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{{character|image=Swedish-chef.jpg|performer=[[Jim Henson]]|note=1975-1990|performer2=[[Bill Barretta]]|note2=1996-present|more=Casting History|debut=1975|design=[[Michael K. Frith]]|designnote=designer|design2=[[Jim Henson]],<br>[[Bonnie Erickson]]|designnote2=builders}}
{{performer2|Jim Henson|1975 - 1990|Bill Barretta|1996 - Present}}
 
[[Image:Swedish-chef.jpg|300px|thumb|The Swedish Chef.]]
 
{{designer|[[Michael K. Frith]]|designer|[[Jim Henson]] and [[Bonnie Erickson]]|builders}}
 
 
[[File:Swedish_poser.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[File:Swedish_poser.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[File:Chef_and_kermit.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[File:Chef_and_kermit.jpg|thumb|300px]]
'''The Swedish Chef''' is the incomprehensible preparer of foodstuffs from ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. A rather literal variation of the [[Live-Hand Muppet]] concept, the Swedish Chef is a humanoid character, with human hands rather than gloves. On ''The Muppet Show'', [[Frank Oz]] performed the character's hands. The chef first appeared in ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'' in 1975, with [[China|Chinese]] subtitles for his dialog, and [[Richard Hunt]] performing the hands. Only in poser puppets used specifically for photo shoots does the Swedish Chef have standard Muppet hands.
+
'''The Swedish Chef''' is the incomprehensible preparer of foodstuffs from ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. A rather literal variation of the [[Live-Hand Muppet]] concept, the Swedish Chef is a humanoid character, with human hands rather than gloves. On ''The Muppet Show'', [[Frank Oz]] performed the character's hands. The chef first appeared in ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'' in 1975, with [[China|Chinese]] subtitles for his dialog, and [[Richard Hunt]] performing the hands. Only in [[photo puppet]]s used specifically for photo shoots does the Swedish Chef have standard Muppet hands.
  +
__TOC__
 
 
According to [[Brian Henson]] in one of his [[Brian Henson Introductions|introductions]] for ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', "[[Jim Henson]] had this tape that he used to play which was 'How to Speak Mock [[Sweden|Swedish]]'. And he used to drive to work and I used to ride with him a lot. And he would drive to work trying to make a chicken sandwich in Mock Swedish or make a turkey casserole in Mock Swedish. It was the most ridiculous thing you had ever seen. And people at traffic lights used to stop and sort of look at him a little crazy. But that was the roots of the character that would eventually become the Swedish Chef". Jim Henson had previously explored the idea of a funny foreign chef at the US Food Fair that took place in [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]] in 1961, where ''[[Sam and Friends]]'' character [[Omar]] prepared a flaming salad while speaking in some quite comprehensible mock German that Henson and [[Jerry Juhl]] had previously scribbled down in phonetics.<ref>[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2010/11/15/11-1969/ Jim Henson's Red Book], 11/1961 - "Jerry and I did show in [[Hamburg]], Germany – Dept. of Agriculture."</ref>
 
According to [[Brian Henson]] in one of his [[Brian Henson Introductions|introductions]] for ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', "[[Jim Henson]] had this tape that he used to play which was 'How to Speak Mock [[Sweden|Swedish]]'. And he used to drive to work and I used to ride with him a lot. And he would drive to work trying to make a chicken sandwich in Mock Swedish or make a turkey casserole in Mock Swedish. It was the most ridiculous thing you had ever seen. And people at traffic lights used to stop and sort of look at him a little crazy. But that was the roots of the character that would eventually become the Swedish Chef". Jim Henson had previously explored the idea of a funny foreign chef at the US Food Fair that took place in [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]] in 1961, where ''[[Sam and Friends]]'' character [[Omar]] prepared a flaming salad while speaking in some quite comprehensible mock German that Henson and [[Jerry Juhl]] had previously scribbled down in phonetics.<ref>[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2010/11/15/11-1969/ Jim Henson's Red Book], 11/1961 - "Jerry and I did show in [[Hamburg]], Germany – Dept. of Agriculture."</ref>
   
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The Swedish Chef's popularity led to his own cereal, [[Cröonchy Stars]], in 1988. Commercials for the product featured the Chef, up to his usual antics. In the 1990s, the Swedish Chef appeared regularly on ''[[Donna's Day]]'' starting in the second season.
 
The Swedish Chef's popularity led to his own cereal, [[Cröonchy Stars]], in 1988. Commercials for the product featured the Chef, up to his usual antics. In the 1990s, the Swedish Chef appeared regularly on ''[[Donna's Day]]'' starting in the second season.
   
In [[Episode 316: Danny Kaye|episode 316]], [[Danny Kaye]], portraying the chef's uncle in a sketch, claims that the Swedish Chef's first name was Tom. However, since Kaye was not a blood relative in reality, this information may be considered apocryphal.
+
In [[Episode 316: Danny Kaye|episode 316]], [[Danny Kaye]], portraying the chef's uncle in a sketch, claims that the Swedish Chef's first name is Tom. However, since Kaye was not a blood relative in reality, this information may be considered apocryphal. Many years later on ''[[The Muppets (2015)|The Muppets]]'', [[Christina Applegate]] misinterprets his name as Megan in "[[Episode 103: Bear Left Then Bear Write|Bear Left Then Bear Write]]", when he was actually just saying, "me, me."<ref>[https://twitter.com/BobKushell/status/653663904925548544 @BobKushell on Twitter] 4:09 PM - 12 Oct 2015</ref>
   
 
==Casting History==
 
==Casting History==
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'''Other Performers'''
 
'''Other Performers'''
 
* [[David Rudman]] - ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'' (1992)
 
* [[David Rudman]] - ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'' (1992)
* [[Dave Goelz]] - ''[[Muppets from Space]]'' (1999)
 
 
* [[Steve Whitmire]] - ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' [[Movie Mania|Movie Mania Screen Test]] (1999)
 
* [[Steve Whitmire]] - ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' [[Movie Mania|Movie Mania Screen Test]] (1999)
 
* [[Victor Yerrid]] - ''[[From the Balcony|From the Balcony: Episode 26]]'' (2006)
 
* [[Victor Yerrid]] - ''[[From the Balcony|From the Balcony: Episode 26]]'' (2006)
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* The Chef's gibberish gained a life of its own with the creation of a Unix filter capable of converting standard English to Chefspeak in 1992. The filter quickly became a staple of hacker culture and eventually spread to the mainstream with Swedish Chef translators on several Web sites such as Google. In 2003, Opera Software published a special Bork version of its internet browser that turned the MSN Web site into mock Swedish. Mozilla Firefox also contains a popular add-on called Bork Bork Bork! that allows the selective translation of text from Web pages of the user's choice. It is also a display language there.
 
* The Chef's gibberish gained a life of its own with the creation of a Unix filter capable of converting standard English to Chefspeak in 1992. The filter quickly became a staple of hacker culture and eventually spread to the mainstream with Swedish Chef translators on several Web sites such as Google. In 2003, Opera Software published a special Bork version of its internet browser that turned the MSN Web site into mock Swedish. Mozilla Firefox also contains a popular add-on called Bork Bork Bork! that allows the selective translation of text from Web pages of the user's choice. It is also a display language there.
   
