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β | {{performer|Bill Barretta}} |
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+ | {{character|image=Pepe-thumbs-up.jpg|performer=[[Bill Barretta]]|debut=1996|design=[[Eric Engelhardt]]|designnote=original builder}} |
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β | [[Image: |
+ | [[Image:Pepe-jacket.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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[[Image:Pepe-the-prawn.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
[[Image:Pepe-the-prawn.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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β | [[ |
+ | [[File:pepe long john silver ad.jpg|thumb|300px|Pepe shilling for [[Long John Silver's]].]] |
β | [[File:Nakedpepe.jpg|thumb|300px|Pepe in a rare [[Naked Muppets|naked]] appearance, as [[Toto]] in ''The Muppets' Wizard of Oz'']] |
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β | [[Image:Muppets-com64.png|thumb|300px|Pepe [[Cross-dressing characters#pepetutu|seems to be especially fond of wearing tutus]]]] |
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[[Image:Pepe-the-king-prawn.2.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
[[Image:Pepe-the-king-prawn.2.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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β | [[File:Pepe_Beach.png|thumb|300px]] |
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β | [[File:Kermit&Pepe-Daybreak-ITV-(2012.11.06).jpg|thumb|300px|Pepe with Kermit the Frog.]] |
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⚫ | '''Pepe the King Prawn''', whose full name is Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales, hails from MΓ‘laga, [[Spain]].<ref>''[[Muppets Haunted Mansion]]'', 9 min 17 sec</ref><ref>''[[It's Hard Out Here for a Shrimp]]'', page xiii</ref> According to a 1999 [[TV Guide chat transcripts|TVGuide.com interview]], he started out as a chef in Madrid, before moving to [[Hollywood]] and following his true calling in show business. Pepe remarked, "There were one too many close calls in the kitchen. I was mistaken for an appetizer, okay." |
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⚫ | The four-armed Pepe is very proud of being a ''king'' prawn and takes great offense if anyone refers to him as a shrimp ("[[I am not a shrimp... I am a king prawn!|I am not a shrimp! I am a king prawn, okay?]]"). He speaks with a heavy Spanish accent, often punctuating his sentences with "...okay?" Due to his sometimes impenetrable accent, Pepe calls the Muppets "Muffins" or "Muppens", and he regularly calls [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] "Kermin", [[Fozzie Bear]] "Fotzie", [[Animal]] "Animals", [[Rizzo the Rat|Rizzo]] "Ritzo," [[Miss Piggy]] "Miss Picky," and [[Scooter]] "Scooper." He doesn't even pronounce [[Walter]] correctly, and instead calls him "Howard." He also calls [[Sam the Eagle]] "Stan" as shown at the [[D23 Expo 2009|2009 D23 Expo]]. He refers to marketing guru Pizza (pronounced [[Pache]]) as "Poncho". |
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⚫ | '''Pepe the King Prawn''', whose full name is Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales, |
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⚫ | Pepe is in love with Hollywood and expects he will earn several [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nominations (for good looks, acting and choreography. And foley.). His influences include [[Dick van Dyke]], [[Marlon Brando]], [[Ruth Buzzi]], [[Topo Gigio]], and [[Terrytoons|Mighty Mouse]].<ref>[https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Pepe_the_King_Prawn?diff=9989&oldid=9696 online chat with TVGuide.com, July 1999]</ref> He has also referred to [[Ricky Martin]] on at least two separate occasions. In his TVGuide.com chat, he challenged the pop star to a sing-off, and in ''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'', he was invited to shake his "bon bons" at Ricky Martin's South Beach Christmas party. |
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⚫ | The four-armed Pepe is very proud of being a ''king'' prawn |
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+ | Pepe is the author of the book ''[[It's Hard Out Here for a Shrimp]]''. |
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⚫ | Pepe is in love with Hollywood |
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+ | ==Early development== |
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β | Pepe is the author of the book ''[[It's Hard Out Here for a Shrimp]]''. In a 2008 interview promoting the book, Pepe announced that he is a father. He and his long-time girlfriend, Christine, have a 2-year-old baby.<ref>[http://www.authormagazine.org/interviews/Pepe.m4a Pepe Interview with Author Magazine], October 2008</ref> He has a cousin named Manolo, who he mentions in ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'' at the sight of [[Rachel Bitterman]]'s small toe. He also mentions him in a January 2010 appearance on ''[[America's Funniest Home Videos]]'' when a video is shown of a girl eating a prawn, and briefly in a blooper reel for [[Long John Silver's]] commercials. |
