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Whatnots are blank Muppet heads, onto which facial features, bodies, and clothes are added to make any kind of character in the Muppet Show universe. A similar group of Muppets known as Anything Muppets appear on Sesame Street.

The concept of a blank-faced puppet with interchangeable facial features and ever changing personalities sees its origin with the character of The Southern Colonel, as demonstrated in the "A Change of Face" routine performed on several occasions in variety shows during the 1960s. The Southern Colonel puppet would also be used during the first season of Sesame Street assuming the personality of characters such as Jack and Granny Fanny Nesselrode.

A new batch of skin-toned Whatnots would be introduced in The Great Santa Claus Switch and used as patterns for the Elves characters. These puppets would later see other uses during the early 1970s as the peasants in The Frog Prince and the human prisoners from the "Return to Beneath the Planet of the Pigs" from The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence as well as for individual characters such as Wally and Leo.

In The Muppet Show, many varieties of Whatnots would be introduced. There were primarily three different groups of Whatnots that were introduced throughout the show. In the first two seasons, the Whatnots were mostly shaped like Fraggles along with a few others as can be seen in the Gogolala Jubilee Jugband. Later in the series, four new Whatnots were added, three of which had a cymbal shape to them and one large jawed whatnot that would be later used as the base of Lew Zealand. In seasons four and five, a variety of humanoid Whatnots were added, often with sculpted noses. Notable recurring characters made from Whatnots include Lew Zealand, Marvin Suggs, and Bobby Benson.

Other new Whatnot patterns would be seen in following Muppet productions and used both as "utility" Muppets and recurring characters: Muppets Tonight features Whatnot characters such as Zippity Zap and Bill the Bubble Guy, the Muppet Meeting Films had Franklin and Shirley, and From the Balcony had Larry and Oliver.

In 1993, Playskool released a series of toy Muppet Workshop Puppet Kits based on the concept of Whatnot Muppets.

In 2008, FAO Schwarz in New York City opened The Muppet Whatnot Workshop, an interactive puppet creation display that remained in operation until 2015. For promotion of the workshop, the Muppets (led by the Whatnots) took over the Today Show on November 13, 2008.

Additionally, Muppet Whatnot Workshop kits were sold through Toys R Us stores in late 2011 to coincide with the promotion for The Muppets.


v - e - d
2022-Muppets-Logo
Media
Television shows: The MuppetsMuppet BabiesMuppets NowThe Muppets Mayhem

Television specials: The Muppets at Walt Disney WorldStudio DC: Almost LiveA Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaGood Luck CharlieMuppets Haunted Mansion
Movies: The Muppet Christmas CarolMuppet Treasure IslandThe Muppets' Wizard of OzThe MuppetsMuppets Most WantedMuppet ManJim Henson Idea Man
Video Games: My Muppets ShowAnimal DrummerTap Tap MuppetsDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Magic KingdomsDisney Speedstorm
Albums: The Muppet Christmas Carol Story AlbumThe Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrackMuppet Treasure Island soundtrackBest of the MuppetsA Green and Red ChristmasA Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa soundtrackMuppets: The Green AlbumThe Muppets soundtrackMuppets Most Wanted soundtrackMuppets Most Wanted scoreLondon Music Works Perform Music From The MuppetsDisney Junior Music: Muppet BabiesMuppets Haunted Mansion soundtrackThe Muppets Mayhem soundtrack
Cancelled projects: America's Next MuppetMuppets Live Another Day

Disney Parks
Muppets CourtyardMidship Detective AgencyMuppet*Vision 3DRock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Electric Mayhem

Entertainment: Here Come the MuppetsHollywood's Pretty WomanMuppet Mobile LabMuppets on Location: Days of Swine and RosesThe Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History
Restaurants: PizzeRizzoThe Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza ParlorRegal Eagle Smokehouse
Shops: Stage 1 Company Store
Parades: Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade
Christmas: Disney Holidays in Hollywood

Characters
Muppets: Kermit the FrogMiss PiggyFozzie BearGonzoAnimalRizzo the RatPepe the King PrawnStatler and WaldorfDr. Bunsen HoneydewBeakerScooterBean BunnyDr. TeethFloyd PepperJaniceZootRowlf the DogRobin the FrogThe Swedish ChefSam the EagleSweetumsBobo the BearPopsUncle DeadlyCamillaWaldo C. GraphicCliffordThogLew ZealandLink HogthrobBeauregardJohnny FiamaSal MinellaAngeloWalter80's RobotThe MoopetsConstantineDeniseChipBig Mean CarlThe Ghost of Christmas PastThe Ghost of Christmas PresentThe Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Humans: Dorothy GaleClaireSanta ClausFrank MeanyBeaker's GirlfriendGaryMaryTex RichmanVeronica MartinHobo JoeMargeReceptionistDominic BadguyNadyaJean Pierre NapoleonBeckyHolly and Carl
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge
Muppet Treasure Island: Jim HawkinsBilly BonesMrs. BluveridgeLong John SilverPolly Lobster
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz: Dorothy Gale

Vehicles
HispaniolaThe Electric Mayhem Bus
Locations
The Muppet TheaterMuppet StudiosSmalltown, USA
Songs
The Muppet Movie: The Rainbow Connection

The Muppet Christmas Carol: ScroogeRoom in Your HeartGood King WenceslasOne More Sleep 'til ChristmasMarley and MarleyChairman of the BoardFozziwig's PartyWhen Love is GoneIt Feels Like ChristmasChristmas ScatBless Us AllThankful HeartWhen Love Is Found
Muppet Treasure Island: Treasure IslandShiver My TimbersSomething BetterSailing for AdventureCabin FeverA Professional PirateBoom ShakalakaLove Led Us HereLove PowerLove Led Us Here
Muppet Treasure Island (Sing-Alongs): There Was an Old PirateI'm a RockReal PirateLet the Good Shine Out
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz: KansasWhen I'm With YouNap TimeThe Witch Is in the HouseCalling All MunchkinsGood Life
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Delivering ChristmasIt's All About HeartI Wish I Could Be Santa ClausMy Best Christmas Yet
The Muppets: The Muppet Show ThemeLife's a Happy SongPictures in My HeadMe and Julio Down by the SchoolyardWe Built This CityMe PartyLet's Talk About MeMan or MuppetSmells Like Teen SpiritForget YouThe Whistling Caruso
Muppets Most Wanted: The Muppet Show ThemeWe're Doing a SequelI'm Number OneThe Big HouseI'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)Interrogation SongMy Heart Will Go OnSomething So RightWorking in the Coal MineTogether AgainMoves Like JaggerMacarena
Muppet Babies: Muppet Babies Theme
Muppets Haunted Mansion: Rest in PeaceLife HereafterTie the Knot TangoDancing in the Moonlight

See also
The Muppets
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