* As a one-note joke, it is revealed by [[Jean Stapleton]] (who speaks mock Swedish) in [[Episode 306: Jean Stapleton|episode 306]] of ''The Muppet Show'', that the Swedish Chef's native language is mock [[Japan]]ese. Others who have conversed in mock Swedish include [[Steve Martin]], [[Danny Kaye]], [[Fleet Scribbler]], [[Carlton Cuse]] (in a "[[Lost Slapdown]]"), [[Statler]] (in [[Episode 412: Phyllis George|episode 412]]) and [[Brenda Song]] (''[[Studio DC Hosted by Dylan and Cole Sprouse]]'').
+
* As a one-note joke, it is revealed by [[Jean Stapleton]] (who speaks mock Swedish) in [[Episode 306: Jean Stapleton|episode 306]] of ''The Muppet Show'', that the Swedish Chef's native language is mock [[Japan|Japanese]]. Others who have conversed in mock Swedish include [[Steve Martin]], [[Danny Kaye]], [[Fleet Scribbler]], [[Carlton Cuse]] (in a "[[Lost Slapdown]]"), [[Statler]] (in [[Episode 412: Phyllis George|episode 412]]) and [[Brenda Song]] (''[[Studio DC Hosted by Dylan and Cole Sprouse]]'').
   
 
* In [[Episode 319: The Cavern of Lost Dreams|episode 319]] of ''[[Fraggle Rock]]'', [[Sprocket]] does an [[Sprocket's Impersonations|impersonation]] of the Swedish Chef.
 
* In [[Episode 319: The Cavern of Lost Dreams|episode 319]] of ''[[Fraggle Rock]]'', [[Sprocket]] does an [[Sprocket's Impersonations|impersonation]] of the Swedish Chef.
   
 
* There was a Swedish Chef sketch that was taped but not broadcast, in which the Chef prepared ratatouille.<ref>[[Karen Prell]], [http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showpost.php?p=100112 Muppet Central forum post, 4-25-2003]</ref>
 
* There was a Swedish Chef sketch that was taped but not broadcast, in which the Chef prepared ratatouille.<ref>[[Karen Prell]], [http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showpost.php?p=100112 Muppet Central forum post, 4-25-2003]</ref>
 
* In ''[[A Muppet Family Christmas]]'' he manages to say "Merry Christmas" in Swedish, "Gledelig Jul".
 
   
 
* In ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'', the name of his program is "Järnvägskorsning" (Railway Crossings).
 
* In ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'', the name of his program is "Järnvägskorsning" (Railway Crossings).
Line 44: Line 39:
 
**''Muppets Tonight'' [[Episode 101: Michelle Pfeiffer|episode 101]]: During the meeting at the beginning of the show.
 
**''Muppets Tonight'' [[Episode 101: Michelle Pfeiffer|episode 101]]: During the meeting at the beginning of the show.
   
* A wedding ring has appeared on the Swedish Chef's left hand as early as 2006. In 2014, [[Muppet plush (Disney Store)#Muppets Most Wanted (2014)|a plush version of the character]] donning his ring was released to coincide with the release of ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''.
+
* A wedding ring has appeared on the Swedish Chef's left hand as early as 2006. In 2014, [[Muppet plush (Disney Store)#Muppets Most Wanted (2014)|a plush version of the character]] donning his ring was released to coincide with the release of ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''. In ''[[The Muppets (2015)|The Muppets]]'' episode "[[Episode 110: Single All the Way|Single All the Way]]" [[Fozzie]] asks "Chef, you've been married for such a long time. If your wife left you, do you think you could live without her?" The Chef deflects answering the question by offering Fozzie a "Cuppycake."
  +
  +
* The Chef is one of the few regular characters from ''The Muppet Show'' who's original dialogue from the English version remains the same in most Non-English speaking countries.
  +
  +
* In recent productions, [[Steve Whitmire]] usually performs the Chef's hands. <ref>[[Bill Barretta]], [http://www.dennismillerradio.com/b/The-BladtCast-Podcast-52:-52-Pick-Up/-923740448646385791.html]</ref>
  +
  +
* According to the inside gatefold cover for ''[[The Muppet Revue]]'', The Swedish Chef was actually born in Denmark and moved to Sweden when he was a baby.
 
{{br}}
 
{{br}}
  +
 
==Sketches==
 
==Sketches==
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 valign=top
+
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 1</h3>
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 1</h3>
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
+
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
   
|- <div id="102" />
+
|- id="102" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SCmeatballs.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SCmeatballs.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | Meatballs<br>[[Episode 102: Connie Stevens|Episode 102]]
+
| align="center" | Meatballs<br>[[Episode 102: Connie Stevens|Episode 102]]
| The Swedish Chef prepares meatballs, which bounce when dropped. He then grabs a tennis racket and swats the meatball into the audience. [[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]] volleys it back with a racket of his own. "Fifteen, love!" says [[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]]. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[The Muppet Revue]]''}}
+
| The Swedish Chef prepares meatballs, which bounce when dropped. He then grabs a tennis racket and swats the meatball into the audience. [[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]] volleys it back with a racket of his own. "Fifteen, love!" says [[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]]. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[The Muppet Revue]]''}}
   
|- <div id="105" />
+
|- id="105" <div / >
 
| [[File:105-7.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[File:105-7.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Flapjacks<br>[[Episode 105: Rita Moreno|Episode 105]]
+
| align="center" | Flapjacks<br>[[Episode 105: Rita Moreno|Episode 105]]
 
| The Chef prepares pancakes, which wind up stuck on the ceiling. He then grabs a blunderbuss and shoots them down.
 
| The Chef prepares pancakes, which wind up stuck on the ceiling. He then grabs a blunderbuss and shoots them down.
   
|- <div id="111" />
+
|- id="111" <div / >
 
| [[Image:111chef.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:111chef.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Spaghetti<br>[[Episode 111: Lena Horne|Episode 111]]
+
| align="center" | Spaghetti<br>[[Episode 111: Lena Horne|Episode 111]]
| The [[spaghetti]] comes to life and attacks The Swedish Chef. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[Muppet Treasures]]'', Book: ''[[The Muppet Show Book]].''}}
+
| The [[spaghetti]] comes to life and attacks The Swedish Chef. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[Muppet Treasures]]''|book=''[[The Muppet Show Book]].''}}
   
|- <div id="114" />
+
|- id="114" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Scdonuts.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Scdonuts.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Doughnuts<br>[[Episode 114: Sandy Duncan|Episode 114]]
+
| align="center" | Doughnuts<br>[[Episode 114: Sandy Duncan|Episode 114]]
| The Swedish Chef uses a "boomashootn" (rifle) to shoot a hole through an English muffin to make a doughnut. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[Muppet Treasures]]'', Book: ''[[The Muppet Show Book]]''}}
+
| The Swedish Chef uses a "boomashootn" (rifle) to shoot a hole through an English muffin to make a doughnut. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[Muppet Treasures]]''|book=''[[The Muppet Show Book]]''}}
   
