One of my LEAST Favorite Muppets Finds Redemption as an Action Figure
Written: Mar 04 '03 (Updated May 07 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great sculpt, paint ops, and killer Accessories
Cons: ...only that I personally don't like Scooter...
The Bottom Line: Take away one point because I don't like Scooter--but add a point because of all of the accessories!
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Palisades Muppet Show Series 3: Scooter |
True Confession Time: I don't love all of the Muppets. And I play favorites. Goodness knows I love most of them, but there are some who for one reason or another I just don't get along with. Among my favorites are Kermit the Frog (of course), Gonzo, Miss Piggy, and Rowlf the Dog... and my not-so-favorites include Beauregard, Dr. Teeth, and Scooter.
Scooter is the "go-fer" from the Muppet show— "Go fer" coffee, "go fer" doughnuts, etc. An errand boy and stage manager for the Muppet Theatre. It may be this necessarily supporting role that kept him a "straight man" much of the time, and kept him out of the spotlight--and so I've just never really dug his character. He's kinda boring, an eager, go-getter who only takes the stage once in a great while. Despite this secondary status, he's usually considered to be one of the Big Seven of Muppetdom: Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rowlf, Animal, and Scooter. These are the characters most likely to be featured on any Muppet merchandise, and so I wasn't too surprised when he made an appearance early on in the Muppet Show action figure line from Palisades Toys.
This line is amazing for either casual Muppet fans, or those of us die-hard freaks who know that the names of the "old guys in the balcony" are Statler and Waldorf. And that Waldorf's wife is named Astoria. And she looks like Statler in drag. Since summer 2002, the first three series of action figures have already included: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Dr. Teeth, Bunsen, Beaker, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Crazy Harry, Floyd Pepper, Animal, Rowlf, Lew Zealand, Zoot, and now Scooter. An impressive line-up for any Muppet collection, and is the most diversified Muppet ANYTHING in my collection.
Scooter has found some measure of redemption in his action figure form--but it's not due to the figure itself. He's a great figure, don't get me wrong--but it's still SCOOTER. Something you notice immediately about these figures is the surprising amount of detail they cram into a six-inch figure. Scooter's skin is "dimpled," like the fleeced foam rubber of the puppet, and his jeans are textured and stitched like real denim. His trademark lime green jacket is finished with a sheen like the satin jacket he wore on the show, and the Muppet Show Logo is printed on the back of the jacket. His sculpted expression is his usual goofy smile, ready to say, "Twenty seconds to curtain, Mr. Belafonte!"...or any one of 119 other Very Special Guest Stars. I give Scooter a rough time. If Crazy Harry is gonna blow anyone up, it'll be Scooter.
The real winner with the Scooter action figure is all of the accessories that come jam-packed with him. Most action figures out right now will come with a gun, or a flower, or one particular thing that may or may not suit the character. If you're lucky, you'll get two or three accessories. Scooter blows all of them away by coming packed with a ton of accessories that make sense and really complete the character. These include:
A skateboard with rolling wheels and details like the skid-proof surface and mounting screws.
Megaphone
"Old School" portable radio with movable handle
Chinese Food take-out box
Clipboard for Muppet Show scheduling
2 Soft Drinks with lids and straws
Take-Out carrier for the soft drinks
I mean, Scooter IS a go-fer...and it looks like he WENT! He can hold all of the items in his hand, and the skateboard has a peg for his foot to keep him on it. He's well-jointed and poseable enough that he's more interesting than the character ever was...
This figure, although it represents one of my least favorite characters, does so marvelously; he's a great addition to any Muppet fan's collection. If you haven't found these yet, keep looking-- they're the best Muppet Merchandise out there right now, and this is the time to get them. You can still find some of Series One and Two at Toys R Us, but for Series Three, you'll have to check Media Play, Suncoast, Electronics Boutique, or smaller comics and specialty shops. These are the toys you'll kick yourself for not buying...start putting on your own Muppet Show today!
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MORE Muppet Action Figures? You BET!
Series One
Kermit the Frog http://www.epinions.com/content_81549233796
Miss Piggy http://www.epinions.com/content_81637707396
Dr. Teeth http://www.epinions.com/content_81569549956
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew http://www.epinions.com/content_81822191236
Series Two
Fozzie Bear http://www.epinions.com/content_85935820420
Crazy Harry http://www.epinions.com/content_98525613700
Floyd Pepper http://www.epinions.com/content_98514865796
Gonzo the Great http://www.epinions.com/content_98463813252
Series Three
Lew Zealand http://www.epinions.com/content_91457293956
Zoot http://www.epinions.com/content_91549830788
Rowlf http://www.epinions.com/content_90764316292
Playsets
Muppet Labs with Beaker http://www.epinions.com/content_81755606660
Electric Mayhem Stage with Animal http://www.epinions.com/content_98538262148
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
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JediKermit
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Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
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Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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