Janice

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Just in time for dinner, this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re still celebrating 70 years of the Muppets! From the Palisades Toys Muppets line, it’s Janice!

Janice made her debut in the second Muppet Show pilot, “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence,” back in March of 1975. She became a major Muppet player during the five-year run of The Muppet Show, not only as part of the recurring Veterinarian’s Hospital sketch (as Nurse Janice) but also as the lead guitarist in The Electric Mayhem house band, appearing in 86 of the 120 episodes.

In later seasons of the show, Janice is seen as a part of the orchestra playing a trombone or trumpet. Besides the guitar, you can also see her playing tambourine from time to time.

Puppeteer Richard Hunt took over performing Janice during season two, which not only made the character left-handed but also marked the beginning of Janice’s signature Valley-girl voice and attitude. Her name is likely a nod to singer Janis Joplin, and the design of her face (specifically the oversized mouth) is meant to resemble Mick Jagger.

For the Palisades toy line, Janice finally arrived in wave 5 to complete the Electric Mayhem lineup. The standard version featured a pink top, a brown hat, a white guitar, and a brown amp. The chase version (seen here) came in a pink top, green hat, brown guitar, and green amp. Both versions included a tambourine and a base, but unlike the Floyd figure, neither included a cord to connect the electric guitar to the included amplifier.

#TheMuppets70

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