I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty is a special produced by "People for the American Way" for ABC on March 21, 1982. Billed as an all-star variety special saluting America in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of George Washington's birth, the show featured celebrity performers including Barbara Streisand singing "America the Beautiful" with the United States Air Force Band, Helen Reddy, Robin Williams doing a monologue as the American Flag, Christopher Reeve, LeVar Burton, Jimmy Buffett, Hal Linden and dozens of others.

The Muppets featured a song and sketch piece playing members of the Second Continental Congress in the first stages of coming up with what would become the Declaration of Independence. Kermit portrayed John Adams and Gonzo appeared as a British loyalist stirring up trouble. Loyalist or not, the group can't seem to agree on anything and the whole congressional hall erupts in pandemonium, with paper planes, spitballs, and other sundry objects flying around during the melee. In the commotion, Piggy enters... dressed as ABE LINCOLN! Kermit tells her she's four score and seven years too early for this sketch!

The entire set is in a state of chaos, and Fozzie approaches Kermit. Their dialogue goes something like this...

Fozzie: Was the first continental congress really like THIS? Kermit: Well, according to the history books, it was a LOT like this! Fozzie: So how does it end? Kermit: With the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America. Fozzie: So, how does THIS end? Kermit: How else? SONG CUE!!!!!

The group breaks out into a rendition of "The Brotherhood of Man" from How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and a huge patriotic finale, Muppets wving flags and all.