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+ | During the initial development for ''Muppets Tonight'', the Muppet performers worked with the creative staff to create new characters for the show. Puppeteer [[Bill Barretta]] was discussing with [[Kirk Thatcher]] a character based on his wife's aunt, mistakenly calling her "a little shellfish" instead of "selfish." From there, they began developing the character as a crustacean.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkjkT0FmuQE One on One with Bill Barretta: Origin of Pepe the King Prawn | Disney Files On Demand]</ref> Barretta took further inspiration from his aunt, known in the family as "Maria Teresa Okay," by applying her accent and habit of ending all her sentences with "okay."<ref>[[MuppetFest Memories|MuppetFest panel]]</ref> |
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+ | At [[MuppetFest]], Barretta noted that Pepe was originally going to be a mouse, opposite his elephant partner [[Seymour]], but added "We decided an elephant and a mouse was too easy."<ref>Barretta, Bill. Creating the Classic Muppets Panel at [[MuppetFest]]. [[MuppetFest Memories]].</ref> |
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β | Pepe is [[Robin the Frog|Robin]]'s guide and narrator in the Muppets Monster Adventure Playstation game. |
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+ | In a character workshop prior to ''Muppets Tonight'', Barretta used a wire-framed puppet topped with eyeballs and some feathers to demonstrate his idea for the character.<ref>[[Tough Pigs]]: [https://toughpigs.com/tiogs-the-barretta-brothers/ To Introduce Our Guest Star #10: The Barretta Brothers]</ref> Twelve prototype puppets for Pepe were built before his finalized design was made.<ref>[https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/29-nerdy-things-we-learned-on-the-set-of-muppets-most-wanted/ Den of Geek: 29 nerdy things we learned on the set of Muppets Most Wanted]</ref> The final design was partly inspired by a kitchen worker that builder [[Eric Engelhardt]] knew, particularly having a single tooth on his bottom jaw.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB1JAUQA_Bo The George Lucas Talk Show - Muppets Tonight reunion, part 2 (02:12:37)]</ref> |
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==''Muppets Tonight''== |
==''Muppets Tonight''== |
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β | Pepe's first appearance was on ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' in 1996, as a companion to |
+ | Pepe's first appearance was on ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' in 1996, as a companion to Seymour the Elephant. The pair worked at the [[KMUP]] studios, as elevator operators in the first season and as commissary chefs in the second season, but they always aspired to onscreen singing stardom. These dreams never came true, however, because their performances were dire. They would always sing the same song, with slightly altered lyrics: |
β | <blockquote>''I'm Seymour...<br |
+ | <blockquote>''I'm Seymour...<br>''''I'm Pepe...<br>''''We're two of a kind.<br>''''I'm a little bit forward,<br>''''And I've got a big behind.''</blockquote> |
The pair only appeared on stage twice -- in the Pierce Brosnan episode, when they were taken hostage by an army of lobsters in a bid to take over the studio, and in the Sandra Bullock episode, when [[Clifford]] and Rizzo were desperate for an act to keep the show's ratings above 50. |
The pair only appeared on stage twice -- in the Pierce Brosnan episode, when they were taken hostage by an army of lobsters in a bid to take over the studio, and in the Sandra Bullock episode, when [[Clifford]] and Rizzo were desperate for an act to keep the show's ratings above 50. |
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β | When ''Muppets Tonight'' went off the air, Pepe |
+ | When ''Muppets Tonight'' went off the air, Pepe no longer worked with Seymour for unknown reasons; Seymour has never appeared again. |
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β | At [[MuppetFest]], [[Bill Barretta]] explained that originally, Pepe was going to be a mouse, but "We decided an elephant and a mouse was too easy." |
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==Pepe goes solo== |
==Pepe goes solo== |
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+ | [[Image:FTB episode3bonus.jpg|thumb|300px|Pepe as seen in ''Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony'']] |
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⚫ | Pepe established himself as a "solo act" in the 1999 film ''[[Muppets from Space]]'', in which he connives with [[Rizzo the Rat|Rizzo]] to convince [[Gonzo]] that the aliens want him to build a jacuzzi |
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β | In 2002, he became the official spokesprawn for [[Long John Silver's]], starring in several commercials and appearing on their website. These commercials brought Pepe nationwide attention, and Long John Silver's was deluged with e-mails asking for Pepe merchandise, especially plush dolls. |
+ | In 2002, he became the official spokesprawn for [[Long John Silver's]], starring in several commercials and appearing on their website. These commercials brought Pepe nationwide attention, and Long John Silver's was deluged with e-mails asking for Pepe merchandise, especially plush dolls.<ref>Liebeck, Laura. "[http://www.licensemag.com/licensemag/L+Watch/Pepe-the-King-Prawn-speaks-out/ArticleBrief/Article/detail/8356?contextCategoryId=1453&searchString=muppet Pepe the King Prawn speaks out]", Global License! magazine. January 1, 2002.</ref> |
