Tarantino/Muppet/Carson story

So, late at night on NBC they replay “The Tonight Show” (blech!) and “Late Night with Conan O’Brian”. Anyway, tonight at 5am-ish Conan is talking with Quentin Tarantino about working with the muppets (an experience they’ve both had) and how one tends to get swept up in the illusion and actually start talking to the puppet.

Quentin Tarantino told a story (which it seems I’ve heard before) about Kermit the Frog appearing on the “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. Kermit is up on the chair, Jim Henson is behind the chair… during a break the sound guy comes out and says that he’s having a little trouble picking Kermit up, and asks if he can speak up. Jim Henson says that he’s just speaking at his normal level and it’s never been a problem before. Turns out, the sound folks had the boom on the puppet!

Maybe it’s just the late hour, maybe it’s because I can relate, having worked in television and run audio in a former life, but whatever the case, that story just cracked me up!