SAN FRANCISCO –— In what is being described as the first gay marriage of "assorted puppet and animation figures," Disney and Muppet characters wed at a service under the City Hall rotunda. The ceremony comes at a critical moment: after the announcement that the two companies will likely form a corporate merger.

GOOFY WITH LOVE: Gonzo's special friend.

 Three couples were married during the civil ceremony, at which other prominent figures from both sides of the aisle – Kermit the Frog, Pinnochio, Miss Piggy and Snow White – attended to show their support.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT: Happy's interminable glee could finally put the kibosh on Oscar's irritability.

First, Goofy and Gonzo were hitched, after which Goofy was at a typical loss for words, "Gawrsh! Well whaddyaknow!?" One fellow muppet who declined to give his name commented that, "I'm not surprised. Gonzo always had a…flashy sense of style. And you gotta wonder why things never worked out between him and Miss Piggy."

Next up was a clear case of "opposites attract": Oscar the Grouch and Happy (one of the Seven Dwarves). "I feel good about them," said Big Bird, "it just seems right. Oscar's finally coming out of the can! It's a huge relief for all of us." Oscar wore an impish, gleeful smile during the nuptial proceedings.

OVERCOMPENSATING?: Buzz Lightyear and the Swedish Chef were one of several couples to tie the knot.

The third couple to tie the knot was Buzz Lightyear and the Swedish Chef. "'Im joost zee heppeeest mun in zee vurld!" proclaimed the Swedish Chef. "Ja, Buzzy iz my sveetzheeart –-- I'm tired ooff hiding beheend my eprun. Bork Bork Bork!" Attendees were quick to gossip that, despite Buzz's flirtation with Jessie (from Toy Story), his macho posturing was a classic case of overcompensation. "Besides," said Prospector Pete, "the guy's best friend is named Woody! You do the math."

Despite the enthusiasm of the day, critics speculated that the string of weddings was a farce designed to create a so-called "poison pill" by merger opponents who seek to break up the corporate wedding of the two companies.

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"Oscar's finally coming out of the can! It's a huge relief for all of us."

— Big Bird

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In Washington, President Bush urged both companies to "reign in their characters" while using the event to step up his battle for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "C'mon now people, this is getting out of control! The only gay unions I'll allow – whether we're talkin' about animated, manipulated or human beings – are in the area of labor. Sure, let the gays be employed collectively and work hard, like the rest of us, to help out the economy. But the buck… stops… there!"

Governor Schwarzenegger was more sympathetic. Backing off his hardball stance against the maverick San Francisco courts, Schwarzenegger announced with tears in his eyes, "As someone who's played characters who are not exactly human — like terminators and governors — I really feel for these cuddly but not-quite-warm-blooded creatures. In their case only, I believe gay marriage should be allowed in our great state of California."

On the steps of City Hall, Mickey Mouse caught the symbolic flower bouquet, which raised a few eyebrows. Longtime Disney fan, Bob Yarnelle, was quick to note, "Technically speaking, Mickey and Minnie were just good friends. I think their whole relationship has been a 75-year tease to keep the public distracted from the truth. I wouldn't be surprised to see Mickey back on these same steps."