⚫ | Pepe served as a correspondent in the early installments of the web series ''[[From the Balcony|Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony]]'', where - among other things - he interviewed [[Jodie Foster]] and other actors on the red carpet of ''Flightplan''. He was performed by [[Drew Massey]] for the "test pilot" of the show. |
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β | In a TV appearance on CBS's ''[[The Late Late Show]]'' with [[Craig Ferguson]], Pepe revealed to the world that he had become engaged to a girl named Christina, also from Madrid, and together they have a total of about 1,500 children. Pepe might open his own seafood restaurant chain soon. |
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⚫ | Pepe's popularity and irreverence, along with Bill Barretta's improvisational skills, have resulted in Pepe's becoming a frequent host of DVD extra features. Pepe hosts much of the behind-the-scenes material on the DVDs for ''It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'' (''[[Inside Pepe's Studio]]''), ''The Muppets' Wizard of Oz'' (''[[Pepe's Exclusive Making Of The Muppets' Wizard of Oz|Pepe's Exclusive Making Of]]'' and ''[[Pepe's Extended Interview with Quentin Tarantino|an interview with Quentin Tarantino]]''), and ''Studio DC: Almost Live!'' (''[[Pepe's Travels: The Unofficial Studio DC Almost Live Tour|Pepe's Travels]]''); while "[[Pepe's Profiles]]" of various [[Muppet characters]] were featured on the 'Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition' releases of ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'', ''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'', ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'' and ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]''. |
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⚫ | Pepe's popularity and irreverence, along with Bill Barretta's improvisational skills, have resulted in Pepe's becoming a frequent host of DVD extra features. Pepe |
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+ | Pepe has a larger presence in 2014's ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'', appearing in a cameo with [[Sean Combs|Sean Combs (Puff Daddy)]], and as a backup singer during the song "[[Something So Right]]." He also had a solo in the ''El Muppet Show'' version of "[[The Muppet Show Theme]]"; though the solo was [[Muppets Most Wanted deleted scenes|deleted]] from the film, it still appears on [[Muppets Most Wanted (soundtrack)|the soundtrack]]. He was also featured on Scooter's performance of "[[Moves Like Jagger]]." |
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+ | In the TV series, ''[[The Muppets (2015)|The Muppets]]'', Pepe serves as one of the writers for ''[[Up Late with Miss Piggy]]'' alongside Gonzo and Rizzo. The three eventually become roommates. |
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β | ==Filmography== |
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+ | On ''[[Muppets Now]]'', Pepe hosts a series of segments titled "Pepe's Unbelievable Game Show." He changes the format of the show on a whim, much to the dismay of his assistant [[Scooter]]. |
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β | <div class="appear"> |
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+ | |||
β | *''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' |
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+ | Barretta reflected on the change in Pepe's character after ''Muppets Tonight'', saying: |
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β | **[[Episode 102: Garth Brooks]] |
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+ | |||
β | **[[Episode 105: Cindy Crawford]] |
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+ | {{quote|Pepe was written at first β he was supposed to be this guy who just wanted to be in show business but had a language barrier. But then over time, I donβt know how it happened, he just became this kind of ladiesβ prawn, you know? He was very much into the women. And then women seemed to respond to him for whatever reason.<ref>[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/miss-piggys-mess-inside-frank-oz-puppeteer-pals-reveal-muppet-secrets-203702144.html "Miss Piggy's 'a mess inside': Frank Oz and puppeteer pals reveal Muppet secrets"], Yahoo.com, March 14, 2018.</ref>}} |
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β | **[[Episode 106: Tony Bennett]] |
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+ | |||
β | **[[Episode 107: Sandra Bullock]] |
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+ | ==Romances== |
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β | **[[Episode 108: Jason Alexander]] |
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+ | Pepe has always had an attraction to the ladies and developed into a smooth-talking crustacean Casanovaβflirting with such women as [[Rachel Bitterman]], [[Ashanti]], [[Jodie Foster]], [[Bonnie Hunt]], [[Joy]], [[Whoopi Goldberg]], and [[Lady Gaga]]. His efforts are sometimes less than successful, as exemplified by Rachel Bitterman's treatment of him in ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]''. |
