Muppets Tonight | |
Air Date | April 5, 1996 |
Written by | Dick Blasucci, Paul Flaherty, Darin Henry, Jim Lewis, Kirk Thatcher and Patric Verrone |
Director | Greg V. Fera |
Prod. no. | 107 |
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When Cindy Crawford arrives at the KMUP studios, security guard Bobo the Bear develops an instant crush on her and, with a little push from Cupid's arrow, becomes hopelessly smitten. One "'60s retro montage fantasy" (and Micky Dolenz cameo) later, Bobo decides to pursue his love.
Rizzo tries to coach him, Cyrano de Bergerac-style, but Bobo gets slapped when he mistakenly asks to play with Cindy's balloons. Eventually, though, Bobo gains the courage to tell Cindy that he loves her in his own words and interrupts her duet with Kermit to confess his love.
Elsewhere, Cupid accidentally shoots Sal Minella with one of his arrows, and the little monkey develops unusual feelings for his pal Johnny Fiama. But it's nothing that a sack full of something heavy dropped on his head won't reverse.
Skit Highlights[]
- The Irish Rodents
- At the Bar: Horsefly (UK Spot)
- The Kermit the Frog Club
- "I'm a Believer" with Mickey Dolenz
- Johnny Fiama: We Hardly Heard Ya commercial
- Bay of Pigswatch
- Swift Wits (UK Spot)
- The Eagle's Nest: Noise Pollution
- "I Remember It Well"
Episode[]
Picture | Description |
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In the cold open, Bobo the Bear is reading the newspaper when Cindy Crawford arrives, asking for directions to the Muppets' studio, but Bobo is distracted when Cupid shoots him with an arrow, making him fall in love with Cindy (and causing a group of Heart-Shaped Butterflies to sing "I Wanna Be Loved By You"). As Cindy awkwardly brushes off Bobo's strange behavior, she heads into the studio, leaving Bobo alone and love-struck. Kermit then arrives to confirm that Cindy Crawford has indeed arrived. | |
"Muppets Tonight Theme" | |
Clifford opens the show and introduces "The Irish Rodents" who perform a song about cheese, complete with catapulting Muppet cheeses (including Swiss Cheese) into a giant fondue pot. As the number draws to a close, the rats go skinny dipping in the vat of molten cheese. Statler and Waldorf, watching from a nursing home, deliver their usual commentary, joking about the show's status as a "runaway hit." | |
In an "At the Bar" UK spot, Clueless is attempting to swat a horsefly with a cricket bat. He knocks out Mr. Callahan, infuriating Polly. Clueless attempts to atone by singing a fly-themed variation on "Skip To My Lou My Darling" with Polly, but he is distracted by the fly again and ends up knocking out both Polly and himself. | |
Clifford shares a piece of trivia that a young Cindy Cawford (then known as Cinderella Crawfordopolis) got her start on The Kermit the Frog Club. A black-and-white clip shows a group of "Frogketeers," including Cindy, singing a rendition of the club's theme song. Club members wear t-shirts with spiky collars and hats with frog eyes. Aside from Cindy Crawford, they include Jennifer, Newt, Robbie, M! D Bolo, L. Ron, Toshiro, and Stu. | |
Bobo, still smitten with Cindy, watches her on TV and is inspired to have a '60s retro fantasy. He imagines himself singing "I'm a Believer" in a tie-dye montage. Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees joins in. Back in reality, Bobo, motivated by the fantasy, decides he must find Cindy and declare his love for her. | |
A commercial for Johnny Fiama's "Greatest Hits" album entitled Johnny: We Hardly Heard Ya. The ad is narrated by A. Ligator, and includes some revealing disclosures from Sal Minella about Johnny's tax status and debt. Songs on the album include the "Theme from New York, New York" and "Hooked on a Feeling" (Sal does the ooga-chackas). | |
Backstage, the crew watches the monitors as "the porcupine hot air balloon race" begins but disaster strikes with balloons popping left and right. Meanwhile, Bobo is practicing a bear mating ritual to ask Cindy Crawford out, using odd items like polecat oil and fishheads to win her over. Rizzo dismisses Bobo's tactics, he shows off his own charm by dancing to "I'm Too Sexy" and gathering a group of female rat fans. Bobo asks for help, but Rizzo reminds him of his security duties. Back at the security desk, Cupid accidentally shoots Sal, who then starts admiring Johnny in a love-struck daze. | |