|- <div id="115" />
+
|- id="115" <div / >
 
| [[Image:115 chef.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:115 chef.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Spicy Sauce<br>[[Episode 115: Candice Bergen|Episode 115]]
+
| align="center" | Spicy Sauce<br>[[Episode 115: Candice Bergen|Episode 115]]
| The Swedish Chef's sauce is so spicy that his hat flies off, giving the audience a rare but brief glimpse of what the chef looks like without his hat. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[Muppet Moments]]''}}
+
| The Swedish Chef's sauce is so spicy that his hat flies off, giving the audience a rare but brief glimpse of what the chef looks like without his hat. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[Muppet Moments (video)|Muppet Moments]]''}}
   
|- <div id="120" />
+
|- id="120" <div / >
 
| [[Image:120-5.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:120-5.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | [[Japanese Cake]]<br>[[Episode 120: Valerie Harper|Episode 120]]
+
| align="center" | [[Japanese Cake]]<br>[[Episode 120: Valerie Harper|Episode 120]]
| The Chef adds cream and fruit to a chocolate cake, but as he goes to cut it, the cake loudly objects...in [[Japan]]ese! The cake is instead dispatched by a "cakenschmooscher" ([[Baseball|baseball bat]]). {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[Muppet Moments]]''}}
+
| The Chef adds cream and fruit to a chocolate cake, but as he goes to cut it, the cake loudly objects...in [[Japan]]ese! The cake is instead dispatched by a "cakenschmooscher" ([[Baseball|baseball bat]]). {{sketchrelease|video=''[[Muppet Moments (video)|Muppet Moments]]''}}
   
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 2</h3>
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 2</h3>
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
+
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
   
|- <div id="201" />
+
|- id="201" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SCfishiechowder.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SCfishiechowder.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | Fishie Chowder<br>[[Episode 201: Don Knotts|Episode 201]]
+
| align="center" | Fishie Chowder<br>[[Episode 201: Don Knotts|Episode 201]]
 
| The Swedish Chef attempts to make fish chowder using a live fish.
 
| The Swedish Chef attempts to make fish chowder using a live fish.
   
|- <div id="205" />
+
|- id="205" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef205.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef205.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Salad, Brussells Sprouts, and Coconut<br>[[Episode 205: Judy Collins|Episode 205]]
+
| align="center" | Salad, Brussells Sprouts, and Coconut<br>[[Episode 205: Judy Collins|Episode 205]]
 
| In a two-part sketch, The Swedish Chef shoots lettuce with a gun, first creating a salad and then Brussells sprouts. Later, he tries to shoot a coconut, but instead shoots a rubber chicken and gets hit by a coconut.
 
| In a two-part sketch, The Swedish Chef shoots lettuce with a gun, first creating a salad and then Brussells sprouts. Later, he tries to shoot a coconut, but instead shoots a rubber chicken and gets hit by a coconut.
   
|- <div id="209" />
+
|- id="209" <div / >
 
| [[Image:209-4.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:209-4.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Lobsters<br>[[Episode 209: Madeline Kahn|Episode 209]]
+
| align="center" | Lobster Thermidor<br>[[Episode 209: Madeline Kahn|Episode 209]]
| The Swedish Chef tries to boil a lobster, but is attacked by a group of lobster banditos, who rescue their comrade from the pot. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[The Muppet Revue]]'', Special:''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]'', Book: ''[[The Muppet Show Book]]'' (referred to as "Lobster Thermidor.")}}
+
| The Swedish Chef tries to boil a lobster, but is attacked by a group of lobster banditos, who rescue their comrade from the pot. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[The Muppet Revue]]''|book=''[[The Muppet Show Book]]''}}
   
|- <div id="212" />
+
|- id="212" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SCbombegg.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SCbombegg.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | Bomb Egg<br>[[Episode 212: Bernadette Peters|Episode 212]]
+
| align="center" | Bomb Egg<br>[[Episode 212: Bernadette Peters|Episode 212]]
| The Swedish Chef wants eggs for his dish, but his chicken lays a bomb. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[Muppet Moments]]''}}
+
| The Swedish Chef wants eggs for his dish, but his chicken lays a bomb. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[Muppet Moments (video)|Muppet Moments]]''}}
   
|- <div id="214" />
+
|- id="214" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Pingpongballeggs.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Pingpongballeggs.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Ping Pong Ball Eggs<br>[[Episode 214: Elton John|Episode 214]]
+
| align="center" | Ping Pong Ball Eggs<br>[[Episode 214: Elton John|Episode 214]]
 
| The Swedish Chef prepares "egg der chef," but his chicken only lays ping pong balls. The Chef becomes angry and pursues the hen with a cleaver; this becomes a literal running gag throughout the rest of the show.
 
| The Swedish Chef prepares "egg der chef," but his chicken only lays ping pong balls. The Chef becomes angry and pursues the hen with a cleaver; this becomes a literal running gag throughout the rest of the show.
   
|- <div id="215" />
+
|- id="215" <div / >
 
| [[Image:215 frogs legs.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:215 frogs legs.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Frog Legs<br>[[Episode 215: Lou Rawls|Episode 215]]
+
| align="center" | Frog Legs<br>[[Episode 215: Lou Rawls|Episode 215]]
 
| Since [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] rushes the Swedish Chef onstage (when he's not ready), the Chef takes [[Robin the Frog|Robin]] and tries to prepare frog legs.
 
| Since [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] rushes the Swedish Chef onstage (when he's not ready), the Chef takes [[Robin the Frog|Robin]] and tries to prepare frog legs.
   
|- <div id="216" />
+
|- id="216" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SwedishChefwithCleoLaine.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SwedishChefwithCleoLaine.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | Salad<br>[[Episode 216: Cleo Laine|Episode 216]]
+
| align="center" | Salad<br>[[Episode 216: Cleo Laine|Episode 216]]
 
| The Swedish Chef makes a salad while [[Cleo Laine]] sings "[[You're Just in Love]]."
 
| The Swedish Chef makes a salad while [[Cleo Laine]] sings "[[You're Just in Love]]."
   
|- <div id="217" />
+
|- id="217" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Chef217.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Chef217.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Cow<br>[[Episode 217: Julie Andrews|Episode 217]]
+
| align="center" | Cow<br>[[Episode 217: Julie Andrews|Episode 217]]
 
| The Chef paints on a real live cow to demarcate the different cuts of beef.
 
| The Chef paints on a real live cow to demarcate the different cuts of beef.
   
|- <div id="218" />
+
|- id="218" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef218.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef218.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Coconut<br>[[Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan|Episode 218]]
+
| align="center" | Coconut<br>[[Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan|Episode 218]]
 
| The Chef hammers and saws a coconut, trying to crack it. When he finally gets it open, he discovers a bomb inside it.
 
| The Chef hammers and saws a coconut, trying to crack it. When he finally gets it open, he discovers a bomb inside it.
   
|- <div id="220" />
+
|- id="220" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SCchocolatemoose.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SCchocolatemoose.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | Chocolate Moose<br>[[Episode 220: Petula Clark|Episode 220]]
+
| align="center" | Chocolate Moose<br>[[Episode 220: Petula Clark|Episode 220]]
| [[Mickey Moose]] helps the Chef make "chocolate moose". Kermit interrupts this play on words. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[It's The Muppets: Meet the Muppets]]''}}
+
| [[Mickey Moose]] helps the Chef make "chocolate moose". Kermit interrupts this play on words. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[It's The Muppets: Meet the Muppets]]''}}
   
|- <div id="221" />
+
|- id="221" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SwedishChefwithDuck.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SwedishChefwithDuck.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | Pressed Duck<br>[[Episode 221: Bob Hope|Episode 221]]
+
| align="center" | Pressed Duck<br>[[Episode 221: Bob Hope|Episode 221]]
 
| The Swedish Chef tries to use the iron to press [[Ronald Duck]], who grabs it and then drops it on him and flies away.
 
| The Swedish Chef tries to use the iron to press [[Ronald Duck]], who grabs it and then drops it on him and flies away.
   
|- <div id="224" />
+
|- id="224" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Pigchef.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Pigchef.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Popcorn<br>[[Episode 224: Cloris Leachman|Episode 224]]
+
| align="center" | Popcorn<br>[[Episode 224: Cloris Leachman|Episode 224]]
 
| [[The Swedish Pig]] makes popcorn.
 
| [[The Swedish Pig]] makes popcorn.
   
