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Superman1982

Kermit as Superman and Miss Piggy as Lois Lane fly over the Statue of Liberty in The Miss Piggy Calendar 1982.

Superman-sesame

Superman on Sesame Street.

Superman-fromthebalcony

Superman Returns...a video, in a From the Balcony sketch.

TMS418-10

Piggy's dressing room reveals her obsession.

Colorsupermanad

Superman and Batman advertise for Sesame Street in comic books.

Supergonzo-muppetbabies

Baby Gonzo in "Noisy Neighbors"

Muppetmagazine19

Summer 1987 issue of Muppet Magazine

SuperScooter-comic

Palisades spoofs the 1978 film tagline.

Greatmuppetsuperman

A patriotic Muppet coloring book references Superman's status as an American icon.

MuppetBabiesComic-issue11

Muppet Babies comic book - issue #11

File:Superernie.jpg

German Sesamstrasse postcard

Muppet Diary 1980 - posters

Muppet Diary 1980

SuperMuppet-french-poster

French poster.

ActionComics506

Action Comics #506 features a Muppet reference.

Reeve-reads-Superman

Christopher Reeve reads Action Comics #506 backstage in The Muppet Show episode 418.

David-Superman

Jon Stone directs Northern Calloway.

Larry block superman

Tom as Superman on Sesame Street.

Hawkins wardrobe

Muppet Treasure Island (CD-ROM)

Slimey Action Comics

Iron Monster and Sesame Heroes

Rob corddry muppets

Walter and Gary pose with a Hollywood Walk of Fame "Superman" in The Muppets

Superman is a superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 published by DC Comics.

The character, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, subsequently appeared in various radio serials, television programs, films, and video games. As an alien living on Earth, sent here from his dying planet, Superman possesses powers far beyond those of mortal beings. He resolves to use them to help others, aided in this quest by a host of companions including Supergirl (his cousin), Batman, and Wonder Woman.

In 2001, the Jim Henson Company optioned the rights for a film screenplay called Only Human in which "an earthling baby is sent to live on Superman's home planet, Krypton."

I've always been interested in comic books as an art form, and when I was younger I was addicted to them. I read Superman and Superboy, but Captain Marvel was probably my favorite of the super-heroes. The comic I loved best, though, was Pogo. After all, Kermit's beginnings were in a swamp, too.

Appearances

  • Beginning in the first season, Superman appeared on Sesame Street in animated inserts, produced by Filmation, the studio which had produced The New Adventures of Superman and its related spinoffs (1966-1969). In his first appearance, as seen in the first test pilot (included in Old School: Volume 2) , Superman battles a giant ape, in recycled footage from the New Adventures episode "The Chimp Who Made it Big," and a rapid transition results in the Man of Steel briefly announcing the letter D. In the archive footage, Superman's voice is that of Clayton Collyer, who played the role on radio and on the Filmation series.
    Superman's second appearance featured a more substantial amount of new footage, and a new voice actor (Lennie Weinrib), as he explains why S is his favorite letter. Both segments featured music taken from the Filmation series, composed by John Gart, who had performed the organ score on the radio Superman series. (EKA: Episode 0184) (Old School: Volume 1)
  • Episode 27 of Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony features an insert with a Muppet Superman (Victor Yerrid) trying to return a DVD to the rental store. When he learns that he's going to have to pay a late fee, and the clerk won't believe that he was out saving the world, Superman reverses the rotation of the Earth in order to turn back time (much like the plot element from Superman: The Movie). Clark Kent's cousin, Craig Kent, also appears in this episode with an editorial commentary wherein he laments being overshadowed by his cousin Clark.

References

Early Muppets

  • A 1966 presentation reel prepared for La Choy is introduced using narration taken from the opening of The Adventures of Superman radio serial (1940-1951), which starred Clayton "Bud" Collyer as Superman, and used in several subsequent versions. "Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. More spectacular than a rocket launch. Wilder than science fiction. Sexier than Playboy. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound."
  • In a sketch from The Ed Sullivan Show, a group of Reindeer attempt to make it snow. When they see the first snowflake, they make an announcement similar to the ones made by people who see Superman enter the scene: "It's a storm!" "It's a blizzard!" "Well, It's a beginning".
  • The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970) references the same opening when Fred the Elf is taken prisoner and claims that he is not merely a "mild-mannered" toy builder, but "Super Elf, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound."
  • In The Perry Como Winter Show (1972), The Country Trio perform "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," which includes the lyric "You don't tug on Superman's cape."

