The Martians

The formula is simple yet brilliant.  Two aliens arrive on Earth for the sole purpose of interplanetary exploration.  What they find is routinely confusing to them, so they brainstorm together to try to make sense of things, usually with the aid of an all-encompassing "Earth book."

Click to view... Greetings.

The puppets themselves are as bizarre as any that I've ever seen.  I'm sure a lot of us have become "used to" them by now, they were introduced before a lot of us were born, but try to imagine the mindset of the puppeteer who originally conceived this idea.

What does a "Martian" look like?  Since there ARE no actual Martians (sorry, to those of you who believe in that) it's up to every individual's imagination.  Years ago the consensus seemed to be that Martians were little green men.  Then there were some purported alien abductions/sightings and the stereotype became that scrawny creature with the skinny neck and big head with dark eyes.  Couldn't really be more different than the Sesame Street version.

I speculate that they were designed to be EXTRA strange-looking because some of the other puppets on the show were pretty alien-looking to begin with.  If you didn't already know Cookie Monster to be a resident Earth monster, couldn't he pass for a creature from outer space?  and who looks more like a Martian than Kermit the Frog?  You only think of him as a frog because they always say he is.  Frogs don't look like that.

The behavior is what really makes the Martians a masterful act, though.  The way they always agree.  They both either say "yip" or "nope."  No arguments.  They share a common goal, they are in search of the TRUTH.  It's great teamwork, no room for individual ego.  I suppose the lesson to be learned is that you shouldn't give up when a situation is difficult or confusing at first.  You've got friends and Earth books to help you.

Click to view... Martian music.