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CNN Live Today

Interview with Kermit the Frog

Aired November 13, 2002 - 10:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN: And now for the answer to our question of the day. Which shows have not been guest-hosted by Kermit the Frog? Kermit has not hosted "Oprah" or "Nightline," although he has been a guest; but the master of green has, indeed, hosted CNN's own Larry King Live. Let's look back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERMIT THE FROG, ACTOR, MUSICIAN: Hello, Kermit the Frog here, just like it says right here. Good evening, and welcome to Larry King Live. Now, now, don't let these suspenders fool you because I am not Larry King. No way. He wears glasses and he's not even green.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We had to check on that. Now the famous amphibian is getting the ultimate honor, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kermit the Frog doesn't have an inflated ego, even though he does have a new balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

KERMIT: That's funny.

KAGAN: That is; good, thank you.

KERMIT: I like that. I may use that later.

KAGAN: Feel free. His Greenness, as you can see, joining us from Los Angeles this morning. Kermit, a big good morning to you.

KERMIT: Thank you; how are you, Daryn?

KAGAN: I'm doing great. You to me sound like the busiest frog in show business, Kermit.

KERMIT: Well, you could be right about that. I might be the only frog in show business, I don't know.

KAGAN: Competition not very stiff, is it?

KERMIT: No, no. What do you mean by that? Never mind.

KAGAN: Tell me about getting this star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. What a huge honor for any species!

KERMIT: Well, it's a pretty big deal. I mean, I get to be there with all my friends, you know, like Lassie and Mel Gibson. Odd company, actually, if you think about the two of them together. But, you know, it's the first time in my life I've been near a busy street without being afraid of getting killed.

KAGAN: Yes. Well, look both ways. I've been on Hollywood Boulevard, that can be kind of -- different kind of street there.

KERMIT: Oh, yes.

KAGAN: You also have this new movie coming out. Tell me about the new movie.

KERMIT: Well, this movie is great; a lot of fun; it's set around Christmastime and it's about all us Muppets trying to save our Muppet theater from being torn down and turned into a -- a terrible nightclub.

And along the way we pay homage, which is kind of a thing you make with eggs and cheese, I think -- but we make fun of all the other Christmas movies ever made and we have Joan Cusack, David Arquette is in the movie, and Whoppi Goldberg plays the part of -- of God, actually.

KAGAN: Really?

KERMIT: That's right, that's right. Any time you can get Whoopi as God you know you've got your mojo working.

KAGAN: You do got your mojo working and speaking of mojo; I want to get right to the real good stuff here, Kermit. I want to know really what the status is of your relationship with Miss Piggy right now. Are you guys doing well? You know, kind of an on-again, off- again thing. What's going on with you guys?

KERMIT: Well, Piggy and I sort of have a -- a very professional relationship. I'm professional and she thinks we have a relationship.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: Well, you know, Kermie, just so you know -- you know Miss Piggy was on Headline News yesterday with Judy Fortin and Judy asked a very interesting question. We're going to listen to that and I want to get your comments so here's Miss Piggy.

KERMIT: OK.

KAGAN: OK, listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDY FORTIN, CNN: I understand that Kermit gave you a very romantic kiss in this movie and he made the first move. What's that all about?

MISS PIGGY: It's true!

UNIDENTIFIED MUPPET: It's all done with special effects. They weren't actually in...

MISS PIGGY: We rehearsed day and night for it and...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: So, Kermit, how much was going on in the trailer and...

KERMIT: I think I have to stick with Pepe's (ph) answer about the special effects. Look, it was -- it's just a professional thing -- it was written into the script and I just had to give her a huge kiss. But you'll notice, when you all watch this movie, which I hope you will, it's -- it's -- they cut away. So they extended the kiss by cutting away to a lot of other people.

KAGAN: I think we have a flustered frog on our hands this morning, Kermit.

KERMIT: I think you do, too.

KAGAN: And I'll tell you, chemistry like that you can't fake even special effects. It's real.

KERMIT: I know, I know. Look, I just don't -- I just -- you know this is a big, huge international TV show and I have to be very careful what I say, you know?

KAGAN: Couple of reputations at stake.

KERMIT: That's right.

KAGAN: Tell me about the balloon in Macy's Day Parade, coming up. You're bigger than ever. More hot air than ever.

