I know that voice is coming from Steve. I can see him there, with his hand in the puppet, I can see Steve talking... but its freakin Kermit! He's real! Kermit is talking, thinking, emoting, laughing... What an odd feeling! I've always wondered if Michael Caine or Tim Curry felt like this when they worked with the Muppets.
I want to go to Disney's CEO and yell at them for an hour just to try and convince them to get Steve back. They fired him for having an ego, which literally every Marvel actor had. Me, my brother, and my father all grew up with different Kermits. My dad grew up with Jim Henson, I grew up with Steve Whitmire, and my brother grew up with Matt Vogel.
It's hard not to watch the VP of Muppet Studios more closely in this video knowing that she must have had some say in letting Steve go. Steve is so natural with Kermit. He will be missed.
I grew up with Steve’s Kermit. The voice might not have been exact, but his personality is down to a T. I love that Kermit’s expression shifts at 5:24, as though he’s still listening. Thats what made Steve such a great fit.
Not only by us fans, but his cast mates too, I'm sure Dave Goelz misses him greatly seeing how they worked very closely for almost 40 (39; 1978-2017) years. Brian Henson really messed up on this one, Steve is some he would've known since he was a teenager and wouldve worked with as a director and fellow performer and to take the word of some money hungry hellions over your so called friend and colleague of 30 something years, is disgraceful. I agree that Steve may've strayed from the original voice as a means to make Kermit more his own but he was always able to capture the essence of the original frog and the spirit of Jim, that's something that cannot be duplicated easily. And moreover Matt was a miscast for the simple fact he already plays Robin, and just as Steve inherited a portion of Jim's characters, Matt inherited Jerry Nelson's characters and that was something that shouldn't have been tampered with. Steve is one of the three original core muppeteers from the original Muppet Show still alive and he shouldve been kept on as long as humanly possible.
It’s funny his Kermit always sounded like a younger Kermit with the higher pitch and voice cracking. He has a lot of energy too. Lol also is it me but it sounds like Fozzy asks a question from the audience @ 2:02
Why this woman felt the need to destroy this man's livelihood, I will never understand. It is sad to see Jim's legacy crumble into dust like old foam rubber, but that is exactly what's happened, with Steve's ousting. Steve did an excellent job of keeping the Muppets alive for 26 years after Jim's death, but it's probably better for the Muppets to be put to rest, if they can no longer be what they once were. Such a shame. They had a good run.
I can't help but look at Kermit 🐸 it's sad Steve was fired most of us grew up with Steve doing Kermit, Steve has been my Kermit, but matt Vogel is doing well !
@@Asukenick that didn't stop them from rehiring James Gunn to do GotG Vol. 3 and Matt Vogel, I respect the man, but he just isn't it. Sounds too much like Constantine imitating Kermit and yes, I know he voiced Constantine as well
So sad to just learn he doesn’t do kermits voice anymore... no hate on matt vogel congrats to him hes done alot for the muppets , but Whitmire is Kermit..
Maybe we never gonna know the real reason for the dismissal of Steve but I only know that he made my childhood I grew up with his version of Kermit, of course, Jim is Jim no one can imitate Kermit´s voice as Jim did but I really miss Steve he was great I mean Matt now is not actually too bad but since ABC canceled The muppets Disney has been doing a not very good job with the characters i hope Matt can find his own version and new voice for Kermit
The Muppets have an immense cultural impact over many decades and the voice artists have become the characters of the Muppets and changing voice artists is effectively losing the characters.
Steve is an icon. Took over after Jim passed. BUT it seems most people commenting about his firing and how well he is doing Kermit's voice here are the younger gens and only grew up with Steve as Kermit. I like Steve's take, BUT here he is just not convincing. He is puppeting Kermit like if he is on speed and the voice is WAY off. It's almost like Kermit is doing an impression of Steve. He is barely making an effort here. When Jim would sit next to Kermit, he would vanish. Obviously I prefer Steve ANY day over the new voice, but here Kermit is just not present. For those who may disagree, below is Jim and see if you can spot the major differences. Not saying Steve isn't good, it's just here, sorry, he sucks, even tho for the movies and shows Steve has been good. There was noone better prepared to take over for Jim than Steve, but it's almost like he is just moving Ketmit's mouth when he (Steve) talks in his regular voice. Here's what Kermit really sounds like - ruclips.net/video/EStlJB-Lp8I/видео.htmlsi=ecMPAlP2n3QekTHt&t=244 HUGE difference in the Dragon Con attempt.
