ABC News reports that beloved amphibian Kermit the Frog is going on a worldwide tour next month to celebrate his 50 years in show business.

The fuzzy green puppet, who got his start in 1955 on a TV program called Sam and Friends, is spearheading the promotion of Disney’s Muppets franchise starting October 14. His first stop will be Kermit, a small town in Texas, and then he’ll visit 50 destinations around the globe over the next 15 months, including the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China and even a run with the bulls in Pamplona.

Kermit’s 50th anniversary tour coincides with other events promoting the Muppets, which were created by the late Jim Henson and acquired by Disney in April 2004. Last month, Disney released a DVD boxed set of the 1976 first season of The Muppet Show. The U.S. Postal Service is also issuing a stamp honoring Henson and his creations.

Chris Curtin, general manager and vice president of the Muppets Holding Company, said a reality TV series is being developed that features Kermit and friends conducting a talent search for the next Muppet. American Puppet Idol? Wow.

“Kermit is iconic, a global character who transcends time and generational taste,” Curtin told USA Today. “It’s rare to find a character who survives that kind of test of time.”

The original Kermit was made from an old coat belonging to Jim Henson’s mother. Henson died in 1990 at the age of 54.






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