KERMIT: Yes, well thank you very much for that. No, it's a brand new balloon. And actually, frankly, I haven't seen it yet. But the hold one, I seem to have had a puncture in my right elbow or something and I started deflating. It was pretty disgusting, I just sort of went...

(LAUGHTER)

KERMIT: ... and that's an ugly sight...

KAGAN: That wouldn't be pretty with all those kids.

KERMIT: ... so we felt we had to get a new balloon. And I'm also going to be there for the parade. I think I'm -- you're going to see me actually there as well as my balloon, which is kind of cool.

KAGAN: You are everywhere. Hey, Leon wants to ask you a question here.

KERMIT: Leon!

LEON HARRIS, CNN: Hey, man, I have a simple one. You know, as a fellow member of the media of color, this is a question...

KERMIT: Yes, absolutely. HARRIS: ... are you going to go from Sesame Street to Rodeo Drive now that you're little mister I've got my feet in the sand -- in cement -- out there on the -- at the -- you know -- the Walk of Fame, there? You gonna sell out now, man, or what?

KAGAN: Going Hollywood on us, Kermit?

KERMIT: No, no. I'm still a pretty simple frog. You know, when I'm not working I go back to the swamp and hang out with the family and stuff like that, you know? I don't live in Hollywood. I mean, I still have my place on Sesame Street. That's in -- on the East Coast -- but, no, I like -- actually I hang out down there where you guys are.

HARRIS: Oh, you do?

KERMIT: Oh, there's lots of swamps down there, sure.

HARRIS: Well it gets like that in the summertime, that's for sure.

KAGAN: It does. Kermit, we want to wish you the best with all the projects, with the balloon, with the movie, with the star on the walk of Fame and with love. Never forget, that's where it all begins and ends, Kermit.

KERMIT: Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself. Hope you get to see the movie, guys; it's on the Friday after Thanksgiving. On NBC. Thank you.

HARRIS: Listen, I've got two kids at home right now and I have no choice but to see it. I'll be there, buddy.

KERMIT: Well, there you go.

HARRIS: You got it, you got it.

KERMIT: All right.

HARRIS: Stay cool, man.

KERMIT: Bye you guys.

KAGAN: Bye.

HARRIS: Talk to you later.







Aired November 13, 2002 - 10:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN: And now for the answer to our question of the day. Which shows have not been guest-hosted by Kermit the Frog? Kermit has not hosted "Oprah" or "Nightline," although he has been a guest; but the master of green has, indeed, hosted CNN's own Larry King Live. Let's look back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERMIT THE FROG, ACTOR, MUSICIAN: Hello, Kermit the Frog here, just like it says right here. Good evening, and welcome to Larry King Live. Now, now, don't let these suspenders fool you because I am not Larry King. No way. He wears glasses and he's not even green.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We had to check on that. Now the famous amphibian is getting the ultimate honor, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kermit the Frog doesn't have an inflated ego, even though he does have a new balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

KERMIT: That's funny.

KAGAN: That is; good, thank you.

KERMIT: I like that. I may use that later.

KAGAN: Feel free. His Greenness, as you can see, joining us from Los Angeles this morning. Kermit, a big good morning to you.

KERMIT: Thank you; how are you, Daryn?

KAGAN: I'm doing great. You to me sound like the busiest frog in show business, Kermit.

KERMIT: Well, you could be right about that. I might be the only frog in show business, I don't know.

KAGAN: Competition not very stiff, is it?

KERMIT: No, no. What do you mean by that? Never mind.

KAGAN: Tell me about getting this star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. What a huge honor for any species!

KERMIT: Well, it's a pretty big deal. I mean, I get to be there with all my friends, you know, like Lassie and Mel Gibson. Odd company, actually, if you think about the two of them together. But, you know, it's the first time in my life I've been near a busy street without being afraid of getting killed.

KAGAN: Yes. Well, look both ways. I've been on Hollywood Boulevard, that can be kind of -- different kind of street there.

KERMIT: Oh, yes.

KAGAN: You also have this new movie coming out. Tell me about the new movie.

KERMIT: Well, this movie is great; a lot of fun; it's set around Christmastime and it's about all us Muppets trying to save our Muppet theater from being torn down and turned into a -- a terrible nightclub.

