Johnny: This lead to many more TV appearances and finally is big break in 1969 when Kermit along with his Muppet friends joined the cast in a new show called…
Kermit: Sesame Street!
Johnny: There ya go! I wanted to hear the audience say it!
Kermit: Oh I thought you were pointing at me…
Johnny: A new show called…!
Audience: Sesame Street!
Kermit: Thank you. Thank you very much.
Johnny: Seven years later, the prime time hit television series, The Muppet Show, gave Kermit a legion of older fans and catapulted the mild mannered frog to super stardom to more than 100 countries. Now he’s a big movie star too. Lemme tell you about some of his feature films. The Muppet Movie, now this one you especially like…
Kermit: Oh yeah!
(laughter)
Johnny: The Great Muppet Caper
Kermit: Yah!
Johnny: The Muppets Take Manhattan…
Kermit: Oh yah…
Johnny: The Muppets Christmas Carol…
(cheers)
Johnny: Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets from Space. Now in 1993, Kermit added the title of author to his long list of credits with the publication of One Frog Can Make a Difference: Kermit’s Guide to Life. Other projects include he record album, Kermit Unpigged, where he sang duets with such recording artists as Vance Gill, Linda Rhondstat, Ozzy Osborne,
Kermit: That’s true…
Johnny: …and Don Henley. More active now than ever, Kermit was recently on production on the movie A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie…
Kermit: True, true…
Johnny: The first ever made for television Muppet Movie to air on NBC November 29, at 8 o’clock…
Kermit: That’s right, that’s the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Johnny: ...and he really has to be here for that, that’s really the reason he’s couldn’t go with me on the USO tour…
Kermit: Yeah, that’s true, that’s true.
Johnny: Now additionally, he starred in Kermit’s Swamp Years, the never before told story of his early years warts and all. He could be seen in the, the hit (something I didn't quite catch: "Weaser"?) music video which was featured on The Muppet Show’s 25th anniversary, music, CD’s, videos and DVD’s. As he looks to the future, does Kermit show any sign of (disruption).
Kermit: No!
Johnny: "Slow down?" he asks, "I just got started."
Kermit: I just got started!
Johnny: Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in an enthusiastic welcome as we unveil a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Kermit the Frog!
(applause)
Kermit: Thank you all! And you know what? That was probably my cue! Thank you Johnny.
Johnny: A couple of your friends are here…
Kermit: Oh yeah?
Johnny: …They want to say a few words before we unveil it…
Kermit: Oh good…
Johnny: …and like every star, Kermit has someone who takes care of business for him…
Kermit: Yup…
Johnny: It’s a joy to introduce that person now and to thank him for moving his head quarters o Hollywood, just a few blocks from here right here in our neighborhood. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President and CEO of the Jim Henson Company, Charlie Rivkin!
(applause)
Kermit: Hi Charlie!
Charlie: Hi Kermit.
Kermit: Hey, do you mind if I stay here while you talk?
Charlie: No! Please stay!
Kermit: Alright, I’m gonna just relax over here… get comfortable.
Charlie: Johnny, thank you very much and thanks, thanks to all of you guys for coming out here today and honor Kermit, this is fantastic!
(wild cheers)
Kermit: Uh,uh thank you. Thank you…
Charlie: As some of you know, I’m the CEO of the Jim Henson Company and today I’m here representing everyone who’s had a long and wonderful relationship with Kermit over the years…
Kermit: Aw…
Charlie: …and first and foremost is Jane Henson who’s right here in the audience today…
Kermit: Yeah!
Charlie: …and Jane is here with other members of the Henson Family, Brian Henson, and Lisa, and Heather and John. And as Johnny mentioned, it was Jim and Jane who gave Kermit his start in show business in 1950’s with Sam and Friends…
Kermit: That’s right…
Charlie: …and the Hensons have, uh, had a hand, so to speak, in every single thing Kermit’s done ever since!
Kermit: Hahaha! That was great! That’s very funny!
Charlie: Well, that’s really what I do for a living… you know Kermit, your career has been absolutely remarkable…
Kermit: yep…
Charlie: …starting in the 60’s with variety shows and specials and then the phenomenon of children’s hits with Sesame Street and actually I owe my career to your work on that show because without "C" , "E" and "O", I guess I wouldn’t have a job title.
Kermit: (laughs) That’s true!

Charlie: Well, there you go, but actually getting back to the point uh, it was The Muppet Show, seen in more than 200 countries, that really turned Kermit into an international star. And this led to the making of many wonderful movies, and uh, just in case he didn’t hear Johnny mention it, I might as well take the opportunity to say, that the day after Thanksgiving…

(continued...)