Note: this post originally appeared at stevesilver.blogspot.com on 9/5/'02. The original post can be accessed here.
Back in one of my college film classes the professor, a noted expert on the period known as "Pre-Code Hollywood," brushed off a silly description someone had given of some forgotten B-movie by stating that "inter-species sexuality is something that the Hollywood Production Code probably would've frowned on."
Upon hearing this I immediately thought of the 1985 film "The Muppets Take Manhattan"- yes, it ends with an historic frog-pig wedding (likely the first and only in motion-picture history), but what really struck me was the subplot involving the endearing but ultimately unconsummated flirtation between Kermit the Frog and "Jenny" (a human female), and Miss Piggy's bitterness and jealousy over the matter. While of course the Hollywood Production Code was long gone by the '80s, I can understand why Henson & Co. would be skittish about human-frog intercourse - though why is it considered acceptable for Kermit and Miss Piggy (who are of two species just as different from one another as frogs and humans) to not only romance each other for decades, but eventually join in holy matrimony?
Fast forward to 2002. The sex-between-humans-and-talking-animal-puppets taboo has been shattered numerous times on television and in movies, most notably on the now-canceled series "Greg the Bunny" and in numerous bits involving Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (just tonight, Triumph was seen in a music video violating J.C. Chasez of 'N Sync).
There's even something called the "furry" movement that's starting to creep out of fetish circles and into the mainstream (at least, among those who read Savage Love.) I'd like to think, though, that even after Jim Henson's death we can still count on the Muppets to maintain their innocence, and not go off screwing around with people. But I guess I counted wrong because now even the Muppets have been corrupted.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Henry Kaplan
You're obviously not supposed to think of such muppet activity in that way.
2 - zh
well, uhm, yeah. . .
weezer.com is kind of pissed at you for this
;-)
come on, its a freaking music video, theres no need to get your knickers in a twist. i dont think any of that went into consideration before filming the video; that's pretty in-depth.
i think it was just an idea that mr siega had, i dont think he was sitting in darkened rooms, rocking back and forth methodically, thinking, "i'm gonna freak out some people with inter-species sexuality. . .heh heh."
buah.
3 - cait
dude pat was kidnapped by ms.piggy and u better not be dissin =w=!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 - Seven
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
dork.
-Seven
5 - JT
Here's a great example of someone trying to overintellectualise a subject to impress all his friends. If you're really worried about inter-species relations, the Island in the Sun video would be of much greater interest.
And don't knock the Weez.
=w=
6 - Andrew
Come on dudes, this is a joke. And weezer.com was surely more amused than offended.
7 - mymommasmasonjar
Thank God, Andrew. I sure hope that most other Weezer fans have a better sense of humor than those who've posted. This is a joke, people.
8 - WzrColeman2
Hahahaaha. This was one funny ass article! Why would someone waste their time? Oh well....
=w=eezer
Rock on
Coleman from the boardz....
9 - realmeanmotorscutor
Wow you guys are idiots. This is a joke for Christ's sake. Thank the ever lovin' Lord someone else understands that.
10 - Tighler the Great
definitely a joke. plus, the symbolism of pat using the lampshade was far more subversive to our culture's foundation than mrs. piggy. The intentional "blinding" of oneself to avoid the emotional trauma of sexual abuse is a real problem. plus, where was rolf on some keyboards? are we racist against the brown dog? is it because he is darker than the rest of the muppets? plus, because he plays piano as opposed to guitar, he is obviously gay, another apparent reason for his exclusion.
as we can clearly see, bestiality is the least of our problems here.
11 - aznrockstar
dot com boards rulez
12 - gravy
heh heh , i like muppets. heh hehe
13 - janet Ponce
Muppets are made out of fabric...from someone's imagination. They're not real-
=w= on'
14 - gravy
heh heh , i like muppets. theyre yummy. heh heh
15 - art fag
www.artfag.org
16 - Tighler the Great
um, speaking of fag...
quit it dude.
17 - Eric Olsen
You guys crack me up.
18 - Ally - beet red sinner on the .com boards...
cool! amusing article, dude. im so stoked. heh heh. i agree about the whole rolf thing - do we have some racism and homophobia goin on down? its also true that the island in the sun video is extremely relevant to this discussion. have you *seen* rivers kissing that chimp? and brians practically humping his for chrissake... those cute, dirty dirty =w= boyz...
=smsms= sexy mofos support muppet sex
19 - Karlansweredmye-mail on .com
:D
20 - Charlie Page
Hey everyone, check out this site, it's got some really cool stuff on it as well a few things Weezer. Don't forget to sign the guestbook...
Charlie Page
21 - Charlie Page
By the eay, the link is http://www.itsthego.vze.com
Stay cool!
=w=
Charlie Page
22 - Willers
i had a good laugh!
lolz
23 - nicole
"Pat Wilson is kidnapped by Miss Piggy and tied up in the back, apparently as a prelude to some kind of sexual assault."
"And worst of all, human-muppet sexual contact is hinted at"
HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
XD
24 - Lane
um...you are the only man in this world that thought that video has sexual content. for the most part, people are smart enough to realize the difference between a Muppet and a human. for one thing, im pretty sure muppets dont have sexual organs, and if they do, im sure they dont fit in/on/around ours. another thing is, the Muppets are puppets, they already have some ones hand up their butt controlling them, if anything has sex, its the muppeteers own actions. last, the Muppets are purely and nothing less than a children show, sex would never be tied into them except in your sick perverted mind. loser
25 - Spencer
I'm glad there are still some Weezer fans out there who have an intelligent sense of humor. All of you loyal Weezer fans who immediatly went defensive and jumped to Weezer's aid need to develop a sense of irony. Satire is a lost art in this society. =W=. rock on.