The Announcer

Template:Performer

The Announcer on The Muppet Show was an authoritative male voice who, in the old-time radio tradition, provided the intros and closing tags for several recurring sketches: Veterinarian's Hospital, Pigs in Space and Bear on Patrol. The characters on stage often looked around, trying to find the source of this mystery voice.

Unseen for the first four seasons, the Announcer made his first and only appearance in episode 501. When Beauregard claimed that the end of the world was coming, he predicted in Veterinarian's Hospital that something would happen that had never happened before. Indeed, while the Announcer was signing off, he plummeted onto the operating table, squashing Beau. Later, after the Announcer had taunted the crew of the Swinetrek for missing out on The Meaning and Purpose of Life, First Mate Piggy activated a lever that dropped him onto the set a second time.

John Lovelady was the Announcer's primary performer during the show's first season. Jerry Nelson reportedly performed the character's voice-overs in first season episodes 105, 110, and 118 before becoming the Announcer's full-time performer in the second season.

His puppet is later recycled in the Mopatop's Shop episode "Goodbye" as Larry Dinger.

Filmography

• The Muppet Show
  • Episode 501: Gene Kelly (appeared in person)
• Mopatop's Shop
  • Episode 465: Goodbye (as Larry Dinger)

Notes

• The Announcer was remarked upon in episode 423, when Rowlf and Janice appeared in a Pigs in Space sketch in their hospital attire. After the closing announcement, Rowlf said, "You know, we have him at the hospital, too."

See also

• A. Ligator, Muppets Tonight’s resident announcer
• The Cow Announcer