Editing Kermit the Frog (section)

==History and development==
[[File:Jim Henson - McGarry's Sausages featuring Kermit and Mack (1964).webm|thumb|left|A set of commercials for McGarry's Sausages featuring the original incarnation of Kermit]]
Kermit the Frog first appeared on local programs and commercials broadcast on [[WRC-TV]], most notably ''[[Sam and Friends]]''.<ref name="Siemaszko"/> This prototype Kermit was created from a discarded turquoise spring coat belonging to Jim Henson's mother and two [[ping pong ball]] halves for eyes.<ref name=Zongker>{{cite news |title=Original Kermit the Frog donated to Smithsonian |first1=Brett |last1=Zongker |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-08-25-kermit-smithsonian_N.htm?csp=34 |work=USA Today |date=August 25, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313211619/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-08-25-kermit-smithsonian_N.htm?csp=34 |archive-date=March 13, 2014  }}</ref>

Initially, Kermit was a vague [[lizard]]-like creature. He subsequently made a number of television appearances before his status as a [[frog]] was established in the television special ''[[Hey, Cinderella!]]'' in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fanning |first1=Jim |title=Kermit's Shocking Transformation! |url=https://d23.com/kermits-shocking-transformation/ |website=D23 |publisher=Disney |date=5 June 2013 |access-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920015844/https://d23.com/kermits-shocking-transformation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His triangular-pointed collar was added at the time to make him seem more frog-like and to conceal the seam between his head and body.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Feldmar|first1=Jamie|title=Muppets Scandal: Kermit Was Once...A Lizard!|url=http://gothamist.com/2011/04/19/kermit_the_lizard.php|website=Gothamist|publisher=Gothamist, LLC|access-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126051756/http://gothamist.com/2011/04/19/kermit_the_lizard.php|archive-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> According to [[Michael K. Frith]], the relatively simple construction of the Kermit puppet allows the performer's arm and hand to produce a wide range of expression and gestures.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=March 1, 1990|title=Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Michael Frith talk about the Muppets|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4xnBca2_Nc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/u4xnBca2_Nc| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|access-date=August 4, 2020|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Naming===
The origin of Kermit's name is a subject of some debate. It is often claimed that Kermit was named after Henson's childhood friend [[Kermit Scott]], from [[Leland, Mississippi]].<ref name=ddt>{{cite news|first=Terri|last=Ferguson|title=Man for whom frog was named dies |url=http://www.ddtonline.com/articles/2008/06/15/news/news4.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703084438/http://www.ddtonline.com/articles/2008/06/15/news/news4.txt |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |work= Delta Democrat Times|date=June 14, 2008 |access-date=June 15, 2008}}</ref><ref name=usatoday>{{cite news|first=Kathy|last=Hanrahan|title=It's easy being green in Leland, Miss.. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-07-16-kermit_N.htm |work=USA Today|date=July 16, 2007|access-date=June 15, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504055347/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-07-16-kermit_N.htm|archive-date=May 4, 2008}}</ref> However, Karen Falk, head archivist and board of directors member for the Jim Henson Legacy organization, denies this claim, stating that Henson merely liked how the named sounded:

{{Blockquote|While Jim Henson did have a childhood acquaintance named Kermit, it was not an uncommon name at the time, and Jim always said that the Frog was not named after this child from his elementary school. I think Jim just liked the sound of the name - it has nice hard sounds and a sort of nasal quality that make it rather funny.<ref name=hensoncom>{{cite web|url= http://www.henson.com/ask/ask_archives_body.html|title= Ask Henson #73|last= Falk|first= Karen|publisher= The Jim Henson Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001003125242/http://www.henson.com/ask/ask_archives_body.html |archive-date=October 3, 2000}}</ref>}}

Joy DiMenna, the only daughter of Kermit Kalman Cohen, who worked as a sound engineer at [[WBAL-TV]] during Jim Henson's time with ''Sam and Friends'', recalls that the puppet was named after her father. According to Cohen's obituary, as well as DiMenna and Lenny Levin, a colleague of Cohen's at WBAL:

{{Blockquote|The late puppeteer had been the host of a show, ''Sam and Friends'', at WRC-TV in Washington when he was invited to tour WBAL's studios. Both were NBC affiliates then, and WBAL carried the show, Mr. Levin said.

Mr. Henson was introduced to members of the sound and camera crew, including Mr. Cohen.