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 3</h3>
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 3</h3>
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
+
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
   
|- <div id="303" />
+
|- id="303" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef303.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef303.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Living Dough<br>[[Episode 303: Roy Clark|Episode 303]]
+
| align="center" | Living Dough<br>[[Episode 303: Roy Clark|Episode 303]]
 
| The Swedish Chef is attacked by living dough, which hits him with his own rolling pin.<br />''Note: This is the last Swedish Chef sketch to take place in the original [[The Swedish Chef's Kitchen|kitchen set]].''
 
| The Swedish Chef is attacked by living dough, which hits him with his own rolling pin.<br />''Note: This is the last Swedish Chef sketch to take place in the original [[The Swedish Chef's Kitchen|kitchen set]].''
   
|- <div id="309" />
+
|- id="309" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Vets.swedishchef.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Vets.swedishchef.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Patient Swedish Chef<br>[[Episode 309: Liberace|Episode 309]]
+
| align="center" | Patient Swedish Chef<br>[[Episode 309: Liberace|Episode 309]]
 
| What starts as a Swedish Chef sketch finishes with [[Veterinarian's Hospital]], as the hospital staff discover the chef has a rare case of in-grown coffee pot.
 
| What starts as a Swedish Chef sketch finishes with [[Veterinarian's Hospital]], as the hospital staff discover the chef has a rare case of in-grown coffee pot.
   
|- <div id="311" />
+
|- id="311" <div / >
 
| [[Image:311-15.jpg‎|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:311-15.jpg‎|250px|center]]
| align=center | Chicken in the Basket<br>[[Episode 311: Raquel Welch|Episode 311]]
+
| align="center" | Chicken in the Basket<br>[[Episode 311: Raquel Welch|Episode 311]]
| The Swedish Chef throws a chicken through a basketball hoop. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[The Muppet Revue]]'', ''[[It's the Muppets!: More Muppets, Please!]]''}}
+
| The Swedish Chef throws a chicken through a basketball hoop. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[The Muppet Revue]]'', ''[[It's the Muppets!: More Muppets, Please!|More Muppets, Please!]]''}}
   
|- <div id="312" />
+
|- id="312" <div / >
 
| [[Image:312-12.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:312-12.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Banana Split<br>[[Episode 312: James Coco|Episode 312]]
+
| align="center" | Banana Split<br>[[Episode 312: James Coco|Episode 312]]
 
| While preparing a banana split, the Swedish Chef is continuously interrupted by Spanish dancers.
 
| While preparing a banana split, the Swedish Chef is continuously interrupted by Spanish dancers.
   
|- <div id="316" />
+
|- id="316" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Turkey.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Turkey.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | The Chef and his Uncle<br>[[Episode 316: Danny Kaye|Episode 316]]
+
| align="center" | The Chef and his Uncle<br>[[Episode 316: Danny Kaye|Episode 316]]
 
| The Swedish Chef is joined by his uncle (played by [[Danny Kaye]]), and they make a turkey.
 
| The Swedish Chef is joined by his uncle (played by [[Danny Kaye]]), and they make a turkey.
   
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 4</h3>
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 4</h3>
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
+
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
   
|- <div id="401" />
+
|- id="401" <div / >
 
| [[Image:401-10.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:401-10.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Squirrel Stew<br>[[Episode 401: John Denver|Episode 401]]
+
| align="center" | Squirrel Stew<br>[[Episode 401: John Denver|Episode 401]]
 
| The Chef is out in the woods, trying to make squirrel stew.
 
| The Chef is out in the woods, trying to make squirrel stew.
   
|- <div id="404" />
+
|- id="404" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SwedishChefHotDogs.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SwedishChefHotDogs.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Hot Dogs<br>[[Episode 404: Dyan Cannon|Episode 404]]
+
| align="center" | Hot Dogs<br>[[Episode 404: Dyan Cannon|Episode 404]]
| The Chef prepares hot dogs. [[Miss Piggy]], who is looking for [[Foo Foo]], comes on-stage, asking the chef if he has seen her dog. The Swedish Chef, assuming the query is about the wieners, says that the dog is in the pot, causing Piggy to think that the chef is cooking Foo Foo. {{sketchrelease|Video: ''[[It's the Muppets: More Muppets, Please!]]''}}
+
| The Chef prepares hot dogs. [[Miss Piggy]], who is looking for [[Foo Foo]], comes on-stage, asking the chef if he has seen her dog. The Swedish Chef, assuming the query is about the wieners, says that the dog is in the pot, causing Piggy to think that the chef is cooking Foo Foo. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[It's the Muppets: More Muppets, Please!|More Muppets, Please!]]''}}
   
|- <div id="405" />
+
|- id="405" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef405.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedishchef405.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Turtle Soup<br>[[Episode 405: Victor Borge|Episode 405]]
+
| align="center" | Turtle Soup<br>[[Episode 405: Victor Borge|Episode 405]]
 
| Chef attempts to make turtle soup, but the turtle keeps pulling up into his shell when the Chef is about to hack off his head. Frustrated, the Chef threatens the animal with a blunderbuss, only to be met with a double-barreled miniature canon from within the turtle's shell.
 
| Chef attempts to make turtle soup, but the turtle keeps pulling up into his shell when the Chef is about to hack off his head. Frustrated, the Chef threatens the animal with a blunderbuss, only to be met with a double-barreled miniature canon from within the turtle's shell.
   
|- <div id="408" />
+
|- id="408" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Home-Meal-4.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Home-Meal-4.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Home-Cooked Meal<br>[[Episode 408: Arlo Guthrie|Episode 408]]
+
| align="center" | Home-Cooked Meal<br>[[Episode 408: Arlo Guthrie|Episode 408]]
 
| The Chef plans a home-cooked meal, but the turkey refuses to be skewered, the pig busts him in the face, and the "beef" stampedes over him. Even the vegetable stew is unsuccessful. Eventually, the Chef unveils his dinner -- vitamin pills.
 
| The Chef plans a home-cooked meal, but the turkey refuses to be skewered, the pig busts him in the face, and the "beef" stampedes over him. Even the vegetable stew is unsuccessful. Eventually, the Chef unveils his dinner -- vitamin pills.
   
