Gonzo ' s family Gonzo ' s family has long been a canonical conundrum within the Muppet universe . Members of Gonzo ' s family are rarely seen or even mentioned , and the family history of Gonzo is a bit of a mystery — even to Gonzo himself . Gonzo ' s Family . " Muppet Babies " showed an infant Gonzo , like many of the Muppets , raised exclusively under the care of Nanny . No parents or other relatives were visibly present in the little weirdo ' s life . However , a fantasy segment in the third season episode " " showed Gonzo tracing his family tree back to the planet of Crouton located in the Soup Galaxy . In that sequence , a parody of Superman ' s backstory , Gonzo learned that Crouton , where millions of weirdos lived , was in the process of quickly becoming normal , so his parents Sor - Elbow and Weirda sent him in a rocket to Earth to be raised by chickens . However , according to the " Muppet Kids " book series , an adolescent Gonzo was raised by his grandmother and his aunt . Gonzo ' s grandmother is the same species as Gonzo , as is his aunt , and cousin Gander . Gonzo ' s parents are not shown or mentioned nor is there a stated reason as to why Gonzo is in the care of his grandmother . In both " Muppet Babies " and " Muppet Kids " , the young Gonzo seems to have no contact or interaction with his mother and father . However , other productions imply otherwise . It was in of " The Muppet Show " that Gonzo first mentions his parents . Gonzo explained that his mother died before he was born . However she left a note to Gonzo ’ s father regarding Gonzo ' s name . His father and grandfather were mentioned by Gonzo during a panic during a 1994 " Larry King Live " appearance : " I ' ve always been pre - recorded , my father was pre - recorded , and my grandfather before him was transcribed ! " But the issue of an absent mother in Gonzo ’ s life ( especially a deceased one ) was contradicted in of " Muppets Tonight " when Gonzo claimed his mother liked the unique interpretation of " Death of a Salesman " he produced during his years at college . Later in , Gonzo says his mother wouldn ' t let him go to Lollapalooza . Gonzo ' s mother is referenced in " The Muppets " episode " . " Gonzo mentions that he gets junk emails from his " mother " who ' s " stuck overseas " and " needs money . " Kermit points that Gonzo ' s mother is on a South American cruise , causing Gonzo to realize these might not have been spam messages . At the end of the episode , Gonzo shares the good news with Kermit that they found his mother . He starts to explain that the cruise ship had an expedition where you ride goats up Machu Picchu , and , as Kermit knows , his mother is a terrible goat - rider . The elevator doors close and the episode ends before Gonzo can finish his story . When asked " what exactly is Gonzo ? " in an Ask Henson . com , Dave Goelz responded stating , " Nobody knows except his parents , and they ' re not talking . It was always one of those taboo subjects around the dinner table . " However " Muppets from Space " showed a very different take on Gonzo ' s entire family situation and backstory . Similar to his situation on " Muppet Babies " , Gonzo lamented that not only did he not know where he came from but he also didn ' t truly know what he was . Contradicting other mentions of Gonzo ' s youth , it is established that Gonzo has never known any member of his family ( or anyone else of his species ) . In the 1999 film , Gonzo is contacted by aliens channeling his breakfast cereal , and a pair of Cosmic Fish soon reveal to him that he is , in fact , an alien from outer space . It is later revealed that many " zotons " ago Gonzo was lost , and his family has ever since been looking for him . These alien bretheran has been trying to contact him for sometime and finally make plans with Gonzo ( via a sandwich ) to reconnect with their long - lost brother and take him home . They arrive at Cape Doom in their giant spaceship ( guided by an egg - like light beacon ) . These aliens displayed the same general physical characteristics as Gonzo ' s . They are a musical culture , and their " most ceremonious of ceremonies " includes blowing the honoree out of a cannon . Gonzo is ecstatic to discover what he is and , for the first time , meet others of his family and species . He does consider going with them , however in the end he realizes his true home is on Earth with his Muppet family . Despite " Muppets from Space " ' s seemingly definitive answer as to Gonzo ' s origin , the movie , as with any other Muppet movie , leaves some room for interpretation . Interviews with Gonzo and Dave Goelz suggest that the events of " Muppets from Space " were " just a movie " and his classification and backstory is still up in the air . Years later , Kevin , Gonzo ' s doppelgänger cousin , worked as Gonzo ' s double in an attempt at stage magic in " An Audience with Joe Pasquale " .