Episode 305: The Muppet Broadcasting Company

Muppet Babies
Air Date	October 11, 1986
Written by	Jeffrey Scott

"Let's Hear It for Your Ears"

When the power goes out, the babies make their own radio programs.

Plot

The babies play with dominoes, until Baby Piggy accidentally knocks them over. Then they fight, until an electrical storm hits that causes the TV to go out. So Nanny brings out a tape player and collection of old-time radio shows, telling the kids they can listen and use their imaginations in the darkness. Inevitably, the group picture themselves in the stories, and later recreate their own radio dramas. Baby Animal relishes the role of sound effects man.

Songs

• "Let's Hear It for Your Ears"

References

• A slew of radio programs are spoofed, including the following:
  • Captain Midnight (1939-1949): Baby Kermit as "Kermit Midnight," with Animal as his sidekick and Baby Piggy as the jungle princess.
  • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1930-1950): Baby Bunsen and Baby Beaker as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
  • Burns and Allen (1932-1950): Baby Fozzie as Fozzie Burns and Animal in the Gracie Allen role.
  • Duke Ellington (1943, 1945-1946): Baby Rowlf as the big band conductor, with Piggy, Baby Scooter, and Baby Gonzo as an Andrews Sisters take-off.
  • The Shadow: Gonzo as "The Weirdo," who knows what weirdness lurks in the hearts of kids.
• Gonzo repeats the famous "They're here" line from Poltergeist.

Characters

Muppet Babies: Baby Kermit, Baby Piggy, Baby Fozzie, Baby Gonzo, Baby Rowlf, Baby Scooter, Baby Skeeter, Baby Animal

Supporting Characters: Nanny, Baby Bunsen, Baby Beaker, Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard

Notes

• According to the radio announcer, the Sherlock Holmes broadcast was presented by "The Jupiter Theater," a reference to Orson Welles' Mercury Theater on the Air. Welles' program did in fact produce a Sherlock Holmes installment, which aired on Sept. 25, 1938, and starred Welles himself as the great detective.
• In issue #13 of the Muppet Babies comic book series, Kermit and Fozzie play Holmes ("Kermlock Holmes") and Watson.

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