The Miss Piggy Calendar 1982 et al.
Piggenstein's Monster.
"The Cookie Monster Nosh."
Frankenstein is the title of a gothic novel by Mary Shelley, first published in 1818 (and revised in 1831). The work focuses on a scientist's quest to create new life from dead matter, and along with Bram Stoker's Dracula, has become one of the iconic horror texts, adapted into dozens of films. The original 1931 film from Universal Studios starred Boris Karloff as the monster.
The term "Frankenstein" initially referred to the monster's creator, scientist Victor Frankenstein. However, following the film's success, "Frankenstein" has been popularly used to refer to the monster. Make-up artist Jack Pierce's design of a square-headed, bolt-necked brute has become the standard depiction of the monster, in contrast to the vaguely described, intelligent creature in the novel.
The cinematic depiction of the Frankenstein monster, and its 1935 sequel Bride of Frankenstein, have frequently been spoofed or referenced in Muppet productions.
References[]
- A 1967 Pak-Nit industrial film, entitled Shrinkenstein, spoofed the Frankenstein tale.
- David offers Oscar a Frankenstein monster mask in Episode 0614 of Sesame Street.
- The Little Theatre of the Deaf act out a story with the Frankenstein monster on Sesame Street in Episode 0687.
- Several Dr. Frankenstein-esque mad scientists, often with monsters, have been depicted in Sesame Street cartoons, as early as 1975.
- Dr. Frankenstein is mentioned in "The Transylvania Polka."
- Ernie and Bert reenact the story ("El monstruo de Epistein") in issue 12 of the comic book series Epi / Blas ...y los demás (1977).
- Statler and Waldorf are watching Beach Blanket Frankenstein on a TV in their box seats in episode 202 of The Muppet Show.
- In Episode 1420 of Sesame Street, Bob plays a game with the kids where he names a feeling and has them talk about the last time they felt that way. When he has them talk about being afraid, one boy mentions being afraid of Frankenstein.
- The Muppets Go to the Movies included a sketch called The Nephew of Frankenstein, with Dr. Julius Strangepork as the scientist, and Fozzie Bear as his hapless nephew.
- The design of Mulch is an amalgam of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Frankenstein monster. In The Muppets Go to the Movies, Mulch takes on the role of the Frankenstein monster, while on Muppets Tonight, he assumes aspects of the hunchbacked assistant "Igor" as immortalized in films.
- Miss Piggy played "the Bride of Froggen-Schwein" opposite Kermit, as the monster, in a John E. Barrett photograph taken for The Miss Piggy Calendar 1982. The photo also appeared in the 1993 Muppet Trading Cards set, on the wall of the KMUP commissary in Muppets Tonight episode 207, and in the queue area for the Disney theme parks attraction Muppet*Vision 3D.
- Reading Famous Monsters of Filmland in the December 16, 1982 edition of The Muppets comic strip, Fozzie Bear wonders whatever happened to Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wolfman. Kermit, who is busy paying bills, says he thinks they all got jobs with the phone company.
- Miss Piggy's hairdresser in the June 19, 1984 Muppets comic strip claims Elsa Lanchester as one of his clients. The final panel reveals that he's given Piggy a hairdo styled after Lanchester's most famous role: the Bride of Frankenstein.
- In Episode 1771 of Sesame Street, Clementine tries to clue Forgetful Jones that he's attempting to call her on the pay phone, saying that the person he's dialing up has a name that rhymes with "Frankenstein."
- In the Halloween-themed "Little Swamp of Horrors" comic from the Fall 1986 issue of Muppet Magazine, Fozzie is transformed into Frankenbear and Piggy becomes the Bride of Frankenstein.
- In the Muppet Babies episode "Dental Hyjinks," the babies imagine Baby Fozzie going to the dentist in a spooky Frankenstein parody, with Baby Kermit in the role of Dr. Frogenstein and Baby Animal as the Tooth Monster. They use Baby Fozzie's loose tooth and zap it with lightning to give more power to the monster. Baby Gonzo shows up as Count Gonzula.
- Baby Piggy dreams of becoming a Hollywood star in the fourth season Muppet Babies episode "This Little Piggy Went to Hollywood." During a song montage, she appears as the Bride of Frankenstein along with the monster on a blimp advertisement.
- The seventh season episode "Operators Are Standing By" provides a brief glimpse of Baby Skeeter as the Bride of Frankenstein and Baby Kermit as Frankenstein's monster.
- The Disney-MGM Studios had planned a Muppet Movie Ride which would have featured a Frankenstein scene, but the concept was abandoned.
- A planned Muppet Halloween Special was to have featured Frankenstein and his Bride, among others, but the special was abandoned for what eventually became The Muppet Christmas Carol.
- Baby Gonzo appears as the Frankenstein monster in the 1991 Muppet Babies coloring book A Trip Through Time.
- Herry Monster dresses as Frankenstein's monster in the 1991 coloring book Halloween Party.
- In a TGIF bumper, Statler and Waldorf refer to Piggy as Frankenswine.
- Beaker stands in for the monster in the 1996 book Look and Find Muppets.
- Kermit appears as "Ker-Monster" in the 2000 video game Muppet Monster Adventure, along with Miss Piggy as "the Ghoulfriend," parodying the Frankenstein monster and his bride.
