"Noooooooooooooo!" A distressed loud cry rang throughout the entire city town of San Francisco, early on a Saturday afternoon on December 22.
Kermit argued with his conscious over whether or not he should continue trying to do his training moves or pay super attention and see what Rizzo was terribly upset about, but he heard the distinct sound of Rizzo sobbing his eyes out.
He, Fozzie and Gonzo walked right over to their best friend for life who was sitting right at the dining room table and a newspaper in his hands.
"Rizzo?"
Rizzo looked right at Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo, but he couldn't say anything, he just handed Gonzo the newspaper. It didn't take Gonzo's sharp eyes too long to find out what had caused the tragic depressing meltdown.
Charles Durning, actor, best known as Doc Hopper in The Muppet Movie (1979) passes away from natural causes at the age of 89
Knowing Rizzo's entire love of the movie actor, Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo kneeled right down to him and consoled him with more powerful words.
"Oh, Rizzo, I'm terribly sorry." Kermit wasn't, but for once- sure what to say, it wasn't like somebody close to them personally had passed away, but at the exact same time, Rizzo had always liked and dreamed about meeting the talented man known and loved by many number 1 fans as Doc Hopper from The Muppet Movie (1979), and the only thing to do was just let Rizzo grieve. "Rizzo, it's gonna be alright." Gonzo said to him while rubbing his back side just as Rizzo wept right on Gonzo's right shoulder.
Miss Piggy, having heard the crying and weeping, stumbled in just then. "Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rizzo, what's going on?" Miss Piggy asked them thinking something terrible and horrible had happened.
"Charles Durning, best known as Doc Hopper in The Muppet Movie passed away from natural causes and Rizzo's just terribly upset." Kermit said to her.
"Well that's tragically depressing and everything, but I mean, I knew we met him before." Miss Piggy said to Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and Rizzo simply, but not sure what the big deal was.
"How exactly would you feel if Mel Brooks, Carol Kane or Steve Martin passed away?" Fozzie tried to explain to Miss Piggy. "You knew them before, but how many times have you watched the original classic Muppet Show or The Muppet Movie on television?"
Miss Piggy's eyes grew just as they comprehended exactly what they were feeling and snuggled up with them.
That night, not able to fall asleep due to terrible nightmares involving Mel Brooks, Carol Kane, Steve Martin and the Grim Reaper, Miss Piggy came right out to the living room. The television screen was glowing and they heard The Muppet Movie opening credits on it. They leaned right over the edge of the sofa. There was Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and Rizzo watching it. Gonzo had his right arm around Rizzo, but he patted the sofa on the other side of him when he saw Miss Piggy outta the corner of his eyes. They snuggled up close and they watched The Muppet Movie on DVD.
In memoriam: Charles Durning (1923-2012), a talented person never forgotten
