The Muppet Show | |
Guest | Shields and Yarnell |
Production | May 8-11, 1979 |
Premiere | UK: November 23, 1979 NYC: October 1, 1979[1] |
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Mimes Shields and Yarnell interest or puzzle the Muppets team. Scooter is frightened, because he thinks the two guest stars are robots. Gonzo asks them advice to improve his acts; when Shields answers miming a stylish pianist, the whatever, enthusiastic but misunderstanding as usual, announces his new act: the Great Gonzo massaging a snake.
Inspired by Shields and Yarnell, Fozzie Bear works on a mime act, including "Bear walking against the wind". Kermit suggests that Fozzie find a more original act, so Fozzie tries out "Bear feeding spaghetti to an elephant" and "Bear going to a drive-in movie with a porcupine".
Songs/Sketches[]
- "Take a Chance on Me"
- UK Spot: "It's Lonely at the Top"
- "Little Brown Jug"
- Fozzie Bear performs a monologue
- "Make 'Em Laugh"
Episode Guide[]
Picture | Description |
---|---|
Cold Open: Scooter encounters Shields and Yarnell acting like robots in their dressing room. Scooter: "Boy! Kermit's finally booked guest stars weirder than we are!" | |
The Muppet Show Theme: Gonzo vanishes as he plays his trumpet. | |
For the opening number, green birds sing "Take a Chance on Me" while bouncing on telephone pole wires. | |
Backstage, Fozzie shows Kermit some of the mime tricks he's been practicing. Kermit advises him to be more original. | |
Shields and Yarnell do one of their trademark mime acts, as the robot couple the Clinkers, eating breakfast. | |
Fozzie shows Floyd his new idea for a mime act: feeding spaghetti to an elephant. According to Floyd, "The brain of the bear has gone bye-bye." | |
Gonzo asks Shields and Yarnell for new act suggestions. Shields mimes playing the piano, which Gonzo interprets as massaging a snake. | |
UK Spot: Quongo on a building sings "It's Lonely at the Top". | |
Shields, Yarnell, and Beauregard do a "Wild West" sketch. | |
The Snerfs dance to "Little Brown Jug". | |
Fozzie's new ideas for mime acts include "Bear watching a tennis match between two turtles" and "Bear going to drive-in movie with porcupine." Kermit advises him against doing those, but Fozzie misinterprets it as a compliment. | |
Fozzie's mime act bombs as Statler and Waldorf throw him off-guard. | |
In a circus setting, Shields, Yarnell, and the Muppets perform "Make 'Em Laugh." | |
At the closing, Shields and Yarnell thank Fozzie for letting them do his "feeding spaghetti to an elephant" routine. |
Notes[]
- Hilda makes a rare post-Season 1 appearance in the background, during the "Make 'Em Laugh" number. Also appearing in the number are Leo and Fred Lizard.
Cast[]
Muppets Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Statler and Waldorf, Floyd Pepper, Scooter, Beauregard, Snerfs, Quongo, Birds, Leo, Fred Lizard
Background Muppets Animal, Annie Sue, Camilla the Chicken, Hilda, J.P. Grosse, Mildred Huxtetter, Nigel, Zelda Rose, Mary Louise
Performers[]
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog and Waldorf
- Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear
- Dave Goelz as Gonzo and Beauregard
- Richard Hunt as Scooter and Statler
- Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper and Quongo
- Louise Gold as Bird
- Kathy Mullen as others
- Steve Whitmire as Leo
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- ↑ The New York Times TV listings, Oct 1, 1979
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