|- <div id="412" />
+
|- id="412" <div / >
 
| [[Image:No-Bananas.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:No-Bananas.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | No Bananas<br>[[Episode 412: Phyllis George|Episode 412]]
+
| align="center" | No Bananas<br>[[Episode 412: Phyllis George|Episode 412]]
 
| The Chef sings "[[Yes, We Have No Bananas]]" with the [[Singing Food]].
 
| The Chef sings "[[Yes, We Have No Bananas]]" with the [[Singing Food]].
   
|- <div id="423" />
+
|- id="423" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedish-chef-meat-in-shoe.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedish-chef-meat-in-shoe.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Meat Loafers<br>[[Episode 423: Carol Channing|Episode 423]]
+
| align="center" | Meat Loafers<br>[[Episode 423: Carol Channing|Episode 423]]
 
| The chef puts meat into a shoe. The owner of the shoe, a pig, demands to have his shoe back, and puts it on, despite the fact that there is meat in it. He then gets chased by dogs.
 
| The chef puts meat into a shoe. The owner of the shoe, a pig, demands to have his shoe back, and puts it on, despite the fact that there is meat in it. He then gets chased by dogs.
   
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 5</h3>
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>The Muppet Show Season 5</h3>
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
+
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
 
! Picture !! Title / Episode !! Description
   
|- <div id="508" />
+
|- id="508" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedish-Lump-Bread-Puppetry.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedish-Lump-Bread-Puppetry.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Swedish Lump Bread Puppetry<br>[[Episode 508: Señor Wences|Episode 508]]
+
| align="center" | Swedish Lump Bread Puppetry<br>[[Episode 508: Señor Wences|Episode 508]]
 
| The Swedish Chef makes a puppet using his hands and some bread dough as he sings "[[These Boots Are Made for Walkin']]" in his native tongue.
 
| The Swedish Chef makes a puppet using his hands and some bread dough as he sings "[[These Boots Are Made for Walkin']]" in his native tongue.
   
|- <div id="512" />
+
|- id="512" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedish-Chef_Spring-Chickens.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedish-Chef_Spring-Chickens.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Spring Chickens<br>[[Episode 512: Melissa Manchester|Episode 512]]
+
| align="center" | Spring Chickens<br>[[Episode 512: Melissa Manchester|Episode 512]]
 
| The Chef makes spring chickens, which ''spring'' out of control.<br />''Note: This is the only Swedish Chef sketch where [[The Announcer (Muppet Show)|The Announcer]] introduces the act.''
 
| The Chef makes spring chickens, which ''spring'' out of control.<br />''Note: This is the only Swedish Chef sketch where [[The Announcer (Muppet Show)|The Announcer]] introduces the act.''
   
|- <div id="514" />
+
|- id="514" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Swedish-chef-soup.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Swedish-chef-soup.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Soup<br>[[Episode 514: Mac Davis|Episode 514]]
+
| align="center" | Soup<br>[[Episode 514: Mac Davis|Episode 514]]
 
| The Swedish Chef prepares soup, but gets interrupted by multiple [[Beaker|Beakers]].
 
| The Swedish Chef prepares soup, but gets interrupted by multiple [[Beaker|Beakers]].
   
|- <div id="522" />
+
|- id="522" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Chef522.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Chef522.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Soufflé<br>[[Episode 522: Buddy Rich|Episode 522]]
+
| align="center" | Soufflé<br>[[Episode 522: Buddy Rich|Episode 522]]
 
| The Swedish Chef prepares a lighter than air soufflé.
 
| The Swedish Chef prepares a lighter than air soufflé.
   
|- <div id="523" />
+
|- id="523" <div / >
 
| [[Image:523-10.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:523-10.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Champagne<br>[[Episode 523: Linda Ronstadt|Episode 523]]
+
| align="center" | Champagne<br>[[Episode 523: Linda Ronstadt|Episode 523]]
 
| The Chef goes flying when he pops a bottle of champagne.
 
| The Chef goes flying when he pops a bottle of champagne.
   
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>Additional Sketches (Non-Muppet Show)</h3>
 
| colspan="4" | <h3>Additional Sketches (Non-Muppet Show)</h3>
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
+
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
 
! Picture !! Title / Show !! Description
 
! Picture !! Title / Show !! Description
   
|- <div id="sex" />
+
|- id="sex" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Cap587.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Cap587.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | Sandwich<br>''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]''
+
| align="center" | Sandwich<br>''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]''
 
| In a three-part sketch, the Swedish Chef makes a sandwich, using many unusual ingredients. Eventually, the sandwich sprouts wings and flies away, but the chef shoots it down with a gun.
 
| In a three-part sketch, the Swedish Chef makes a sandwich, using many unusual ingredients. Eventually, the sandwich sprouts wings and flies away, but the chef shoots it down with a gun.
   
|- <div id="cake" />
+
|- id="carson" <div / >
  +
| [[Image:Noimage.png|100px|center]]
  +
| align="center" | Salad<br>''[[The Tonight Show]]'' (1976)
  +
| The Swedish Chef makes a salad using almost every bit of food (or otherwise) he has on his table. It explodes when he tries to flambé it.
  +
  +
|- id="cake" <div / >
 
| [[Image:SwedishChef-hensonhour.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:SwedishChef-hensonhour.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Cake<br>''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]''<br>([[Episode 107: Fitness|Episode 107]])
+
| align="center" | Cake<br>''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]''<br>([[Episode 107: Fitness|Episode 107]])
 
| The Swedish Chef attempts to make a cake, but is interrupted by [[Jaques Roach]], who explains that roaches are indestructible because of their eating habits.
 
| The Swedish Chef attempts to make a cake, but is interrupted by [[Jaques Roach]], who explains that roaches are indestructible because of their eating habits.
   
|- <div id="disney" />
+
|- id="disney" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Svenska_tacos.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Svenska_tacos.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Tacos<br>''[[The Muppets at Walt Disney World]]''
+
| align="center" | Tacos<br>''[[The Muppets at Walt Disney World]]''
 
| The Chef prepares a taco for [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew|Bunsen]] and [[Beaker]], which is so hot that it blows the pail that has been stuck on Beaker's head clear off... and back on again.<br />''Note: The closing for his opening song is "Olé" instead of the usual "Bork, bork, bork."''
 
| The Chef prepares a taco for [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew|Bunsen]] and [[Beaker]], which is so hot that it blows the pail that has been stuck on Beaker's head clear off... and back on again.<br />''Note: The closing for his opening song is "Olé" instead of the usual "Bork, bork, bork."''
   
|- <div id="mtv" />
+
|- id="mtv" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Chefwyclef01.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Chefwyclef01.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Europe MTV Music Awards
+
| align="center" | Europe MTV Music Awards
 
| Chef and [[Wyclef Jean]] perform on stage at the Europe MTV Music Awards on November 16, 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden.
 
| Chef and [[Wyclef Jean]] perform on stage at the Europe MTV Music Awards on November 16, 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden.
   
|- <div id="balcony1" />
+
|- id="balcony1" <div / >
 
| [[Image:FTB episode4.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:FTB episode4.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | [[The Dukes of Hazzard|Daisy Dukes]]<br>''[[From the Balcony]]'' (Episode 4)
+
| align="center" | [[The Dukes of Hazzard|Daisy Dukes]]<br>''[[From the Balcony]]'' (Episode 4)
 
| The Swedish Chef makes Daisy Dukes.
 
