MUPPETS: In the continuing celebration of 70 years of The Muppets, a recent feature was Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Ph.D., Esq., Incomp., C.S.I.C.O.E. (Chief Scientist in Charge of Everything).
“Dr. Honeydew has been performed by the legendary Muppet Performer Dave Goelz since he first debuted on The Muppet Show in 1976.”
With his loveable assistant Beaker, the rather inept doctor has a steady stream of not-so-successful experiments at Muppet Labs. His name comes from the Bunsen burner, and the shape of the scientist’s head which resembles a honeydew melon.
His inventions have included a gorilla detector, exploding clothes, edible paper clips, a banana sharpener and a machine that can turn gold into cottage cheese.
In a 2004 Internet poll, Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew were voted Britain’s favorite cinematic scientists. They beat Star Trek’s Mr. Spock, their closest rival, by a margin of 2 to 1 and won 33 percent of the 43,000 votes cast, according to Muppet Wiki.
Polly Lobster, from Muppet Treasure Island with Tim Curry, was celebrated on Valentine’s Day.
The chronically groovy Sgt. Floyd Pepper, bass boss with Electric Mayhem, came before that. Camilla, the lovely hen who has captured the heart of Gonzo, was the 24th character, Bubba the Rat was 23rd, while the 22nd was guitarist Janice with Electric Mayhem — fer sure.
Also making the list have been Nigel the Conductor, the 9 ½ foot tall blue monster Thog, the mad bomber Crazy Harry who always goes out with a bang, Kermit’s nephew Robin the frog, the Muppet Tomato, the Ghost of Christmas Present, Pig in Space star Link Hogthrob, Walter from the 2011 Muppet Movie, everyone’s favorite drummer Animal, and Behemoth also known as Gene the big gold monster.