"When he heard his name, Jim turned around, snapped his fingers and said to his wife, 'That's what we call the frog – Kermit.{{'"}}<ref name=baltimoresun>{{cite news|url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/09/26/kermit-kalman-cohen-71-gave-muppet-frog-his-name/|title= Kermit Kalman Cohen, 71, gave Muppet frog his name|last= Zeller|first= Karen|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121129062917/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-09-26/news/1994269068_1_kermit-the-frog-green-frog-wbal|archive-date= November 29, 2012|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref>}}

Another common belief is that Kermit was named for [[Kermit Love]], who worked with Henson in designing and constructing Muppets, particularly on ''Sesame Street''. However, Love's association with Henson did not begin until well after Kermit's creation and naming, and he always denied any connection between his name and that of the character.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2008-06-25-478449965_x.htm|title=Big Bird costume creator Kermit Love dies at 91|work=USA Today|date=June 25, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201073805/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2008-06-25-478449965_x.htm|archive-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref>

As ''Sesame Street'' is localized for some different markets that speak languages other than English, Kermit is often renamed. In [[Portugal]], he is called ''Cocas, o Sapo'' (''sapo'' means "[[toad]]"). In [[Brazil]], his name is similar to his name in Portugal: ''Caco, o Sapo''. In most of Hispanic America, his name is ''la rana René'' (''René the Frog''), while in Spain, he is named ''Gustavo''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/10/28/kermit-the-frog-offers-his-sincere-apologies-to-latin-america-but/ |title=Kermit The Frog Offers His Sincere Apologies to Latin America, But... |work=[[Bleeding Cool]] |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423113912/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/10/28/kermit-the-frog-offers-his-sincere-apologies-to-latin-america-but/ |archive-date=April 23, 2015  }}</ref> In the Arabic version, he is known as ''Kamel'', which is a common Arabic male name that means "perfect". In [[Hungary]], he is called ''Breki'' ([[onomatopoetic]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mno.hu/grund/muppets-babfigurak-a-hiressegek-setanyan-1061892 |title=Hivatalosan is sztárok lettek a bábfigurák |work=[[Magyar Nemzet]] |date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716170656/https://mno.hu/grund/muppets-babfigurak-a-hiressegek-setanyan-1061892 |archive-date=July 16, 2017 }}</ref>

===Characterization and performers===
Jim Henson originated the character in 1955 on his local television series, ''[[Sam and Friends]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etonline.com/movies/144662_ET_Top_5_5_Fun_Facts_About_Kermit_the_Frog/|title=ET Top 5: 5 Fun Facts About Kermit the Frog|publisher=Entertainment Tonight|first1=Sarah|last1=Flanigan|date=March 21, 2014|access-date=July 17, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807115740/http://www.etonline.com/movies/144662_ET_Top_5_5_Fun_Facts_About_Kermit_the_Frog/|archive-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref> Jim Henson described Kermit as "kind of easy-going, very likable...sometimes slightly a wiseguy."<ref name=":3" /> [[Frank Oz]] remarked that Kermit possesses a natural sense of leadership within the Muppets, explaining that "he has all these zany characters and a world around him and he tries to be the center and hold everything together...sometimes he gets too much and blows his top, but essentially he kind of goes with the flow."<ref name=":3" /> [[Brian Henson]] described his father's performance as Kermit as "coming out of his own personality—was a wry intelligence, a little bit of a naughtiness, but Kermit always loved everyone around and also loved a good prank."<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Bradley|first1=Laura|title=The Battle Between Jim Henson's Kids and Ex-Kermit Steve Whitmire Gets Uglier|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/kermit-steve-whitmire-fired-cheryl-henson-brian-henson|access-date=July 19, 2017|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=July 19, 2017|archive-date=July 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722010846/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/kermit-steve-whitmire-fired-cheryl-henson-brian-henson|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kermit has often been referred to as Jim Henson's "soft-spoken [[Alter ego|alter-ego]]."<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Heffley|first1=Lynne|last2=Collins|first2=Scott|date=February 4, 2006|title=Hollywood Star Walk: Kermit the Frog|work=Los Angeles Times|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/kermit-the-frog/|access-date=August 4, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919224058/http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/kermit-the-frog/|url-status=live}}</ref> Many of Jim Henson's colleagues have confirmed how close and inseparable he and Kermit's personalities were. Jim Henson's agent [[Bernie Brillstein]] has stated straightforwardly that "Kermit was Jim".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Irwin|first=Jon|date=September 2015|title=On the Other Hand|url=https://longreads.com/2015/09/10/on-the-other-hand/|access-date=August 4, 2020|website=longreads.com|publisher=[[Automattic]]|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060158/http://blog.longreads.com/2015/09/10/on-the-other-hand/|url-status=live}}</ref> Author [[Brian Jay Jones]] described the relationship accordingly: "The more Jim performed Kermit, the more the two of them seemed to become intertwined…it was becoming harder to tell where the frog ended and Jim began."<ref name=":1" /> Jim Henson continued to perform the character until his death in 1990.<ref name="Siemaszko">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/kermit-frog-grew-minor-character-iconic-muppet-57-years-article-1.1075021|first1=Corky|last1=Siemaszko|date=May 9, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2016|title=Kermit the Frog first debuted as minor TV puppet in 1955|newspaper=New York Daily News |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617200405/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/kermit-frog-grew-minor-character-iconic-muppet-57-years-article-1.1075021|archive-date=June 17, 2016}}</ref> His last known performance as Kermit was for an appearance on ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]'' to promote the television special ''[[The Muppets at Walt Disney World]]''. Jim Henson died twelve days after that appearance.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-legacy-of-a-gentle-genius-vol-33-no-24/|date=June 18, 1990|access-date=July 17, 2016|title=Legacy of a Gentle Genius|magazine=People|first=Susan |last=Schindehette |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308045306/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0%2C%2C20117981%2C00.html |archive-date=March 8, 2012}}</ref>