| The Swedish Chef makes Daisy Dukes.
   
|- <div id="balcony2" />
+
|- id="balcony2" <div / >
 
| [[Image:Ep26.JPG|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Ep26.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center | [[Nacho Libre|Nachos Libre]]<br>''[[From the Balcony]]'' (Episode 26)
+
| align="center" | [[Nacho Libre|Nachos Libre]]<br>''[[From the Balcony]]'' (Episode 26)
 
| The Swedish Chef makes "Nachos Libre" with nachos, black pepper, a mask, a bell, eggs, and flour. It punches him afterwards.
 
| The Swedish Chef makes "Nachos Libre" with nachos, black pepper, a mask, a bell, eggs, and flour. It punches him afterwards.
   
|- <div id="pumpkin" />
+
|- id="pumpkin" <div / >
 
| [[Image:PumpkinCarving01.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:PumpkinCarving01.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Cårven Der Pümpkîn<br>[[Muppet viral videos|Muppet viral video]]
+
| align="center" | Cårven Der Pümpkîn<br>[[Muppet viral videos|Muppet viral video]]
| The Swedish Chef attempts to make jack-o-lanterns out of two talking pumpkins for Halloween. The pumpkins then suggest that he use miscellaneous items that would not normally be used (i.e. a battle axe, a chainsaw, and a bazooka). After he gets out the bazooka, the pumpkins get blasted into two pumpkin pies, which the Chef titles "der pümpkîn pie a la bazookie", right before passing out from the explosion. This is then followed by a little heckling from [[Statler and Waldorf]] who have been watching the clip on their computer. {{sketchrelease|Online: {{youtube|2Qj8PhxSnhg}}}}
+
| The Swedish Chef attempts to make jack-o-lanterns out of two talking pumpkins for Halloween. The pumpkins then suggest that he use miscellaneous items that would not normally be used (i.e. a battle axe, a chainsaw, and a bazooka). After he gets out the bazooka, the pumpkins get blasted into two pumpkin pies, which the Chef titles "der pümpkîn pie a la bazookie", right before passing out from the explosion. This is then followed by a little heckling from [[Statler and Waldorf]] who have been watching the clip on their computer. {{sketchrelease|online={{youtube|2Qj8PhxSnhg}}}}
   
|- <div id="popcorn" />
+
|- id="popcorn" <div / >
 
| [[File:ChefPopcorn.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[File:ChefPopcorn.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | ''[[Popcorn|Pöpcørn]]''<br>[[Muppet viral videos|Muppet viral video]]
+
| align="center" | ''[[Popcorn|Pöpcørn]]''<br>[[Muppet viral videos|Muppet viral video]]
| The Swedish Chef prepares popcorn shrimp to the tune of Hot Butter's "[[Popcorn]]." The video also provides captions, although the caption writer admits that they have no idea what the chef is saying; they just try to write it phonetically, which even the writer can't spell. {{sketchrelease|Online: {{youtube|B7UmUX68KtE}}}}
+
| The Swedish Chef prepares popcorn shrimp to the tune of Hot Butter's "[[Popcorn]]." The video also provides captions, although the caption writer admits that they have no idea what the chef is saying; they just try to write it phonetically, which even the writer can't spell. {{sketchrelease|online={{youtube|B7UmUX68KtE}}}}
   
|- <div id="turkey" />
+
|- id="turkey" <div / >
 
| [[File:Muppets2011Trailer02-39.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[File:Muppets2011Trailer02-39.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | Turkey<br>''[[The Muppets]]''
+
| align="center" | Turkey<br>''[[The Muppets]]''
 
| The Swedish Chef attempts to prepare a turkey.
 
| The Swedish Chef attempts to prepare a turkey.
 
<br />''Note: This scene was [[The Muppets deleted scenes|deleted]] from the film, but a very brief clip of it appears in a [[The Muppets TV spots|TV spot]] and a [[The Muppets Second Official Trailer|trailer]].''
 
<br />''Note: This scene was [[The Muppets deleted scenes|deleted]] from the film, but a very brief clip of it appears in a [[The Muppets TV spots|TV spot]] and a [[The Muppets Second Official Trailer|trailer]].''
   
|- <div id="poutine" />
+
|- id="poutine" <div / >
 
| [[File:JustforLaughs07.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[File:JustforLaughs07.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center | "The Poutine"<br>''[[Just for Laughs]]''
+
| align="center" | "The Poutine"<br>''[[Just for Laughs]]''
 
| The Chef gets a heart attack after eating his own poutine.
 
| The Chef gets a heart attack after eating his own poutine.
 
|}
 
|}
 
[[File:Swedish Chef wedding ring Gaga xmas.jpg|thumb|300px|Close-up of Chef's wedding ring.]]
 
[[File:Swedish Chef wedding ring Gaga xmas.jpg|thumb|300px|Close-up of Chef's wedding ring.]]
 
[[File:Swed_chef_juggling.png|right|316px]]
 
[[File:Swed_chef_juggling.png|right|316px]]
  +
 
==[[The Muppet Show Comic Book]]==
 
==[[The Muppet Show Comic Book]]==
 
*[[The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets|Meet the Muppets]]: Because everyone is trying to cheer Kermit up, Robin tries to get the Chef to make Lily Pad Goulash. The Chef fails to understand him and thinks he wants Frogs' Legs Goulash, then takes Robin to make the dish. Onstage, Robin talks the Chef into stopping, and leaves.
 
*[[The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets|Meet the Muppets]]: Because everyone is trying to cheer Kermit up, Robin tries to get the Chef to make Lily Pad Goulash. The Chef fails to understand him and thinks he wants Frogs' Legs Goulash, then takes Robin to make the dish. Onstage, Robin talks the Chef into stopping, and leaves.
Line 332: Line 340:
 
*''[[The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson]]''
 
*''[[The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson]]''
 
*''[[Muppet Snow White]]''
 
*''[[Muppet Snow White]]''
  +
*''[[The Muppets Character Encyclopedia]]''
   
<gallery orientation=landscape>
+
<gallery orientation="landscape">
  +
ChefMAH.jpg|Swedish Chef at the Smithsonian
 
Chef_smoking.jpg|
 
Chef_smoking.jpg|
 
SwedishChefHappyThanksgiving.jpg|
 
SwedishChefHappyThanksgiving.jpg|
Line 339: Line 349:
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
<references/>
+
<references />
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
Line 349: Line 359:
 
[[Category:Muppet Show Recurring Sketches]]
 
[[Category:Muppet Show Recurring Sketches]]
 
[[Category:Food]]
 
[[Category:Food]]
  +
[[Category:The Muppets (2015) Characters]]

Revision as of 13:48, 8 December 2015

Swedish-chef
PERFORMER Jim Henson 1975-1990
  Bill Barretta 1996-present
  CASTING HISTORY...
DEBUT 1975
DESIGN Michael K. Frith designer
  Jim Henson,
Bonnie Erickson builders
Swedish poser
Chef and kermit

The Swedish Chef is the incomprehensible preparer of foodstuffs from The Muppet Show. A rather literal variation of the Live-Hand Muppet concept, the Swedish Chef is a humanoid character, with human hands rather than gloves. On The Muppet Show, Frank Oz performed the character's hands. The chef first appeared in The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence in 1975, with Chinese subtitles for his dialog, and Richard Hunt performing the hands. Only in photo puppets used specifically for photo shoots does the Swedish Chef have standard Muppet hands.

