Reporter Kermit

PERFORMER	Kermit the Frog
DEBUT	1972

Kermit the Frog, in his long career, has often functioned as a reporter. The earliest, most frequent, and most famous stint was on Sesame Street, as TV news correspondent for the Sesame Street News Flash segments. Kermit has appeared in reporter attire, including suit, trench coat and fedora, in several productions and merchandise over the years.

The casting history has been consistent with Kermit the Frog. Jim Henson originated the role in 1972 and continued it until his death in 1990. Steve Whitmire took over afterwards, picking up the trench-coated puppet for the first time in 1992.

Kermit's news broadcasts would usually open with the camera cutting to him while engaged in off-screen conversation or facing the wrong way, unaware that he was on the air. Kermit would begin his reports with his classic "Hi-ho, Kermit the Frog here."

Sesame Street[]

With microphone in hand, Kermit's reporting duties were first established on Sesame Street in the Sesame Street News Flash bulletins. Each skit featured a breaking news report from him on the street as he interviewed various characters: including Don Music, Dr. Nobel Price, assorted storybook characters, and historical figures.

Early on, Kermit appeared as a reporter in a handful of impromptu Muppet & Kid Moments on a real city street. In one of these segments, he interviewed Julia about the sounds animals make, however Kermit is not amused by her "Wiggit! Wiggit!" frog call. In another segment, he interviews John-John on pretty much the same subject, though also teaching the concepts of loud and soft.

In 1981, Kermit appeared in an installment of The Leslie Mostly Show, showing awards he's gotten as a reporter and talking about other careers he wanted before settling on a news reporter job.

Kermit has also appeared in a few sketches in his reporter attire but apparently not giving any news reports or coverage. These segments include a skit from the 1980s in which Kermit rode on an elevator operated by Count von Count, the song "Subway," and a cameo in the song "Forty Blocks From My Home."

Picture	Date	Description
	1972-1990	Kermit the Frog filed 89 Sesame Street News Flash reports. A yellow feather could sometimes be seen decorating his hat.
	1974	In the TV special Out to Lunch, Kermit appeared in his reporter's coat and hat to report on Grover Knover's jump across the Grand Canyon.
	1975	Newspaper under arm, Kermit laments the passage of his stop on the perpetually moving metro car in "The Subway."
	1976	Kermit's reporter trench coat and hat rest on a coat rack as an AM frog scoffs at him for doing paperwork behind a desk at the beginning of "This Frog."
	1981	Kermit is interviewed by Leslie Mostly about his job of being a television news interviewer. He demonstrates his job by interviewing himself.
	1984	In a season 16 sketch, The Count takes Kermit to a building's top floor, despite the frog's wishes to stop on the seventh.
	1985	Kermit appeared as a reporter in the film Follow That Bird. He gave a news report about Big Bird's planned return to Sesame Street. Although it was not specifically stated, it is probable that he was reporting for a news program other than "Sesame Street News" (evident by the fact that the newscaster mispronounced "Sesame Street" as "Se Same Street" when announcing the fact that Big Bird was planning on returning to Sesame Street).
	1987	Big Bird's Story Time features several News Flash segments tied together with a framing story about Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus getting ready for their nap. In new material shot to fit the narrative of the video release, Reporter Kermit appears at the end, tired from all the activity shown prior.
	1988	Kermit interviews Oscar the Grouch about why he likes public television in Sesame Street, Special.
	1989	Kermit makes a brief cameo crossing the street in front of a school bus with The Count in "Forty Blocks from My Home."
	1989	In Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting, Kermit sets out to ask the question of the day, "Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?"
	1996	In Elmo Saves Christmas, Kermit appears in a brand-new Sesame Street News Flash with him reporting on the Christmas shopping craze, eventually leading to a man trying to purchase his microphone.
	1998	When Slimey the Worm traveled in space on a mission to the moon, Kermit reported on the moon landing in Episode 3740 and the crew's return home in Episode 3785.
	1998	He later appeared in Elmopalooza at Radio City Music Hall to cover a music special for Sesame Street’s 30th anniversary.
	1999	In the TV special CinderElmo, Kermit appears to report at the princess's ball, wearing a more period-appropriate version of his reporter attire.
	2000	Kermit wears his reporter outfit when Big Bird passes by he and Susan in the window of 123 Sesame Street as seen in the beginning of Episode 3865.
	2001	Kermit's last news report on Sesame Street was when he teamed up with Al Roker to report on a hurricane that came to Sesame Street in a five-part episode arc.

The Muppet Show[]

Kermit appeared on The Muppet Show several times in reporter garb. His attire was the same as his other reporter stints, except without his illustrious fedora. Kermit brought breaking news reports to viewers from the Planet Koozebane or interviewed guest stars (in or out of character).

