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| Pepe the King Prawn | |
|---|---|
| The Muppets character | |
.jpg) | |
| First appearance | Muppets Tonight (1996) |
| Performed by | Bill Barretta |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales |
| Species | Muppetking prawn |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Elevator operator, commissary cook |
| Nationality | Spanish |
Pepe the King Prawn is aMuppet character fromMuppets Tonight and performed byBill Barretta, originally as part of avaudeville double act with Seymour the Elephant.
Pepe is Spanish and speaks with a heavy accent, often punctuating his sentences with "okay?" His character plays on manyHispanic stereotypes: he has a fiery temper (especially when referred to as a "shrimp"), and thinks of himself as alothario, often making suggestive remarks.[1] He is shown with four arms and is orange with messy orange hair. He is often shown wearing a jacket.
Pepe is also a schemer, willing to betray or at least take advantage of his friends: he allied with Ms. Bitterman inIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and worked with Rizzo to trick Gonzo into building a Jacuzzi inMuppets from Space. However, his conscience usually wins out and makes him do what is right in the end.
Pepe has become one of the most popular Muppet characters, providing comedic relief in major supporting roles similar toRizzo the Rat and appearing in most major Muppet productions since his introduction. He, andBobo the Bear are the only Muppet characters originally created forMuppets Tonight that are still prominently featured inThe Muppets franchise. Pepe is frequently cast in the main ensemble, while Bobo is a supporting player.
Pepe appeared in fourteen episodes ofMuppets Tonight,[2] proved a hit with audiences and has returned many times since. (Although his partner Seymour has never been seen again.) He has major roles inMuppets from Space (1999),[3]It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002),[4]The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)[5] (where he co-stars asToto), andA Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (2008).[6] He also appears in 2011'sThe Muppets,[7] though in keeping with that film's focus on the originalMuppet Show cast, he has only a brief cameo role asMiss Piggy's dance partner. He appears in the 2014 filmMuppets Most Wanted.[8] Though he has more screen time than inThe Muppets, his dialogue is limited. His most prominent scene in the film features him gambling on the tour train with hip-hop mogulSean Combs. He is a regular onThe Muppets as a comedy writer for the show-within-a-show,Up Late with Miss Piggy withGonzo andRizzo the Rat. InMuppets Now[9] he stars in "Pepe’s Unbelievable Gameshow", a segment in which he hosts a game show and makes up the rules as he goes along, to the annoyance of his co-host,Scooter.
As well as frequent appearances in commercials, Muppet short films and videogames, Pepe was also as an occasional correspondent onStatler and Waldorf: From the Balcony, and hosts "Pepe's Profiles" featurettes produced byWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment for theKermit's 50th AnniversaryDVD re-releases of early Muppet movies. In 2002, he was the "spokesprawn" for restaurant chainLong John Silver's. He has also made many television appearances on shows includingAmerica's Funniest Home Videos,The Jay Leno Show,Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, andDancing with the Stars. He was also an award presenter atThe Game Awards 2018 ceremony, which honored the bestvideo games of that year.[10]
The parody self-help bookIt's Hard Out Here for a Shrimp is attributed to Pepe and tells his life story.[11]
Bill Barretta has remained Pepe's performer since his 1996 debut onMuppets Tonight; however,Drew Massey performed Pepe in a test pilot for the web seriesStatler and Waldorf: From the Balcony.
Pepe became an internet sensation in December 2024, mainly due to influencers onTikTok using his image to depict feelings of embarrassment and disbelief. He has also inspired the creation of amemecoin on the platformSolana.[12]
