Zoot
PERFORMER
Dave Goelz
DEBUT
1975
DESIGN
Bonnie Erickson designer
Dave Goelz builder
Zoot is the balding, blue-haired saxophone player for the Electric Mayhem. According to his performer and builder Dave Goelz, "Zoot is just a fifty-year-old burnt-out musician."
Zoot first appeared with his bandmates in The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence before securing a regular gig on The Muppet Show, where he played both in the Muppet Orchestra and with the Mayhem. He also appeared in all of the Muppet theatrical movies. To date, he has been consistently performed by Dave Goelz with the exceptions of The Jim Henson Hour episode 112 (with Kevin Clash filling in) and promotional appearances for The Muppets Mayhem (except for D23 Inside Disney, Disney Movie Insiders Presents, and Elle) where he was performed by Bradley Freeman Jr.
One of Zoot's trademarks is blowing small notes of music at a time. He notably blew the final note of "The Muppet Show Theme" in the closing credits on every episode of The Muppet Show (except episode 123), The Muppets Go Hollywood, and The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years. Although most of his appearances were with the Electric Mayhem, Zoot was more prominently featured as an individual in the early episodes, appearing with Juliet Prowse in a blackout in episode 101, and playing a reluctant duet with Mahna Mahna in "Sax and Violence" in episode 102.
Zoot was considerably more talkative during the show's first season. He demonstrated a worshipful love of influential saxophonist Charlie Parker during the "Sax and Violence" sketch, pleading for Parker's forgiveness over agreeing to perform the song. In subsequent seasons, he began speaking less, often expressing himself purely with music. Dave Goelz explained that "I found that when the writers gave Zoot lines to speak, I would always try to give them away to other characters because I didn't know what to do with him. Maybe that helped to define the character. Perhaps it's best that he's so non-verbal.
Zoot became much more talkative on The Muppets, often making candid but humorous observations.
The Muppets Mayhem established Zoot's last name as "Zootowski. In the show, he's the band's photographer and primarily uses a Polaroid camera (later revealed to be a gift from his bandmates, who hoped the pictures would help jog his often-hazy memory). When he's given his first smartphone, Zoot takes advantage of the digital camera and, as the band embarks on solo projects, becomes a well-respected photographer in the art scene. He is also accompanied by Jimmy Shoe, his personal talking footwear. The series also establishes that he has two bellybuttons (one an innie, and one an outie), and some degree of telekinetic powers.