When I watch old Kermit stuff when Jim Henson was doing him, I am absolutely in STITCHES with laughter! Kermit had such a warmth and gentle humor with a quick wit. All I know is I have never laughed at Steve Whitmire's Kermit the Frog. Not. One. Single. Time.
He doesn't have that nasal sound like Henson. I thought this guy would sound like Kermit but no, he doesn't. ? I sound more like Kermit than this guy. I should send an audition tape to Disney.
I'd like to share my favorite section from a talk with Steve Whitmire and Eric Jacobson, because it's something that every Muppet fan should realize: Interviewer: You clearly come close to the voice, but I'm wondering if you ever made any effort to differentiate yourself a little bit. Steve: No, but I can't help it. I'm not a mimic, really. Interviewer: I mean, it's pretty close. Steve: It's in the same ballpark, and it's been 26 years, so I think people have grown accustomed to it. I had a lot of criticism in the beginning and I understand it. I'd walk into a room, and people would say "You sound exactly like Jim" and then people would say "You don't sound anything like Jim". One of the most embarrassing things I did, in the early days we did this phone-in radio thing, to these kinda shock-jocks. So they weren't very nice people to begin with. And they were talking to Kermit, and they spent the whole interview saying "You don't sound anything like Kermit" to Kermit. It was so hard. What could I do? I had to say it was Kermit. So I get it. But we don't have any choice. I hear a lot of people writing or talking online about Jim's Kermit, or Frank's Fozzie or Frank's Piggy vs. Eric's Piggy. And from our point of view, I understand that, but it's a non-existent difference. There's no Frank's Piggy, it's Piggy. And that's the way we have to approach it. Because it doesn't get shared. This is who she is now. They do have to evolve. That's really important. Eric: Yeah, evolve is the right word. Obviously, these characters are gonna be different on our hands than our predecessors. But we're accepting of that. It was hard for me at first, because I wanted to able to fool people. And maybe you can do that for a little while, but eventually especially with the Internet these days, people are gonna know. And so I had to come to terms with that, and realize that I'm not Frank. And nobody can be somebody else. But perhaps Piggy can still be Piggy, and be a little bit different than she was before but totally in-character. Totally a character that you can believe in, and continue to believe in and be entertained by.
no yeah I totally get that. i never said steve was bad, hes a great puppeteer and he's got a lot of the muppets magic in him. but in my personal opinion i simply never cared for his version that's. i wasn't comparing him to jim i was simply say that steve kinda brought a hole new kind of personality to kermit and i just personally never cared for it.
I never could tell the difference; I grew up with this voice. Muppet Treasure Island is my favorite muppet movie, and I know it was Steve voicing Captain Arrow.
It's impossible not to look at the frog while Steve's speaking.
the frog? Uhm he has a name. 🤔 😂
I hate that Steve got fired. I can't tell the difference between him and Jim. They sound the same to me.
Jim's voice was deeper
@@NintendoNamcoAndNickFan Just a little.
@Pokèmon Master 08 He also didn't give him much of a temper like Jim did.
@Malchik Blue Jim did that the best but Steve did Kermit great in other ways.
Jim chose wisely.
So much better Kermit than we have now. 😭
I agree
100%% agreed
We want Kermit back
I know that voice is coming from Steve. I can see him there, with his hand in the puppet, I can see Steve talking... but its freakin Kermit! He's real! Kermit is talking, thinking, emoting, laughing... What an odd feeling!
I've always wondered if Michael Caine or Tim Curry felt like this when they worked with the Muppets.
My God, he's every bit as Kermit as Jim Henson was!