Sesame Street

  • Super Grover is a long-running spoof of Superman. His secret identity is Grover Kent. It is also said that Super Grover is "smarter than a speeding bullet" during the introductions to his segments, and whenever Super Grover is arriving on the scene, whoever is in distress would say "It's a bird! It's a plane!" only to say "It's Super Grover" in a disappointed voice among Grover's landing.
  • In an Ernie and Bert sketch, Bert tells Ernie that if he can clean his mess up before lunchtime, he's Superman. When Bert bets that he can't do it in 15 seconds, Ernie proclaims "Here goes old Ernie, faster than a speeding bullet."
  • Tom appeared as Superman in a 1971 sketch.
  • A Sesame Street segment featuring kids painting on a glass surface in front of a camera includes a boy who paints a bird which the kids in voiceover narrate using a variation of the Superman radio introduction: "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's superbird!" (YouTube)
  • David appears in a sketch wearing a Superman suit having just emerged from a telephone booth. A popular conception of the transformation from Clark Kent to Superman is that he changes in a telephone booth.
  • In the "Sticky (Ooey Gooey)" song, a boy can be seen wearing a Superman t-shirt. (YouTube)
  • Co-production Plaza Sésamo has an animated character called Superkid; he uses the same colour scheme and title card format as Superman.
  • The outreach video Here For You features Elmo and his cousin Chester playing superheroes. They announce their characters, Avocado Man and Turnip Boy, as "Faster than a mushy green vegetable. More powerful than a crash in the dirt." Yet another allusion to the classic Superman introduction.
  • In an interview with Jewcy.com, Grover is asked if Super Grover and Superman ever encountered. Grover says they haven't, but if they did, "[they would] have a lot of super important, super-secret things to talk about."
  • In Grover's 140 character speech for the Shorty Awards, his third one is Superman.
  • In the "Elmo the Musical" segment "Superhero the Musical," the cityscape features a skyscraper topped with a ringed globe similar to that of the Daily Planet.

The Muppet Show

  • When Christopher Reeve (famous for playing Superman) is the guest on The Muppet Show episode 418, Miss Piggy's dressing room is all decked out in Superman memorabilia. Reeve is also seen hanging out backstage reading superhero comic books with a group of rats, one of which he refers to as Super Rat (identified later as Rizzo in The Muppet Show Fan Club newsletter). Numerous jokes about Reeve being "The Man of Steel" are made throughout the episode.
  • Promotional photos of Reeve as Superman can be seen on the corkboard behind Sam in the UK spot from episode 422.
  • A poster of Superman from Superman: The Movie adorns the wall of Gabriel's bedroom in the number "Honest Lullaby" from episode 503.
  • In episode 317, Wayne spends the majority of his "Dog Walk" commenting on things he passes by as he walks his dog. In reaction to the incessant pulling by his dog on leash, he exclaims that he's "not a Superman."
  • In song, Annie Sue says that Pecos Bill "was the Western Superman to say the least" in episode 520.

Muppet Babies

Muppets Tonight

  • In episode 108 of Muppets Tonight, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew mistakes Hercule Poirot for Superman (skipping over everyone else's confusion that he is Hercules) and asks if he will fly around the earth backwards to go back in time, as Superman did in Superman: The Movie.
  • The "Fairyland PD" sketch in episode 203 features dialogue between Bobo and Clifford about Bobo's wearing glasses on the job as a disguise. Clifford thinks it's ridiculous, but Bobo defends that it works for Clark Kent. After some pondering, Clifford comes to realize that Clark Kent and Superman are one and the same.

