"jim henson" news and stories

Swedish chef Lars Kuprik Bäckman. Photo: Courtesy Lars "Kuprik" Bäckman

Lars "Kuprik" Bäckman of Rättvik, Sweden, is again asserting his claim that he inspired the goofy Swenglish-speaking Swedish Chef character from Jim Henson's "The Muppet Show." He tells ABC News that a horrific cooking-show appearance on a morning talk show some 40 years ago is proof.

"I was live on TV in America, and I was paralyzed. I couldn't speak! I couldn't remember any English or any Swedish. But I knew the show had to go on, so I started talking, but the only thing that came out were these guttural sounds," Bäckman tells ABC News. "It was unintelligible, and I was still holding that silly pastry bag, shaking with fear. The only thing I wanted right then was to go home to my mother in Sweden."

But not everyone buys the story.

Between Sesame Street and The Muppets, Jim Henson brought a myriad of lovable, furry creatures to our television sets. But did you know that some of them were food-based? My friend recently alerted me to a Mental Floss post that outlines the origins of some of our favorite Muppets, which also happens to reveal some fun foodie tidbits.

The Swedish Chef is, of course, the most obvious. While it can't be confirmed, there's a Swedish chef -- Lars "Kuprik" Bäckman -- who claims that he is the Swedish Chef. I wonder if he borka borka borkas? If not, I'd question his validity. But beyond the crazy chef, there's also the Cookie Monster, who has food ties that go well beyond his sugar-addicted name; he was a monster created for a General Foods commercial in the 1960s that was never used. The same goes for Rowlf the Dog. He was originally created in the '60s -- this time for Purina commercials.

I wonder ... are there any current food commercial characters that will become beloved childhood characters one day?

These and other equally pressing questions were answered recently when Cookie Monster (and Cheryl Henson, Muppet creator Jim Hensen's daughter) were interviewed for NPR as part of the station's "In Character" series. Henson revealed that Cookie Monster's large black mouth is actually a hole in the puppet costume, where most of the food is deposited (directly on top of the puppeteer's head). The rest is mashed into crumbs and flies around his head during his frenzied eating.

Cookie was asked several questions similar to the format adapted by Inside the Actors' Studio host James Lipton. We've summarized them here for you, using actual quotes from Cookie himself, to reveal just a little bit more about what goes on inside that big furry blue head of his.

Favorite word: COOKIE! Ahahaha....What did you expect?
Least favorite word: "OUT OF COOKIES! Does that count? Okay...how about pusillanimous?"
What sound/noise do you love: "Anumumumum!" (the noise that he makes as he's devouring cookies)
What sound/noise do you hate: Snoring.
Favorite curse word: "Well, me have favorite dirty word: Oscar the Grouch! That is one dirty word."
Who would you like to see on a new bank note? "Bert. Me think he'd look really nice there, just the shape of Bert's head would fit nicely in the center of the bill."
What profession would you least like to try? Ophthalmology
If you were reincarnated as another animal, what would you like it to be? A Snuffulupagus.
If heaven exists, what you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? "COWABUNGA!"

Source

There are certain times when I'm very grateful for the internet, and this is one of them. Swedish Chef TV has collected almost 20 episodes of everyone's favorite Muppet. Yep, there are lobster banditos and "chicky basky," but unfortunately, the hot dog video seems not to work. Fortunately, it's also available on Google Video. Broken link aside, who can really complain? A rather extensive Wikipedia page on the Swedish Chef also notes that he appeared with Wyclef Jean on the MTV Europe Music Awards. Der what deh hay?