He even looks somewhat like Jim.
@@tinagemcgee6190 they even shared the same birthday
@@HerooftheWild And they have the same hand size. Steve was even nicknamed Kermit in his youth.
I want to go to Disney's CEO and yell at them for an hour just to try and convince them to get Steve back. They fired him for having an ego, which literally every Marvel actor had. Me, my brother, and my father all grew up with different Kermits. My dad grew up with Jim Henson, I grew up with Steve Whitmire, and my brother grew up with Matt Vogel.
It's hard not to watch the VP of Muppet Studios more closely in this video knowing that she must have had some say in letting Steve go. Steve is so natural with Kermit. He will be missed.
You can look at her and she's hawking over Steve, monitoring everything he does and how he does it. It's really uncomfortable.
I grew up with Steve’s Kermit. The voice might not have been exact, but his personality is down to a T. I love that Kermit’s expression shifts at 5:24, as though he’s still listening. Thats what made Steve such a great fit.
taurinecat This guy on this vid is Steve Whitmire
Jim Henson will be missed
@@SecondValveSteam me too
Not only by us fans, but his cast mates too, I'm sure Dave Goelz misses him greatly seeing how they worked very closely for almost 40 (39; 1978-2017) years. Brian Henson really messed up on this one, Steve is some he would've known since he was a teenager and wouldve worked with as a director and fellow performer and to take the word of some money hungry hellions over your so called friend and colleague of 30 something years, is disgraceful. I agree that Steve may've strayed from the original voice as a means to make Kermit more his own but he was always able to capture the essence of the original frog and the spirit of Jim, that's something that cannot be duplicated easily. And moreover Matt was a miscast for the simple fact he already plays Robin, and just as Steve inherited a portion of Jim's characters, Matt inherited Jerry Nelson's characters and that was something that shouldn't have been tampered with. Steve is one of the three original core muppeteers from the original Muppet Show still alive and he shouldve been kept on as long as humanly possible.
This is sad to watch since Steve doesn't do Kermit anyone or any of his characters.
Blame disney for that
i am not sad..i am having a great day
Lidoe 1612 nope, the Henson children
He was an asshole in private apparently, wouldnt be surprised
@@mwk_powerlifting Not true
Sometimes I forget that he's even puppet. He's almost like a real person at times lol
I miss Steve Whitmire's Kermit :(
Happy 60th Birthday Steve Whitmire
He’s so natural as Kermit
Steve is a treasure to America and to Atlanta!
It’s funny his Kermit always sounded like a younger Kermit with the higher pitch and voice cracking. He has a lot of energy too. Lol also is it me but it sounds like Fozzy asks a question from the audience @ 2:02
Why this woman felt the need to destroy this man's livelihood, I will never understand. It is sad to see Jim's legacy crumble into dust like old foam rubber, but that is exactly what's happened, with Steve's ousting. Steve did an excellent job of keeping the Muppets alive for 26 years after Jim's death, but it's probably better for the Muppets to be put to rest, if they can no longer be what they once were. Such a shame. They had a good run.
I know steve is there but I’m looking at Kermit, it’s like Steve is not there.
How could they fire this guy? seriously, might as well just leave Kermit out of the picture. Like firing Oprah from the Oprah Winfrey show
Steve was amazing. Jim will always be Kermit but Steve will always be the second best to me.
ONly reason I can see him getting fired is to do with pay, due to how long he has been doing it he probably has a contract they dont want to pay for.
Like Disney doesn't have money
He spoke up a bit too much about the changes and direction of how things were going. They should have listened.
I miss Steve I grew up on him when it came to Kermit
Yeah I was born in the 90s and grew up with both Steve's and Jim's and never could really tell the difference between them.
"I do a mean Constantine." LOL!
2:07 Fozzie had kids lol
DRoHoFG he does actually sounds a bit like him😂
😮😮
Does anyone else think Steve looks like Jim Henson?
Maybe a little. They share the same birthday too.
I think he looks more like Jim Carrey
Free_samples234 I think more like Robby Benson.
