Crazy Harry
Encyclopedia
Crazy Harry is a Muppet
with an explosives fixation, who appeared in The Muppet Show
and was originally voiced and operated by Jerry Nelson
.
Crazy Harry has black scruffy hair, an uncombed chin curtain beard and huge, egg-shaped baggy eyes. Early in season one, he played triangle
with the pit band. He usually carried a plunger box which would activate a hidden charge, often to his victim's chagrin. Once he assisted Gonzo
in a cannonball-catching act, but perhaps overdid it on the powder, which resulted in an absurdly-stretched right arm for Gonzo. In episode #28 he provided the "Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta!" chorus of "Chanson D'amour
", happily blowing the stage and performers to smithereens with his little plunger and cackling. Harry also played solo backup for Jean Stapleton's performance of "I'm Just Wild About Harry
", with a collection of plunger boxes forming an "explodaphone", providing explosions at the end of every verse of the song.
In the show's first couple of seasons, Harry's appearances were a regular running gag
. After those first seasons, the gag was shelved along with Crazy Harry for the remainder of the show's run.
Crazy Harry also appeared in The Muppet Movie
, complete with his explosive equipment, as one of the many Muppets in the audience to whom Kermit
screened the film.
In 2009, he appeared in The Muppets music video "Bohemian Rhapsody
".
In 2011, he appeared in the teaser trailer for The Muppets
and appeared in the film.
The Muppets
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
with an explosives fixation, who appeared in The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
and was originally voiced and operated by Jerry Nelson
Jerry Nelson
Jerry Nelson is an American Muppet puppeteer, known for his wide range of characters, singing abilities, and his frequent partnership with Richard Hunt.-Early years:...
.
Crazy Harry has black scruffy hair, an uncombed chin curtain beard and huge, egg-shaped baggy eyes. Early in season one, he played triangle
Triangle (instrument)
The triangle is an idiophone type of musical instrument in the percussion family. It is a bar of metal, usually steel but sometimes other metals like beryllium copper, bent into a triangle shape. The instrument is usually held by a loop of some form of thread or wire at the top curve...
with the pit band. He usually carried a plunger box which would activate a hidden charge, often to his victim's chagrin. Once he assisted Gonzo
Gonzo (Muppet)
Gonzo the Great is a puppet character, one of Jim Henson's Muppets. He was developed and performed by Dave Goelz. The character made his first appearance in a 1970 Christmas special entitled "The Great Santa Claus Switch". Known as a "Whatever" , he is considered one of The Frackles...
in a cannonball-catching act, but perhaps overdid it on the powder, which resulted in an absurdly-stretched right arm for Gonzo. In episode #28 he provided the "Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta!" chorus of "Chanson D'amour
Chanson D'Amour
"Chanson D'Amour" is a popular song written by Wayne Shanklin which was a Top Ten hit in 1958 for Art and Dotty Todd; a remake by the Manhattan Transfer was an international hit - #1 in the UK - in 1977....
", happily blowing the stage and performers to smithereens with his little plunger and cackling. Harry also played solo backup for Jean Stapleton's performance of "I'm Just Wild About Harry
I'm Just Wild About Harry
"I'm Just Wild About Harry" is a song written in 1921 with lyrics by Noble Sissle and music by Eubie Blake for the Broadway show Shuffle Along. "I'm Just Wild About Harry" was the most popular number of the production, which was the first financially successful Broadway play to have...
", with a collection of plunger boxes forming an "explodaphone", providing explosions at the end of every verse of the song.
In the show's first couple of seasons, Harry's appearances were a regular running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
. After those first seasons, the gag was shelved along with Crazy Harry for the remainder of the show's run.
Crazy Harry also appeared in The Muppet Movie
The Muppet Movie
The Muppet Movie is the first of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson's Muppets. Released in 1979, the film was produced by Henson Associates, Children's Television Workshop and ITC Entertainment....
, complete with his explosive equipment, as one of the many Muppets in the audience to whom Kermit
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...
screened the film.
In 2009, he appeared in The Muppets music video "Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody (The Muppets)
The song "Bohemian Rhapsody", written by Freddie Mercury and originally recorded by rock band Queen for their, A Night at the Opera album, has been subsequently covered by many different artists.-List:-The Muppets:...
".
In 2011, he appeared in the teaser trailer for The Muppets
The Muppets (film)
The Muppets is a 2011 American musical and comedy film, and the first Muppets theatrical release in 12 years, as well as the first Disney-produced Muppets film since 1996's Muppet Treasure Island...
and appeared in the film.