Blackouts are short, comic sketches traditional to vaudeville that end with the lights turning off or a quick closing of the curtain. With the advent of television, shows like Laugh-In could follow a punchline with a jump cut to the next sketch (or to a commercial) instead of actually blacking out the lights.
A series of blackouts appeared on the first season of The Muppet Show. They took place in front of a backdrop that had a fountain painted on it. These skits each featured the guest star with a variety of Muppets.
Sketches[]
| Picture | Episode | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
Episode 101: Juliet Prowse |
Zoot has a question for Juliet Prowse: "What has one eye, sharp teeth and is long and fuzzy?" Juliet doesn't know and neither does Zoot, but it's a Muppet Monster that she's wearing as a boa. |
 |
Episode 103: Joel Grey |
Joel Grey has gotten a new car and offers to take Gonzo for a "spin", but Gonzo takes him literally. |
 |
Episode 106: Jim Nabors |
Jim Nabors wishes Animal luck by telling him to "break a leg." |
 |
Episode 107: Florence Henderson |
Sweetums literally falls for Florence Henderson. |
 |
Episode 108: Paul Williams |
Paul Williams explains that one reason he agreed to be a guest star is that it gives him the chance to be the tallest person on the show. Sweetums, Thog, and one of the Mutations prove him wrong. |
 |
Episode 110: Harvey Korman |
T.R. leads the Muppet chickens, and a chicken-suit-clad Harvey Korman, in a march. |
 |
Episode 111: Lena Horne |
Lena Horne tries to ask Animal where her key is, until he uses a mallet to smash her foot. |
 |
Episode 117: Ben Vereen |
Ben Vereen gets sent flying onto the rafters by Crazy Harry's explosion. |
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Episode 118: Phyllis Diller |
Phyllis Diller has her own pocket camera. When Gonzo asks what pictures she took, they were of pockets. |
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Episode 119: Vincent Price |
Vincent Price has to carry a load of wardrobe. Sweetums offers to give him "a hand". |
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Episode 122: Ethel Merman |
Ethel Merman tells Hilda about a mouse in her dressing room, and wonders whether she's on a show or in a zoo... then she meets Animal. |