Yes. Maybe intentional since that was his mentor.
Maybe Jim possessed Steve when he was doing Kermit hence why Steve started to look like him! Lol
I can't help but look at Kermit 🐸 it's sad Steve was fired most of us grew up with Steve doing Kermit, Steve has been my Kermit, but matt Vogel is doing well !
Please bring back Steve Whitmire. We miss him and we love him very much and he was probably the best Kermit I really hope they rehire him
Disney doesn't rehire people. Plus it wouldn't be fair to Matt Vogel who does Kermit now and really enjoys it.
@@Asukenick that didn't stop them from rehiring James Gunn to do GotG Vol. 3 and Matt Vogel, I respect the man, but he just isn't it. Sounds too much like Constantine imitating Kermit and yes, I know he voiced Constantine as well
For me Kermy is real I love him so damn much
Wow everyone hated on steve in this comment section now everyone misses him.
You can't replicate someone else's voice 💯. If you watch an interview of Jim in the 70s you will see that his speaking voice was the same as Kermit's.
So sad to just learn he doesn’t do kermits voice anymore... no hate on matt vogel congrats to him hes done alot for the muppets , but Whitmire is Kermit..
Whitmire and Henson.
Maybe we never gonna know the real reason for the dismissal of Steve but I only know that he made my childhood I grew up with his version of Kermit, of course, Jim is Jim no one can imitate Kermit´s voice as Jim did but I really miss Steve he was great I mean Matt now is not actually too bad but since ABC canceled The muppets Disney has been doing a not very good job with the characters i hope Matt can find his own version and new voice for Kermit
Disney executives are absolutely rats for firing the frog.!!!!!!! 🐀 🐸 🐀
1:37 man, he's got them eating out of his hand, what a stage presence
I love this
The Muppets have an immense cultural impact over many decades and the voice artists have become the characters of the Muppets and changing voice artists is effectively losing the characters.
Dave Goelz is the only puppeteer who can still do Gonzo
I hope Steve is getting plenty of work & still chasing his dreams.
He said in an interview he's been very busy doing his own stuff.
i love kermit so much
This has to be one of the best actors for Kermit besides Jim . The current voice over for Kermit the frog now I don't like I miss Jim and Steve
I’m impressed Jim would be proud edit: oh fired too bad 😮😬😣
1:25 Ooohhhhh Ms Piggy Would Probably Karate You
Oh dear, some bear had kids of his own - 2:02
2 min Bert soundin mf. Jkjkjk. ❤❤
RIP Kermit
1:38 OMG LUCKY 😩😩
Steve is an icon. Took over after Jim passed. BUT it seems most people commenting about his firing and how well he is doing Kermit's voice here are the younger gens and only grew up with Steve as Kermit. I like Steve's take, BUT here he is just not convincing. He is puppeting Kermit like if he is on speed and the voice is WAY off. It's almost like Kermit is doing an impression of Steve. He is barely making an effort here. When Jim would sit next to Kermit, he would vanish. Obviously I prefer Steve ANY day over the new voice, but here Kermit is just not present.
For those who may disagree, below is Jim and see if you can spot the major differences. Not saying Steve isn't good, it's just here, sorry, he sucks, even tho for the movies and shows Steve has been good. There was noone better prepared to take over for Jim than Steve, but it's almost like he is just moving Ketmit's mouth when he (Steve) talks in his regular voice.
Here's what Kermit really sounds like - ruclips.net/video/EStlJB-Lp8I/видео.htmlsi=ecMPAlP2n3QekTHt&t=244 HUGE difference in the Dragon Con attempt.
Steve was perfect with Kermit. This might not be the best example but I still like it.
Steve, what an icon.
He's a saint.
When Jim sat with Kermit, he disappeared. Steve is too much there for a side by side performance.
Loved Kermit the frog LoL
1:38 hmmm i hope miss piggy doesn't see this she won't be happy if she did !
Its possible that some people could be reminded of Bill Gates whilst watching Kermit because of similar voice and mannerisms at times.
Ok, that was Kermit actually saying, he was just lip-saying, right?