Following his death, veteran Muppet performer [[Steve Whitmire]] was named Kermit's new performer.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cosores|first1=Philip|date=September 10, 2015|title=Read This: What's it like to take Jim Henson's place?|newspaper=The AV Club|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/read-whats-it-take-jim-hensons-place-225152|url-status=live|access-date=July 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030004302/https://www.avclub.com/article/read-whats-it-take-jim-hensons-place-225152|archive-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Whitmire claims that Jim Henson had seemingly intended to pass on the role to him before he died, though it was [[Jane Henson]] and son Brian who had selected him.<ref>{{cite web|last=Welsh|first=Daniel|date=July 19, 2017|title=Jim Henson's Daughter Backs Decision To Axe Kermit The Frog Performer Steve Whitmire|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kermit-the-frog-steve-whitmire-fired_uk_596f4d58e4b0000eb19749f7|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720071539/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kermit-the-frog-steve-whitmire-fired_uk_596f4d58e4b0000eb19749f7|archive-date=July 20, 2017|access-date=July 20, 2017|work=[[The Huffington Post]]}}</ref> Whitmire's first public performance as Kermit was at the end of the television special ''[[The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson]]'' in 1990. Whitmire explained that his main intent when he inherited Kermit "was to make sure the character stayed the same and consistent, but didn't become stale and just a copy."<ref>{{cite web|last=Messer|first=Lesley|title=Kermit the Frog voice actor has been replaced|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kermit-frog-voice-actor-replaced/story?id=48556859|publisher=abcnews|access-date=September 11, 2020|date=July 10, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109001157/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kermit-frog-voice-actor-replaced/story?id=48556859|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kermit's personality during Whitmire's tenure was widely described as more wholesome, lighthearted, and [[Pollyanna principle|Pollyanna-ish]] than Jim Henson's.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|date=July 28, 2020|title='Muppets Now': Together Again, With a Touch of Amnesia|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/muppets-now-disney-plus-1034408/|access-date=August 4, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806145257/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/muppets-now-disney-plus-1034408/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Several critics of Whitmire's portrayal have come from the Henson family. Brian Henson stated that while Whitmire's performance was "sometimes excellent, and always pretty good", he also elaborated that "Kermit has, as a character, flattened out over time and has become too square and not as vital as it should have been."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last1=Dab|first1=Sopan|last2=Haigney|first2=Sophie|date=July 17, 2017|title=Kermit the Frog Performer and Disney Spar Over an Ugly 'Muppet' Firing|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/arts/television/kermit-the-frog-disney-firing.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717230725/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/arts/television/kermit-the-frog-disney-firing.html|archive-date=July 17, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Parker">{{Cite news|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=July 18, 2017|title=Jim Henson's Son Explains Why Kermit Actor Was Replaced|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-hensons-son-explains-why-kermit-actor-was-replaced-character-could-use-change-1022041|access-date=August 4, 2020|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208032255/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-hensons-son-explains-why-kermit-actor-was-replaced-character-could-use-change-1022041|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Cheryl Henson]] stated that Whitmire performed the character as a "bitter, angry, depressed, victim".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=July 18, 2017|title=Cheryl Henson Says Fired Kermit The Frog Actor Steve Whitmire Was 'Self-Serving'|work=Deadline.com|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/cheryl-henson-statement-steve-whitmire-fired-kermit-the-frog-muppets-studio-1202130984/|access-date=August 4, 2020|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211171206/https://deadline.com/2017/07/cheryl-henson-statement-steve-whitmire-fired-kermit-the-frog-muppets-studio-1202130984/|url-status=live}}</ref> He remained Kermit's principal performer until October 2016, when he was [[Dismissal (employment)|dismissed]] by [[The Muppets Studio]] and its parent company Disney, which own the rights to Kermit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kermit-frog-muppeteer-says-he-was-fired-by-disney-1020466|title=Kermit the Frog Muppeteer Says Disney Fired Him|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=July 13, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713213313/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kermit-frog-muppeteer-says-he-was-fired-by-disney-1020466|archive-date=July 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=July 17, 2017|title=Disney Says It Fired Kermit the Frog Actor Over 'Unacceptable Business Conduct'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-says-fired-kermit-frog-actor-unacceptable-business-conduct-1021701|url-status=live|access-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717195041/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-says-fired-kermit-frog-actor-unacceptable-business-conduct-1021701|archive-date=July 17, 2017}}</ref> Disney cited "unacceptable business conduct" as reason for the dismissal, while Whitmire claims the decision was made due to creative disagreements over Kermit's characterization and prolonged labor union negotiations that delayed his involvement in Muppet productions.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bruner|first=Raisa|title=Former Kermit the Frog Puppeteer Speaks: "I Am Devastated"|url=https://time.com/4855481/kermit-actor-on-leaving-muppets/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713002733/http://time.com/4855481/kermit-actor-on-leaving-muppets/|archive-date=July 13, 2017|magazine=Time}}</ref>

