ESB 10: Mister Rogers of Star Wars (Minutes 46-50 with Ken Plume)

It's finally time to meet Yoda! Joining me today is writer, producer, and Muppet aficionado Ken Plume. We break down Frank Oz's fantastic performance, including his speech syntax and the vocal qualities that define Yoda vs. Miss Piggy vs. Grover vs. Fozzie vs. Bert and Frank Oz's other classic characters. The music takes a backseat in this scene, giving the audience a chance to really meet and hear Yoda for the first time. This is THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK minutes 46-50.

Check out the video version of this episode if you want to see Ken's puppet demonstrations: https://youtu.be/RCqDQ6XCBc4

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Hello there!
• 1:26 - How Ken's tweets made Xanthe appreciate the Muppets more.
• 7:25 - Listening to the start of these minutes.
• 13:07 - Piccolo/bassoon line when Luke lights the furnace.
• 17:04 - Artoo sitting back and watching everything unfold.
• 18:03 - Is the cue announcing the "magic has entered the room?" Kite metaphor.
• 27:02 - The Force theme tapping Luke on the shoulder rather than announcing when Luke has entered the room.
• 32:49 - This scene has Yoda's most extreme, comical vocal performance.
• 38:37 - Frank Oz voice comparisons. Noise-to-pitch ratio. What do Yoda, Grover, Miss Piggy, Animal, Bert, Cookie Monster, Sam Eagle, and Fozzie have in common? What is different? Grit, cleanliness, gravel, rumble, nasality, rasp, phlegm.
• 53:42 - Yoda syntax, pedagogy, younglings, Mr. Rogers, action words.
• 59:17 - Listener question: Do you think Yoda is an accent?
• 1:05:11 - Things in puppetry that separate amateurs from professionals.
• 1:10:27 - Puppet sound sync, mouth shapes.
• 1:17:28 - Listener question: What do you think it does for a puppet performer to portray both speech and action for a single character?
• 1:20:00 - Xanthe's disturbing Yoda puppetry attempt.
• 1:25:23 - Listener question: How do puppet designers prioritize movement and durability?
• 1:36:59 - Luke being tested in this scene, failing. Parable within a parable.
• 1:46:12 - A closer look at the shot with Yoda reaching across to grab the cane. "Live hands" situation.
• 1:53:09 - Frank Oz's little beats. The exhalation is all in the performance; the puppet has no lungs.
• 1:59:09 - Comparing Frank Oz's Yoda to other Yoda's (from The Clone Wars, etc).
• 2:08:52 - The music (5M3 Yoda's Entrance) gives us the tiniest little tease of who Yoda is.
• 2:17:31 - Tips on getting into the Muppets oeuvre.
• 2:23:30 - Is there an instrument that represents Yoda to you? (open to listener answers!)
• 2:30:00 - SWMM Questionnaire
• 2:40:11 - Ken's very disturbing Yoda mask.

Things to Check Out:

• Dominic Sewell's analysis of cue 5M2 Yoda Appears - https://youtu.be/p10aBm6juXM 
• Playlist of Frank Oz's Muppet Character Voices - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSnlOAEE_D0&list=PLw4AP6SyWCYxCHJ1eLHHj9JXbkLyYCM5k
• Yoda (Star Wars) | Evolution In Movies & TV (1980 - 2018) - https://youtu.be/ReZTZS7eIlw
• Yoda Comparison - The Phantom Menace - https://youtu.be/4DsYoc1CsUQ
• Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas - https://youtu.be/nZqYHS4uzWE
• Singing Fish ("The Little Fishies" from The Muppet Show)- https://youtu.be/3lFOh2vzJzk
• Gremlins Suite (composed by Jerry Goldsmith) - https://youtu.be/jsE-Hr73Imw
• Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Cues:

• 5M2 "Yoda Appears"
• 5M3 "Yoda's Entrance"

Musical Themes:

• 3. Force
• 12a. Yoda (A Section)

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

• "Arrival on Dagobah"
• "Luke's Nocturnal Visitor"

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

• Longing. Grace. Adventure.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

• Major/big themes aside (like the Force theme and Imperial March), which of the more minor musical themes recur the most across the films?

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

• 1941 (composed by John Williams)
• The Italian Job (composed and arranged by Quincy Jones)
• Gremlins (composed by Jerry Goldsmith)
• The Last Starfighter (composed by Craig Safan)

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Guest: Ken Plume

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kenplume
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenplume
• Muppets/Jim Henson commentary thread: https://twitter.com/KenPlume/status/1351023387003518976

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