And along the way we pay homage, which is kind of a thing you make with eggs and cheese, I think -- but we make fun of all the other Christmas movies ever made and we have Joan Cusack, David Arquette is in the movie, and Whoppi Goldberg plays the part of -- of God, actually.

KAGAN: Really?

KERMIT: That's right, that's right. Any time you can get Whoopi as God you know you've got your mojo working.

KAGAN: You do got your mojo working and speaking of mojo; I want to get right to the real good stuff here, Kermit. I want to know really what the status is of your relationship with Miss Piggy right now. Are you guys doing well? You know, kind of an on-again, off- again thing. What's going on with you guys?

KERMIT: Well, Piggy and I sort of have a -- a very professional relationship. I'm professional and she thinks we have a relationship.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: Well, you know, Kermie, just so you know -- you know Miss Piggy was on Headline News yesterday with Judy Fortin and Judy asked a very interesting question. We're going to listen to that and I want to get your comments so here's Miss Piggy.

KERMIT: OK.

KAGAN: OK, listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDY FORTIN, CNN: I understand that Kermit gave you a very romantic kiss in this movie and he made the first move. What's that all about?

MISS PIGGY: It's true!

UNIDENTIFIED MUPPET: It's all done with special effects. They weren't actually in...

MISS PIGGY: We rehearsed day and night for it and...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: So, Kermit, how much was going on in the trailer and...

KERMIT: I think I have to stick with Pepe's (ph) answer about the special effects. Look, it was -- it's just a professional thing -- it was written into the script and I just had to give her a huge kiss. But you'll notice, when you all watch this movie, which I hope you will, it's -- it's -- they cut away. So they extended the kiss by cutting away to a lot of other people.

KAGAN: I think we have a flustered frog on our hands this morning, Kermit.

KERMIT: I think you do, too.

KAGAN: And I'll tell you, chemistry like that you can't fake even special effects. It's real.

KERMIT: I know, I know. Look, I just don't -- I just -- you know this is a big, huge international TV show and I have to be very careful what I say, you know?

KAGAN: Couple of reputations at stake.

KERMIT: That's right.

KAGAN: Tell me about the balloon in Macy's Day Parade, coming up. You're bigger than ever. More hot air than ever.

KERMIT: Yes, well thank you very much for that. No, it's a brand new balloon. And actually, frankly, I haven't seen it yet. But the hold one, I seem to have had a puncture in my right elbow or something and I started deflating. It was pretty disgusting, I just sort of went...

(LAUGHTER)

KERMIT: ... and that's an ugly sight...

KAGAN: That wouldn't be pretty with all those kids.

KERMIT: ... so we felt we had to get a new balloon. And I'm also going to be there for the parade. I think I'm -- you're going to see me actually there as well as my balloon, which is kind of cool.

KAGAN: You are everywhere. Hey, Leon wants to ask you a question here.

KERMIT: Leon!

LEON HARRIS, CNN: Hey, man, I have a simple one. You know, as a fellow member of the media of color, this is a question...

KERMIT: Yes, absolutely. HARRIS: ... are you going to go from Sesame Street to Rodeo Drive now that you're little mister I've got my feet in the sand -- in cement -- out there on the -- at the -- you know -- the Walk of Fame, there? You gonna sell out now, man, or what?

KAGAN: Going Hollywood on us, Kermit?

KERMIT: No, no. I'm still a pretty simple frog. You know, when I'm not working I go back to the swamp and hang out with the family and stuff like that, you know? I don't live in Hollywood. I mean, I still have my place on Sesame Street. That's in -- on the East Coast -- but, no, I like -- actually I hang out down there where you guys are.

HARRIS: Oh, you do?

KERMIT: Oh, there's lots of swamps down there, sure.

HARRIS: Well it gets like that in the summertime, that's for sure.

KAGAN: It does. Kermit, we want to wish you the best with all the projects, with the balloon, with the movie, with the star on the walk of Fame and with love. Never forget, that's where it all begins and ends, Kermit.

KERMIT: Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself. Hope you get to see the movie, guys; it's on the Friday after Thanksgiving. On NBC. Thank you.

HARRIS: Listen, I've got two kids at home right now and I have no choice but to see it. I'll be there, buddy.

KERMIT: Well, there you go.

HARRIS: You got it, you got it.

KERMIT: All right.

HARRIS: Stay cool, man.

KERMIT: Bye you guys.

KAGAN: Bye.

HARRIS: Talk to you later.