According to Brian Henson in one of his introductions for The Muppet Show, "Jim Henson had this tape that he used to play which was 'How to Speak Mock Swedish'. And he used to drive to work and I used to ride with him a lot. And he would drive to work trying to make a chicken sandwich in Mock Swedish or make a turkey casserole in Mock Swedish. It was the most ridiculous thing you had ever seen. And people at traffic lights used to stop and sort of look at him a little crazy. But that was the roots of the character that would eventually become the Swedish Chef". Jim Henson had previously explored the idea of a funny foreign chef at the US Food Fair that took place in Hamburg, Germany in 1961, where Sam and Friends character Omar prepared a flaming salad while speaking in some quite comprehensible mock German that Henson and Jerry Juhl had previously scribbled down in phonetics.[1]

Nearly all Swedish Chef sketches begin with him in a kitchen, waving some utensils while singing his signature song [2] in a trademark mock Swedish, a semi-comprehensible gibberish which parodies the characteristic vowel sounds of Swedish. The last line of the song is always "Børk! Børk! Børk!" and is punctuated by the Chef throwing the utensils over his shoulder to crash into the crockery behind him. (Although the letter "ø" does not exist in Swedish—it is a Danish/Norwegian letter whose Swedish equivalent is "ö"—the Chef's trademark word is nearly always spelled "Børk.")

After this introduction, the Chef continues to speak gibberish while preparing a particular recipe. His commentary is spiced with the occasional English word to clue the viewer in to what he is attempting. These clues are necessary as he frequently uses unorthodox culinary equipment (firearms, tennis rackets, etc.) to prepare his dishes. The sketch typically degenerates into a slapstick finale, and he often winds up in pitched battle with his ingredients, from Lobster Banditos to a Japanese Cake. The Swedish Chef has also appeared, at least briefly, in every Muppet film to date. He was put in charge of running the film projector in The Muppet Movie and Muppet*Vision 3D. In A Muppet Family Christmas, he attempts to cook the Christmas turkey, then sets his sights on Big Bird instead.

The Swedish Chef's popularity led to his own cereal, Cröonchy Stars, in 1988. Commercials for the product featured the Chef, up to his usual antics. In the 1990s, the Swedish Chef appeared regularly on Donna's Day starting in the second season.

In episode 316, Danny Kaye, portraying the chef's uncle in a sketch, claims that the Swedish Chef's first name is Tom. However, since Kaye was not a blood relative in reality, this information may be considered apocryphal. Many years later on The Muppets, Christina Applegate misinterprets his name as Megan in "Bear Left Then Bear Write", when he was actually just saying, "me, me."[3]

Casting History

Primary Performers

Other Performers

Trivia

  • The Chef's gibberish gained a life of its own with the creation of a Unix filter capable of converting standard English to Chefspeak in 1992. The filter quickly became a staple of hacker culture and eventually spread to the mainstream with Swedish Chef translators on several Web sites such as Google. In 2003, Opera Software published a special Bork version of its internet browser that turned the MSN Web site into mock Swedish. Mozilla Firefox also contains a popular add-on called Bork Bork Bork! that allows the selective translation of text from Web pages of the user's choice. It is also a display language there.
  • There was a Swedish Chef sketch that was taped but not broadcast, in which the Chef prepared ratatouille.[4]
  • While The Swedish Chef normally has live human hands, he also occasionally has Muppet hands. Examples include:
    • The Muppet Show episode 218: following The Swedish Chef's sketch.
    • Muppets Tonight episode 101: During the meeting at the beginning of the show.
  • A wedding ring has appeared on the Swedish Chef's left hand as early as 2006. In 2014, a plush version of the character donning his ring was released to coincide with the release of Muppets Most Wanted. In The Muppets episode "Single All the Way" Fozzie asks "Chef, you've been married for such a long time. If your wife left you, do you think you could live without her?" The Chef deflects answering the question by offering Fozzie a "Cuppycake."
  • The Chef is one of the few regular characters from The Muppet Show who's original dialogue from the English version remains the same in most Non-English speaking countries.
  • According to the inside gatefold cover for The Muppet Revue, The Swedish Chef was actually born in Denmark and moved to Sweden when he was a baby.


Sketches

The Muppet Show Season 1

Picture Title / Episode Description
SCmeatballs
Meatballs
Episode 102
The Swedish Chef prepares meatballs, which bounce when dropped. He then grabs a tennis racket and swats the meatball into the audience. Statler volleys it back with a racket of his own. "Fifteen, love!" says Waldorf.
105-7
Flapjacks
Episode 105
The Chef prepares pancakes, which wind up stuck on the ceiling. He then grabs a blunderbuss and shoots them down.
111chef
Spaghetti
Episode 111
The spaghetti comes to life and attacks The Swedish Chef.
Scdonuts
Doughnuts
Episode 114
The Swedish Chef uses a "boomashootn" (rifle) to shoot a hole through an English muffin to make a doughnut.
115 chef
Spicy Sauce
Episode 115
The Swedish Chef's sauce is so spicy that his hat flies off, giving the audience a rare but brief glimpse of what the chef looks like without his hat.
120-5
Japanese Cake
Episode 120
The Chef adds cream and fruit to a chocolate cake, but as he goes to cut it, the cake loudly objects...in Japanese! The cake is instead dispatched by a "cakenschmooscher" (baseball bat).

The Muppet Show Season 2

Picture Title / Episode Description
SCfishiechowder
Fishie Chowder
Episode 201
The Swedish Chef attempts to make fish chowder using a live fish.
Swedishchef205
Salad, Brussells Sprouts, and Coconut
Episode 205
In a two-part sketch, The Swedish Chef shoots lettuce with a gun, first creating a salad and then Brussells sprouts. Later, he tries to shoot a coconut, but instead shoots a rubber chicken and gets hit by a coconut.
209-4
Lobster Thermidor
Episode 209
The Swedish Chef tries to boil a lobster, but is attacked by a group of lobster banditos, who rescue their comrade from the pot.
SCbombegg
Bomb Egg
Episode 212
The Swedish Chef wants eggs for his dish, but his chicken lays a bomb.
Ping Pong Ball Eggs
Episode 214
The Swedish Chef prepares "egg der chef," but his chicken only lays ping pong balls. The Chef becomes angry and pursues the hen with a cleaver; this becomes a literal running gag throughout the rest of the show.
215 frogs legs
Frog Legs
Episode 215
Since Kermit rushes the Swedish Chef onstage (when he's not ready), the Chef takes Robin and tries to prepare frog legs.
SwedishChefwithCleoLaine
Salad
Episode 216
The Swedish Chef makes a salad while Cleo Laine sings "You're Just in Love."
Chef217
Cow
Episode 217
The Chef paints on a real live cow to demarcate the different cuts of beef.
Swedishchef218
Coconut
Episode 218
The Chef hammers and saws a coconut, trying to crack it. When he finally gets it open, he discovers a bomb inside it.
SCchocolatemoose
Chocolate Moose
Episode 220
Mickey Moose helps the Chef make "chocolate moose". Kermit interrupts this play on words.
SwedishChefwithDuck
Pressed Duck
Episode 221
The Swedish Chef tries to use the iron to press Ronald Duck, who grabs it and then drops it on him and flies away.
Pigchef
Popcorn
Episode 224
The Swedish Pig makes popcorn.

