Episode 117: Ben Vereen

The Muppet Show
Guest	Ben Vereen
Production	October 4-7, 1976
Premiere	January 1977
(TRANSCRIPT)

Ben Vereen and Kermit

Fozzie gets stuck in a magician's trick cabinet. The cabinet is dragged onstage so that he can perform his act -- and at the end of the act, two pig stagehands tip the box over so he can take a bow.

Songs/Sketches

• Ben sings "Jump Shout Boogie" and "Mr. Cellophane."
• Muppet News Flash
• At the Dance
• UK Spot: Rowlf plays "Für Elise"
• Talk Spot: Crazy Harry blows Ben up to the rafters.
• Veterinarian's Hospital: George the Janitor
• Talking Houses: The Guest House
• Blackout: Ben, Hilda and Crazy Harry
• Wayne and Wanda: "I'll Know"
• Fozzie's Comedy Act: Fozzie performs from inside Marvel the Magician's magic box, with a little help from a couple of pigs.
• Ben sings "Pure Imagination" to a depressed Droop and is joined by Bossmen, members of the Muppaphone, Gawky Birds, Koozebanians and Timmy Monster.

Notes

• A new Janice puppet and a new Sam the Eagle puppet are used in this episode.

• This is the last episode in which Richard Hunt performs Miss Piggy. As of the next episode, Frank Oz becomes Piggy's full-time performer.

• The Janice puppet from Sex and Violence is used in Veterinarian's Hospital.

Cast

Muppets:

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Statler, Waldorf, Crazy Harry, Two-Headed Singer, The Newsman, George the Janitor, Mildred Huxtetter, Zoot, Janice, Trumpet Girl, The Shouting Lady, Herman, The Houses, Hilda, Sam the Eagle, Wayne, Wanda, Droop, The Muppaphone, Pigs, Whatnots

Background Muppets:

Red-Haired Woman, Baby Koozebanian Creatures, Timmy Monster, Gawky Bird, The Fazoobs, The Eel

Performers

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Whatnot Dancers, Newsman and Waldorf

Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, George the Janitor, Sam the Eagle, and Mildred

Jerry Nelson as Droop, Shouting Lady, Herman, one of the Houses, Whatnot Girls, and half of the Two-Headed Singer

Richard Hunt as Scooter, Wayne, Miss Piggy, Statler, Pig Dancers, and half of the Two-Headed Singer

John Lovelady as Crazy Harry, one of the Houses, and the Announcer

Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo and Zoot

Eren Ozker as Hilda, Janice, and Wanda

Video releases

• The Muppet Show: Season One

Edits

• On Nickelodeon, Muppet News Flash was cut.
• On CTS, the UK skit Fur Elise is cut.

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