411 Retro TV Review: The Muppet Show 2.3
Posted by Ben Piper on 10.13.2007
...It's time to put on make up, it's time to dress up right...
Jim Henson, his creative cohorts, and their masterful creation, the Muppets first came to national prominence in 1969 as a integral part of the then groundbreaking PBS children’s educational show Sesame Street. The characters grew to be a staple for kids of that time, with characters such as Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, and of course, Kermit the Frog. However, Henson saw bigger things for his life work, which led to the launching of the more entertainment based The Muppet Show in January of 1976. Kermit the Frog was the central character (which made sense, considering he was the first of Henson’s many creations) as he ran a vaudevillian type of variety show in which he was surrounded by many strange Muppet creatures, most notably Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy. The show was an instant success in syndication which lead to the big screen Muppet Movie in 1979. The Muppet Show continued on until 1981, but the Muppets by that point had ingrained themselves into the public consciousness permanently, to the point that they are still showing up on people’s radar.
Over the course of the weeks to come, I shall be rewatching and reviewing episodes from the shows Emmy winning (Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Musical Program) second season, which originally aired in 1977. Will the show still stand up after thirty years? We’ll see.
This week’s episode is guest-hosted by the legendary Milton Berle, an old school vaudevillian who went on to become one of television’s first true stars and icons.
The show opens as it always does with Scooter informing Berle that the show is about to begin and that he should stand by for make-up. I guess because he’s an old fogey he asks “stand by for what” which causes a hug green monster muppet to exclaim in a low register “MAKE-UP!” at which point the monster muppet hits Berle in the face with a gigantic pancake make-up applicator that looks more like a flat round throw pillow. Berle mugs for the camera as the canned laughter rings out with hilarity.
Opening theme which ends with Gonzo’s horn squirting water.
Kermit comes out on stage to welcome everyone and shill Berle. Kermit goes on to introduce one of “the beautiful people”. (No, it’s not Marilyn Manson. This is the 70’s remember?)
It’s a large brown furry monster muppet who sings about being ugly, but that’s okay since beautiful is out and ugly is in. Two smaller monsters come in and sing about crocodiles being ugly, but that’s okay since they have their virtues too. Of course the croc joins in on the song. They then move on to warthogs. Then more ugly muppets join in. “sigh” kind of lame and pointless.
Waldorf: Eh, there’s something wrong with this hearing aid.
Statler: Yeah? What’s wrong?
Waldorf: Eh, I can’t hear with it.
At this point Waldorf knocks the clucky device off the edge of the balcony and it falls to the floor below.
Statler: Well, no wonder. It’s too far away.
This causes Waldorf to bitchslap Statler, causing his face to implode upon itself. (sorry, best way I could describe it.)
Backstage Kermit shmoozes the participants of the previous song as they come off stage, saying it was very pretty. This draws a growl from one of them and he changes his tune to “pretty ugly”. Kermit then notices something moving in the background and goes to investigate. It’s Fozzie hiding beneath and glittery cape and behind a mask. Seems he’s hiding from Milton Berle, whom he idolizes so he’s afraid to meet him. Fozzie has some self esteem issues it would appear. When Kermit informs him that Berle is coming down the stairs behind him, Fozzie runs off in terror. Looks like Milton is ready for his monologue so Kermit trots out on stage to introduce him. Enter Gonzo, whom wishes Milton good luck. Berle says that one doesn’t have to worry about the king, referring to himself, of course. Gonzo replies, I’m not. I’m worried about you, obviously missing the self reference.
Berle steps out and is instantly heckled relentlessly by Statler and Waldorf. Berle calls them Starsky and Crutch and warns them not to mess with him, which of course, they do.
Statler: Hey Berle! I think I just figured you out. You work like Gregory Peck.
Berle: Gregory Peck? He’s not a comedian.
Statler: Well?
Berle: I’ve been a comedian half my life!
Waldorf: Why’d we get this half?
Berle: Look, did you come in here to be entertained, or not?
Statler: That’s right.
Berle: What?
Statler: We came here to be entertained, and we’re not!
Berle: Oh yeah? I’d like to see you come down here and be funny.
Waldorf: You first!
This goes on for a while, and it gets better as it continues. Gonzo come out to check on the frazzled Berle, who complains about the hecklers. Gonzo offers to help him out, then asks him which way he came in, basically compounding Berle’s frustrations.
Muppet News Flash! Basically a reporter muppet telling a cute but lame joke, if that makes any sense. No, I won’t be repeating it.
Pigs in Space! It seems their ship is on a collision course with a mysterious celestial object. The three pigs bicker and banter over this. Piggy notes that it looks like a motorcycle headline, but the scientist fella can’t identify it, but it shouldn’t be a problem since it’s 17 hours away. No wait, make that 17 seconds away. He always has problems with decimals. As the pigs brace for impact we see the object is Gonzo riding a motorcycle but he turns right at the last second and narrowly avoids the collision. Captain Link pats himself on the back for getting them out of that tight pinch but then gets his snout caught in the automatic door.
Backstage Fozzie is depressed as he continues to look for a place to hide from Milton Berle. He gets his nose trapped in a sliding trap door built into the door he’s hiding behind. Kermit shows up and says that won’t work since they just pulled that gag in Pigs In Space.
On stage, with Rolf at the keyboard, Berle talks his way through “The Entertainer” with Muppets serving as the chorus backing him. Actually kind of a sweet segment in a heartstring pulling way, as before Berle starts the song he and Rolf banter about it being about Vaudeville performers, which of course, Berle once was, so you can see him take this seriously,
We’re back from what would be a commercial break, and Rolf is still sitting at the piano when he’s approached by Piggy. She asks him to play “The Entertainer” for her again, to which he obliges. She uses the opportunity to do her own over the top rendition. Piggy at her finest. Good stuff.
Backstage Fozzie has disguised himself with a big fake nose, a beard, a hat and fake glasses. Scooter walks by and is stopped in his tracks by the sight. When Scooter sees through the disguise Fozzie begins to walk off dejectedly, which causes Scooter to advise him to just go talk to Berle.
Kermit onstage to introduce the next act, which involves a grey haired woman muppet and her singing owl. Basically this revolves around the woman singing a song with “who” in it a lot, hence the owl.
Backstage Fozzie is still hiding while Kermit advises him that this is his last chance to meet Milton. Fozzie says he just can’t and when Berle approaches, the bear hides. Milton asks Kermit where the bear is, since he’s been looking all over for him all night. The second that Berle mentions the fact that he always wanted to do a song and dance number with Fozzie, guess who stops hiding? Now face to face with his idol, he is humbled to learn that Milton wants to work with him. This leads to a song and routine by Berle and Fozzie, dressed up as vaudeville clowns. In the middle of the song they stop to exchange one liners and sight gags.
Kermit is out on stage to close the show. He brings out Berle, who has his arm around Fozzie. The frog asks the bear what he’s doing, and Fozzie replies that Milton and he are the best of friends now. From now on it’s the bear and the Berle. Milton corrects him, saying it’s the other way around which causes Fozzie to grovel for forgiveness.
The 411: Meh. Don't get me wrong, it's not like the show out and out sucked, but it wasn't particularly great either. One gets a sense that while they knew how to utilize Berle, they just didn't give him good enough material to work with.The running bit about Fozzie being afraid to meet him just fell flat most of the time. This one's a disappointment.
