Lastly, this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re still celebrating 70 years of the Muppets! Here’s a character you’ve seen many times, but you may really only remember from one particular sketch. From the Palisades Toys Muppets line, it’s Link Hogthrob!
While Link was first seen as part of the expanded cast during The Muppet Show Theme from the beginning of The Muppet Show season two onward, his speaking debut was on Episode 203 (Milton Berle) where he was featured as the captain of the Swinetrek on the reoccurring Pigs in Space sketch.
Unlike his resident scientist pig, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Link was featured in dozens of sketches over the last four seasons of the show, on top of the dozens of Pigs in Space bits. The character and voice were usually a play on a stereotypical male bravado, but I have to think Captain Kirk was also an inspiration for at least the Pigs in Space segments.
In the Palisades toy line, Link made his debut with series 4 along with Dr. Julius Strangepork. This seemed like a risky choice to me at the time, considering the First Mate Piggy included with the Pigs in Space Playset didn’t come out until wave six. The figure is a pretty excellent likeness of the character in a shiny purple suit with a silver cape. Accessories include a ray gun, a ‘Starhog’ magazine, and a miniature model of the Swinetrek ship.
#TheMuppets70
Recommended video: The Muppet Show Episode 307 Pigs in Space Sketch
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