Episode 213: Rudolf Nureyev

In preparation for guest star and famous ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev, Sam the Eagle forces everyone to dress in tuxedos and act with dignity. But when Rudolf arrives in his street clothes, Sam thinks he's a vagrant and throws him out. Sam is similarly shocked when Rudolf dances Swine Lake with a giant female pig in a tutu. But Rudolf eventually dons a top hat and tails himself to perform a tap-dancing closing number.

Songs/Sketches

 * The Electric Mayhem plays Boccherini's "Minuet in A Major"
 * Link Hogthrob and Miss Piggy sing "La Ci Darem La Mano" while trying to upstage each other
 * "Swine Lake": Rudolf dances with the Ballerina Pig
 * UK Spot: "Something's Missing"
 * Veterinarian's Hospital: Shakespeare Jokes
 * Piggy and Rudolf struggle through "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
 * Rowlf plays "Clair de Lune" with some antics from Fozzie
 * The cast joins a tap-dancing Rudolf for "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails"

Cast
Muppets:
 * Kermit the Frog, Sam the Eagle, Miss Piggy, Scooter, Fozzie Bear, Statler and Waldorf, Rowlf, Janice, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Animal, Zoot, Robin the Frog, Link Hogthrob, Ballerina Pig, Whatnots, Piglet

Background Muppets:
 * Nigel, Mahna Mahna, Gonzo

Performers

 * Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Link Hogthrob, and Waldorf
 * Frank Oz as Sam the Eagle, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal
 * Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper, Robin, Whatnots, and the Announcer
 * Richard Hunt as Scooter, Janice, and Statler
 * Dave Goelz as Gonzo and Zoot

Edits

 * Nickelodeon: Rowlf's act was cut.
 * CTS: The UK spot Something's Missing is cut.

Trivia

 * This episode was considered the turning point to the show's difficulty procurring guest stars with the good publicity of this famous ballet dancer appearing on this series encouraging many others to approach the producers themselves.