- “Make way! Johnny Fiama coming through!”
- ―Sal Minella
Sal Minella is a monkey Muppet who serves as the flunky, bodyguard and all-purpose assistant to Johnny Fiama. Sal is devoted to Johnny Fiama, though some of his ideas to promote Johnny's career are a bit harebrained.
The puppet used for Sal originated as a generic, unclothed monkey, performing a solo line in the song "Shiver My Timbers" from Muppet Treasure Island. In that appearance, he was performed by Jerry Nelson.
The monkey was subsequently refitted with a vest and tie and made his debut as Sal Minella in Muppets Tonight.
Brian Henson left the Muppets in 2005, a year after the Disney purchase, and Sal was reduced to background roles before being quietly retired along with Johnny.
In 2020, it was revealed that both the Johnny and Sal puppets had been rebuilt. They made their return in the 2021 Disney+ film, Muppets Haunted Mansion, with Brian Henson reprising his role for the first time in 16 years.
Trivia[]
- Sal Minella's film appearance in Muppets from Space is owned by Sony Pictures, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is owned by NBCUniversal, and the other Muppet movies are owned by Disney (along with the rest of the Muppet franchise).
Gallery[]
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