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Rowlf the Dog

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Rowlf the Dog
The Muppetscharacter
First appearanceVariousPurina dog foodcommercials (1962)[1]
Created byJim Henson
Voiced by
Performed byJim Henson(1962–1990)
Bill Barretta(1996–present)
In-universe information
SpeciesMuppet Dog
GenderMale
OccupationPianist
NationalityAmerican

Rowlf the Dogis aMuppetcharacter created and originally performed byJim Henson.Known most notably as the residentpianiston thesketch comedytelevision seriesThe Muppet Show,Rowlf is a scruffy browndogofindeterminate breedwith a rounded black nose and long floppy ears. Laid-back and wisecracking, his humor is characterized asdeadpanand as such, he is one of few Muppets who is rarely flustered by the show's prevalent mayhem. Henson's closest collaborators and family members have claimed Rowlf to be the Muppet character most similar to Henson's real-life personality.

Rowlf was introduced in 1962 as thespokesmanofPurina Dog Chowtelevision commercials aired in Canada, in which he appeared with Baskerville the Hound. Rowlf was designed and performed by Henson, and was built byDon Sahlin;it was Sahlin's first Muppet construction.[2]Rowlf subsequently appeared onThe Jimmy Dean Showfrom 1963 to 1966, becoming the first Muppet to appear regularly onnetwork television.In the 1970s and 1980s, Rowlf appeared as a regular character onThe Muppet Show(1976–1982), as well as inThe Muppet Movie(1979),The Great Muppet Caper(1981), andThe Muppets Take Manhattan(1984). After a brief hiatus following Henson's death, Rowlf returned to the forefront in Muppet films and television series withBill Barrettaperforming the character sinceMuppets Tonight(1996).

Career[edit]

The Jimmy Dean Show[edit]

Rowlf rose to popularity asJimmy Dean's sidekick onThe Jimmy Dean Show,performed by Henson withFrank Ozassisting. He was the first Muppet with a regular spot onnetwork television,[3]appearing in 85 of the 86 total episodes from 1963 to the show's end in 1966.[4]Jimmy Dean stated that Rowlf's segments were one of the most popular parts of the show, and that Rowlf drew two thousand fan letters a week.[5]Henson was so grateful for the exposure Dean offered on his show, even proposing that he take a 40% stake inHenson's company.Dean refused, however, later saying in 2005, "I didn't do anything to earn that."[6]Dean and Rowlf appeared together for the last time in an episode ofThe Ed Sullivan Showairing on October 8, 1967, performing "Friendship" while doing the "herd of cows" gag.

Sesame Street[edit]

In 1968, Rowlf appeared withKermit the Frogon the pitch reel forSesame Street.At the end of the pitch reel, Rowlf is depicted as being eager to join theSesame Streetcast, while Kermit seems reluctant to do so; however, it was Kermit who became aSesamestar, while Rowlf appeared only in one filmed segment and was never a part of the show's regular cast.

The Muppets[edit]

In 1976, Rowlf joined the recurring cast ofThe Muppet Showas the show's pianist. Rowlf also played Dr. Bob, the wisecracking doctor in the recurring medical dramaparodyskit "Veterinarian's Hospital", alongside nursesJaniceandMiss Piggy.Though considered one of the main characters, he rarely interacted with any of the backstage plots involving the show's weekly guest stars.

Rowlf achieved movie stardom with his appearance inThe Muppet Movie(1979). The film depicts Rowlf's origin as a musician, at apiano bar,who is discovered by Kermit while on his way to Hollywood. In the scene, Rowlf and Kermit sing the duet "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along!",a song about their troubles with women. Afterwards, Rowlf leaves the bar and joins Kermit and the other Muppets on their trip to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune. He later plays theharmonicaduring Gonzo's song "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday".

In 1984, Baby Rowlf debuted playing a toy piano during a musical number inThe Muppets Take Manhattan.This fantasy sequence with the Muppets as babies was so popular that it resulted in the successful animated cartoon spinoffMuppet Babies.He was voiced on that program byKatie Leigh.

