411 Retro TV Review: The Muppet Show 2.4
Posted by Ben Piper on 10.22.2007
...It's time to get things started...
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 guest host is impressionist Rich Little, who was at the peak of his popularity when this episode was taped. The show begins as it always does with Scooter showing up at Little’s dressing room to inform him that the show is about to begin. Little comes out of his dressing room first as W.C. Fields, goes back in and returns as Bogart before stepping back inside. Scooter is amazed by these impressions and asks for the third time to the camera, where is Rich Little? The door opens and the big ugly monster muppet from last week’s episode opens the door and states he’ll be ready for the start of the show, implying that HE’S Rich Little. Lame.
Opening title, and Gonzo’s horn blows up a balloon.
Kermit walks out on stage to welcome everyone and shill Rich Little. He then introduces the first act of the night, in which three young lady muppets sing in unison. As they do so the mad bomber muppet scurries around and scat sings the hook of the song as he continuously presses down on his plunger, causing a separate explosion each time. As the song progresses the ladies naturally get more and more freaked out by the bomber’s presence, anxiously swiveling their necks to see where the next explosion will come from. The set eventually gets partially blown to smithereens as the bomber cackles with glee.
Backstage Kermit commends the bomber, who we learned is named Crazy Harry, saying he has a way with delivering the lyrics. Gonzo then shows up and asks Kermit if he’s seen any chickens. Kermit wonders why any chickens would be around in the first place, to which Gonzo replies that he’s holding auditions for his new sensational dancing chicken act. Kermit says he’s never heard anything as ridiculous as a dancing chicken which causes Gonzo to reply, “How about a talking frog?” Gonzo goes on to state that he placed an ad in the local paper, so when the chickens start showing up, they should be sent to the prop room. Again, Kermit thinks this is patently ridiculous since chickens can’t read. Just then after Gonzo departs, Kermit is shocked to spot a real life chicken walking around backstage. Kermit points the way to the prop room as a result.
He then steps out onstage to introduce Little. He does a bad really Fozzy Bear imitation and banters with Statler and Waldorf, which they actually seem to enjoy. Midway through the impression, Fozzy himself walks on stage and stares in wonder. This causes Little to chase Fozzy off stage seeing as he’s interrupting, and segue ways into an equally lame Kermit impression. This brings Kermit out, of course. This causes Little to switch characters yet again and bust out his even worse imitation of Piggy. This causes a jealous Piggy to storm out on stage, thinking that Kermit is talking to another woman. Or pig. Or something. Kermit tries to explain that it was just Little doing an impression of her, but Rich denies it, leaving poor Kermit out to dry. Piggy karate chops him for the trouble. Little goes back into the Piggy impersonation, calling her bacon hips. They take each other out with simultaneous karate chops.
Backstage Gonzo is holding his auditions with the help of Rolf on piano. He invites the first contestant in, and it’s the real life chicken we saw a little earlier. He explains the situation, then tells Rolf to start playing. This is LAME, so I won’t go into details other than Gonzo stating “don’t call us, we’ll call you” at the end.
Ballroom dancing skit is up next. Animal is seen dancing with Granny the Gouger, who squeezes him too tight so he collapses. He tries to get help from Piggy and her dancing partner, but she angrily head-butts him. He gets up again and wonders what is the quickest way out of there, which causes Crazy Harry to walk in and say “Through the roof”. One press of the plunger, and Animal is there.
Back from commercial and Rolf is playing piano as Piggy is on stage. She sings a song that’s not very memorable and gets the audience to sing along halfway through.
Wipe to a fanged lizard looking muppet sitting upon a brick wall. He skat sings as a caterpillar approaches him upon the wall and taps his hip. The lizard talks to the camera in gibberish, sniffs the caterpillar (that sniffs back) and then eats it. He then continues with his nonsense song when another worm like creature approaches upon the wall. It also taps the lizards hip, which causes it to laugh before gobbling it down as well. The lizard crosses it’s legs and continues its pointless little ditty, when yet another caterpillar scurries across the wall and taps him on the hip. The Lizard goes to swallow it but finds that he can’t, seeing as it’s much, MUCH, longer than the previous ones. This is because it is actually the very long nose of a purple monster muppet, who then eats the lizard. Best thing I’ve seen from this show all night.
Backstage, Little holds court with a bunch of Muppet reporters. This is basically an excuse for Little to bust out impersonations of Cary Grant, Burt Lancaster, Groucho Marx, & Nixon. When asked what his own favorite impersonation is, he pulls out Jimmy Stewart. Total filler for the guest star so he earns his pay.
Backstage Gonzo is auditioning more chickens, as there are four or five present. (All real and assorted sizes) He asks for everyone with Broadway experience to step forward.
Cut to Veterinarian’s Hospital. Fozzy’s lying on the operating table this go ‘round. Several bad puns ensue.
Backstage, Kermit commends the cast of Veterinarian’s Hospital on a job well done. Gonzo enters, wishing to know when his dancing chicken act will be put on the show, but Kermit shoots him down saying it doesn’t ring true to the ambience that the show is trying to bring forward. Scooter shows up and tells Kermit that the act he had booked next just cancelled. He tells Gonzo he can go on, but that his act had better not lay an egg.
Kermit goes out and introduces Gonzo, saying it’s the only act that they’ve got. The curtain opens to find Gonzo standing there with a leash in his hand that is loosely wrapped around a real chicken. Gonzo tries to gently prompt the chicken to dance, but it ain’t happening. LAME! Cut to a shot of the audience, who is mostly made up of muppet chickens whom seem to greatly appreciate the act.
Kermit then introduces Little again, who recreates great moments in musical history. He starts off doing Gene Kelly in “Singing in the Rain”. Fozzy joins in after the first verse and Little begins to do an impression of someone else. Who it is? Hell if I know. He then does John Wayne. They then wipe to switch sets and songs, and Little teams with Kermit. He states before he starts that he’s about to do Sinatra, but I don’t see it, at all. Then he “becomes” Bing Crosby who died when I was like 6, so I haven’t a clue how accurate the impersonation is. Cut to Little teamed with Piggy and channeling Maurice Chevalier.
The 411: I must be getting old. This episode completely missed the mark for me, in all ways. I only laughed out loud once, and what usually charms me just flat out didn't with the exception of one or two instances. What really didn't help was guest host Rich Little, whose impersonations were more miss that hit.