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β | **[[Episode 109: Whoopi Goldberg]] |
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+ | |||
β | **[[Episode 110: Martin Short]] |
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+ | In a 2008 interview, Pepe announced that he is a father; sharing that he and his long-time girlfriend, Christine, have a 2-year-old baby.<ref>[http://www.authormagazine.org/interviews/Pepe.m4a Pepe Interview with Author Magazine], October 2008</ref> In a later television appearance on CBS's ''[[The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson|The Late Late Show]]'' with [[Craig Ferguson]], Pepe revealed that he and [[Cristina Barretta|Cristina]] have since become engaged, and stated that he has a total of about 1,300 children all over the world. When asked what he looks for in a fiancΓ©, Pepe responded: "[[Boob jokes|breasts]]." {{youtube|5oSG87gUTBs}} |
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β | **[[Episode 201: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince]] |
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+ | |||
β | **[[Episode 202: Rick Moranis]] |
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+ | In a 2012 [[Ask Pepe]] video, Pepe said he usually likes to make the first move with a woman, but with co-star [[Amy Adams]], it was hard for her not to make the first move on him. |
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β | **[[Episode 204: Pierce Brosnan]] |
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+ | |||
β | **[[Episode 205: Coolio & Don Rickles]] |
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+ | In a 2013 appearance on ABC's ''[[The View]]'', Pepe proposed to [[Whoopi Goldberg]] (with Goldberg claiming the two have been a couple for "twenty some odd years"); Pepe appeared in a tux and presented Goldberg with an engagement ring (saying "[[Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)|if you like it, you better put a ring on it]]") to which Whoopi enthusiastically said "yes!" |
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β | **[[Episode 207: Dennis Quaid]] |
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+ | |||
β | **[[Episode 208: The Cameo Show]] |
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+ | Across various appearances on ''[[Good Morning America]]'', Pepe made assorted overtures to host [[Lara Spencer]]. Their flirtations were referenced in ''The Muppets'' episode "[[Episode 114: Little Green Lie|Little Green Lie]]," where she ultimately rejects him for not making a formal move. |
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β | **[[Episode 210: The Gary Cahuenga Episode]] |
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+ | |||
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+ | His romantic side plays a big part in the special ''[[Muppets Haunted Mansion]]'', where he immediately falls for the ghostly widow, [[Constance Hatchaway]]. She puts him under a love spell with the intention of marrying him, then disposing of him. |
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β | *[[V-chip]] commercials |
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+ | |||
β | *[[Muppetisms]] |
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+ | His interest isn't solely in humans; he has dated at least one catfish.<ref>@SpicyPrawn, "[https://twitter.com/SpicyPrawn/status/763778254499110912 I don't get what the big deal is about people dating catfish. I dated a catfish once and she was very nice, okay. Is it the whiskers?]", Twitter, 11 Aug 2016.</ref> |
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β | *[[Movie Mania]] |
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+ | |||
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+ | ==Pepe's Tutu== |
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β | *''[[Family Feud]]'' |
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+ | Pepe has an affinity to [[Cross-dressing characters|cross-dressing]]βoften wearing a pink tutu. Pepe was first caught wearing his tutu in ''[[Muppets from Space]]''; Pepe is caught off-guard when Muppet Lab's [[invisibility spray]] wears off and he becomes visible while wearing the tutu and dancing ballet. He wore the tutu again in a 2008 Muppets.com video performing "[[Swan Lake|Prawn Lake]]" and on ''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'' singing the "nine ladies dancing" line of "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas]]." |
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β | *[[The Muppet Show Live]] |
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+ | |||
β | *[[Long John Silver's]] commercials |
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+ | Additionally, Pepe wore a sequined dress as Seymour's assistant in [[Episode 202: Rick Moranis|episode 202]] of ''Muppets Tonight'', donned a "see-through nighty" in a [[V-Chip]] commercial, and put on a blonde wig to [[Miss Piggy Impersonators|impersonate Miss Piggy]] in [[episode 109: Whoopi Goldberg|episode 109]] of ''Muppets Tonight''. |
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β | *"[[Keep Fishin']]" music video |