Muppet Magazine

The Muppet Show Comic Book

Merchandise

  • A movie poster in J. P. Grosse's office as seen in Muppet Diary 1980 features Kermit as "Superfrog" and references the 1978 film's tagline as "You'll Believe a Frog Can Fly".
  • The 1978 Sesame Street book The Exciting Adventures of Super Grover parodies Superman's traditional introduction as Super Grover being "smarter than a speeding bullet, furrier than a powerful locomotive, and able to leap tall sandwiches in a single bound." Additionaly, the "It's a bird, it's a plane" phrase is parodied as "It's an eggplant! It's a meatball!"
  • A French poster for The Muppet Movie features Kermit as Superman, spoofing a French poster for the release of Superman: The Movie. Statler and Waldorf appear in the bottom corner positions occupied by Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando, respectively.
  • Kermit and Piggy appear together as Lois Lane and Superman in the 1982 Miss Piggy Calendar.
  • The same image was later used on the cover of Kermit magazine, a 1989 German publication.
  • Transformed by one of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's chemical mixtures, Beaker is seen again in his superhero alter ego, in the comic "Disco Frog" from the 1979 UK Muppet Show Annual. This time his secret identity sports Superman's signature hair curl and shirt-bursting chest emblem.
  • A Template:Medialink features Gonzo with the caption, "It's a bird, it's a plane ...what is it?"
  • Ernie has appeared on Sesamstrasse merchandising as a superhero, and a secret identity with Clark Kent-like glasses. One such example is a set of shot glasses featuring both personae.
  • Animal appears as "Superanimal" in a 1997 coloring book, representing one of the Great Muppets in American History, referencing Superman's status as an American icon.
  • The packaging of the Super Scooter action figure was decorated with a mock DC Comics comic book. The text on the cover advertised the content of the book as follows: "You'll Believe a Muppet Will Fly!" The phrase is a take on the original marketing tagline of Superman: The Movie, which boasted of its technical achievements attempting to convince an audience that "You'll Believe a Man Can Fly."

Miscellaneous

  • The 1981 Muppet Meeting Film "Ideal Sales Rep" features Leo using Grump as an example of what an ideal sales representative can be. Using a magic wand, he transforms Grump into a gorilla and ultimately, "Super Salesman" with a shield on his chest shaped like Superman's with two Ss.
  • In the CD-ROM game Muppets Inside, when the tomato item is picked up, the Data-Bus screen reads "Tomatoes are a comedian's nemesis. To Fozzie, a ripe tomato in the hands of a heckler is like kryptonite in the hands of Lex Luthor." Also, in one of the ending scenes for the "Death-Defying Acts of Culture" mini-game, Statler and Waldorf exclaim "It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Super-Geek!" when Gonzo crashes into their box.
  • In the Muppet Treasure Island CD-ROM game, the player is given a wardrobe to dress their character in. One of them is a superhero costume modeled after Superman's. The reflection of the player is shown in a mirror, flexing and flying out of frame.

Muppet Mentions

  • Action Comics #506 features a story about Jorlan, a sasquatch-like android from Krypton who is programmed to lure the children of Earth into outer space. As he descends upon an amusement park, TV reporter Lana Lang's production assistant remarks that he looks like "an escaped Muppet." Christopher Reeve can be seen reading this issue backstage with the rats on The Muppet Show.
  • In the 1997 film based on Superman character Steel, the title character is involved in a car chase. To assist in his speedy getaway, his partner Susan Sparks hacks into the city's public transportation to change all the traffic lights green. When she has trouble doing so, she tells him over the radio, "It ain't easy being green."
  • In the 2010 Smallville episode "Absolute Justice," Oliver Queen refers to Hawkman as Big Bird.

Connections

  • The 1982 book and audio set, From Krypton to Metropolis was directed and produced by Christopher Cerf. Several other Sesame Street employees worked on the project:

Other cast/crew in Muppet/Henson productions also appeared in Superman-related works.

