Nigel (Muppet Show)

PERFORMER	Jim Henson 1975-1976
	John Lovelady 1976-1977
DEBUT	1975
DESIGN	Jim Henson designer
	Dave Goelz builder

Nigel hosting the original pilot.

Nigel, rebuilt for The Muppets.

Nigel in The Muppet Movie

The Jim Henson Hour episode "Food"

Muppets Most Wanted

The Muppet Show Book

Nigel debuted in The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence pilot as the show's host. For The Muppet Show proper, Nigel had a less high profile assignment, conducting the Muppet Orchestra. Described by Christopher Finch in Jim Henson: The Works as "totally lacking in spunk and charisma," Nigel was replaced as host by the more popular and established Kermit the Frog.

Jim Henson performed Nigel in his first two speaking appearances; in the Sex and Violence pilot, and a sketch in the second episode (titled "Sax and Violence"). John Lovelady performed the character in episodes 121 and 123. After the first season, Nigel was relegated to non-speaking roles. Apart from conducting, he made other musical contributions to the show, sometimes as a chorus singer in group numbers, and providing the whistling for "Sam's Song" in episode 418.

Nigel was also seen in the screening audience in The Muppet Movie, and is briefly heard laughing during the closing credits (performed here by Dave Goelz). Nigel was rarely seen after The Muppet Show, making a few background appearances in The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years and A Muppet Family Christmas. After an absence of two decades, he returned for 2011's The Muppets, seen again in the orchestra pit. In the Muppets' live shows at the Hollywood Bowl and the O2, he leads a parade of overlooked Muppet characters who walk onstage.

Nigel has eyelids, which is unusual for a Muppet whose eyes are on the top of his head; a view from behind (as seen for instance in the Muppet Show end credits) reveals that they are perched on top of his eyes and are not connected to the rest of his body.

A prototype PVC of Nigel was made by Comics Spain.

While David Valentine was refurbishing puppets to go in museum exhibits, he discovered Nigel's original name was Walter, as that was the name written on the envelope that the puppet pattern for Nigel came in.

Filmography

• The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
• The Muppet Show
  • Theme Song (Seasons 1 - 5)
  • Episode 102: Connie Stevens ("Sax and Violence")
  • Episode 103: Joel Grey ("Razzle Dazzle ")
  • Episode 108: Paul Williams ("At the Dance")
  • Episode 114: Sandy Duncan ("Try to Remember")
  • Episode 118: Phyllis Diller ("The Entertainer")
  • Episode 121: Twiggy ("In My Life")
  • Episode 123: Kaye Ballard (Backstage, "One Note Samba")
  • Episode 124: Mummenschanz ("The Blue Danube")
  • Episode 208: Steve Martin
  • Episode 210: George Burns ("It All Depends on You" / "You Made Me Love You" Medley)
  • Episode 213: Rudolf Nureyev ("Top Hat, White Tie and Tails")
  • Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan ("Big Noise from Winnetka")
  • Episode 220: Petula Clark ("Tomorrow")
  • Episode 303: Roy Clark ("Yesterday When I Was Young ")
  • Episode 304: Gilda Radner ("Tap Your Troubles Away ")
  • Episode 305: Pearl Bailey ("My Soul Is a Witness")
  • Episode 306: Jean Stapleton ("Play a Simple Melody")
  • Episode 312: James Coco ("Short People")
  • Episode 316: Danny Kaye (Backstage)
  • Episode 317: Spike Milligan ("Dog Walk")
  • Episode 403: Shields & Yarnell ("It's Lonely at the Top")
  • Episode 411: Lola Falana ("United We Stand")
  • Episode 415: Anne Murray ("Everything Old Is New Again")
  • Episode 417: Star Wars ("Six String Orchestra")
  • Episode 418: Christopher Reeve ("Sam's Song")
  • Episode 424: Diana Ross ("Reach Out and Touch")
  • Episode 504: Shirley Bassey ("After You've Gone")
  • Episode 514: Mac Davis ("I Believe in Music")
  • Episode 524: Roger Moore ("How High the Moon")
• American Express commercial
• The Muppet Movie
• The Muppets Go to the Movies
• The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
• A Muppet Family Christmas
• The Jim Henson Hour
  • Episode 112: Food
• "The Muppet Show Theme Music Video"
• The Muppets
• Muppets Most Wanted
• Warburtons commercial
• The Muppets Take the Bowl
• The Muppets Take the O2
• Muppets Haunted Mansion

Book appearances

• The Muppet Show Book
• Fozzie's Big Book of Sidesplitting Jokes
• The Muppet Show Comic Book issue #1 - "Kermit's Story"
• Muppet Robin Hood issue #2
• The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion issue #4
• Muppet Sherlock Holmes
• Green and Bear It
• The Muppets Character Encyclopedia