Jerry Nelson passed away this week and for those of you who don't recognize the name, you may recognize the names of the characters he has played: Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Camilla the Chicken, Gobo Frazzle Mr. Snuffleupagus, Count Von Count, Sherlock Hemlock, The Amazing Mumford, Frazzle, Herry Monster, and Mr. Johnson (aka Fat Blue) and Emmet Otter.
Jerry Nelson was not one, but several of the characters who shaped my childhood, made me laugh and made me cry. Losing Jerry Nelson is a great loss of an incredible talent. But his characters will live on forever.
One of my personal favorites that Jerry puppeteered was Robin the Frog. My first encounter to Robin was on Tales from Muppetland's Frog Prince. I will never forget the never-ending smile I had on my face (and still to this day just recalling it) while watch Robin and Kermit sing about a frogs life and hearing Robin figure out what "Bake the hall in the candle of her brain" means.
An unforgettable Jerry Nelson performance is "Halfway Down the Stairs" as Robin the Frog (lyrics are from an A.Milne poem). This Muppet Show Segment is such an endearing and timeless moment that I wanted to pay tribute through this magical sequence.
Thank you Jerry for all you have done and brought to the world.
In memory of Jerry Nelson, 1934-2012.
