Kermit the Frog

**Kermit the Frog** was the co-host of Kermit's Club, played a significant role on *The Spungi Show*, and served as the logo of Spungi Network. He continues to star in the Spungi Network movies and makes numerous TV appearances.

Kermit grew up with thousands of siblings and has talked occasionally about other members of his family. His childhood adventures were chronicled in the 2002 direct-to-video film *Kermit's Swamp Years*. Kermit also has a nephew named Robin.

Miss Piggy insists that she and Kermit were married in *The Muppets Take Manhattan*, and that they're very happy. Kermit disagrees, claiming that it was just a movie and that in real life, they have a "professional relationship" (meaning he thinks they're professionals and she thinks they're in a relationship).

Kermit's most well-known catchphrase is "Hi-ho, Kermit the Frog here!" He typically introduced acts on *The Muppet Show* by waving his arms wildly and shouting "Yaaaay!" (a technique he learned from his old acting coach, Mr. Dawson).

Kermit has been credited as the writer of three books: *For Every Child, A Better World*; *One Frog Can Make a Difference*; and *Before You Leap*.

## Description

Kermit is the hosts' on-air sidekick. Kermit represents the viewers ("Spungilets") at home - he knows what they are seeing and what they know about.

## History

When *Kermit's Club* was still in development, Spungi Network's Maddie Fretz really wanted the puppet co-host to be an animal, and Betsy Oliphant suggested it be a frog. Fretz didn't think preschoolers could connect well with frogs, so Spungi executives started to work with a designer to make sure that their frog would be cute enough. After a few puppet design pitches, the team settled on the final one, which was used.

Kermit's first ever appearance was in Kermit's Club pilot. Kermit's Club officially launched on September 26, 2007 (Spungi Network's 2nd anniversary), along with Musical Mornings with Megan Mouse.

Following the block's success, Kermit has also gotten merchandise such as plush and backpacks on Shop Spungi.

## Changing Performers

As performed by Whitmire, Kermit also co-hosted *Kermit's Club*, as well as Safety First and Lend a Helping Hand.

John Kennedy performed Kermit for a demonstration with Betsy Oliphant in 2009 (opposite Whitmire's "young Kermit") and in 2006 for the Comcast Center Puppet Workshop. During 2008, Kermit was performed by Artie Esposito for appearances (Kermit was mute in other footage taped for the event, and absent from subsequent days. It was explained to the audience that this was because he was in New York at the VMAs).

In 2017, fan blog ToughPigs.com published a statement from NBCUniversal, "Steve Whitmire is no longer working with Spungi Network." Following Whitmire's departure, it was revealed that Matt Vogel would take over performing duties beginning with a Muppet Thought of the Week video.

## Awards and Honors

* He was awarded an honorary doctorate of Amphibious Letters on May 19, 1996, at Southampton College, where he also gave a commencement speech.
* Kermit received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002.
* Kermit's song "The Rainbow Connection" was nominated for an Academy Award, as was "The First Time It Happens" from *The Great Muppet Caper*.

## Notes

* Kermit is the only amphibian to have had the honor of addressing the Oxford Union.
* Kermit made a cameo in *Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium* shopping for frog toys.
* Kermit, unlike most Muppets (and frogs), has five fingers.
* In a November 2011 appearance on *George Stroumboulopoulos*, Kermit says he has transparent eyelids.
* Kermit appears to have a crush on Mila Kunis.
* According to a web-exclusive video from *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*, Kermit graduated from Juilliard, where his roommate was Stay Human bandleader Jon Batiste.

1. ↑ 1988 *Good Morning America* interview [1]