The Muppet Show Season 3

Picture Title / Episode Description
Swedishchef303
Living Dough
Episode 303
The Swedish Chef is attacked by living dough, which hits him with his own rolling pin.
Note: This is the last Swedish Chef sketch to take place in the original kitchen set.
Vets.swedishchef
Patient Swedish Chef
Episode 309
What starts as a Swedish Chef sketch finishes with Veterinarian's Hospital, as the hospital staff discover the chef has a rare case of in-grown coffee pot.
311-15
Chicken in the Basket
Episode 311
The Swedish Chef throws a chicken through a basketball hoop.
312-12
Banana Split
Episode 312
While preparing a banana split, the Swedish Chef is continuously interrupted by Spanish dancers.
Turkey
The Chef and his Uncle
Episode 316
The Swedish Chef is joined by his uncle (played by Danny Kaye), and they make a turkey.

The Muppet Show Season 4

Picture Title / Episode Description
401-10
Squirrel Stew
Episode 401
The Chef is out in the woods, trying to make squirrel stew.
SwedishChefHotDogs
Hot Dogs
Episode 404
The Chef prepares hot dogs. Miss Piggy, who is looking for Foo Foo, comes on-stage, asking the chef if he has seen her dog. The Swedish Chef, assuming the query is about the wieners, says that the dog is in the pot, causing Piggy to think that the chef is cooking Foo Foo.
Swedishchef405
Turtle Soup
Episode 405
Chef attempts to make turtle soup, but the turtle keeps pulling up into his shell when the Chef is about to hack off his head. Frustrated, the Chef threatens the animal with a blunderbuss, only to be met with a double-barreled miniature canon from within the turtle's shell.
Home-Meal-4
Home-Cooked Meal
Episode 408
The Chef plans a home-cooked meal, but the turkey refuses to be skewered, the pig busts him in the face, and the "beef" stampedes over him. Even the vegetable stew is unsuccessful. Eventually, the Chef unveils his dinner -- vitamin pills.
No Bananas
Episode 412
The Chef sings "Yes, We Have No Bananas" with the Singing Food.
Swedish-chef-meat-in-shoe
Meat Loafers
Episode 423
The chef puts meat into a shoe. The owner of the shoe, a pig, demands to have his shoe back, and puts it on, despite the fact that there is meat in it. He then gets chased by dogs.

The Muppet Show Season 5

Picture Title / Episode Description
Swedish Lump Bread Puppetry
Episode 508
The Swedish Chef makes a puppet using his hands and some bread dough as he sings "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" in his native tongue.
Spring Chickens
Episode 512
The Chef makes spring chickens, which spring out of control.
Note: This is the only Swedish Chef sketch where The Announcer introduces the act.
Soup
Episode 514
The Swedish Chef prepares soup, but gets interrupted by multiple Beakers.
Chef522
Soufflé
Episode 522
The Swedish Chef prepares a lighter than air soufflé.
523-10
Champagne
Episode 523
The Chef goes flying when he pops a bottle of champagne.

Additional Sketches (Non-Muppet Show)

Picture Title / Show Description
Cap587
Sandwich
The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
In a three-part sketch, the Swedish Chef makes a sandwich, using many unusual ingredients. Eventually, the sandwich sprouts wings and flies away, but the chef shoots it down with a gun.
Noimage
Salad
The Tonight Show (1976)
The Swedish Chef makes a salad using almost every bit of food (or otherwise) he has on his table. It explodes when he tries to flambé it.
Cake
The Jim Henson Hour
(Episode 107)
The Swedish Chef attempts to make a cake, but is interrupted by Jaques Roach, who explains that roaches are indestructible because of their eating habits.
Svenska tacos
Tacos
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
The Chef prepares a taco for Bunsen and Beaker, which is so hot that it blows the pail that has been stuck on Beaker's head clear off... and back on again.
Note: The closing for his opening song is "Olé" instead of the usual "Bork, bork, bork."
Chefwyclef01
Europe MTV Music Awards Chef and Wyclef Jean perform on stage at the Europe MTV Music Awards on November 16, 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden.
FTB episode4
Daisy Dukes
From the Balcony (Episode 4)
The Swedish Chef makes Daisy Dukes.
Ep26
Nachos Libre
From the Balcony (Episode 26)
The Swedish Chef makes "Nachos Libre" with nachos, black pepper, a mask, a bell, eggs, and flour. It punches him afterwards.
PumpkinCarving01
Cårven Der Pümpkîn
Muppet viral video
The Swedish Chef attempts to make jack-o-lanterns out of two talking pumpkins for Halloween. The pumpkins then suggest that he use miscellaneous items that would not normally be used (i.e. a battle axe, a chainsaw, and a bazooka). After he gets out the bazooka, the pumpkins get blasted into two pumpkin pies, which the Chef titles "der pümpkîn pie a la bazookie", right before passing out from the explosion. This is then followed by a little heckling from Statler and Waldorf who have been watching the clip on their computer.
ChefPopcorn
Pöpcørn
Muppet viral video
The Swedish Chef prepares popcorn shrimp to the tune of Hot Butter's "Popcorn." The video also provides captions, although the caption writer admits that they have no idea what the chef is saying; they just try to write it phonetically, which even the writer can't spell.
Muppets2011Trailer02-39
Turkey
The Muppets
The Swedish Chef attempts to prepare a turkey.


Note: This scene was deleted from the film, but a very brief clip of it appears in a TV spot and a trailer.

JustforLaughs07
"The Poutine"
Just for Laughs
The Chef gets a heart attack after eating his own poutine.
File:Swedish Chef wedding ring Gaga xmas.jpg

Close-up of Chef's wedding ring.

Swed chef juggling

The Muppet Show Comic Book

  • Meet the Muppets: Because everyone is trying to cheer Kermit up, Robin tries to get the Chef to make Lily Pad Goulash. The Chef fails to understand him and thinks he wants Frogs' Legs Goulash, then takes Robin to make the dish. Onstage, Robin talks the Chef into stopping, and leaves.
  • The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson: Because the Chef is making onion soup at the same time that a toast-hurdling contest is happening, toast flies out of the pot as soon as the recipe is complete.

Filmography

See The Swedish Chef Filmography

Video game appearances

Book appearances

Sources

  1. Jim Henson's Red Book, 11/1961 - "Jerry and I did show in Hamburg, Germany – Dept. of Agriculture."
  2. The Swedish Chef's theme music is called "Swedish Chef", written by Muppet Show musical arranger Derek Scott. The song was published by ATV Music under ASCAP code 490403793.
  3. @BobKushell on Twitter 4:09 PM - 12 Oct 2015
  4. Karen Prell, Muppet Central forum post, 4-25-2003
  5. Bill Barretta, [1]

See also