Though it’s difficult now to imagine a world without the cultural influence of the Muppets, they didn’t make their first appearance until 1955. Developed by Jim Henson and his (future) wife Jane Nebel, this collection of quirky and fascinating puppet creatures quickly captivated America. Some Muppets inevitably held the majority of the spotlight, notably Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. However, there was one Muppet that proved that you don’t need to have a label (or species) to be recognized: Gonzo. In this article, we’ll be delving into what Gonzo truly is, as well as how he was created. So, for all you Muppet fans out there, it’s time to play the music and light the lights!
The Creation Of Gonzo
Gonzo has been through many phases, but he’s always stayed consistently weird!
The story of Gonzo’s creation is as whimsical as the character himself. Also known as “The Great Gonzo” or “Gonzo the Great,” he made his debut in the world of the Muppets not as a defined creature, but as a creative work of imagination. His metaphorical “birth” can be traced back to the imaginative minds at Jim Henson’s workshop, where he was initially conceived as a fringe character. Meant to be a bizarre contrast to the more conventional Muppet personas, no one could have known how iconic the character would soon become!
In the early stages, Gonzo’s appearance was quite experimental in nature. His long-nosed, blue-faced design was crafted by Muppet designer and puppeteer Dave Goelz, who also provided his voice to the character. Gonzo’s distinct look was a result of improvisation; a “whatever” in the truest sense (more on that later), embodying the spirit of the Muppets in a way that felt fresh and delightfully bizarre.
What Kind of Animal is Gonzo?
In truth, the answer to this question is both simple and complicated. You see, Gonzo isn’t even an animal at all! There have certainly been speculations made throughout the Muppet’s cinematic universe alluding to what he might be. But, that’s simply because it’s a running gag that the series continues to riff off of. In truth, he isn’t a turkey as some suspect- he isn’t any kind of bird. Gonzo is, it seems, simply himself.
Or, as he so adamantly describes, he is a “whatever.” There are countless points throughout the various Muppets films and television shows wherein Gonzo is either self-described or assigned the title of a “whatever,” whether that be in the form of a crate in The Great Muppet Caper, or as a description to Kermit of himself in The Muppet Movie. However, there is one film in the Muppets franchise that gives us a better understanding of where Gonzo is actually from: Muppets from Space. How this movie relates to our favorite blue creature is what we’ll go over in our next section.
Gonzo’s True Origins
The Muppets have had several adaptations, but only one movie revolved around Gonzo.
Though he had a longstanding reputation as a “whatever,” Gonzo’s origins are finally revealed in the acclaimed film Muppets From Space. The plot of the movie is heavily centered on Gonzo, who struggles with his identity and sense of self. Then, a ship of aliens who look exactly like Gonzo comes to Earth. After some other unrelated plot details, they eventually invite Gonzo to come home with them. The beauty of this message is that, instead of going back to his presumed home planet, Gonzo recalls how strong his friendship is with his fellow Earth-bound Muppets, and proclaims them to be his true family all along.
But, technically speaking, his biological family is likely among those aliens. This is a solid explanation for Gonzo’s appearance, behavior, and feelings of being out of place. It also gives a semi-satisfying conclusion to all those wondering where exactly Gonzo came from.
What About His Odd Relationship With Chickens?
Aside from his identity, there’s another aspect of Gonzo that many fans are curious about. Especially considering that Gonzo is an alien, many wonder why he has such a strong attraction to chickens. Commonly seen with his chicken partner Camilla, Gonzo has been known to enjoy these feathered friends to an interesting degree.
The reason for this is actually an inside joke on the writer’s part. During the filming of episode 204 of The Muppet Show, Gonzo’s voice actor (and creator) Dave Goelz joking ad-libbed a line complimenting the legs of a chicken dancer. Since then, the writers decided to keep the joke running!
Other Non-Species Muppet Characters
Other Muppet characters, such as Beaker and Dr. Bunsen, also have unknown origins/species!
If you’re familiar with the series, you might know that Gonzo isn’t the only Muppet character with an unspecified origin. In fact, many of those wacky creatures aren’t boiled down to one simple species. As we send you off, here are a few more of our favorite characters that don’t have a true identity:
- Scooter
- Animal
- Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
- Beaker
- The Swedish Chef
Perhaps the true fun of the Muppets is that, in the end, none of them are animals at all. They are their own uniquely fun species that can’t be explained with science or magic.
