Alligators and Crocodiles

Alligators and Crocodiles are different species belonging to the order crocodilia, of the class sauropsida. To the layman, the two species are easily confused. (The main visual differences are that alligators have a broader snout, and crocodiles show both sets of teeth when their mouths are closed.) Both alligators and crocodiles can be found in the southeastern part of the United States, although crocodiles are almost extinct in this country.

Alligators and crocodiles have appeared in several Muppet productions over the years, with the same puppets used interchangeably for both species.

The Muppet Show
A crocodile first appeared on The Muppet Showin the "Never Smile at a Crocodile" number on episode 114. Mary Louise rode the crocodile through a swamp, and as she sang, the crocodile ate a series frogs. In this first appearance, the crocodile puppet had angry eyes and a black mouth.

The crocodile appeared again with three smaller crocs in episode 214, as back-up singers for Elton John in "Crocodile Rock." For this appearance, the main crocodile puppet was tweaked slightly; it was given eyebrows and a red mouth.

The puppet made sporadic appearances throughout the run of the show, addressed as either an alligator or a crocodile, as called for by the script. The puppets' first appearances as alligators was in episode 221, when Animal took up alligator wrestling as a hobby. The alligators, not surprisingly, lost the match, and one of them could be seen escaping with a white flag of surrender clenched in its mouth.

In one memorable appearance in Episode 419, the crocodile ate the Newsman as a punishment from the Egyptian crocodile god, Rezal-evad-gib.

The same puppet appeared as an alligator in The Muppets at Walt Disney World, scaring Miss Piggy as she made the soggy trek to Paradise Swamp.

Sesame Street
On Sesame Street, a life-size alligator puppet was made for Season 24; it sings a line in the song "Let's Lay an Egg," among other appearances.

Other Alligators and Crocodiles
Another puppet appeared as Sly the Crocodile on episode 104 of The Animal Show.

Arnie the Alligator, a friend from Kermit's home swamp, scares Bernie the Agent at the beginning of The Muppet Movie. Although played by a real alligator in The Muppet Movie, Arnie was portrayed as a puppet in the direct-to-video prequel, Kermit's Swamp Years.

Caiman, a crocodile with a completely different design from any previous Muppet crocodiles, appeared in The Song of the Cloud Forest.

Filmography

 * The Muppet Show
 * Episode 114: Sandy Duncan ("Never Smile at a Crocodile")
 * Episode 203: Milton Berle ("Ugly Song")
 * Episode 214: Elton John ("Crocodile Rock")
 * Episode 221: Bob Hope
 * Episode 324: Cheryl Ladd
 * Episode 410: Kenny Rogers
 * Episode 418: Christopher Reeve
 * Episode 419: Lynda Carter (Rezal-evad-gib)
 * Episode 501: Gene Kelly ("Jambalaya")
 * Episode 524: Roger Moore
 * The Muppet Movie ("The Rainbow Connection" Finale)
 * The Jim Henson Hour
 * Episode 112: Food
 * The Muppets at Walt Disney World
 * Sesame Street
 * Season 1 - three crocodiles appear in "The Song of Three"
 * The Animal Show
 * Episode 104: Crocodile & Armadillo
 * Muppet Classic Theater
 * Muppets Tonight