Ladies and Gents, British TV! The Muppets Bake Off! #ThisMorning pic.twitter.com/5UiZI3C11K
— jack kisby-carroll (@JackTVCasting) February 27, 2018
Set aside everything else because this needs your immediate attention: Kermit the Frog’s voice is off. Kermie’s not sounding like himself and nobody’s having it.
Kermit the Frog (formerly lizard) was one of Jim Henson’s first and admittedly favorite Muppets, that he made from one of his mother’s discarded coats with a split ping pong ball for eyes. Although he’d allowed others to inhabit his other creations, Jim remained Kermit’s voice and puppeteer until he died. Jim’s devotion to Kermit was part of the reason I couldn’t take up a side on the Kermit/Miss Piggy divorce. I adore The Pig but I couldn’t turn my back on Jim’s first born.
When Jim died in 1990, Steve Whitmire took over the role of Kermit and remained the Kermit we knew and loved until last year when all hell broke loose in Muppetville. After 27 years, Whitmire was suddenly fired for what the Muppet organization claimed was, “unacceptable business conduct.” Whitmire claimed his dismissal was because of character notes and a union dispute. Disney and The Muppet Studio said they’ve been warning Whitmire to behave for a while. For the record, the Henson children have sided with Disney and The Muppet Studio on replacing Whitmire. However, the fandom got caught up in the intrigue, leaving only one true victim: Matt Vogel, the poor sap who replaced Whitmire as Kermit’s voice. When Vogel debuted last August, the reaction was mixed. A lot of people approved but some – let’s say “didn’t”:
So I heard Kermit the Frogs new voice today and I have never been more pissed in my entire life. I hope N. Korea wipes us out now.
— Anna Nicole’s Revenge (@PeculiarChild13) August 31, 2017
And now we’ve circled back to where we started. Kermit appeared yesterday alongside long-time companion, Fozzie Bear, on Britain’s This Morning for a simple baking segment. You can watch a clip – and hear Kermit’s voice – below. British fans were not amused. They flooded Twitter to voice (ha!) their dismay:
Kermit sounds like Lewis Hamilton #thismorning
— Sir Phantom flan flinger OBEse (@phantom_flinger) February 27, 2018
WOAH, Kermit!?!? His voice is SOOOOO wrong! #kermit #muppet #thismorning
— Sally Sebok (@sally_sebok) February 27, 2018
Is Kermit’s voice okay ? #ThisMorning
— princess ✨ (@princessmimixox) February 27, 2018
Has Kermit got strep throat? #ThisMorning
— Chelle-Belle🦄 (@chellebelle2803) February 27, 2018
Who’s this imposter with his hand up Kermit’s butt #ThisMorning
— seb rawlings (@sebapatel) February 27, 2018
I haven’t actually heard Kermit for a while (he never calls anymore *sigh*) so he doesn’t sound that off to me, more like jetlagged. If anything, he sounded like Seth MacFarlane’s impression of him (5:30 mark). I think maybe this is the first time Britain has heard the new voice.
What do you think? Can you accept the new voice? It’s just a voice, folks – he’s still the same Kermie inside. Well, except for the hand inside him which is also Vogel’s. I don’t care about the voice, I care about how he intends to win Piggy back.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Twitter
Kermit sounds as if he’s suffering from the flu.
Much ado about nothing.
Actually do you know what this is? I remember when Jim died and the new voice took over and it was awful, but there was (functionally) no internet or twitter on which to voice my opinion. This is just that, 2018 edition. I prefer Vogel to Whitmire, though Henson was, of course, the real deal.
Personally I’m going to need time to deal with this. I accept that the decision is out of my hands but I’m still going to need some time. More time than just today.
Me, too. It’s like when Pluto got demoted.
Came to say the same thing. Whitmore never won me over. I’m fine with Vogel. I miss Jim Henson so much!
It doesn’t sound that bad.
It just doesn’t feel right, like when a different actor takes over the role of a character you’ve been used to for years, or a different singer joins a band. I stopped watching Roseanne because the new Becky actress didn’t feel right , and I didn’t want to watch an AC/DC concert with Axl Rose singing
While I realize nothing, and no one, lasts forever…just no! This guy doesn’t sound remotely like Kermit. Nope, just won’t cut it.
Last night (it’s now 4am here in Australia), I happened to catch The Last Leg. Kermit and Miss Piggy were guests. I had no idea about the Whitmire drama and the new guy, Vogel, but thought Kermie sounded off, too. I’m going to just put it down to the frog’s old age. I think I can cope with it better that way.
I am “A Muppets Christmas Carol” lover, expert, ophile, obsessed and I’ve watched it multiple times during the holidays and sometimes when I need a break in the summer since it came out. I still have the VHS. Anyway, this all to say they both sound off, Fozzie and Kermit.
I’m still upset over the cancellation of the rebooted Muppet Show last year. It was a very clever update of the show from the 70s and it wasn’t given a chance. ABC tried to fix it and only made it worse.
For what it’s worth, Matt Vogel played Constantine (Evil Kermit) in Muppets Most Wanted and is Carroll Spiney’s understudy for Big Bird as Carroll eases into retirement, so he is probably the best choice for taking over Kermit. I mean, if the choice is no Kermit or New Sounding Kermit, I’ll take weird sounding Kermit anyday.
My son’s gf loves a show called ‘Superstore’ so I caught a few episodes with her when she’s here. The actor who plays the manager of the store sounds exactly like Kermit the Frog.
I thought the same thing; I wondered if he was moonlighting.
They changed Big Bird’s voice on Sesame Street recently and I cringe each time. My 2 year olds don’t seem to care but I’m having a hard time with the change. I refuse to event let myself listen to the new Kermit. I need time to deal (and yes I know this is absurd but my childhood memories, my rules).
It’s much ado about nothing – still sounds like Kermie.
I got tickets too see their show at the O2 in July – not ashamed to admit it. Am sooooooo looking forward to it.
Piggy and Kermie FOREVAH!!!
Sounds like he has a frog in his throat…..
Sorry.
Ok, I’m literally laughed out loud at my desk. LOL!!
I am now, and always will be an unabashedly enthusiastic Muppets fan. The new voice is different, but any voice will not be Jim Henson’s and I made my peace with that a long time ago.
Fozzy sounds more like Kermit, than Kermit does
This made me irrationally angry 😡
Well, no, it’s not the same Kermie inside, but this happened years ago.
Jim Henson was Kermit’s soul, and that soul is gone now. **sniffle**
It’s like the new guy knows everyone’s going to hate him no matter what, so he didn’t even try. I don’t know if he wants that beautiful pig back; she can do better anyway.
He sounds similar. But different. And the difference is distracting. It’s missing a twang, or the high note or something.
I’m very high right now and it’s like Kermit and Fozzy are on my level. In my current state I am down for the new Kermit.
Faye Dunaway has more friends than Steve Whitmire.