Droop

PERFORMER	Jerry Nelson
DEBUT	1974
DESIGN	Caroly Wilcox builder

Droop in The Muppets "Scratching the Surface" featurette.

On The Muppet Show with Ben Vereen.

Droop has appeared in The Muppets Valentine Show and The Muppet Show. He usually appeared as a very depressed character, although in some episodes of The Muppet Show, he can be an impetuous singer when he joins the Frackles and other monsters ("Happy Together" in episode 107 and "You've Got a Friend" in episode 119) or fiercely lose his temper when somebody mortifies him (At the Dance in episode 115).

An early version of Droop (known as Snivelly) appeared as a Frackle in The Great Santa Claus Switch and a related appearance on The Dick Cavett Show.

Although Jerry Nelson was Droop's primary performer, there were exceptions: he was performed by Jim Henson in episode 115 and Richard Hunt in episode 220.

Droop appeared in the opening sequence to The Jim Henson Hour, puncturing the Griffin's orb that fully begins the opening theme.

In one of his final appearances performed by Jerry Nelson, Droop appears at the beginning of The Muppet Christmas Carol, screaming to an old lady, "What about my nose?!" (before closing a window on it).

Droop appears in 2011's The Muppets and was interviewed for Scratching the Surface on the Blu-ray release, where he serves as key grip for the film (gripping a literal key). In the latter, Droop was performed by Peter Linz.

Filmography

• The Muppets Valentine Show
• The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
• The Muppet Show
  • "The Muppet Show Theme" (seasons 2-5)
  • Episode 103: Joel Grey ("Comedy Tonight," "Willkommen")
  • Episode 107: Florence Henderson ("Happy Together")
  • Episode 114: Sandy Duncan ("Try to Remember")
  • Episode 115: Candice Bergen (At the Dance)
  • Episode 117: Ben Vereen ("Pure Imagination")
  • Episode 119: Vincent Price ("You've Got a Friend")
  • Episode 122: Ethel Merman
  • Episode 201: Don Knotts (audience cameo)
  • Episode 207: Edgar Bergen (audience cameo)
  • Episode 208: Steve Martin
  • Episode 209: Madeline Kahn (audience cameo)
  • Episode 210: George Burns (At the Dance)
  • Episode 211: Dom DeLuise
  • Episode 212: Bernadette Peters ("Just One Person")
  • Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan (At the Dance)
  • Episode 220: Petula Clark (At the Dance, "Tomorrow")
  • Episode 308: Loretta Lynn
  • Episode 312: James Coco ("Short People")
  • Episode 316: Danny Kaye
  • Episode 317: Spike Milligan
  • Episode 414: Liza Minnelli
  • Episode 510: Jean-Pierre Rampal
  • Episode 515: Carol Burnett
• The Muppet Movie (the "Rainbow Connection" finale only)
• The Great Muppet Caper
• The Muppets Take Manhattan (the Wedding Finale only)
• The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
• Jim Henson Hour pitch tape
• The Jim Henson Hour
  • Episode 103: Power
• The Cosby Show "Cliff's Nightmare"
• The Muppet Christmas Carol
• Muppet Treasure Island
• Mopatop's Shop
• The Muppets (film)
• Muppets Most Wanted
• Warburtons commercial
• The Muppets (series)
  • "Because... Love"

Other uses

The Droop puppet has been reused as other characters, most notably on Mopatop's Shop in various roles, mainly during Mopatop's opening introduction (appearing behind the little door).

Abel"Thingamajig"
(Brian Herring)

Nincompoop"Wrong Ringer"
(Nigel Plaskitt)

Zeke"Singa Songa"

Ziggity Zest"A Secret"

Notes

• The Muppets Character Encyclopedia says that while Droop and Nigel may look alike and "share a silhouette," their personalities are "like day and night."