Tuesday, September 7, 2021

RIP Willard Scott (1934 - 2021)

TV personality and veteran Today Show weatherman, Willard Scott passed away over the weekend.


Scott was a long time friend of Jim Henson and The Muppets going all the way back to 1955 where he got his start along side Jim at Washington DC's local NBC affiliate WRC-TV. There Scott hosted Afternoon (later renamed Afternoon with Inga), which featured early appearances by characters from Sam and Friends.




In 1963, Scott became the first Ronald McDonald to appear on TV. He created the character at the local DC franchise's request, which had also sponsored the Bozo the Clown show on which he portrayed Bozo.

In his 1982 autobiography, "The Joy of Living", Scott recalled working with "an innovative bunch of puppets created by a guy named Jim Henson. They were called the Muppets... I worked with a bald-headed Muppet with a big nose, named Sam, sort of the way Fran Allison worked on Kukla, Fan, and Ollie. Then there was the frog named Kermit. I used to do a commercial for a local peanut butter called Schindler's. He'd open his mouth, I'd give him a big spoonful, and he'd go 'ahh'."

Willard Scott hosted the 1987 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade where he received a surprise "Rollie Award" for his years of service to the parade along with one presented to Kermit the Frog and Jim Henson.

Two years later Scott appeared as himself in the third episode of The Jim Henson Hour teaching Fozzie how to be a weatherman or (weatherbear).

 

Scott contributed a "Brown Sugar Pound Cake" recipe for Miss Piggy's 1996 cookbook, "In the Kitchen with Miss Piggy."



On September 24, 2003, Scott spoke at the University of Maryland's dedication ceremony for their Jim Henson and Kermit statue. 


Scott was also there when the Henson family donated the original Sam & Friends puppets to the Smithsonian in 2010, reuniting with this old pals. 


One of Scott's long-time segments on the Today Show was highlighting people who turned 100. 


When the Muppets took over Today in 2013 they made sure to include a caricature of Scott who appears below at the 1:47 mark.


While Scott didn't make to see 100 himself Smuckers, the long time sponsor of the segment, honored Scott with a special image. 



Willard Scott was 87.

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