Episode 102: Connie Stevens

The Muppet Show
Guest	Connie Stevens
Production	January 19-21, 1976
Premiere	UK: April 16, 1977 US: February 28, 1977
Releases	Season One
(TRANSCRIPT)

File:They Long To Be Close To You.JPG

"Close to You"

When Fozzie overhears Hilda, Kermit, and Scooter talking about getting rid of "that bear," he thinks they're talking about him, only to find out later it's actually Gonzo's teddy bear that everyone is badmouthing.

Songs/Sketches

• "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady"
• The Swedish Chef: Meatballs
• "Teenager in Love"
• At the Dance
• UK Spot: "Ain't Misbehavin'"
• Talk Spot: "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
• "Sax and Violence"
• "1812 Overture"
• Muppet News Flash: Hotline
• "Some Enchanted Evening"

Episode

Picture	Description
	"The Muppet Show Theme": Gonzo breaks the "O."
	Kermit sings "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady" with Lydia as his subject.
	Off waiting in the wings is Miss Piggy, so Kermit introduces her to Lydia. Miss Piggy then introduces Kermit to her fist.
	Gonzo has brought in his teddy bear just so Hilda will repair it for him. She believes that he is too old for the bear, but Gonzo questions this ("You think I'm emotionally mature enough to move up to Ragedy Ann?") Hilda then claims that the bear is the worst thing she has seen in the theater, and suggests Gonzo get rid of him. This is the part of the conversation that Fozzie happens to overhear, and believes that they are talking about him.
	The Swedish Chef prepares Swedish meatballs. However, they turn out to be a bit springy, and so decides to just play tennis with them.
	Wayne and Wanda discover that the stage is empty, and take this as their opportunity to go on and perform. Wanda questions the desertion of the stage, assuming the Connie Stevens spot is next. Wayne says they'll cut the Connie Stevens spot. "Who cares about the Connie Stevens spot?" he asks. This is, of course, just when Connie Stevens enters. When Wayne realizes this, he quickly changes his tone. Both exit, embarrassed. Kermit meets with Connie to discuss her first number. She tells him about her first love, and how she would like to dedicate the song to him. Kermit then agrees to give her a fitting, '50s-style introduction.
	Connie sings "Teenager in Love" backed up by The Mutations. At the end of the song, Connie and the Mutations battle for the audience's applause.
	Gonzo asks Kermit about the teddy bear, and again Fozzie shows up just in time to overhear Kermit refer to the bear as "the worst." And, although Gonzo defends the bear, he still calls him "moldy-looking."
	At the Dance: Dr. Teeth notes how they're starting to class the place up by making the rats wear neckties. And, to certain dancers, every dance is a foxtrot.
	UK Spot: Floyd Pepper sings "Ain't Misbehavin'" with backup from Zoot and Janice.
	Talk Spot: Connie sing "(They Long to Be) Close to You" to Kermit. A jealous Fozzie soon joins in, and Connie sings it to both the frog and the bear.
	Fozzie packs his things, now knowing what people think of him on the show. But then he hears Scooter say (of the teddy bear), "He's funny! Everytime I look at him, it makes me want to laugh and laugh. I think he's just great." But then he adds that a new one would be nice to. And so, "the bear can barely bear it."
	Nigel asks Zoot to play a "great, little number." Zoot begs forgivness for the piece, and proceeds to play "Sax and Violence." Soon, he is joined by a disruptive Mahna Mahna, who plays percussion on the song. He is only stopped when Zoot blows Mahna Mahna up.
	Gonzo grows a tomato plant whilst playing the 1812 Overture on the violin. The act does not last long.
	A heartbroken Fozzie comes backstage to say goodbye to Kermit before he heads home. But Gonzo enters to defend "the bear," claiming, "If the bear goes, I go!" But this confusion has gone far enough, and as Fozzie is embracing Gonzo, Kermit explains that the bear everyone has been talking about is Gonzo's teddy bear. Fozzie is so happy, that he has to ask for a raise. The aggravated frog does not allow the raise, but does let both bears stay.
	Muppet News Flash: The Newsman receives a call from Washington, D.C. on the hotline.
	Ernie and Bert arrive on the show, but Bert feels out of place on a big-time variety show. He's afraid they'll expect him to do an act on the show. Ernie believes that Bert can do an act. All he needs is the right clothes. Ernie takes Bert offstage, and returns only when Bert is decked out in the most elegant attire. It changes Bert completely, and he immediately starts to sing "Some Enchanted Evening." Soon, Bert is dancing with and serenading Connie Stevens. At the end of the song, Bert is certain he's just made a complete fool of himself, a fact which Ernie confirms.
	At the closing, Connie is presented with a Muppet-likeness of herself, and is then dragged off by Gonzo's tomato plant.

Notes

• While the on-screen "tradition" of presenting the guest star with a Muppet likeness of themselves ended in this, only the second, episode of The Muppet Show, several caricatures were given as gifts privately behind the scenes while certain others appeared within the episodes themselves (see episodes 108 and 518).

• Jerry Nelson is not credited for his appearance as Floyd in this episode. This omission may be due to the fact that he was not on set for the filming of the first three episodes. His performance in the UK Spot was filmed later in the season and then inserted into the episode.

• This is the first time that Sesame Street characters appeared on The Muppet Show, but it's not the last. Big Bird guest stars with Leslie Uggams in episode 318, and several Sesame Muppets appear for the finale of episode 518.

• This is only one of two At the Dance segments from the first season where George and Mildred don't dance together; Mildred dances with Dr. Teeth while George is paired with Zelda Rose.

• The closing at the end of episodes 101 and 102 feature only Kermit, the guest star, and the guest star's Muppet likeness. Other Muppet characters would join the guest star during the closing starting in episode 103.

Pilot Version

• Episodes 101 and 102 of The Muppet Show were both shot as pilots several months before regular production began. After the show began regular production, these episodes were re-worked, with some new skits taped and others dropped. All material featuring Connie Stevens, however, was shot during the original production window. In many markets, these were among the last episodes to air as part of Season One.

• In addition to the UK Spot, "Ain't Misbehavin'," several other scenes and shots were most likely taped after the pilot was filmed and later edited into the broadcast version of the episode. These include the opening number & Miss Piggy's reaction to it, the backstage plot, and this episode's Muppet News Flash.

• The deeper voice that Frank Oz initially used for Fozzie can be heard in this episode's Talk Spot, when he sings with Connie and Kermit.

Cast

Guest appearance by:

Connie Stevens

Sesame Street's Ernie and Bert

Muppets:

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, Hilda, Wanda, Wayne, Mildred Huxtetter, Dr. Teeth, Animal, Lydia, Trumpet Girl, Zoot, Floyd Pepper, Rats, Nigel, Mahna Mahna, The Swedish Chef, The Newsman, The Mutations, Dancers, Bruce, Connie Stevens Muppet

Background Muppets:

Janice, Rowlf the Dog, George the Janitor, Zelda Rose, Miss Mousey

Performers

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Ernie, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, Nigel, and The Newsman

Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Bert, Animal, Miss Piggy, Animal's Dancing Partner, and Mildred

Richard Hunt as Scooter, Wayne, and Statler

Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo and Zoot

Eren Ozker as Hilda, Wanda, Bruce's dancing partner, and Connie

John Lovelady as Rat and Bruce.

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