Old Guy in the Balcony #2 ...his Name is "WALDORF!"
Written: Dec 06 '03 (Updated Dec 06 '03)
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Pros: Great sculpt, wonderful face, nice joints and accessories.
Cons: Zip. Which is the score he'll give that bear.
The Bottom Line: You can't have Statler without Waldorf. Did you know he's married?
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Palisades_ Muppets Series 6: Waldorf |
Statler and Waldorf have been favorites of even casual Muppet fans for years—but no one seems to remember their names! Best-known for yelling at the acts on The Muppet Show, these two geezers are wonderful characters—but I never thought I’d see them as “ACTION figures.” Until Palisades Toys came along. In the first six series of Muppet characters, they’ve given us all of the A-Listers now, and many of the more obscure fan favorites, like the Muppet Newsman and boomerang fish-thrower Lew Zealand. Once you saw those guys, you knew Statler and Waldorf would be out eventually. Now they’re here.
Waldorf is the shorter, rounder of the two old gentlemen, with a moustache and a brown suit. A piece of surprising trivia that you may not know: Waldorf is married! In the Dizzy Gillespie episode of The Muppet Show, Statler decided he couldn’t take another Muppet Show, and decided not to come. Waldorf decided instead that he would bring his lovely wife…Astoria. Astoria looks JUST like Statler—but with iron gray curly hair and a dark flower print dress. Disturbing? Yes. Funny? Oh, yes.
The Waldorf figure makes a perfect companion for Statler—he’s much shorter than his friend—the top of Waldorf’s head is below Statler’s shoulders—but they look fine when sitting. Waldorf’s brown three-piece suit is perfect—vest just barely holding in his little old man belly. Waldorf’s face is extraordinary—the puppet is made of foam rubber and various other materials of course, and is very flexible, lined with age. Palisades has captured his look perfectly—the bulging eyes have wrinkles and folds in all the right places, and his chins and jowls make him appear almost alive—and cuddlier than you know the curmudgeon is in real life.
Waldorf, like Statler, has impressive articulation for someone who’s going to spend most of his life sitting. He’s got moveable neck, shoulders, bicep swivels, elbows, wrists, and knees—and he has a combination waist and hip joint buried in his torso that make him sit exceptionally well. Which wouldn’t normally be anything to write home about, but for these two guys, it’s important. Waldorf’s left hand is also open, but if you twist his wrist, he’s giving the “thumbs down.” Nice touch.
Waldorf comes with some of the same accessories as Statler, which is fitting. The Victorian armchair is identical, with the burgundy cushions and gold scrollwork matching that of the Muppet Theatre; Waldorf comes with a Muppet Tomato (Statler came with two) and a Muppet Carrot, which he can hold in his right hand. He also comes with a cane (complete with little rubber stopper at the bottom) and a set of scorecards so that he can Statler can judge the proceedings below. The available scores on a scale of 1 to 10:
2, 1.5, 1, 0, and ם. No one ever said they were NICE critics. Waldorf also comes with the same Muppet Show Playbill that Statler does—a nice touch for the fans.
With the arrival of Series 6 and especially Statler and Waldorf, I feel like this line of action figures has made everyone it “NEEDS” to make. It’s made all the A-list characters, all the B-List characters, and has given us a lot of the fan favorites I never thought I’d see as toys. So what’s ahead for 2004? Basically the line gets deeper. The fan favorites are a little more obscure—we’ll see characters like stagehand Beauregard and Kermit’s Nephew Robin…we’ll also be getting the truly insane Marvin Suggs with his Muppephones—those little fuzzy heads that he hits with a mallet to make them sing. There will also be new versions of favorite characters—Kermit as both the captain from Muppet Treasure Island and a scout leader, Gonzo and Rizzo from Muppet Treasure Island, and Fozzie Bear in a Tux. What may be some of my favorite characters will be out in about a year—the cast of “Veterinarian’s Hospital,” with Nurse Piggy, Nurse Janice, and Rowlf as Dr. Bob. There will also be new playsets, new MEGA Muppets, new Mini Muppets, and some surprises along the way.
Now that we’ve “met the Muppets,” in 2004 we’ll get to know them a whole lot better. I can’t wait.
You can find the Muppet action figures at Target, Sam Goody/Musicland/Suncoast/Media Play stores, EB Games, and fine online retailers like BoxingCow.com and Bean’s Toys. Pick these up while you can—you won’t regret it.
MORE MUPPETS!
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
Scooter http://www.epinions.com/content_91825081988
Lew Zealand http://www.epinions.com/content_91457293956
Zoot http://www.epinions.com/content_91549830788
Rowlf http://www.epinions.com/content_90764316292
Series Four
Link Hogthrob http://www.epinions.com/content_105889107588
Dr. Strangepork http://www.epinions.com/content_105892187780
Sam Eagle as Samuel Arrow http://www.epinions.com/content_105895988868
Rizzo the Rat http://www.epinions.com/content_105903591044
Series Five
Gonzo and Camilla http://www.epinions.com/content_115081186948
Janice http://www.epinions.com/content_117029899908
Pepe http://www.epinions.com/content_117043138180
Muppet Newsman http://www.epinions.com/content_117058145924
Series Six
Clifford http://www.epinions.com/content_120939515524
Bear on Patrol Fozzie http://www.epinions.com/content_120963501700
Statler http://www.epinions.com/content_120983948932
Waldorf http://www.epinions.com/content_120987487876
Playsets
Muppet Labs with Beaker http://www.epinions.com/content_81755606660
Electric Mayhem Stage with Animal http://www.epinions.com/content_98538262148
Swedish Kitchen with Swedish Chef http://www.epinions.com/content_98725432964
MINI Muppets
Wave 1 Set 1 http://www.epinions.com/content_119826517636
Wave 1 Set 2 http://www.epinions.com/content_119837462148
Wave 2 Set 1: Muppet Christmas Carol http://www.epinions.com/content_120237952644
Wave 2 Set 2: Muppet Christmas Carol http://www.epinions.com/content_120245292676
Coming Soon!
Pigs in Space Swinetrek Playset with First Mate Piggy
Series Seven
Kermit the Frog as Captain Abraham Smollet
Beauregard
Johnny Fiama
Frog Scout Robin
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
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Epinions.com ID:
JediKermit
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Member: Quinn
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 2122
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Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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