Changes: J. P. Grosse

PERFORMER	Jerry Nelson
DEBUT	1977
DESIGN	Mari Kaestle

Revision as of 08:13, 29 June 2020

Jerry Richard Jim performing TMS — Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt and Jim Henson performing

Scooter jp grosse — Scooter and his uncle, J.P. Grosse

MCC-Screengrabs-JPGrosse-a — J. P. Grosse making an appearance in *The Muppet Christmas Carol*

Robin fleet jp — The puppets of J. P. Grosse, Robin and Fleet Scribbler, all Jerry Nelson characters

J. P. Grosse is the owner of The Muppet Theatre. Although he only made a few appearances on The Muppet Show, his name was often evoked and instilled enough fear in Kermit that he would usually go along with whatever demands were being made in Grosse's name. Most of these "requests" were casually mentioned by Grosse's nephew Scooter, who was nepotistically hired as the show's go-fer in episode 106.

Though he was mentioned often in the show's first season, Grosse did not make his first appearance on The Muppet Show until episode 205. He showed up at The Muppet Theatre again in episode 218, where the homophonic similarities between his name and guest star Jaye P. Morgan's caused much confusion. Although his last appearance on The Muppet Show was in the "Long, Long Ago" medley," the UK Spot in episode 221, he would continue to be mentioned throughout the run of the show. In the Muppets comic strip of September 29, 1981, it was mentioned that his wife owns the newspaper chain.

Grosse has since made appearances in The Muppet Show context in illustrations (The Muppets comic strip, the book Bo Saves the Show, and The Muppet Show Comic Book) and full-bodied form (The Muppet Show on Tour: 2nd Edition).

In Of Muppets and Men, Jim Henson discussed the limitations of the character: "J. P. Grosse was a good concept so long as we didn't see him, but when we introduced him in person, he was just too harsh. You didn't want to have him around."^[1]

Grosse also appeared, nameless and often voiceless, in background cameos in the Muppet movies and on Muppets Tonight, uncharacteristically acting in the Muppets' productions without threatening to close them down. On Muppets Tonight, his performers included Kevin Clash, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, and Allan Trautman.

In a deleted scene from It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Kermit the Frog claims to have inherited the theater from J. P. Grosse, thus implying that he has died. Though the scene was cut, Scooter is later heard telling some chorus girls that his uncle "used to own the theater." However, Jim Lewis, who scripted the project, offered a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal:

“Dead? J.P. Grosse? I think not. Highly exaggerated and all that. Why, compared to Statler and Waldorf, he’s a mere child. No, I suspect the whole "dead" rumor was spread by his competitors or scurrilous writer seeking to please a network.^[2]”

Notes

His favorite pet: Muppy, who got his own act in episode 101.
His favorite act: The Danceros (episode 106) or "Mah Na Mah Na" (The Muppet Show Book).
His favorite song: "It's Not Where You Start" (episode 115)
According to Before You Leap, J. P. Grosse was a successful real estate tycoon. (He also owns the J. P. Grosse Collection Agency, according to Episode 218.)

Filmography

Smithgrosse — An original J.P. Grosse puppet, which was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 2013.

Mentions

Important instances when J.P. Grosse was mentioned but did not appear:

The Muppet Show

Episode 101: Juliet Prowse - his pet Muppy wants his own act, his own dressing room...and his own show!
Episode 104: Ruth Buzzi - he sends a Mechanical Wind-up TV Show Host to replace Kermit.
Episode 106: Jim Nabors - his nephew Scooter applies for a job as the show's go-fer.
Episode 202: Zero Mostel - he offers to give Kermit the payroll money if he schedules lady wrestling.
Episode 214: Elton John - he wants Elton John to perform Bennie and the Jets.
Episode 410: Kenny Rogers - he sells the mineral rights to the guest star's dressing room to Arabs.
Episode 415: Anne Murray - he is in the audience and wants to see Scooter do his skateboarding act.

