Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Luncheon Counter Monster

Written by Ryan Dosier.

LUNCHEON COUNTER MONSTER

Performed by…
Various

First appearance…
The Muppet Show Episode 206: Nancy Walker (1977)

Most recent appearance…
“Kermit’s Party” Video Shorts (2012)

Best known role…
Ravenous purple monster with a penchant for eating luncheon counter props

WHO IS LUNCHEON COUNTER MONSTER?
Luncheon Counter Monster is one of the many Muppet monsters whose name derives from a single sketch they starred in (see also: Beautiful Day Monster). For Luncheon Counter Monster, his name comes from his first appearance in Episode 206 of The Muppet Show. In the sketch, Luncheon Counter Monster disrupts the lunch of guest star Nancy Walker by “covertly” eating all the flatware and glassware at the lunch counter where Fozzie Bear worked.

After his titular sketch, Luncheon Counter Monster would go on to be one of the most prominent background Muppet monsters throughout The Muppet Show and various Muppet projects. His only other prominent sketch appearance came four episodes after his debut, in Episode 210: George Burns. In this episode, Luncheon Counter Monster partakes in the Muppets’ classic “Coffee Break Machine” sketch, eating and otherwise destroying an expensive machine.

Luncheon Counter Monster would appear throughout the rest of The Muppet Show‘s run. Luncheon Counter later appeared theatrically in The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and, much later, The Muppets. His numerous onscreen credits include The Muppets Go to the Movies, The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, The Jim Henson Hour, The Cosby Show, The Muppets at Walt Disney World, Muppet*Vision 3D, A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa, and plenty of various other productions.

After many, many background appearances, Luncheon Counter Monster made his most recent appearance as part of the group in the “Kermit’s Party” online shorts in 2012. Although he did not appear in Muppets Most Wanted, Luncheon Counter Monster will presumably continue to appear in future productions.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED LUNCHEON COUNTER MONSTER?
What the Muppets do best is fill crowd scenes with random fuzzy bodies. Luncheon Counter Monster is another one of those wonderful, unique looking characters. Although he doesn’t do much outside of the background, Luncheon Counter Monster has been a constant presence in Muppet productions for over 35 years. He belongs in the group and fits in very well.