Episode 105: Rita Moreno

Fozzie Bear answers the phone a lot. In her closing number, "Fever", Rita battles with Animal, who's backing her on drums.

Songs/Sketches

 * Theme Song
 * Fozzie: "My cousin is so dumb, he spent two weeks in London trying to find the European Common Market."


 * Gonzo hits the gong so hard that he can't stop shaking.


 * Guest star Rita Moreno dances to "I Get Ideas," beating up her Muppet boyfriend in a bar.
 * Veterinarian's Hospital: Fozzie Bear
 * Muppet News Flash: Dancing Chicken
 * The Swedish Chef: Flapjacks
 * At the Dance
 * UK Spot: The Country Trio sings "To Morrow."
 * Marvin Suggs plays "Lady of Spain" on the Muppaphone, an instrument made of fuzzy round creatures that he hits with a mallet.
 * Panel Discussion: Is Conversation a Dying Art?
 * Muppet News Flash: No News Tonight
 * Talk Spot: Rita tries to get Kermit to ad lib it, Muppet-style, but ends up getting carried away by Sweetums.
 * Wayne and Wanda sing "Goody Goody."
 * Fozzie's Comedy Act
 * Rita's rendition of "Fever" is ruined by Animal's bursts of percussion; she smashes his head between cymbals.

Cast
Muppets:
 * Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf the Dog, Statler, Waldorf, The Newsman, The Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Marvin Suggs, The Muppaphones, Rita's Dancing Partner, Zoot, Janice, Animal, George the Janitor, Mildred Huxtetter, Jim Henson Muppet, Jerry Nelson Muppet, Frank Oz Muppet, Brewster, Sweetums, Wayne, Pigs, Whatnot, Trumpet Girl

Background Muppets:
 * Brunette Woman, Floyd Pepper, Wanda, Muppy

Performers

 * Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, The Newsman, the Jim Henson Muppet, and some of the Muppaphones
 * Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Animal, Marvin Suggs, Sam the Eagle, the Frank Oz Muppet, George the Janitor, Mildred, Animal's Dancing Partner and Miss Piggy
 * Jerry Nelson as The Jerry Nelson Muppet, Pig Bartender, the Announcer, Whatnot, and some of the Muppaphones
 * Richard Hunt as Miss Piggy, Miss Piggy's Dancing Partner, Statler, Sweetums, and Wayne
 * Dave Goelz as Rita's Dancing Partner, Zoot and The Guru (Brewster)
 * Eren Ozker as Janice
 * John Lovelady as others

Video releases

 * The Best of the Muppet Show
 * The Muppet Show: Season One

Edits

 * When aired on Nickelodeon, Rita's opening number is replaced with her closing number, "Fever." Subsequently, part of the first backstage scene is cut, as is the part of the last backstage scene where Kermit called Floyd and Animal on-stage for the closing number.
 * When aired on CTS, the UK skit To Morrow is cut.