Disney announced that [[Matt Vogel (puppeteer)|Matt Vogel]] would become Kermit's new performer on July 10, 2017.<ref name="VogelFrog" /> Vogel's first official appearance as Kermit was in a "Muppet Thought of the Week” video released on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=August 29, 2017|title=New Kermit the Frog Voice Debuts|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kermit-frog-new-character-voice-matt-vogel-debuts-1033644|access-date=August 4, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923200217/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kermit-frog-new-character-voice-matt-vogel-debuts-1033644|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[John Kennedy (puppeteer)|John Kennedy]] performed Kermit for ''Muppets Ahoy!'', a 2006 [[Disney Cruise Line]] stage show (though Whitmire performed Kermit for the first few shows). Muppet performer Artie Esposito briefly performed Kermit in 2009 for a few personal appearances (an appearance on ''[[America's Got Talent]]'', the ''[[MTV Video Music Awards]]'', and at the 2009 [[D23 Expo]]). Voice actor [[Frank Welker]] provided the voice of Baby Kermit on the animated Saturday morning cartoon, ''[[Muppet Babies (1984 TV series)|Muppet Babies]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786486410|page=534|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX_daEhlnbsC&q=kermit&pg=PR2|language=en|date=November 6, 2008}}</ref> He also provided the voice of an adult Kermit for a short-lived spin-off, ''[[Little Muppet Monsters]]''. [[Brian Cummings]] voiced Kermit in a 1995 [[CBS]] promotion.<ref name="CBS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/CBS/Kermit-the-Frog/|title=Voice of Kermit the Frog in CBS|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=2022-05-18|archive-date=May 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518205647/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/CBS/Kermit-the-Frog/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Wally Wingert]] provided the voice of Baby Kermit in a ''Muppet Babies'' CD-ROM.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wally Wingert on Twitter: "One of my first VO jobs was voicing Baby Kermit in a "Muppet Babies" CD Rom. My computer tech could extract some song files, but couldn't extract the game itself due to outdated tech. SO glad I found these! Working for the Muppets was a dream come true!"|url=https://twitter.com/WallyWingert/status/1516745708694478856|publisher=Twitter|access-date=May 18, 2022|archive-date=May 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518205647/https://twitter.com/WallyWingert/status/1516745708694478856|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Matt Danner]] voices Baby Kermit on the 2018 reboot of ''[[Muppet Babies (2018 TV series)|Muppet Babies]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|title=Revisiting the Muppet Babies' Rainbow Connection|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/revisiting-the-muppet-babies-rainbow-connection/|publisher=animationmagazine|access-date=May 18, 2018|date=March 16, 2018|archive-date=May 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519205218/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/revisiting-the-muppet-babies-rainbow-connection/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Fictional biography ===
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlJM4UhbQ7A Yay! Kermit Arm Flail], Disney UK}}