  • Amy Adams played Jodi Melville in the Smallville episode "Craving" and Lois Lane in Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
  • Edward Asner played Granny Goodness in Superman: The Animated Series (1998-1999)
  • Reza Badiyi directed five episodes of Superboy (1988-1989)
  • Justine Bateman played Sarah / Zara in four episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1996)
  • Ned Beatty played Otis in Superman (1979) and Superman II (1980)
  • Robert Beatty played a tanker captain in Superman III (1983) and the U. S. President in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
  • Richard Belzer played Inspector Henderson in four Season One episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • Sandra Bernhard played Gsptlsnz in the episode "Mxyzpixilated" of Superman: The Animated Series (1997)
  • Ed Blainey did sound effects for The Adventures of Superman (radio, 1949-1951)
  • Ian Bliss played a shuttle commander in Superman Returns (2006)
  • John Bluthal played a Pisa vendor in Superman III (1983)
  • Wayne Brady played John in an episode of Superboy (1990)
  • Jim Broadbent played Jean Pierre Dubois in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
  • Downtown Julie Brown played Samantha in the episode "Sex, Lies and Videotape" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1997)
  • Jason Carter played Calvin Dregg in the Season Two episode "Whine, Whine, Whine" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Lynda Carter played Moira Sullivan in a 2007 Smallville episode.
  • Rosalind Cash played Judge Angela Diggs in the Season One episode "The Man of Steel Bars" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)
  • Alan Cassie was a draughtsman on Superman (1978)
  • Henry Cavill played Clark Kent/Superman in Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
  • Townsend Coleman played various roles in Superman: The Animated Series (1998-1999)
  • Dave Coulier played The Real Anonymous in the episode "Chip Off the Old Clark" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Sue Crosland performed stunts in Superman (1978), Superman II (1981), and Superman III (1983)
  • Aria Noelle Curzon played Lucy Lane in the Superman the Animated Series episode "Monkey Fun" (1997)
  • Mac Davis played Larry Smiley in the Season Three episode "Just Say Noah" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Barry Dennen played Dr McClean in Superman III' (1983)
  • James Denton played Superman in All-Star Superman (2011)
  • Michael Dorn played John Henry Irons/Steel and Kalibak in Superman: The Animated Series (1998-1999)
  • Charles Dougherty played Karl in the season two episode "Individual Responsibility" of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Tony Dunsterville was a model maker on Superman (1978)
  • Tracey Eddon performed stunts in Superman III (1983) and stunt doubled for the title role in Supergirl (1984)
  • Lori Fetrick played Vixen in the Season Four episode "Faster Than a Speeding Vixen" of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1997)
  • Laurence Fishburne played Perry White in Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
  • James Frawley directed the first season Smallville episode "X-Ray" (2001)
  • Ben Ryan Ganger provided voiceovers for the Ruby-Spears cartoon (1988)
  • Brad Garrett played Reverend Bob in the season three episode "I Now Pronounce You..." of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1996), and Bibbo Bibowksi and Lobo on Superman: The Animated Series' (1997-1999)
  • John Glover played Lionel Luthor on Smallville (2001-2008)
  • Gilbert Gottfried played Nick Knack in two episodes of Superboy (1990) and Mr. Mxyzptlk in Superman: The Animated Series (1997-1999)
  • Elliott Gould played Vincent Winninger in the season one episode "Witness" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)
  • Harold Gould played Edwin Griffin in two second season episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994-1995)
  • Richard Griffiths played a terrorist in Superman II (1980)
  • Mark Hamill played The Joker in several episodes of Superman: The Animated Series (1997-1998)
  • Melissa Joan Hart played Irma Ardeen in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "New Kids in Town" (1998)
  • Teri Hatcher played Lois Lane on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997) and Ella Lane in Smallville
  • Anne Heche voiced Lois Lane in Superman/Doomsday (2007)
  • Sherman Hemsley played Mr. Schott in the Season Two episode "Season's Greedings" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • Raelee Hill played a hospital nurse in Superman Returns (2006)
  • William Hootkins played Harry Howler in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) and Lex Luthor and the Narrator on BBC Radio (1990-1993)
  • Bo Jackson played himself in the Season One episode "The Rival" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • Penn Jillette played Darrin Romick in the Season One episode "Illusions of Grandeur" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • James Earl Jones played Franklin W. Stern in the season one episode "The House of Luthor" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • Tad Krzanowski made models for Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980)
  • Frank Langella played Perry White In Superman Returns (2006)
  • Linda Lavin played Sydney Carlton in the Broadway production of It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966)
  • Kristanna Loken played Penny Barnes in the Season Four episode "AKA Superman" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1997)
