From his earliest television appearances to surprise moments on modern talk shows, Kermit the Frog has maintained a distinctive role in celebrity culture by performing both as a character and as a media personality. Kermit and the Muppets are framed as performers across platforms, including actors, musicians, and public figures whose narrative identity continues across appearances (Calbreath-Frasieur, 2012). When Kermit joins interviews or talk shows, he appears as the same consistent figure known from films and television.
One of Kermit’s most iconic TV appearances took place in The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979), a televised special celebrating the premiere of The Muppet Movie. Kermit hosted a glamorous, celebrity-packed party at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, performed “The Rainbow Connection,” and mingled with stars, solidifying his status not just as a puppet, but as a media host and musical performer (Muppet Wiki, n.d.-a). Decades after The Muppets Go Hollywood, Kermit remains a familiar and celebrated figure on television. In 2015, he and Miss Piggy appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote their ABC series The Muppets (Time, 2015; Muppet Wiki, n.d.-b). Framed around their fictional breakup, the interview combined celebrity gossip with Muppet-style self-awareness, reflecting how Kermit continues to participate in contemporary media culture while retaining his original persona.
Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy on Jimmy Kimmel Live (Jimmy Kimmel Live, 2015).
In 2025, Kermit returned to daytime television with a surprise appearance on The Today Show, where he serenaded anchor Hoda Kotb with “Rainbow Connection” during her farewell broadcast. The performance, accompanied by Kotb’s daughters, was described by People as a touching moment that made Kotb emotional and moved many viewers (Sacks, 2025). The segment highlighted Kermit’s enduring significance and his connection to audiences across generations (Gomez, 2025). The moment blended heartfelt talk show television with musical nostalgia, as his performance of “Rainbow Connection” reminded viewers of his emotional range. These moments reflect how television has long served as a stage for Kermit’s layered persona. He appears not only as a fictional character but as a recurring figure in real-world media.
Kermit the Frog Singing to Hoda on her last day on “Today” (DW Archive, 2025).