It’s not exactly an amazing year to be graduating from college. The economy is in the toilet, higher education is under attack from the federal government, and if students dare to speak up about ongoing atrocities, they risk getting their diplomas withheld. This is all to say the vibe on campus seems bad, and for some reason only the University of Maryland understood how to combat that: Bring in the Muppets.
On Thursday, Kermit the Frog will deliver the commencement speech at the alma mater of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. Finally, some good news! The felted frog is currently doing the rounds to promote his big day, which will be his first commencement address since he spoke to Southampton College’s graduating class in 1996.
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“I’m so humbled by it,” Kermit told NBC News. “I’m kind of taking this seriously — as seriously as a singing, dancing frog can take anything.”
The celebrated star of The Muppet Movie and The Muppets Take Manhattan also gave a preview of what his speech might be like. “Maybe we’re at our best when we allow ourselves to continue to grow and learn something new every day,” Kermit said. “I kind of hope these graduates keep that sophisticated childlike sense of curiosity and imagination and innovation as they travel down their paths.”
Okay, cute. Annoyingly, no reporter has asked Kermit whether his on-again, off-again girlfriend Miss Piggy will be in attendance. That being said, if she’s there on Thursday, I’m sure she’ll make her presence known.