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+ | <gallery widths="150" orientation="landscape" spacing="small"> |
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β | *''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'' |
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β | + | Invisibilityspray4.jpg|''[[Muppets from Space]]'' |
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+ | Muppets-com64.png|[[Disney Xtreme Digital|Muppets.com]] |
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+ | LateNightWithJimmyFallon-TutuPepe-2009-12-23.jpg|''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon|Late Night]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour]]'' |
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+ | Muppets.com-Gallery-TutuPepe.jpg|Promotional image |
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β | *''[[NBC's Funniest Outtakes 2]]'' |
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+ | </gallery> |
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β | *''[[America's Funniest Home Videos]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Muppets' Wizard of Oz]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Late Late Show]]'' |
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β | *''[[From the Balcony]]'' |
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β | **Test pilot |
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β | **Episode 1 |
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β | **Episode 3: Bonus Clip |
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β | **Episode 5 |
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β | **Episode 6 |
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β | **Episode 8 |
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β | *''[[The Muppets on Muppets]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon]]'' |
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β | *[[Disney Extreme Digital]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#Secret Elevator Tapes|Secret Elevator Tapes]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#Drive-Thru Videos|Drive-Thru Videos]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#What's a Whatnot?|What's a Whatnot?]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#Kermit-Cam|Kermit-Cam]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#Kermit's Frog Blog|Kermit's Frog Blog]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#Pepe's Muppet Moments|Pepe's Muppet Moments]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#Breaking News|Breaking News]] |
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β | **[[Disney Extreme Digital#"Do Not Touch" button|"Do Not Touch" button]] |
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β | *''[[Studio DC: Almost Live!]]'' |
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β | *''[[PIX 11 Morning News]]'' |
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β | *''[[Good Morning America]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Bonnie Hunt Show]]'' |
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β | *''[[A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa]]'' |
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β | *[[D23 Expo]] (2009) |
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β | *[[Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.]] commercials |
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β | **"[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" |
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β | *''[[Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas]]'' |
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β | *''[[Christmas in Rockefeller Center]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Jay Leno Show]]'' |
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β | *''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'' |
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β | *''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]]'' |
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β | *''[[America's Funniest Home Videos]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora]]'' |
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β | *"[[The Muppet Show Theme]] music video" |
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β | *[[AMC Theatres]] |
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β | *[[The Muppets (2011)|''The Muppets'']] |
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β | *''[[Dancing with the Stars]]'' |
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β | *''[[Cravendale]]'' |
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β | *''[[Bounty|Kermit's Party]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Case of the Stolen Show]]'' |
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β | *''[[Just for Laughs]]'' |
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β | *''[[The Muppets... Again]]Β ''(presumably) |
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β | </div> |
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==Book appearances== |
==Book appearances== |
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β | *''[[Great Muppets in American History]]'' |
+ | *''[[Great Muppets in American History]]'' (coloring book) |
+ | *''[[It's Hard Out Here For A Shrimp]]'' (author) |