Picture	Date	Description
	1974	In The Muppets Valentine Show, the first of two attempts to sell The Muppet Show with a TV special, Kermit reported on the Galley-o-hoop-hoop on the Planet Koozebane. In this appearance, his trench coat had a fur collar, but otherwise it was the same.
	1975	The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence features a segment in which the San Francisco Earthquake wrestles in an arena. Kermit can be seen in the audience wearing his reporter garb.
	1976	Kermit reported on the courtships of the male and female Koozebanian creatures, and in the process covered the first televised Koozebanian mating ritual, the Galley-oh-hoop-hoop in episode 107 (an event later illustrated in The Muppet Show Book).
	1976	In episode 116, he covered the battle between Sir Avery of Macho and The Monster of the Moores.
	1976	He was a member of the press questioning Twiggy in episode 121, as preamble to the song "In My Life."
	1977	He subsequently interviewed the Koozebanian Spooble, a creature who is made entirely out of liquid, in episode 223.
	1978	As a reporter, Kermit interviewed the Koozebanian Phoob in episode 205. The Phoob blends in with his environment and quickly turns into Kermit, even wearing the exact same trench coat.
	1980	In episode 423, Kermit interviewed Cecilia Sisson, former silent movie star (played by Carol Channing).

Muppet Babies[]

Picture	Date	Description
	2021	"No Takesies Backsies" introduces a younger version of the amphibian reporter, with Baby Kermit in his professional garb.

Other Appearances[]

Picture	Date	Description
	1977	He appeared in a brief teaser for an upcoming appearance of Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and himself (sans reporter garb) on Today with Gene Shalit.
	1978	Kermit and Fozzie Bear overview and narrate the Thanksgiving Day parade for Hip Hip Parade!
	1980	Here Come the Puppets! is hosted by Jim Henson and Kermit in his reporter garb, seen at one point in front of the White House.
	1981	In The Great Muppet Caper, Kermit played the role of a crack investigative reporter for the Daily Chronicle. Accompanied by fellow journalist (and twin brother) Fozzie Bear and their photographer Gonzo, Kermit investigates the theft of Lady Holiday's valuable diamond necklace. He is seen wearing his typical TV garb of suit, trench coat and fedora, but with a bow tie replacing the necktie.
	1981	On The Don Lane Show, Kermit appears in his reporter garb in a satellite interview.
	1983	Jim Henson appears on-camera with Kermit on the German game show Wetten, dass..?
	1985/86	Wearing a variation on his reporter jacket over a tuxedo, Kermit swaps a black top hat out with the one he wore in Manhattan Melodies as he reports on the passage of 1985 in Happy New Year, America.
	1987	Kermit the reporter appeared in a public service announcement for the National Wildlife Federation. In the spot, he presented some experts on clean air: the presidential faces of Mount Rushmore.
	1992	For Good Morning America, Kermit reports once again from the planet Koozebane for Earth Day.
	1992	Kermit discusses the state of children's television in the PBS documentary On Television: Teach the Children.
	2002	Appearing on GMA with Yankees slugger Jason Giambi, Kermit reports on a Toys Я Us shopping spree sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club and the Muppets' "Priceless Memories" MasterCard commercial.
	2004	Kermit interviews a queuing audience for Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
	2006	Kermit donned his reporter trench coat to do live backstage reporting from the TV Land Awards. The backstage coverage, which was hosted by Kermit and Tom Arnold, was available online at TVLand.com following the show.
	2006	Reporter Kermit reported on Zöe Salmon's participation in the London Marathon for the BBC's television program Blue Peter.
	2007	The companion website for a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid ad campaign featured Reporter Kermit to complement his appearance in the television commercial.
	2008	Disney Xtreme Digital featured a video of Kermit interviewing patrons of the Muppet Whatnot Workshop.
	2009	When Charlie Gibson anchored his final broadcast for ABC World News in December 2009, Kermit appeared in his reporter garb in a clip reel to bid the journalist farewell.
	2010	Kermit reported on "The Muppets Y Games" for The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora episode Game Day.
	2012	When the Muppets returned to Good Morning America on March 13, 2012 to promote the home video release of The Muppets, Kermit reported from Central Park looking to interview a newt (Newt Gingrich) and a baseball mitt (Mitt Romney).
	2012	Kermit appeared in his reporter outfit (without the fedora) when presenting the morning forecasts on Daybreak on June 11, 2012 to promote the British home video release of The Muppets.

Gallery[]

Merchandise[]

Editor and anchor[]

Similar to his role as newspaper reporter, Kermit also served as editor for The Muppet Show Fan Club Newsletter. National newspapers announced his promotion in April of 1978 with a promotional photo of Kermit sitting at a cluttered editor's desk accompanied by Beautiful Day Monster. The spiritual successor to the newsletter, Muppet Magazine, also enjoyed editorial oversight from Kermit as its Frog-in-Chief.

In 1987, Kermit was promoted further as a news anchor for the ABC News Special Wall Street and the Economy. In 1994 he hosted Larry King Live on CNN.

Notes[]

Kermit wore his trench coat and fedora in The Muppet Show episode 414, in the role of Kermit the Frog, Private Eye. An animated version of private eye Kermit appeared on Little Muppet Monsters, wearing the same costume.

Kermit also wore his trench coat when taking on a Humphrey Bogart persona, as seen in The Muppet Movie, during the "Never Before, Never Again" sequence and in the Casablanca spoof in The Muppets Go to the Movies, among other occasions.

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Reporter Kermit

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