A biography has been developed for Kermit the Frog as if he were an actual living performer rather than a puppet character. According to this fictional biography, he was born in [[Leland, Mississippi]], alongside approximately 2,353 siblings;<ref name=MuppetBook>{{cite book|last1=Shemin|first1=Craig|title=Disney's The Muppets Character Encyclopedia|date=2014|page=98|publisher=[[DK Publishing]]|location=New York|isbn=9781465417480}}</ref> however, a 2011 "interview" on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' has him state that he was from the swamps of [[Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_AUn5poOmA|title=Ellen Meets Kermit!|website=[[YouTube]]|date=November 9, 2011 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122090232/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_AUn5poOmA|archive-date=November 22, 2016}}</ref>

As portrayed in the 2002 film ''Kermit's Swamp Years'', at the age of 12, he was the first of his siblings to leave the swamp and one of the first frogs to talk to humans. He is shown in the film encountering a 12-year-old Jim Henson (played by Christian Kebbel) for the first time.

According to ''The Muppet Movie,'' Kermit returned to the swamp, where a passing agent ([[Dom DeLuise]]) noted he had talent. Thus inspired, Kermit headed to Hollywood, encountering the rest of the Muppets along the way. Together, they were given a standard "rich and famous" contract by Lew Lord ([[Orson Welles]]) of Wide World Studios and began their showbiz careers. In ''[[Before You Leap]]'', Kermit again references encountering Jim Henson sometime after the events depicted in the course of ''The Muppet Movie'' and details their friendship and their partnership in the entertainment industry, crediting Henson as being the individual to whom he owes his fame. At some point after the events of ''The Muppet Movie'', Kermit and the other Muppets begin ''The Muppet Show'', and the characters remain together as a group, before starring in the other Muppet films and ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'', with Kermit usually at the core of the stories as the lead protagonist. Kermit is shown in ''The Muppet Movie'' as stating that the events of the film are "approximately how it happened" when asked by his nephew Robin about how the Muppets got started.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dale |first1=Timothy |last2=Foy |first2=Joseph |title=Jim Henson and Philosophy: Imagination and the Magic of Mayhem |date=2015 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1442246652 |page=240}}</ref>

[[Fozzie Bear]] is portrayed as Kermit's best friend—a fact reiterated by Kermit in ''Before You Leap''—and the two were frequently seen together during sketches on ''The Muppet Show'' and in other Muppet-related media and merchandise.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kermit the Frog |title=Before You Leap: A Frog's-eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons |date=2006 |publisher=Meredith Books |isbn=0696232324 |page=[https://archive.org/details/beforeyouleapfro00jiml_0/page/214 214] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/beforeyouleapfro00jiml_0/page/214 }}</ref>

On August 4, 2015, Kermit the Frog and [[Miss Piggy]] "announced" that they had ended their romantic relationship.<ref name=LATBreakup>{{cite news|last1=Villarreal|first1=Yvonne|title=Love really is dead -- Miss Piggy and Kermit break up|url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-miss-piggy-and-kermit-break-up-but-keep-it-together-for-work-20150804-story.html|access-date=August 4, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806183141/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-miss-piggy-and-kermit-break-up-but-keep-it-together-for-work-20150804-story.html|archive-date=August 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Snetiker|first1=Marc|title=Kermit and Piggy announce breakup at press conference|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/08/04/muppets-kermit-piggy-split-break-up-tca|access-date=August 4, 2015|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805184523/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/04/muppets-kermit-piggy-split-break-up-tca|archive-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref> On September 2, 2015, Kermit was stated to have found a new girlfriend, a pig named Denise,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abc7news.com/entertainment/meet-denise-kermit-the-frogs-reported-new-girlfriend/965841/|title=Meet Denise, Kermit the Frog's reported new girlfriend|work=ABC7 San Francisco|date=September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904011136/http://abc7news.com/entertainment/meet-denise-kermit-the-frogs-reported-new-girlfriend/965841/|archive-date=September 4, 2015}}</ref> but around February 2016, Denise supposedly broke up with Kermit after almost six months together.<ref name="TV Line">{{cite web|last1=Swift|first1=Andy|title=The Muppets 2.0: Grade Kermit and Piggy's Emotional Return to Relevancy|url=http://tvline.com/2016/02/02/the-muppets-kermit-denise-break-up-season-1-recap/|website=tvline.com|date=February 3, 2016|publisher=TV Line|access-date=June 27, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807174934/http://tvline.com/2016/02/02/the-muppets-kermit-denise-break-up-season-1-recap/|archive-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref>