 | |
| PERFORMER | Jerry Nelson puppeteer |
| Francois Klanfer voice | |
| DEBUT | 1972 |
| DESIGN | Michael K. Frith, Jim Henson designers |
| Don Sahlin builder | |
Rover Joe in "Hound Dog"
Rover Joe is a hound dog who first appeared in The Muppet Musicians of Bremen. In that special, he was Mean Floyd's dog, thrown out after the superstitious farmer mistook Rover Joe for a ghost. Befriended by Leroy the Donkey, Rover Joe plays the trombone in the animal band, though he initially confuses the instrument with a hambone. Rover Joe is a tired old dog, rejuvenated by the companionship of the other animals and the hope of finding a new family.
Rover Joe later appeared in several episodes of The Muppet Show (often performed by Jim Henson) and The Muppets Take Manhattan.
The puppet was rebuilt during Season 4 of The Muppet Show, with small beady eyes replacing the nearly-closed ones.
In later years, he made cameo appearances alongside his Muppet Musicians bandmates in the first issue of Muppet King Arthur and The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic.
Since 2015, the Rover Joe puppet is on display at the Center for Puppetry Arts as part of their permanent Worlds of Puppetry exhibit.
Appearances[]
- The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
- One to One
- The Muppet Show
- The Muppet Movie ("Rainbow Connection" finale)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan
- Muppets Tonight (Audience member)
Sources[]
- Falk, Karen. "Jim Henson's Red Book", 4/26/1972 – Air "Muppet Musicians of Bremen".