Beaker (Muppet)
Beaker | |
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The Muppets character | |
First appearance | The Muppet Show (episode 202; 1977)[1] |
Created by | Jim Henson |
Voiced by |
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Performed by |
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In-universe information | |
Species | Muppet |
Gender | Male |
Occupation | Assistant scientist, test subject |
Nationality | American |
Beaker is a
During the first season of The Muppet Show, Dr. Honeydew presented the Muppet Labs segments by himself; Beaker was added as his lab assistant from the second season on. Beaker has bulging eyes that can light up like a lamp, a shock of red hair, and a drawbridge mouth which serves as a frown. He was originally puppeteered and voiced by Richard Hunt until Hunt's death in 1992, when the role was taken over primarily by Steve Whitmire. After Whitmire was fired in 2016, David Rudman took over the character.
Beaker is a magnet for disaster; he routinely experiences mishaps such as being blown up, electrocuted, eaten by large monsters, or afflicted with awkward side effects caused by Honeydew's experiments. Beaker communicates in a nervous, high-pitched squeak that sounds like "Mee-mee-mee-mee". In books and merchandise, the sound is spelled "Meep". In The Muppet Movie, he "meeps" Honeydew's line "sadly temporary". Rarely he can say normal words, such as "Bye-bye." Otherwise, his tone or expression helps to communicate his meaning. This helps Beaker communicate to his viewers directly without having to speak any real words at all.
Appearances
Beaker rapidly became a favorite with audiences, who both sympathized with and enjoyed laughing at his humorous sufferings. Occasionally, Beaker was able to take revenge, particularly in a segment when he inadvertently made numerous copies of himself and spent the rest of the episode chasing Dr. Honeydew around the theater. (This segment of "Muppet Labs" was from the
Beaker has also appeared as a musical performer, singing "
The two scientists were later incorporated into the Muppet Babies animated series. Howie Mandel (during early seasons) and Dave Coulier voiced Bunsen, and Frank Welker provided Beaker's squeaky meeps. Unlike his puppet counterpart, Baby Beaker can smile. An animated Beaker was also voiced by Richard Hunt, his usual performer during that period, when he appeared in the short lived Little Muppet Monsters series.
Beaker was performed by Kevin Clash in The Muppet Show Live, as all live scenes that featured him also featured Kermit, who was a higher priority for Steve Whitmire to play. Additionally, for his appearance at The Game Awards 2019, Beaker was performed by Peter Linz due to David Rudman being unavailable to attend.
In popular culture
In a 2004 Internet poll sponsored by the
Beaker features in an episode of WWE Raw, assisting Santino Marella ringside in his match with Jack Swagger by providing him with a special energy drink formulated by Dr. Honeydew. In the same episode, Beaker gets bullied by Christian Cage and is revealed to be distantly related to WWE wrestler Sheamus.[5]
UK politicians Danny Alexander[6][7] and Ed Miliband[8] have both been disparagingly likened to Beaker in appearance. Moreover, it was revealed in an interview in 2021 that Manic Street Preachers drummer Sean Moore was nicknamed "Beaker" while at school.[9]
Filmography
- The Muppet Show (1977–1981) (TV)
- The Muppet Movie (1979)
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
- Muppet Babies (1984–1991) (TV)
- A Muppet Family Christmas (1987) (TV)
- The Muppets at Walt Disney World (1990) (TV)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – Appearance as Charity collector
- Muppet Treasure Island (1996) – Appearance as Dr. Livsey's assistant
- Muppets Tonight (1996–1998) (TV)
- Muppets from Space (1999)
- It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) (TV)
- The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005) (TV)
- Studio DC: Almost Live (2008) (TV)
- A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (2008) (TV)
- The Muppets (2011)
- Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular (2013) (TV)
- Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
- The Muppets (2015–2016) (TV)
- Muppet Babies (2018–2022) (TV)
- Muppets Now (2020) (Disney+)
- Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) (Disney+) – Appearance as a Staring Bust
See also
References
- ISBN 9781465417480.
- ^ William D. Crump, The Christmas Encyclopedia, 3d ed. (2013), p. 300.
- ^ Gross, Terri. "The Muppet Fans Who Made 'The Muppets' Movie". Fresh Air. National Public Radio. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Not Such Muppets Now". British Science Association. British Science Association. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
- ^ Limer, Eric (November 1, 2011). "Beaker Gets Involved in a WWE Raw Match [Video]". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ Blackhurst, Chris (June 2, 2010). "Danny Alexander must remain canny under the City's fierce glare". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010.
- ^ Barnett, Ruth (May 31, 2010). "Alexander: Who Is New 'Minister For Cuts'?". Sky News. Archived from the original on June 6, 2010.
- ^ Chancellor, Alexander. "Why Ed Miliband's public image matters". Spectator. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- ^ Jo Wiley Sofa Session: Manic Street Preachers (20/07/2021), retrieved July 20, 2021