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*''[[The Muppet Show Comic Book]]'' issue #2 - "Fozzie's Story" |
*''[[The Muppet Show Comic Book]]'' issue #2 - "Fozzie's Story" |
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*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #3 |
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #3 |
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*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #4 |
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #4 |
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β | *[[Muppet |
+ | *''[[Muppet Peter Pan]]'' |
β | *''[[ |
+ | *''[[Muppet King Arthur]]'' |
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+ | *''[[The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Four Seasons|The Four Seasons]]'' issue #2 - "Summer" |
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+ | *''[[Muppets Meet the Classics: The Phantom of the Opera]]'' |
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+ | *''[[Muppets Meet the Classics: Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm]]'' |
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==Character Merchandise== |
==Character Merchandise== |
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+ | [[image:Pepe.jpg|right|250px]] |
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*[[Pepe Action Figure]] |
*[[Pepe Action Figure]] |
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*[[Vacation Pepe Action Figure]] |
*[[Vacation Pepe Action Figure]] |
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*[[Muppet plush (Nanco)|Nanco Plush]] |
*[[Muppet plush (Nanco)|Nanco Plush]] |
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*[[The Muppets Take Hollywood PVC figures|"The Muppets Take Hollywood" PVC]] |
*[[The Muppets Take Hollywood PVC figures|"The Muppets Take Hollywood" PVC]] |
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+ | *''[[It's Hard Out Here For A Shrimp]]'' |
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*[[Vinylmation|Vinylmation figure]] |
*[[Vinylmation|Vinylmation figure]] |
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*[[Muppet plush (Disney Store)|Disney Store plush]] |
*[[Muppet plush (Disney Store)|Disney Store plush]] |
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+ | *[[Muppet Minimates]] Series 3 |
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+ | |||
+ | ==See Also== |
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+ | *[[Pepe filmography]] |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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<references /> |
<references /> |
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+ | __NOWYSIWYG__ |
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β | ==External links== |
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β | *[http://disney.go.com/characters/#/characters/allcharacters/bios/pepe/ Pepe's bio on Disney.com] |
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[[Category:The Muppets Characters]] |
[[Category:The Muppets Characters]] |
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[[Category:Muppet Characters]] |
[[Category:Muppet Characters]] |
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[[Category:Muppets Tonight Characters]] |
[[Category:Muppets Tonight Characters]] |
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+ | [[Category:The Muppets (2015) Characters]] |
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+ | [[Category:Muppets Now Characters]] |
Latest revision as of 04:23, 5 January 2024
PERFORMER | Bill Barretta |
DEBUT | 1996 |
DESIGN | Eric Engelhardt original builder |
Pepe the King Prawn, whose full name is Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales, hails from MΓ‘laga, Spain.[1][2] According to a 1999 TVGuide.com interview, he started out as a chef in Madrid, before moving to Hollywood and following his true calling in show business. Pepe remarked, "There were one too many close calls in the kitchen. I was mistaken for an appetizer, okay."
The four-armed Pepe is very proud of being a king prawn and takes great offense if anyone refers to him as a shrimp ("I am not a shrimp! I am a king prawn, okay?"). He speaks with a heavy Spanish accent, often punctuating his sentences with "...okay?" Due to his sometimes impenetrable accent, Pepe calls the Muppets "Muffins" or "Muppens", and he regularly calls Kermit "Kermin", Fozzie Bear "Fotzie", Animal "Animals", Rizzo "Ritzo," Miss Piggy "Miss Picky," and Scooter "Scooper." He doesn't even pronounce Walter correctly, and instead calls him "Howard." He also calls Sam the Eagle "Stan" as shown at the 2009 D23 Expo. He refers to marketing guru Pizza (pronounced Pache) as "Poncho".
Pepe is in love with Hollywood and expects he will earn several Oscar nominations (for good looks, acting and choreography. And foley.). His influences include Dick van Dyke, Marlon Brando, Ruth Buzzi, Topo Gigio, and Mighty Mouse.[3] He has also referred to Ricky Martin on at least two separate occasions. In his TVGuide.com chat, he challenged the pop star to a sing-off, and in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, he was invited to shake his "bon bons" at Ricky Martin's South Beach Christmas party.
Pepe is the author of the book It's Hard Out Here for a Shrimp.
