Character: Nate Atez (long A, long E)
Hand type: Rod
Builder credits:
Pattern – Wally Wingert
Foam head and body fabrication – Wally Wingert
Mouth plate fabrication – Wally Wingert
Puppet tailor and seamstress – Steve Troop, Alex McGee; Alex in Wonderland
Costume design – Wally Wingert
Costume fabrication and alteration – Alex McGee; Alex in Wonderland, Maggie Roberge, Wally Wingert
Height (including his mullet): 27”
This original puppet creation is not a Muppet replica, but it started out as one. Nate Atez (long a, long e) began as a Mahna Mahna replica. But after the puppet head was covered by Steve Troop and returned to me, I realized that the shape of the head and the color of the fleece didn’t look right for Mahna.
However, Steve did such a great job covering him that I decided to repurpose him for another puppet; my first original creation in a long time.
For a while I was vacillating about what to do with him. But when I saw a chunk of black fake fur lying around I had an idea. The fur was hanging upside down and the grain was poking up in a spiky manner. It looked like those spiky mullets people used to wear in the 80s. I placed the piece of fur on his head upside down and while the front part fell onto his face like bangs, and the back part spiked up like an 80s hairstyle.
So Nate Atez, 80’s retro reporter, was born. I’ve known many people whose style was based on the look of a particular decade (myself included, to some extent) and they unashamedly carry that retro look with them into present day. I figured Nate would be one of those people who wished the 80s had never died. As Nate puts it, “The 1980s was the greatest decade known to mankind.”
I found some round neon green children’s glasses on amazon. I bought some neon green checkerboard fabric on Spoonflower and had Alex McGee create an 80s style “muscle shirt” for him. I was elated when I found the baby pants and Vans on ebay.
In the 80s it was all about the accessories. I was a fan of the wide black leather wristbands with metal studs. I fashioned a pair for Nate out of leather and studs I had lying around and even gave him one of the old hoop earrings I used to wear.
Nate would like you all to remember that the words “muppet” and “mullet” only have two letters’ difference! Coincidence?