Jim Henson's last public performance as Rowlf before his death was as guest onThe Arsenio Hall Showin 1989. For several years afterward, the character was retired out of deference to Henson's memory (only returning for silent cameos inThe Muppet Christmas CarolandMuppet Treasure Island), as he was both the first Muppet to achieve popularity and, according to some sources, the character closest to Jim Henson's personality, with Henson's sonBriansaying in the introduction to episode 117 ofThe Muppet Show:"Kermit was my father's best known character, but a lot of people think he was more like Rowlf in real life except he couldn't play the piano as well."

Since 1996, Rowlf has been portrayed by puppeteerBill Barretta.Barretta has gradually transitioned into the role. Rowlf's first words since Henson's death were in the second episode ofMuppets Tonight.Rowlf also had several lines of dialogue inThe Muppet Show Live(2001) and spoke two lines of dialogue ( "Hey, Kermit!" and "Yeah! Heh, heh. Oh!" ) inIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie(2002). In 2005, Rowlf had a 190-word monologue in the second episode ofStatler and Waldorf: From the Balcony.Rowlf appeared in the "Keep Fishin'"music video for rock bandWeezer.Although he's only briefly seen, Rowlf had a more prominent role in the behind-the-scenes making-of special that accompanied it,Weezer and the Muppets Go Fishin'.

Additionally, Bill Barretta recorded the vocals as Rowlf singing "The Christmas Party Sing-Along" for the 2006The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmasalbum.[citation needed]

Rowlf and Kermit appeared together at the 2011Disney D23Expo to honor Jim Henson's posthumous induction as aDisney Legend,singing a live duet of "The Rainbow Connection",as they were Henson's first two Muppet characters.[7]

Rowlf appears inThe Muppets(2011), initially saddened he wasn't included in the montage depicting the principal Muppets being reunited (Rowlf was asleep, and was simply woken up by Kermit and easily convinced to join the cause), and helps rebuild the Muppet theater. He also performs "Smells Like Teen Spirit"in a barbershop quartet withSam the Eagle,Beaker,andLink Hogthrobduring the Muppet Telethon, as well as an unwilling (and captive)Jack Black.

As of 2014, Rowlf is on long-term display at theCenter for Puppetry ArtsinAtlanta,Georgia.[8]

In 2019, Rowlf appeared withDarci LynneonAmerica's Got Talent: The Champions,singing "Can't Smile Without You".

Filmography[edit]

Album[edit]

Main article:Ol' Brown Ears is Back

A solo album titledOl' Brown Ears is Backwas released byBMGin 1993 and featured 14 songs recorded by Jim Henson as Rowlf.[3][9]The album had been recorded in 1984 but went unreleased until three years after Henson's death.

References[edit]

  1. ^Shemin, Craig (2014).Disney's The Muppets Character Encyclopedia.New York:DK Publishing.p. 155.ISBN9781465417480.
  2. ^"2/–/1963 – 'Don Sahlin started to work regularly.' | Jim Henson's Red Book".Henson.com. 2014-02-03.Retrieved2014-04-09.
  3. ^ab"The Secret Genius Of Rowlf The Dog".Whatculture.com. 2012-09-23. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-10.Retrieved2014-04-09.
  4. ^"Museum of the Moving Image - Visit - Calendar - A Dog's Life: A Rowlf Retrospective".Movingimage.us. 2013-11-29.Retrieved2014-04-09.
  5. ^Dean, Jimmy(2004).Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham: Jimmy Dean's Own Story.Berkley Books.ISBN042521026X.
  6. ^[1],Craig McDonald interviews Jimmy Dean, 2005
  7. ^Disney D23 2011 Expo,Disney LegendsAward Ceremony
  8. ^"Special Exhibits: Jim Henson: A Man and His Frog".Center for Puppetry Arts in Fulton County Georgia.2014.Retrieved12 July2014.
  9. ^"Rowlf the Dog's Solo Album Pleases - Los Angeles Times".Articles.latimes.com. 1993-05-29.Retrieved2014-04-09.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toRowlf the Dog.

Rowlf the DogonMuppet Wiki

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