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