In a "Bay of Pigswatch" sketch, Champ Schwimmer finds another excuse to kiss Spamela — she has been poisoned by a jellyfish, who stung her in the foot. He proceeds to suck out the poison — starting with her lips! Meanwhile, Donnie and Art C. Shell mistake a World War II mine for a beach ball and toss it back and forth. When Champ tries to intervene, he drops the mine and is incinerated. | |
Bobo, with Rizzo feeding him lines Cyrano de Bergerac-style through an earpiece, tries to impress Cindy, but things go wrong. Bobo mistakenly repeats everything Rizzo says, including comparing Cindy to being "buried in the forest" and calling her "fatso." Cindy becomes increasingly confused and frustrated, especially after Bobo repeats a line meant for Rizzo's niece about playing with balloons. | |
In another UK spot, Snookie Blyer hosts "Swift Wits," a game show featuring contestants Buster and Colfax Bergman. They are playing for Winky, a beaver who will be eaten by Carl the Big Mean Bunny if they answer incorrectly. | |
As Nigel tries to keep the show running smoothly, Johnny rushes in, anxious about Sal's odd behavior. He asks Nigel for help, just as Sal approaches with a flower. Sal chases after Johnny, calling out to him, while Nigel prepares to cue the next sketch. | |
Sam Eagle hosts "The Eagle's Nest." Andy and Randy put their fingers in their ears to avoid noise pollution. They can't hear what Sam says, and Sam eventually has to say the wrong thing to get them to take their fingers out of their ears. | |
Backstage, Andy and Randy ask Cindy what her superpowers are as a supermodel, and Cindy demonstrates by zapping Randy with her eyes, causing him to vanish in a puff of smoke. | |
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Clifford introduces a romantic duet between Kermit and Cindy at an outdoor café in Barcelona, where they sing "I Remember It Well." During the performance, Bobo interrupts, expressing his feelings for Cindy. Despite Kermit's attempts to continue the song, Bobo takes over, declaring his feelings. They begin to tango, with Cindy placing a rose in his teeth. |
Clifford wraps up the show, thanking special guest star Cindy Crawford, who expresses her enjoyment working with the Muppets (except Stu). Cindy zaps Stu with her eyes, making him disappear in a puff of smoke. Bobo enters, declaring his affection for Cindy and suggesting they dance the bossanova. The two start dancing to music and the other Muppets join in. | |
Johnny gets Cupid to drop a heavy sack on Sal's head to break him from his infatuation with Johnny. |
Notes[]
- The "Porcupine Hot-Air Balloon Race" segment only appears in the US version of the episode.
- The newspaper that Bobo reads at the beginning of this episode has an advertisement for Muppet Treasure Island.
Performers[]
- Kevin Clash as Clifford, Polly Lobster, Buster Bergman, Female Bear
- Bill Barretta as Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Clueless Morgan, David Hoggselhoff, Carl the Big Mean Bunny, Rat, M! D Bolo
- Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog, Andy Pig, Rizzo the Rat, Female Bear
- Dave Goelz as Randy Pig, Waldorf, Cupid, Rats, Stu, Rizzo's Niece
- Jerry Nelson as Statler, A. Ligator, Rats, Rizzo's Nephew
- Brian Henson as Sal Minella, Nigel, Toshiro, Seymour
- Frank Oz as Sam the Eagle
- Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Spamela Hamderson, Jennifer
- Tim Blaney
- Thom Fountain
- Bruce Lanoil as Newt
- Len Levitt
- Drew Massey
- Joe Selph
- Allan Trautman as Colfax Bergman
Cast[]
Muppets:
- Clifford, Bobo the Bear, Rizzo the Rat, Johnny Fiama, Sal Minella, Cupid, Kermit the Frog, Statler and Waldorf, Sam the Eagle, Andy and Randy Pig, David Hoggselhoff, Spamela Hamderson, Nigel, A. Ligator, Heart-Shaped Butterflies, Bears, Rats, Swiss Cheese, Cheeses, Clueless Morgan, Polly Lobster, Seymour, Frogketeers (Jennifer, Newt, Robbie, M! D Bolo, L. Ron, Toshiro, and Stu), Snookie Blyer, Buster and Colfax Bergman, Big Mean Carl
Background Muppets:
Audience Muppets:
- Begoony, Blustering Bellowpane Monster, Buster Bergman, Butch, Chickens, Chip, Crocodile, Frackles, Gnu, Large Marvin Fraggle, a Monkey, Quongo, Rats, Shirley
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John Goodman | Tony Bennett |