Book appearances

The Muppet Show Book
Bo Saves the Show (1982)
The Muppet Show Comic Book issue #1 - "Kermit's Story"
Muppet Sherlock Holmes
The Muppets Character Encyclopedia
Muppets Meet the Classics: The Phantom of the Opera

Sources

↑ Finch, Christopher. Of Muppets and Men. p. 41
↑ Ask Jim Lewis. Muppet Central (website)

[1] Finch, Christopher. Of Muppets and Men. p. 41

[2] Ask Jim Lewis. Muppet Central (website)

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 [[Image:MCC-Screengrabs-JPGrosse-a.jpg|thumb|300px|J. P. Grosse making an appearance in ''The Muppet Christmas Carol'']]
 [[File:Robin_fleet_jp.jpg|thumb|300px|The puppets of J. P. Grosse, Robin and Fleet Scribbler, all Jerry Nelson characters]]
-'''J. P. Grosse''' is the owner of [[The Muppet Theatre]]. Although he only made a few appearances on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', his name was often evoked and instilled enough fear in [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] that he would usually go along with whatever demands were being made in Grosse's name. Most of these "requests" were casually mentioned by Grosse's nephew [[Scooter]], who was nepotistically hired as the show's go-fer in [[Episode 106: Jim Nabors|episode 106]].
+'''J. P. Grosse''' is the owner of [[The Muppet Theatre]]. Although he only made a few appearances on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', his name was often evoked and instilled enough fear in [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] that he would usually go along with whatever demands were being made in Grosse's name. Most of these "requests" were casually mentioned by Grosse's nephew [[Scooter]], who was nepotistically hired as the show's go-fer in [[Episode 106: Jim Nabors|episode 106]].
-Though he was mentioned often in the show's first season, Grosse did not make his first appearance on ''The Muppet Show'' until [[Episode 205: Judy Collins|episode 205]]. He showed up at The Muppet Theatre again in [[Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan|episode 218]], where the homophonic similarities between his name and guest star [[Jaye P. Morgan|Jaye P. Morgan's]] caused much confusion. Although his last appearance on ''The Muppet Show'' was in the "[[Long, Long Ago]]" [[Muppet Show Medleys#Episode 221: Bob Hope|medley]]," the [[UK Spots (The Muppet Show)|UK Spot]] in [[Episode 221: Bob Hope|episode 221]], he would continue to be mentioned throughout the run of the show. In the [[The Muppets (comic strip)|Muppets comic strip]] of September 29, 1981, it was mentioned that his wife owns the newspaper chain.
+__TOC__
+Though he was mentioned often in the show's first season, Grosse did not make his first appearance on ''The Muppet Show'' until [[Episode 205: Judy Collins|episode 205]]. He showed up at The Muppet Theatre again in [[Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan|episode 218]], where the homophonic similarities between his name and guest star [[Jaye P. Morgan]]'s caused much confusion. Although his last appearance on ''The Muppet Show'' was in the "[[Long, Long Ago]]" [[Muppet Show medleys#Episode 221: Bob Hope|medley]]," the [[UK Spots (The Muppet Show)|UK Spot]] in [[Episode 221: Bob Hope|episode 221]], he would continue to be mentioned throughout the run of the show. In the [[The Muppets (comic strip)|Muppets comic strip]] of September 29, 1981, it was mentioned that his wife owns the newspaper chain.
 Grosse has since made appearances in ''The Muppet Show'' context in illustrations (''The Muppets'' comic strip, the book ''[[Bo Saves the Show]]'', and ''[[The Muppet Show Comic Book]]'') and full-bodied form (''[[The Muppet Show on Tour: 2nd Edition]]'').
-In ''[[Of Muppets and Men (book)|Of Muppets and Men]]'', [[Jerry Juhl]] discussed the limitations of the character: "J. P. Grosse was a good concept so long as we didn't see him, but when we introduced him in person, he was just too harsh. You didn't want to have him around."
