Of course, no puppet-centric list would be complete without a Muppet or two. \u00a0These Jim Henson creations are some of the more hilarious residents of Sesame Street, and are presumed to be from the planet Mars. \u00a0Their trademark \u201cyip yip\u2026.uh huh\u201d language demonstrates beautifully their misunderstanding of the inherent absurdity of many human objects (e.g. televisions and typewriters). \u00a0\u00a0Complete with furry hides, tentacles, googly eyes and antennae, these out-of-this-world puppets can really put the world in perspective.<\/p>\n 9. \u00a0Wayang Kulit<\/strong><\/p>\n Wayang Kulit isn\u2019t a specific puppet, but rather an ancient form of shadow puppetry that has existed in Indonesia for centuries. \u00a0Contrary to many of the preconceptions that are usually associated with puppets and their uses, these intricate and highly developed works of art are used to tell stories of mythology and the ancient struggle between good and evil. \u00a0The puppets themselves are hand-made from buffalo hides, and operated using a complex system of strings and sticks. Their actions are orchestrated by a conductor known as the Dalang.<\/p>\n 8. \u00a0Howdy Doody<\/strong><\/p>\n Many might argue that there is nothing bizarre about Howdy Doody \u2013 he is a beloved children\u2019s character and a staple of American entertainment history. We counter; however, that no string-operated, man-made juvenile should have that much influence over the youth of the world. \u00a0This wooden, freckle-faced youngster captivated countless children and continues to represent the childhood of millions raised during the original running of the show (1947-1959).<\/p>\n 7. \u00a0Li\u2019l Penny<\/strong><\/p>\n What is every multi-million dollar superstar athlete missing from his entourage? \u00a0Why, a smaller, smart-mouthed puppet version of himself! \u00a0This fast-talking, game-spitting hustler could be spotted in night clubs, chasing supermodels, courtside at basketball games and hocking the merits of both the real Penny Hardaway and his signature sneakers. \u00a0As Hardaway\u2019s fame began to fade, so did Li\u2019l Penny\u2019s behavior, spiraling so far as to become embroiled in a confrontation with fellow puppet counterpart Miles Thirst. Seriously.<\/p>\n 6. \u00a0NSYNC \u2013 \u201cNo Strings Attached\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n What\u2019s more bizarre than a puppet that wants to be a real boy? \u00a0Real boys that want to be puppets. \u00a0This gimmick was launched during the release of the \u201cNo Strings Attached\u201d album in 2000, and featured a cover with the pop heartthrobs strung up like marionettes. \u00a0While the concept may have oozed cheese, it made bank for the band, hitting number one on the Billboard charts and setting NSYNC head and shoulders above the other \u201cboy bands\u201d of the decade.<\/p>\n 5. \u00a0The Rat<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t be surprised if you don\u2019t recognize this fella\u2019. \u00a0As far as we can tell, he\u2019s no one famous or infamous. \u00a0He\u2019s just plain old creepy. \u00a0Really creepy. \u00a0Rats are some of those aforementioned critters that carry an innate sense of strangeness, being plague-carriers and all. \u00a0During the course of our research, the interwebs presented us with this jewel of bizarreness. \u00a0Nothing says \u201cstrange\u201d like a scrawny, wooden rat on a string.<\/p>\n 4. \u00a0Garthim<\/strong><\/p>\n Jim Henson strikes again. \u00a0\u201cThe Dark Crystal\u201d is legendary for its all-puppet cast, and the terrifying Garthim are a major contributor to its success. \u00a0These puppets are built on a massive scale, an incarnation of nightmare and destruction. \u00a0Seemingly created to do the bidding of the evil Skeksies, they crumble to pieces at the defeat of their masters, revealing themselves to be empty, golem-like \u201cpuppets\u201d that cannot withstand the return of good to the world.<\/p>\n 3. \u00a0Captain Stargood<\/strong><\/p>\n The \u201cCaptain Stargood\u201d television show was created in a disastrous attempt to cash in on the Space Race of the 1960\u2019s. \u00a0The eccentric wunderkind puppeteer Oswald Larsen was granted total autonomy in the production of the show and the resulting product was later described as \u201cunwatchable, twisted and utter sh*t.\u201d \u00a0Amid the wave of disgust and contempt that followed the release, the creators fled and much information regarding the terrible puppet show was lost.<\/p>\n![\"yipyipmartians\"](\"http:\/\/www.thisblogrules.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/yipyipmartians.jpg\" "\\"yipyipmartians\\"")
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