Mildred Huxtetter
Encyclopedia
Mildred Huxtetter is a character from The Muppet Show
and is a purple, beak-nosed woman who carries herself with a haughty, aristocratic air. She is very educated, as evidenced by her many appellations, which include BA, MA, PhD
, OBE, and RSVP
.
Mildred made her debut on The Muppets Valentine Show, where she was performed by Richard Hunt
, and had the largest role of her career. In that special, Mildred serves as the piano accompanist. She also offers tea to Mia Farrow
, mourns over the lack of romance in her own life, and is pursued by Brewster, who mistakes her for his old flame Grace.
When Mildred appeared on The Muppet Show, however, she was one of the few main characters whose performer was inconsistent. Although both Mildred's Featured Creature bio at henson.com and the Muppet Morsels on The Muppet Show: Season One DVDs list Eren Ozker
as her regular performer, there are no known instances of her vocalizing in the role.
During the first season of The Muppet Show, all of Mildred's appearances were onstage, most frequently with George the Janitor in At the Dance sketches, where she was performed by Frank Oz
. She also danced with Charles Aznavour
to "The Old Fashioned Way" in episode 109 and appeared in two panel discussions: in episode 109, where she was performed by Richard Hunt, and in episode 115, where she was performed by Dave Goelz
.
Because Mildred was never featured in the first season's backstage plots, no context was given for her appearances on The Muppet Show. Unlike George the Janitor or Hilda (the seamstress), Mildred did not appear to have a position with the Muppet Theater. Nor did she appear to be a performer like Wanda.
In episode 204, her first appearance on the second season of The Muppet Show, she appeared as a reporter (voiced by Louise Gold
, who would also perform Mildred in episode 305). Although she would appear in the background on The Muppet Show, The Jim Henson Hour, Muppets Tonight and several Muppet movies, Mildred would have no further speaking roles. She did, however, serve as the receptionist for Muppet Magazine in the 1980s.
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 is a purple, beak-nosed woman who carries herself with a haughty, aristocratic air. She is very educated, as evidenced by her many appellations, which include BA, MA, PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, OBE, and RSVP
RSVP
RSVP may refer to:* RSVP , request for responsesEtymologyFrom the French RSVP, répondez s'il vous plaît, meaning “reply please” or "please respond".-Music:* "R.S.V.P." , 1985...
.
Mildred made her debut on The Muppets Valentine Show, where she was performed by Richard Hunt
Richard Hunt (puppeteer)
Richard Hunt was an American puppeteer best known as a Muppet performer. Hunt's Muppet roles included Scooter, Beaker, Janice, Statler, and Sweetums.-Early years:...
, and had the largest role of her career. In that special, Mildred serves as the piano accompanist. She also offers tea to Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow is an American actress, singer, humanitarian, and fashion model.Farrow first gained wide acclaim for her role as Allison Mackenzie in the soap opera Peyton Place, and for her subsequent short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra...
, mourns over the lack of romance in her own life, and is pursued by Brewster, who mistakes her for his old flame Grace.
When Mildred appeared on The Muppet Show, however, she was one of the few main characters whose performer was inconsistent. Although both Mildred's Featured Creature bio at henson.com and the Muppet Morsels on The Muppet Show: Season One DVDs list Eren Ozker
Eren Ozker
Eren Ozker was a Turkish American Puppeteer. She was one of the original performers during the first season of Jim Henson's popular television series, The Muppet Show....
as her regular performer, there are no known instances of her vocalizing in the role.
During the first season of The Muppet Show, all of Mildred's appearances were onstage, most frequently with George the Janitor in At the Dance sketches, where she was performed by Frank Oz
Frank Oz
Frank Oz is a British-born American film director, actor, voice actor and puppeteer who is known for creating and performing the characters Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show, Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover in Sesame Street, and for directing films, including the 1986 Little Shop of...
. She also danced with Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
to "The Old Fashioned Way" in episode 109 and appeared in two panel discussions: in episode 109, where she was performed by Richard Hunt, and in episode 115, where she was performed by Dave Goelz
Dave Goelz
Dave Goelz is a puppeteer best-known for his association with The Muppets, and in particular with the Muppet character Gonzo. His other Muppet characters include Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot , Beauregard the janitor and Tiny...
.
Because Mildred was never featured in the first season's backstage plots, no context was given for her appearances on The Muppet Show. Unlike George the Janitor or Hilda (the seamstress), Mildred did not appear to have a position with the Muppet Theater. Nor did she appear to be a performer like Wanda.
In episode 204, her first appearance on the second season of The Muppet Show, she appeared as a reporter (voiced by Louise Gold
Louise Gold
Louise Gold is an English singer, actress and puppeteer whose career has spanned almost four decades.From 1977, Gold was a puppeteer and voice actress for The Muppet Show and Sesame Street, and she has performed voice and puppet work on various other Muppet films and specials...
, who would also perform Mildred in episode 305). Although she would appear in the background on The Muppet Show, The Jim Henson Hour, Muppets Tonight and several Muppet movies, Mildred would have no further speaking roles. She did, however, serve as the receptionist for Muppet Magazine in the 1980s.
Attribution
- The original version of this article incorporated text from the article "Mildred Huxtetter" on the Muppet Wiki, a GFDL source.