Why Rowlf is the Best Muppet - Roland Speak
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- Опубликовано: 3 мар 2021
- Get ready to ring-a-ding-ding with the best Muppet, Rowlf! If you disagree, let me know in the comments. It won't make you right, but it might make you feel better.
Rowlf Starter Pack: • The Muppet Show: Rowlf...
Roland Speak - Ep. 9 
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Finally a man of culture, Rowlf is the best muppet and someone agrees with me.
@Miles Doyle I can tell you love Rowlf
@Miles Doyle Jesus woof
Rowlf is my favorite too
Yes he is
I sure agree as well, even though I don’t know much about the muppets, at least I have a favorite one.
You hit the nail on the head by calling him "the most comforting muppet". Rowlf really is THE quintessential muppet character.
Disney has royally dropped the ball on the Muppet brand. They don't do anything with the character of Rowlf despite the fact that he is a fan favorite. It's bizarre!!
Rowlf has been my favorite Muppet for quite some time. I'd also like to point out: in a podcast interview with John Lovelady, he had stated that Jim actually got tired of playing Kermit around the time that the Muppet show came out. Let me just say that nobody claims he got tired of playing Rowlf :0
@Miles Doyle Sir, this is a Wendy’s
I went into this so ready to fight for my boys Gonzo and Scooter, but damn! This was a really well thought-out little piece about an under-appreciated Muppet!
I'm old enough where I can say I watched Rowlf on the JImmy Dean Show when it was first run. I loved the Rowlf appearances, and I am enjoying them again on RUclips. Thanks for this video.
I'm that old, too. One of the things that made Rowlf great was that Jimmy Dean really interacted with Rowlf on a person-to-person basis, not person-to-big-glove. Here's my favorite Rowlf bit. He references some of the best cutting-edge jazz artists of the era: ruclips.net/video/Np6YfksBXaA/видео.html
I remember the Rowlf segments on the Jimmy Dean show on the ABC-TV network from 1963 to 1966. I loved those segments, and I loved to watch the Muppets on every variety show they appeared on, including The Muppet Show. Rowlf was also a regular on a CBS-TV summer show called Our Place, which featured The Doodletown Pipers back in 1967, as a summer replacement for the Smothers Brothers..
It’s weird to me how Disney went from “yeah the muppets can take over Disneyland for a whole year” (it was cancelled but still) to not really pushing the muppets all
Shit's disappointing.
@@chrisrockett5897 real
I recently started to get into the old Muppets show and movies (I mostly watched Muppets' Christmas Carol), and while I used to like Gonzo, Rowlf is really growing on me. I was surprised to find out that Jim Henson was the performer behind him, as his voice is so different! But when I knew I thought: "Of course, that's why this character is so sweet and endearing!" Jim just has an innocence and sweetness that pours into everything he touches. And I agree with you that Rowlf is a comforting character, so I want a Rowlf the Dog plush really badly now 😅
Fun fact: Those little sketches on the Muppet Show with just Rowlf playing the piano? Cottleston Pie, You and I and George, etc? Those were only seen by British audiences in The Muppet Show's initial run. The Muppet Show was filmed in the UK as it had failed to be picked up in the US, and British broadcasts had less time allotted to advertising, so they padded out the runtime just a teeny bit with British-exclusive sketches that were almost always just Rowlf playing piano. Maybe American audiences would have had more love for Rowlf if they had seen those bits back when The Muppet Show was something you watched on television.
Also, when I saw The Muppets, I actually wondered if the part where Rowlf expresses annoyance that his part was left out of the rounding-up-the-gang montage, so they cut back to just asking him if he wants to do a reunion and he shrugs and says "Okay" was a direct reference to him just joining Kermit and company in the truck for seemingly no reason in The Muppets Movie. I mean, it was a cute joke either way, but if it truly was a subtle nod to The Muppets Movie for obsessive fans only, then I think it was masterfully done.
Rowlf's my best boy too, if that weren't painfully obvious, and thanks for highlighting the little fella.
I love that you’re two favorites are Rowlf and Kermit cause as a kid I was always between those two as well. I decided rowlf was my favorite and for your exact reason, he’s so *comforting* and that was enough to make him my fave. But yeah Kermit definitely gives him a run for his money. Other than that the only two other close contenders would be the two old guys but only cause they’re funny
I also love Statler and Waldorf!
There also the first two muppets which still appear in the modern episodes
Rowlf is my favorite too. Great observations and I've felt the same about, basically every thing you said. Great video! And NO! They should not retire Rowlf. I'm gonna pretend this was not discussed.
Bill Barretta's Rowlf is spot on.
Yeah I greatly disagreed with him there too. Bill does a great Rowlf (as well as Dr. Teeth) and I would much rather have the character have small roles with little dialogue than just outright retiring the character.
Look at the character of Rizzo, while probably not quite as much as a fan favorite as Rowlf and obviously not on the Kermit and Piggy level. He still has his share of fans who view him as their favorite Muppet and now with the firing of Steve Whitmire, fans are disappointed he hasn’t had a single line of dialogue since the ABC series.
Yeah, Bill’s Rowlf is great, and I’m glad the character hasn’t been retired.
As a Kid in 1964 I Used to Stay Up To Watch the Jimmy Dean Show to See Rowlf the Dog.
P.S. My Favorite Rowlf Moment on the Jimmy Dean Show was a Chocolate Cake That Looked Just Like Rowlf and Lick It and Said "Hey I Taste Good". LOL (smile)
Rowlf has always been my favourite, probably the most relatable. And he was the best part of Muppet Family Christmas!
I'm going to out myself and say I still haven't seen Muppet Family Christmas all the way through... It's on the list though!
I am just amazed at how expressive Rowlf can be, despite having such simple eyes!
This is gonna sound absolutely crazy… but Rowlf actually gave me nightmares as a kid. Those wide open eyes, black nose and completely black mouth just scared me growing up, even towards my teen years. But I’m happy to say that I’ve grown out of that fear and now I actually enjoy his songs and humor. I won’t forget the nightmares, and that’s why he’s not my official favorite. But he is at least one i can respect now.
Rowlf is the only muppet who feels like he has actually aged and grew older. He’s the best
Regarding that quick point about the Electric Mayhem, I will go to bat for Floyd being the one who works best on his own since he was always poking around backstage and snarking at everyone, but I think he also falls into the camp of "needs somebody else to bounce off of for his personality and humor to really stick." But honestly, it's so nice to find a fellow Rowlf stan--he's one of my favorites, too, and absolutely criminally underrated.
'If I didn't know I was a genius I wouldn't listen to the trash I write' - Floyd Pepper
I love seeing the Jimmy Dean stuff, it looks like the origin of the "make the human guests love every second on stage with the muppets" which made the Muppet Show & movies very popular in the industry
Just the video I needed! I, too, have to admit that Kermit comes close, but Rowlf is a lot cuddlier, more soulful, more zen and I just prefer piano to banjo. 'Comforting' is a great word choice, Rowlf is exactly that.
Gonzo's actually my favorite muppet but damn Rolf the dog I had such good memories with him🐶
Rowlf’s been my favourite for some time now. Knowing how deeply entrenched he is in Muppet history, I now have even further evidence to justify why he’s the best.
I needed no explanation as to why Rowlf is the best. Always been my favourite, with Animal and Gonzo closely following.
I didn’t grow up on the muppet show as it aired, but instead of watching random tv my parents gave me a lot of awesome classic shows like Thundercats, Looney Tunes, Ulysses 31, etc. but of course as well The Muppet Show (and films). As a kid Rowlf always stood out to me due to how cute and calm his piano segments were, he’s just a good ol happy dog.
somehow this video was recommended to me, and i’m so glad that it was! your editing and comedy are spot-on for my taste & rowlf has always been my favorite! watching this made me so happy, and i’m a new subscriber!
Rowlf is the greatest of all the Muppets and I’m glad he’s finally being acknowledged as such.
I’m so glad I ran into this. Appreciate the video. I would cry like crazy if they made a video of Rowlf announcing his retirement and there being a sort of tribute to him, telling his story. Also having all the muppets talk about the kind of friend Rowlf is. Then it all ends with Rowlf leaving the muppets and everyone crying waving goodbye.
It’s such a shame The Muppets 2015 didn’t get a fair shot. It got judged right off the bat and didn’t really get a chance to realise its full potential. Can’t help but wonder if a Season 2 might’ve helped us avoid this current Muppets dark-age we’re in. Hopefully Rowlf gets to do something in the new Electric Mayhem show 😢
Definitely the greatest! It used to baffle me as a kid that his name wasn't Rolf or Ralph, even though he gets incorrectly called both,
I do think that rowlf is the best muppet he’s my favorite character 🐶🎹
I remember, decades ago, my brother read a paper that said rowlf was the best cast member of the in world muppet show because he was the best at his job and didn't cause chaos and destruction.
2:02 I love when the smaller muppets get mad they just scrunch their face, it's amazing
Would also love to see more videos based on the Muppets, your editing and writing style is so much fun!
there’s also the long lived my singing monsters collab called my muppet show where rowlf was in every single song and he literally carried them the whole way.
Very well researched and explained. Always saw Rowlf as underrated and definitely one of the funniest.
Rowlf has always been my favorite Muppet. Always. We watched *The Jimmy Dean Show* every week. My parents weren't country music fans, but he had some brilliant comedians on the show, including George Carlin. I was crazy about Rowlf, though. Here's my favorite Rowlf segment. It's wonderful, because Rowlf name-checks a whole raft of the best jazz artists of the time. It's also wonderful because it demonstrates the vagaries of live television: ruclips.net/video/Np6YfksBXaA/видео.html
Edit: Obviously, I hadn't gotten far into this vid when I posted the comment. You included a tiny bit of that favorite bit of mine. Thanks for that! You're a man of good taste, and a danged good writer/editor.
I am with you on Rowlf and his part on the Jimmy Dean Show. It was always a hoot regardless if it was with Jimmy or maybe one of the guests.
Jimmy's show, even though he was considered a country star, was an excellent variety show with such a good mix of entertainment. It drew in many people who were not country.
both Rowlf and Fozzie are my favorite Muppets. According to some rumors once said that Rowlf was going to be the host of The Muppet Show but they settled with Kermit
ruclips.net/video/nS5f6_1pOmw/видео.html
I went looking for rowlf content and I found this incredible video.
Lol same
Rowlfs always been my favourite Muppet, Disney really doesn't use him enough as he deserves.
Don't think you got this one, but I loved his cameo on the Ok Go Muppet theme cover. Great Video!
Rowlf has always been one of my favorites, to be honest. Sure, characters like Sam the Eagle, Gonzo, and Fozzie make me laugh the hardest. But I agree that Rowlf is the most comforting of the bunch. He's somebody you almost forget is a star, a character, and can just easily imagine yourself having a drink with him.
Rowlf has always been my favorite and underrated. Thanks for this ❤️
Rowlf eating the Purina with a spoon made my day
Wow. This was fantastic, excellent job. I wish we saw Rowlf more lately too. I personally also loved baskerville the hound and wish he became more popular too but that’s just me lol
I first encountered Rowlf as a kid on the Muppet Babies cartoon- he's been my favorite ever since. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is probably my favorite christmas song because it was the one I looked forward to the most on the old John Denver record.
Coming back to this to say that this video, no joke, literally made Rowlf my favorite character without even watching the show or any other muppet media so thank you sir :0)
This is the highest honor I have ever been bestowed
rowlf's the best. for me it was harder to get used to someone else doing his character more than kermit. and it is too bad the newer muppets tv show didn't take off it was really well done.
I'm so glad to see another Muppet fan give Ralph the credit and love he deserves. He's always been one of my favorite Muppets and I wish the ABC show wasn't canceled because it utilized him and expanded character beautifully.
Rowlf better be in Muppets Haunted Mansion.
Edit: He was and he made it big!
Couldn't agree more! Rowlf and Jimmy Dean are the lost great American comedy team! (Most of the clips are on RUclips and a constant delight. Henson would purposely rehearse "ad libs" to crack Dean up. They became great friends and would even holiday together. Dean described watching Henson on one trip as "seeing Jesus Christ on water skis.")
I find it funny that you grouped Animal, Beaker, and Chef together because they're my personal favorites.
Besides the fact that they all have communication issues and thus the storytelling and jokes require that the creators become more imaginative...
Animal was my favorite as a child because of his enthusiasm and absolute fun. I also loved the scene in "The Muppet Movie" where he gets big.
Beaker is inspiring because of his resilience in spite of his obvious fear and constant abuse. Little dude belongs in the GL corps for how well he handles his fear.
As someone who loves to cook, Chef is a reminder to have fun when cooking. I have a little doll of him overlooking my kitchen to remind me of that. He's my second favorite TV chef after Alton Brown.
As to the star of this video...
I like Rowlf, make no mistake. (Honestly, Miss Piggy is the only Muppet I don't like.) I'd heard that Rowlf was originally intended to be the main star of "The Muppet Show", but that Kermit just worked better. I don't like the idea of "retiring" him. I think he works well as a sort of "water-off-the-back" straight man and a counterpoint to Kermit. While Kermit sometimes gets sarcastic and kind of frustrated with the rest of them, Rowlf knows the other Muppets are completely insane, but they're family.
Also, I thought it was kind of inappropriate to show the scene where he's singing "What a Wonderful World" to the other dog. He's a man in love trying to serenade a cute girl. Their romantic moment should be private, not played on your RUclips video for clicks and likes.
Great name for his compadre, Baskerville! I watched it when it aired originally way back then. Rowlf is the best!
It would be easy to say that rowlf may not be one of the core muppets but he is definitely at the top of the secondary character list.
Rowlf was always kinda the outsider, who did his own thing, but kinda like hanging around. Kermit was burden being the boss. Piggy, Fozzy and Gonzo are more interested in their craft. Rowlf just kinda went with the flow and offeres insight that the others are just to focused with their actions to see. I think they should keep him, and use him for what he is best at. The competent solo performer who supports the other cast.
Wow, this means a lot to me as he is my favourite muppet man 🙂
His appearance on Arsenio Hall is one of my favorites. lol. And to see quiet, introverted Jim Henson come out with that thru a character is just amazing.
Also, I remember reading that during a rehearsal for Jimmy's show (in a dressing room I think), Jimmy was fooling around with Rowlf, and at one point, one of Rowlf's eyes popped off. This scared one of Jimmy's assistants so bad she ran out of the room screaming. haha.
Loved your video. Very well done.
Excellent video! First time seeing your channel, but as a massive Muppet fan I appreciate all the research that went in to this. This one was a lot of fun. Hope to see your channel grow a lot more
I agree I just wish we could get Kermit and Rowlf as a dynamo duo
Me clicking on this video despite already thinking rowlf is the best muppet for all of these reasons and just emphatically nodding along the whole time. Best possible example of internet confirmation bias
When I was a kid, and only saw Muppet Babies, Gonzo was my favorite character. When I got older and saw more of there works Rowlf became my favorite. Especially when I stumbled on some of those Jimmy Dean segments.
rowlf has always been my fave muppet. i also have a special place for bert and ernie. but out of the muppet crew, i always enjoyed rowlf the most. especially in the muppets movie when he was just sleeping in a hammock, living his best dog life.
My favorite is Gonzo (I related a lot as a transracial adoptee to Muppets in Space and love his reactions to things) BUT I really loved and respected your opinion here. You really showed how lovable Rowlf is, I have a new appreciation.
As a person that did a lot of children’s theater as a kid, I always loved how he was the main house musician for the Muppets crew.
Just bought a Rowlf plush I was saving money for. I wanted to thank you for opening my mind :D
Completely based take, incredible retrospective of Rowlfs accolades, I can’t wait to binge your content. Keep it up! And yes if it wasn’t clear Rowlf is best boy and best muppet.
Rowlf is pretty cool. I need to see more of him interacting with other muppets and am glad whenever I see him in his own spotlight
Rowlf (aside from Kermit, of course) has to be my favorite out of the Muppets gang. He’s the kind of guy you’d want to have a beer with by the pool on a warm, Saturday night during the summer. Rowlf would bring out the melody on his piano, whilst Kermit and I sang. Good times.
Rowlf is one of my favorite Muppets. Probably second only to Miss Piggy. My Dad plays the piano and Rowlf always reminded me of him.
Thank you for the Rowlf appreciation. There is so much comfort in this silly shaggy piano-playing dog
It was my understanding that Rowlf was his favourite because he was the closest to Jim's personality, and he said he was 'man's best friend'.
For me at least, that's why after Henson's passing, he didn't seem the same as a character.
Now I’m watching his old jimmy Dean stuff. Rowlf has always been one of my favorites. I remember renting vhs muppet films and always looking forward to see rowlf. Always was bummed he wasn’t used much. I don’t want them to retire him I think he being used minimally but a bit more would be good.
Thank you, Roland Speak, for making and sharing this video!!
Yes, I have a special place in my heart for Rowlf as well!!
I'm in my late '50s and have fond memories of seeing Rowlf on the Muppet Show when it first aired in the 1970s!!
(My brother and I also have had a, uh, sort of cousin of his that my parents bought at a department store in 1965.
We named this cousin of Rowlf "Muppy" who became this hilariously contemptible greedy character that we often referred to as "Rowlf's evil twin brother", but I better leave it at that.....)
This was a really great video Jim Henson's work is timeless
absolutely loved this vid as much as Rowlf keep up the great work
Love Rowlf's affinity for Beethoven!
I deeply appreciate how thorough this was. Brilliant work!! Ya know....I think I'm sold! I feel equal affection for all the main Muppets but as many of us Millennials (and Gen Zers) who grew up more with Muppet content from the 90s and later I never really knew much about Rowlf! I'm so glad to now see his greater importance!
Loved this video so much! I had no idea thank you for sharing!
I guess links somehow got me here. Rowlf was on America Got Talent with Darci Lynne. The Host called Rowlf a legend. Definitely.
You put it perfectly by saying Rowlf os just comforting. He's such a solid presence in the group and feels like the grounded foundation. Wonderful video.
Rowlf is by far the COOLEST Muppet
This is an excellent video essay. You've earned a sub!
How perfect that I am seeing this on this date. March 4 2022. Happy Birthday Rowlf!
This is a great video! I agree! Thanks for posting.
I randomly found one of the Jimmy Dean segments on RUclips and looked for as many others as I could.
Absolutely great video
I was just asked this question in real life and then I came on to RUclips and here it was. The only video I’ll watch for the rest of my life.
Phenomenal video essay. Much like Rowlf, this channel is extremely underrated.
Rowlf is my favorite! Thanks for giving this dog his due.
My fan pitch: turn Rowlf’s into a sitcom spin-off. It’s Cheers, but with Muppets! Bring back Baskerville as a bartender.
GREAT video! i've never seen a lot of the clips used form the jimmy dean show! thank you for sharing those!
He’s a good boy, I have a LEGO minifigure of him, it came with cool accessories.
He is my favorite too I’m glad I’m not alone ❤
honestly they should keep him, like you said he has so much potential and history to work off of. and also like you said, his fur is definitely ICONIC and ideal for selling plushies. (i have muppet checks and name labels, he is one of the few stickers so definitely still a marketable character) i liked the muppet office show, bc thats really what the muppet show was anyway, and it really showed a lot more depth to side characters out of skits. the whole band had a lot more interesting interactions that carved out the modern versions of their hippie style. even scooter in that show, who you said is a good straight man role like kermit, is a perfect example of how rowlf. richard hunt is a hero of mine and every once in awhile theres a flare up of appreciation for his work. scooter is his puppet based on him. as a kid i really didnt care much for scooter bc he was too human and felt boring to me. growing up to learn about richard hunts life, im so happy they keep scooter around now. you saying how they kept rowlf silent but around out of respect for jim makes me so happy like the way seeing scooter does. the muppet office show really added so much more fun to his character and i think there could be a show w him + the band and rowlf is a regular costar. more media like in the real world would be great. theres a lot of wacky situations in the world now that could test a strong personality like all of these background characters have! and theres a lot to work w bc they havent had much screen time. rowlf is worldly, wise, laid back, a comforting friend who definitely can still have a good time. usually straight man roles are played by anxious or easily stressed/angered characters. rowlf keeping his cool (or not) could be interesting to see. him being really cool and a traveling pianist is why it works when hes not around but just pops in imo, he loves his friends a lot but unlike the rest of them he has a job and shit to do lol, he just makes time for them. if they do parodies of movies again there are definitely more modern films where he could be the chill smart friend. hes very open minded and supportive, he was good as a bartender. dont ask me why but muppet cabin in the woods w rowlf as marty would be so amazing. if they made one where all the horror was just puppet hijinks, theyd definitely put gonzo as marty.
Rowlf is a certified GOOD BOY
These Rowlf Musical Moments were Never seen in America while the Muppet Show was on the air..
Due to American Commercial placements, The Europe & Canadian versions needed 3 minutes of fill time so to cover that they created the Rowlf Piano moments...
It wasn't until The show started airing on the Disney Channel that American Audiences finally got to see these Rowlf gems.
"Hey! What happened to the Popsickle?!"
...
"Hey doc, there's a hole in your headlamp!"
yep, my childhood stuffed animal was rowlf. he's the best
This is an awesome video! You’ve successfully one me over to the Rowlf side
What are the best lines to ever come from Rowlf was in the dancing segment of the Muppet show where he tells the girl he's dancing with, "you know I used to be on the Jimmy Dean show."
Almost like being on The Muppet show was a downgrade, or that he used to be somebody. And I loved it
One of my favourite moments in ABC's Muppets was Rowlf coming out of retirement to do one more Veterinarians Hospital and how unbelievably chill he was about it.
Great job ,young Man
Thanks for talking about the Jimmy Dean show. I’m too young (53) to have watched it, and I knew the clips existed, but didn’t realize what a large part Rowlf played in the show. I’m bingeing them now!
I own that Rowlf CD too, and it has a prized place in my increasingly irrelevant CD collection. His version of New York State of Mind is worth the price of admission.