  • William H. Macy played the Director of the Paranormals Institute in the episode "Where There's Smoke..." of Superman: The Animated Series (1998)
  • Christopher Malcolm played a miner in Superman III (1983)
  • Howie Mandel played Mr. Mxyzptlk in the Season Four episode "Twas the Night Before Mxymas" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1996)
  • James Marsden played Richard White in Superman Returns (2006)
  • Paula Marshall playd Christina Riley in the Superboy episode "Werewolf" (1991)
  • Andrea Martin played Mad Harriet in Superman: The Animated Series (1998-1999)
  • Vincent Marzello played a Daily Planet copy boy in Superman (1978) and Jimmy Olsen on BBC Radio (1990-1993)
  • Mac MacDonald played a marshal in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
  • Michael McKean played Dr. Fabian Leek in the Season One episode "Vatman" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994) and Perry White in three episodes of Smallville (2003-2011)
  • Christopher Meloni played Colonel Nathan Hardy in Man of Steel (2013)
  • Shanna Moakler played a pretty girl in the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman episode "Big Girls Gon't Fly" (1996)
  • Laraine Newman played Toby Raynes in Superman: The Animated Series (1998)
  • Gary Owens narrated the TV version of It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1975)
  • Frank Oz made a cameo appearance as a brain surgeon just about to begin surgery when the city's power is cut in a scene removed from Superman III (1983). In addition, Oz supervised puppet sequences for the film, also cut from the final version.
  • Dan Payne played a Lexcorp security guard in two episodes of Smallville (2003)
  • Kal Penn played Stanford in Superman Returns (2006)
  • Valerie Perrine played Eve Teschmacher in Superman (1979) and Superman II (1980)
  • Patrick Pinney provided voiceovers for the Ruby-Spears cartoon (1988)
  • Richard Portnow played Barry Barker in the Season Two episode "Whine, Whine, Whine" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Paula Poundstone provided the voice of the computer in the Season Three episode "Virtually Destroyed" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Richard Pryor played Gus Gorman in Superman III (1983)
  • Hal Rayle provided voiceovers for the Ruby-Spears cartoon (1988)
  • Alaina Reed played Nurse Berkey in the Season Two episode "Target: Jimmy Olsen" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Clive Revill played the Sorcerer in the season four episode "Soul Mates" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1996)
  • Denise Richards played Angela in the episode "Season's Greedings" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • Al Roker played a weatherman in the episode "Little Girl Lost: Part 1" of Superman: The Animated Series (1998)
  • Eddie Sauter orchestrated the Broadway production It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966)
  • William Schallert played Al in the Season Two episode "The Source" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • Richard Schiff played Dr. Emil Hamilton in Man of Steel (2013)
  • Kerry Shale played an MSBC newscaster in Superman IV: A Quest for Peace (1987) and Superboy and the Cyborg in Superman, Doomsday and Beyond (BBC Radio, 1993)
  • Paul Shedlowich played news anchor #4 in Superman Returns (2006)
  • Colin Skeaping played a pilot in Superman (1978) and stunts in Superman II (1981) and Superman III (1983)
  • Helen Slater Lara El in three episodes of Smallville (2007-2010)
  • Cobie Smulders played Shannon Bell in the Smallville episode "Bound" (2004)
  • Ben Stein played a lawyer in the Season Two episode "Whine, Whine, Whine" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995)
  • Alex Stevens as the New York stunt coordinator for Superman (1978)
  • Cree Summer played Natasha and a psychic in Superman: The Animated Series (1998-1999), various characters in the Superman Returns video game (2006), and Mercy Graves in Superman/Doomsday (2007)
  • Loretta Swit played Sydney Carlton in the TV version of It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1975)
  • Shelley Thompson played Lois Lane in Superman on Trial (radio, 1988) and Lana Lang in The Adventures of Superman (1990)
  • Ben Vereen played Dr. Andre Novack in the season one episode "Illusions of Grandeur" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)
  • David Warner played Jor-El in the Season One episode "Foundling" of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994) and Ra's Al Ghul in Superman: The Animated Series (1999)
  • Lesley Ann Warren played Lois Lane in a TV version of the musical, It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1975)
  • Frank Welker played several characters in Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)
  • Fred Willard played President Garner in three episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1997-1999)
  • John Williams composed the music for Superman: The Movie (1978)
  • Marv Wolfman wrote or edited many Superman comics beginning in 1980 with a significant run in 1985 and continuing off and on; created characters including Cat Grant, Professor Hamilton, Deathstroke, and Bibbo, and revamped Lex Luthor as a corporate villain; scripted Superman in media including three episodes of the 1988 Superman animated series, the video game Superman Returns (2006), novelizations, and various DC universe projects

Sources


See also

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