+In ''[[Of Muppets and Men (book)|Of Muppets and Men]]'', [[Jim Henson]] discussed the limitations of the character: "J. P. Grosse was a good concept so long as we didn't see him, but when we introduced him in person, he was just too harsh. You didn't want to have him around."<ref>Finch, Christopher. ''[[Of Muppets and Men (book)|Of Muppets and Men]]''. p. 41</ref>
 Grosse also appeared, nameless and often voiceless, in background cameos in the Muppet movies and on ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'', uncharacteristically acting in the [[The Muppets|Muppets']] productions without threatening to close them down. On ''Muppets Tonight'', his performers included [[Kevin Clash]], [[Leslie Carrara-Rudolph]], and [[Allan Trautman]].
-In a deleted scene from ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'', [[Kermit the Frog]] claims to have inherited the theater from J. P. Grosse, thus implying that he has [[Characters Who Have Died|died]]. Though the scene was cut, Scooter is later heard telling some chorus girls that his uncle "used to own the theater." However, [[Jim Lewis]], who scripted the project, offered a tongue-in-cheek reubuttal: {{quote|Dead? J.P. Grosse? I think not. Highly exaggerated and all that. Why, compared to [[Statler and Waldorf]], he’s a mere child. No, I suspect the whole "dead" rumor was spread by his competitors or scurrilous writer seeking to please [[NBC|a network]].<ref>[http://www.muppetcentral.com/forum/threads/the-brand-new-ask-jim-lewis-thread.32836/page-5#post-640271 Ask Jim Lewis]. [[Muppet Central (website)]]</ref>}}
+In a deleted scene from ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'', [[Kermit the Frog]] claims to have inherited the theater from J. P. Grosse, thus implying that he has [[Characters who have died|died]]. Though the scene was cut, Scooter is later heard telling some chorus girls that his uncle "used to own the theater." However, [[Jim Lewis]], who scripted the project, offered a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal: {{quote|Dead? J.P. Grosse? I think not. Highly exaggerated and all that. Why, compared to [[Statler and Waldorf]], he’s a mere child. No, I suspect the whole "dead" rumor was spread by his competitors or scurrilous writer seeking to please [[NBC|a network]].<ref>[http://www.muppetcentral.com/forum/threads/the-brand-new-ask-jim-lewis-thread.32836/page-5#post-640271 Ask Jim Lewis]. [[Muppet Central (website)]]</ref>}}
-==Trivia==
+==Notes==
 *His favorite pet: [[Muppy]], who got his own act in [[Episode 101: Juliet Prowse|episode 101]].
-*His favorite act: [[The Danceros]] (episode 106) or "[[Mahna Mahna (song)|Mahna Mahna]]" (''[[The Muppet Show Book]]'').
+*His favorite act: [[The Danceros]] (episode 106) or "[[Mah Na Mah Na]]" (''[[The Muppet Show Book]]'').
 *His favorite song: "[[It's Not Where You Start]]" ([[Episode 115: Candice Bergen|episode 115]])
 *According to ''[[Before You Leap]]'', J. P. Grosse was a successful [[Monopoly|real estate]] tycoon. (He also owns the J. P. Grosse Collection Agency, according to Episode 218.)
@@ Line 29: / Line 30: @@
 **[[Episode 221: Bob Hope]] ([[Long Long Ago Medley|&quot;Long Long Ago&quot; Medley]])
 *''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' ([[The Muppet Movie#Rainbow Connection Finale|&quot;The Rainbow Connection&quot; Finale]])
-*''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'' ([[The Muppets Take Manhattan#Wedding Finale|Wedding Finale]])
+*''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'' ([[The Muppets Take Manhattan Wedding Seating Chart|Wedding Finale]])
 *''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]''
 *''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]''
@@ Line 62: / Line 63: @@
 ==Sources==
 <references/>
+__NOWYSIWYG__
 [[Category:Muppet Characters|J. P. Grosse]]
 [[Category:Muppet Show Characters|J. P. Grosse]]
 [[Category:Muppets Tonight Characters|J. P. Grosse]]
 [[Category:The Muppets Characters]]
-__NOWYSIWYG__

Muppet Wiki