- John Crichton twice refers to Natira as "Frau Blücher" in the Farscape episode "Plan B."
- In the book What's in Oscar's Trash Can?, Oscar's bookcase contains a copy of Frankengrouch.
- Ivan the Villager in From the Balcony is based on the irate, pitchfork wielding villagers seen in the climax of Frankenstein and other horror movies.
- An American Greetings card from the Halloween season of 2006 used recycled images of Kermit and Piggy, spoofing a typical Frankenstein movie poster for the imaginary film "Frogenstein Lives!".
- John Crichton calls Grunchlk "Frankenstein" in the Farscape comic book issue "Together Again for the First Time."
- Frankenstein's monster works for Speedy Delivery Service in The Muppet Show Comic Book #3. He does the heavy lifting for his turtle co-worker, as they deliver a large box to The Muppet Theatre.
- In September 2010, The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora premiered on the Internet, with the episode Movie Night spoofing the classic starring Bunsen, Beaker and a frankfurter, gone bad, in Frankfurterstein, "coming to a kitchen near you."
- Abby Cadabby attempts to give Leela a princess-like hair style for a party she's going to in Sesame Street Episode 4238. One of her spells puts Leela's hair in a style based on the Bride of Frankenstein.
- In a 2017 Vanity Fair video, Cookie Monster excitedly utters "It alive! It alive".
- Baby Piggy plays Piggenstein's Monster in the 2018 Muppet Babies episode "The Teeth Chattering Tale of the Haunted Pancakes."
- Cookie Monster and Zoe dress as Frankenstein's monster and his bride in the 2018 Sesame Street web video, "The Cookie Monster Nosh."
- A 2021 Elmo plush from Sesame Place is dressed as Frankenstein's monster.
Connections[]
- Bil Baird created arctic sequence puppets for Frankenstein (1981, Broadway play)
- Peter Baird was the puppet master for Frankenstein (1981, Broadway play)
- Roger Bart played Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein (2007, Broadway musical)
- Timothy Bateson played a hypnotized man in The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)
- Geoffrey Bayldon played a police surgeon in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969)
- Douglas Blackwell played Victor's father in a 1972 BBC radio version
- Peter Boyle played the Monster in Young Frankenstein (1974 film)
- Kenneth Branagh played Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein (1994 film), which he also directed and co-produced
- Mel Brooks directed and co-wrote Young Frankenstein (1974 film) and produced and wrote book, lyrics, and music for the 2007 Broadway production
- Helena Bonham Carter played Elizabeth in Frankenstein (1994 film)
- Alan Caso was the cinematographer for Frankenstein (2004 TV miniseries)
- John Cleese played Professor Waldman in Frankenstein (1994 film)
- Benedict Cumberbatch played Victor Frankenstein and his creature in Frankenstein (stage, 2011)
- Robert De Niro played the Creature in Frankenstein (1994 film)
- Arthur Dignam played Bride of Frankenstein star Ernest Thesiger in Gods and Monsters (1998)
- Phyllis Diller played the Monster's Mate in Mad Monster Party? (1969)
- Fran Drescher voiced Eunice, the monster's mate in Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- Tracey Eddon performed stunts in Frankenstein (1994 film)
- Marty Feldman played Igor in Young Frankenstein (1974)
- Bridget Fonda played Mary Shelley in Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
- John Gielgud played the chief constable in Frankenstein: The Real Story (1973, TV) and the blind hermit in Frankenstein (1984, TV)
- John Glover played Henry Clerval in Frankenstein (1981, Broadway play)
- Robert Hardy played Professor Krempe in Frankenstein (1994 film)
- James V. Hart produced Frankenstein (1994 film)
- Ian Holm played Baron Frankenstein in Frankenstein (1994 film)
- John Hurt played Dr. Joe Buchanan in Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
- William Hurt played Professor Waldman in Frankenstein (2004 miniseries)
- Tor Isedal played the caretaker in Victor Frankenstein (1977)
- Kevin James voiced the Frankenstein monster in Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- Freddie Jones played Professor Richter in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969)
- Raúl Juliá played Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
- Madeline Kahn played Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein (1974 film)
- Irwin Keyes played the Monster in Frankenstein General Hospital (1988)
- Cloris Leachman played Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein (1974 film)
- Jon Ludwig adapted Frankenstein for the stage
- Ian McNeice played Professor Krempe in Frankenstein (2004, miniseres)
- Alf Marholm played a priest in Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus (German radio, 1999)
- Andrea Martin played Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein (2007, Broadway musical)
- James Mason played Dr. John Polidari in Frankenstein: The True Story (1973, TV)
- Frank Middlemass played a houseguest in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969)
- Megan Mullally played Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein (2007, Broadway musical)
- Vincent Price played the Invisible Man in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
- Jean Rochefort played Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein 90 (1984) and the blind man in Frankenstein (2004 miniseries)
- Ben Stein played Dr. Who in Frankenstein General Hospital (1988)
- David Warner played the Monster in Frankenstein (1984, TV)
- Gene Wilder played Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein (1974 film) which he co-wrote
- John Wood played the Creature in a 1994 BBC Classic Serial radio version