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Rizzo the Rat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rizzo the Rat is a Muppet, performed by Steve Whitmire. Rizzo first appeared in episode 418 of The Muppet Show, as one of a group of rats following Christopher Reeve around backstage. He can be seen mugging and reacting to practically every line of dialogue. He remained a scene-stealing background figure through the final season, occasionally performing with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
After that he appeared in The Great Muppet Caper as a bellboy in a fleabag London hotel. He has appeared in most later Muppet projects, including The Muppets Take Manhattan and Muppets Tonight. In The Muppet Christmas Carol, he developed a popular double act with Gonzo, which was continued in Muppet Treasure Island and in Muppets from Space.
Rizzo is a streetwise rat with a New Jersey accent and a self-proclaimed acrophobia ("There are only two things . . . I hate: heights and jumping from them"). His name may have been inspired by the similar (human) character of Ratso Rizzo in the film Midnight Cowboy. The word "Rizzo" as apossed to the name is now a well known word and catchphrase of the "44 Rounds Click" e.g. 'Keeping it rizzo'.