Early development
During the initial development for Muppets Tonight, the Muppet performers worked with the creative staff to create new characters for the show. Puppeteer Bill Barretta was discussing with Kirk Thatcher a character based on his wife's aunt, mistakenly calling her "a little shellfish" instead of "selfish." From there, they began developing the character as a crustacean.[4] Barretta took further inspiration from his aunt, known in the family as "Maria Teresa Okay," by applying her accent and habit of ending all her sentences with "okay."[5]
At MuppetFest, Barretta noted that Pepe was originally going to be a mouse, opposite his elephant partner Seymour, but added "We decided an elephant and a mouse was too easy."[6]
In a character workshop prior to Muppets Tonight, Barretta used a wire-framed puppet topped with eyeballs and some feathers to demonstrate his idea for the character.[7] Twelve prototype puppets for Pepe were built before his finalized design was made.[8] The final design was partly inspired by a kitchen worker that builder Eric Engelhardt knew, particularly having a single tooth on his bottom jaw.[9]
Muppets Tonight
Pepe's first appearance was on Muppets Tonight in 1996, as a companion to Seymour the Elephant. The pair worked at the KMUP studios, as elevator operators in the first season and as commissary chefs in the second season, but they always aspired to onscreen singing stardom. These dreams never came true, however, because their performances were dire. They would always sing the same song, with slightly altered lyrics:
I'm Seymour...
'I'm Pepe...
'We're two of a kind.
'I'm a little bit forward,
'And I've got a big behind.
The pair only appeared on stage twice -- in the Pierce Brosnan episode, when they were taken hostage by an army of lobsters in a bid to take over the studio, and in the Sandra Bullock episode, when Clifford and Rizzo were desperate for an act to keep the show's ratings above 50.
When Muppets Tonight went off the air, Pepe no longer worked with Seymour for unknown reasons; Seymour has never appeared again.
Pepe goes solo
Pepe established himself as a "solo act" in the 1999 film Muppets from Space, in which he connives with Rizzo to convince Gonzo that the aliens want him to build a jacuzzi.
In 2002, he became the official spokesprawn for Long John Silver's, starring in several commercials and appearing on their website. These commercials brought Pepe nationwide attention, and Long John Silver's was deluged with e-mails asking for Pepe merchandise, especially plush dolls.[10]
Pepe served as a correspondent in the early installments of the web series Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony, where - among other things - he interviewed Jodie Foster and other actors on the red carpet of Flightplan. He was performed by Drew Massey for the "test pilot" of the show.
Pepe's popularity and irreverence, along with Bill Barretta's improvisational skills, have resulted in Pepe's becoming a frequent host of DVD extra features. Pepe hosts much of the behind-the-scenes material on the DVDs for It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (Inside Pepe's Studio), The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (Pepe's Exclusive Making Of and an interview with Quentin Tarantino), and Studio DC: Almost Live! (Pepe's Travels); while "Pepe's Profiles" of various Muppet characters were featured on the 'Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition' releases of The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island.
Pepe has a brief speaking cameo in the 2011 film, The Muppets, rehearsing a dance number with Miss Piggy.
Pepe has a larger presence in 2014's Muppets Most Wanted, appearing in a cameo with Sean Combs (Puff Daddy), and as a backup singer during the song "Something So Right." He also had a solo in the El Muppet Show version of "The Muppet Show Theme"; though the solo was deleted from the film, it still appears on the soundtrack. He was also featured on Scooter's performance of "Moves Like Jagger."
In the TV series, The Muppets, Pepe serves as one of the writers for Up Late with Miss Piggy alongside Gonzo and Rizzo. The three eventually become roommates.
On Muppets Now, Pepe hosts a series of segments titled "Pepe's Unbelievable Game Show." He changes the format of the show on a whim, much to the dismay of his assistant Scooter.
Barretta reflected on the change in Pepe's character after Muppets Tonight, saying:
Romances
Pepe has always had an attraction to the ladies and developed into a smooth-talking crustacean Casanovaβflirting with such women as Rachel Bitterman, Ashanti, Jodie Foster, Bonnie Hunt, Joy, Whoopi Goldberg, and Lady Gaga. His efforts are sometimes less than successful, as exemplified by Rachel Bitterman's treatment of him in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.
