Gaffer

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Gaffer is the bedraggled, one-eyed cat who was frequently seen hanging around backstage in the later seasons of The Muppet Show. The cat was introduced in episode 419. Gaffer was created so there could be a cat character and so that Kathy Mullen could practice with a character, in preparation for The Dark Crystal.

Gaffer was occasionally embroiled in the on-stage antics as well, notably providing a distraction during Foo-Foo's dog act in episode 520 and playing the title role in "The Cat Came Back" sketch from episode 523. The feline was also one of the denizens of the Happiness Hotel in The Great Muppet Caper.

Gaffer made a rare apearance sans eyepatch in a Muppet Labs sketch in episode 422. Gaffer also appeared in the background in the Playhouse Video The Muppet Revue.

In 1985, an illustration of a baby version of Gaffer was included as a vinyl Colorforms piece in the Muppet Babies Colorforms 3-D Play Set.

In 2004, the character was sculpted as a pack-in accessory for Palisades Toys' Pops Action Figure.

Name

Gaffer's name was used in The Art of the Muppets, referred to as "Gaffer the Backstage Cat." However, a number of Muppet Show Fan Club newsletters referred to Gaffer simply as "Theater Cat."

Filmography

• The Muppet Show
  • Episode 419: Lynda Carter
  • Episode 422: Andy Williams
  • Episode 504: Shirley Bassey
  • Episode 510: Jean-Pierre Rampal
  • Episode 512: Melissa Manchester
  • Episode 515: Carol Burnett
  • Episode 520: Wally Boag
  • Episode 523: Linda Ronstadt
  • Episode 524: Roger Moore
• The Great Muppet Caper
• The Muppets Take Manhattan
• The Muppet Revue

Print appearances

• The Muppets Go Camping (1981)
• Bo Saves the Show (1982)
• The Muppets Look at TV (1982 calendar)
• The Phantom of the Muppet Theater (1991)
• Muppet King Arthur (2010)