Miss Piggy

The Muppet Show

Was there ever a femme fatale like Miss Piggy? Whether karate-chopping patients as Nurse Piggy on "Veterinarian's Hospital," sabotaging her Swinetrek crewmates Link Hogthrob and Dr. Strangepork on "Pigs in Space," dueling with soprano Beverly Sills in "Pigaletto," or dancing with Rudolf Nureyev in "Swine Lake," she was the Muppets' original Material Girl. Television hadn't seen anything like her since Edward R. Murrow sat down with Marilyn Monroe. To be sure, there was plenty of material -- most of it foam rubber -- and she knew how to throw her weight around. As any Muppet Show guest foolish enough to crack a pig joke would learn: she'd run, well, hog wild.

Woe betide even her beloved Kermit if he stood in her spotlight. One minute, she'd be looking at her green prince with those huge, soulful eyes and swearing eternal fidelity; the next, word would arrive that Hollywood was beckoning. Her eyes would go both ways at once, her face would crinkle into a porkpie of anguish and indecision -- but she always rose to the occasion. Her face set, she'd look Kermit square in the eyes, chirp a bright "Bye!", and rush off to Tinseltown.

Hollywood messed up when it didn't give her the title role in Babe, but she hasn't wanted for invitations to make talk-show appearances or hand out Oscars. Miss Piggy even has her own calendar. No question about it, she's TV's biggest ham.

-- Jeffrey Gantz