Everyone knows there is a long standing connection between Star Wars and the Muppets. The biggest is obviously the involvement of Frank Oz, legendary muppeteer, who gave life to Yoda in four of the Star Wars movies.
Anyway this connection is honored from time to time with the release of some crossover products. Today I am going to show you one of my favorites.
This is a set of PVC figurines released in July 2008. As with almost all of this Muppet/Star Wars merchandise it was only available at the Disney theme parks as part of their Star Wars Weekends events (Booooo!).
The figures range in height from about 2″ for the smallest up to 4″ for the largest.
Of course Kermit stars as Luke Skywalker. I don’t know why, but I think it is kind of neat that his usually green feet have been colored in tan to match Luke’s boots from his Tatooine costume.
So if Kermie is Luke then who else but Miss Piggy could fill the role of Princess Leia. She totally rocks the part especially given that she is holding her hairdrier as if it were a blaster… cool. Once again she is the most glamorous pig in the galaxy.
Fozzie as Chewbacca may be my favorite of the set. Not because he is my fave character because he isn’t, but I just think he fits the part perfectly. I can just imagine him doing his trademark laugh in the same way that Chewie talks.
Rizzo has just the ears needed to be a great Yoda.
Here is my other favorite from the set. Why? First of all Beaker is such a great character and he gets so little of the spotlight that it is nice to see him getting a little here. Plus he is always so petrified on the Muppet Show which is very reminiscent of C3PO in Star Wars. Finally, come on… what a cool looking robot?
As an experiment I want you to say the classic 3PO line, “I am C-3-P-O, human cyborg relations”. But this time I want you to replace each syllable with the “ME” sound a la Beaker… So how many of you laughed and then tried to think of other C3PO-isms to try… thought so. Me me-me-me-me! (translated… Oh curse my metal hands!).
Finally who other than Gonzo could be Darth Vader? Simple answer… no one. With his delusions of grandeur and his never ending quest to make it big on the Muppet Show it was a match made in heaven.
I am hoping they do another set some time soon as it seems just wrong to not have a Han Solo, Ben Kenobi or R2-D2 figures. Plus how about a stormtrooper or two or even a jawa or a tusken raider? The possibilities are endless. Now that I have proposed those characters to be added let’s hear your suggestions for the Muppets you would select to play them… entertain me.
This awesome set can be yours for about $20-25 and it would be a total bargain at that. So run along to your favorite auction site and get one right now you know you want to.
Watch the famous 1980 episode of the Muppet Show where they get a surprise visit from the cast of Star Wars.
Flickr = 24,781
There are currently 53 items listed on the ToyNerd Exchange check it out
My first star wars action figure, maybe its time I get. See I’m learing something from watching these great movies…or I’m becoming a nerd !!
I’m thinking they should have Snuffleupagus be a Tauntawn !
These figures are too awesome. I got a set for my wife for Xmas. Since she is the muppet nerd and I the Star Wars nerd, this is the mathematical point where our nerdness intersect.
I think these figures need parody names, like Luke Pondhopper or Princess Piggie Orhamia.
Also, which other muppet characters should make up the rest of the Star Wars cast? Rowlf as Han Solo, perhaps?
Opinions?
I agree with you on the parody names, Luke Pondhopper rules. When I wrote the post I actually had to double check to make sure that they didn’t have them already. Maybe they didn’t want it to look like they had copied the Mr. Potatohead ( http://www.toynerd.com/?p=2198 ) or the Kinder Hippos ( http://www.toynerd.com/?p=438 ).