In a 2008 interview, Pepe announced that he is a father; sharing that he and his long-time girlfriend, Christine, have a 2-year-old baby.[12] In a later television appearance on CBS's The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Pepe revealed that he and Cristina have since become engaged, and stated that he has a total of about 1,300 children all over the world. When asked what he looks for in a fiancΓ©, Pepe responded: "breasts." (YouTube)
In a 2012 Ask Pepe video, Pepe said he usually likes to make the first move with a woman, but with co-star Amy Adams, it was hard for her not to make the first move on him.
In a 2013 appearance on ABC's The View, Pepe proposed to Whoopi Goldberg (with Goldberg claiming the two have been a couple for "twenty some odd years"); Pepe appeared in a tux and presented Goldberg with an engagement ring (saying "if you like it, you better put a ring on it") to which Whoopi enthusiastically said "yes!"
Across various appearances on Good Morning America, Pepe made assorted overtures to host Lara Spencer. Their flirtations were referenced in The Muppets episode "Little Green Lie," where she ultimately rejects him for not making a formal move.
His romantic side plays a big part in the special Muppets Haunted Mansion, where he immediately falls for the ghostly widow, Constance Hatchaway. She puts him under a love spell with the intention of marrying him, then disposing of him.
His interest isn't solely in humans; he has dated at least one catfish.[13]
Pepe's Tutu
Pepe has an affinity to cross-dressingβoften wearing a pink tutu. Pepe was first caught wearing his tutu in Muppets from Space; Pepe is caught off-guard when Muppet Lab's invisibility spray wears off and he becomes visible while wearing the tutu and dancing ballet. He wore the tutu again in a 2008 Muppets.com video performing "Prawn Lake" and on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon singing the "nine ladies dancing" line of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Additionally, Pepe wore a sequined dress as Seymour's assistant in episode 202 of Muppets Tonight, donned a "see-through nighty" in a V-Chip commercial, and put on a blonde wig to impersonate Miss Piggy in episode 109 of Muppets Tonight.
Book appearances
- Great Muppets in American History (coloring book)
- It's Hard Out Here For A Shrimp (author)
- The Muppet Show Comic Book issue #2 - "Fozzie's Story"
- Muppet Robin Hood issue #3
- Muppet Robin Hood issue #4
- Muppet Peter Pan
- Muppet King Arthur
- Muppet Snow White
- Muppet Sherlock Holmes
- The Four Seasons issue #2 - "Summer"
- The Muppets Character Encyclopedia
- Muppets Meet the Classics: The Phantom of the Opera
- Muppets Meet the Classics: Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Character Merchandise
- Pepe Action Figure
- Vacation Pepe Action Figure
- Nanco Plush
- "The Muppets Take Hollywood" PVC
- It's Hard Out Here For A Shrimp
- Vinylmation figure
- Disney Store plush
- Muppet Minimates Series 3
See Also
Sources
- β Muppets Haunted Mansion, 9 min 17 sec
- β It's Hard Out Here for a Shrimp, page xiii
- β online chat with TVGuide.com, July 1999
- β One on One with Bill Barretta: Origin of Pepe the King Prawn | Disney Files On Demand
- β MuppetFest panel
- β Barretta, Bill. Creating the Classic Muppets Panel at MuppetFest. MuppetFest Memories.
- β Tough Pigs: To Introduce Our Guest Star #10: The Barretta Brothers
- β Den of Geek: 29 nerdy things we learned on the set of Muppets Most Wanted
- β The George Lucas Talk Show - Muppets Tonight reunion, part 2 (02:12:37)
- β Liebeck, Laura. "Pepe the King Prawn speaks out", Global License! magazine. January 1, 2002.
- β "Miss Piggy's 'a mess inside': Frank Oz and puppeteer pals reveal Muppet secrets", Yahoo.com, March 14, 2018.
- β Pepe Interview with Author Magazine, October 2008
- β @SpicyPrawn, "I don't get what the big deal is about people dating catfish. I dated a catfish once and she was very nice, okay. Is it the whiskers?", Twitter, 11 Aug 2016.