The Muppets take over TODAY
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:34 AM by Danielle Brennan
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Live from Studio 1A
Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, and Al Roker found themselves barred from Studio 1A by a very large and officious bear with a badge who demanded identification. “Is this your current address, Mr. Lawyer?” Bobo the security guard growled at one of the most familiar faces on television.
“Lauer!” the TODAY hosts corrected him.
IS THIS YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS, MR. LAWYER?!” Bobo boomed obligingly.
Meanwhile, inside the studio, the show was going on — but with some very curious stand-ins. Muppet versions of Lauer, Vieira, and Roker had taken over their flesh-and-blood analogues’ duties, blithely bantering and teasing segments before introducing a bemused Lester Holt with the news.
The Muppet mimicry was an impressive demonstration of the versatility of Whatnots: customizable Muppets who serve as supporting players to A-list Muppets like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, who were also on the set. Perhaps not coincidentally, a Muppet Whatnot Workshop, where kids and their parents can build their own unique Whatnots, is now open at toy emporium FAO Schwarz.
As Lauer, Vieira and Roker continued to remonstrate in vain with Bobo (Vieira even resorted to seduction, only to find herself pushed up against the wall for frisking), Muppets and Whatnots consolidated their takeover of TODAY. A Whatnot Al Roker buttonholed puzzled plaza visitors before introducing a Whatnot Willard Scott, who announced the birthdays of a succession of centenarian Muppets with dubious names like “Lee Turgid” and “Flick Flashman.” Muppet mice and monsters populated the control room, switching cameras and going to commercial without missing a beat. A gregarious Whatnot version of Ann Curry revealed her location for the show’s globe-spanning “Ends of the Earth” series: across the plaza at Dean & Deluca, where she persisted in introducing herself to the amused patrons. WATCH VIDEO
Eventually the show returned to a semblance of normality, thanks to the pluck of Al Roker, who managed to distract Bobo long enough for Lauer and Vieira to storm the studio. An apologetic Kermit explained that “this is sort of what Whatnots do,” and soon the mollified hosts were building their own Whatnots.
Still, you have to wonder whether the on-air talent will be cautious about negotiating the next time their contracts come up for renewal ... now that they know how easily they can be replaced.
For more on Miss Piggy and the muppets, click here.