2.02 A young Frank Oz ???
Steve, Remember the show in the 7th grade and at the Papoose Palour?
cooool
Lmao
Now we know why he got fired .... Kermit was very rarely accompanied by Henson ....
When I watch old Kermit stuff when Jim Henson was doing him, I am absolutely in STITCHES with laughter! Kermit had such a warmth and gentle humor with a quick wit. All I know is I have never laughed at Steve Whitmire's Kermit the Frog. Not. One. Single. Time.
Some of it might be poor writing
You are a sad strange little human and you have my pity
Never saw Steve do Kermit until now. Kermit died with Jim. Steve may have voiced Kermit for a long time but Jim was Kermit.
Steve did a great job but no one can replace Jim. I'm just sad Steve got fired.
So glad i grew up in the 70's and early 80's, this is pathetic. RIP Jim.
He doesn't have that nasal sound like Henson. I thought this guy would sound like Kermit but no, he doesn't. ? I sound more like Kermit than this guy. I should send an audition tape to Disney.
I see why Disney let him go...
I don't think he deserved it.
He sounded very confident he was Kermit in this interview and he was negating that Disney owned Muppets and the new way in my opinion
@@rodvarmo Either way I think he still did a fantastic job.
@@rodvarmo True there, yet Matt is starting to grow on me
I think Steve is I nice guy and a really good puppeteer but he just isn't right for Kermit
I fully agree. He's really not trying with the voice after a few minutes. That Hi-ho was WEAK.
I agree. No one can replace his original voice: Jim Henson himself RIP
+disneyphilip were entitled to our own option no need to be rude about it
I'd like to share my favorite section from a talk with Steve Whitmire and Eric Jacobson, because it's something that every Muppet fan should realize:
Interviewer: You clearly come close to the voice, but I'm wondering if you ever made any effort to differentiate yourself a little bit.
Steve: No, but I can't help it. I'm not a mimic, really.
Interviewer: I mean, it's pretty close.
Steve: It's in the same ballpark, and it's been 26 years, so I think people have grown accustomed to it. I had a lot of criticism in the beginning and I understand it. I'd walk into a room, and people would say "You sound exactly like Jim" and then people would say "You don't sound anything like Jim". One of the most embarrassing things I did, in the early days we did this phone-in radio thing, to these kinda shock-jocks. So they weren't very nice people to begin with. And they were talking to Kermit, and they spent the whole interview saying "You don't sound anything like Kermit" to Kermit. It was so hard. What could I do? I had to say it was Kermit. So I get it. But we don't have any choice. I hear a lot of people writing or talking online about Jim's Kermit, or Frank's Fozzie or Frank's Piggy vs. Eric's Piggy. And from our point of view, I understand that, but it's a non-existent difference. There's no Frank's Piggy, it's Piggy. And that's the way we have to approach it. Because it doesn't get shared. This is who she is now. They do have to evolve. That's really important.
Eric: Yeah, evolve is the right word. Obviously, these characters are gonna be different on our hands than our predecessors. But we're accepting of that. It was hard for me at first, because I wanted to able to fool people. And maybe you can do that for a little while, but eventually especially with the Internet these days, people are gonna know. And so I had to come to terms with that, and realize that I'm not Frank. And nobody can be somebody else. But perhaps Piggy can still be Piggy, and be a little bit different than she was before but totally in-character. Totally a character that you can believe in, and continue to believe in and be entertained by.
no yeah I totally get that. i never said steve was bad, hes a great puppeteer and he's got a lot of the muppets magic in him. but in my personal opinion i simply never cared for his version that's. i wasn't comparing him to jim i was simply say that steve kinda brought a hole new kind of personality to kermit and i just personally never cared for it.
Jim Henson was sooooo much better at Kermit omg. The voice here is horrible.
No way its fantastic. Jim did do it the best of course.
who are you trying to convince? us? jim or you?
Personally I love both!
I never could tell the difference; I grew up with this voice. Muppet Treasure Island is my favorite muppet movie, and I know it was Steve voicing Captain Arrow.