Episode 403: Shields & Yarnell

	The Muppet Show
Guest	Shields and Yarnell
Production	May 8-11, 1979
Premiere	UK: November 23, 1979; NYC: October 1, 1979
	(TRANSCRIPT)

Mimes Shields and Yarnell interest or puzzle the Muppets team. Scooter is frightened, because he thinks the two guest stars are robots. Gonzo asks them advice to improve his acts; when Shields answers miming a stylish pianist, the whatever, enthusiastic but misunderstanding as usual, announces his new act: the Great Gonzo massaging a snake.

Inspired by Shields and Yarnell, Fozzie Bear works on a mime act, including "Bear walking against the wind". Kermit suggests that Fozzie find a more original act, so Fozzie tries out "Bear feeding spaghetti to an elephant" and "Bear going to a drive-in movie with a porcupine".

Songs/Sketches[]

Episode Guide[]

Picture	Description
	Cold Open: Scooter encounters Shields and Yarnell acting like robots in their dressing room. Scooter: "Boy! Kermit's finally booked guest stars weirder than we are!"
	The Muppet Show Theme: Gonzo vanishes as he plays his trumpet.
	For the opening number, green birds sing "Take a Chance on Me" while bouncing on telephone pole wires.
	Backstage, Fozzie shows Kermit some of the mime tricks he's been practicing. Kermit advises him to be more original.
	Shields and Yarnell do one of their trademark mime acts, as the robot couple the Clinkers, eating breakfast.
	Fozzie shows Floyd his new idea for a mime act: feeding spaghetti to an elephant. According to Floyd, "The brain of the bear has gone bye-bye."
	Gonzo asks Shields and Yarnell for new act suggestions. Shields mimes playing the piano, which Gonzo interprets as massaging a snake.
	UK Spot: Quongo on a building sings "It's Lonely at the Top".
	Shields, Yarnell, and Beauregard do a "Wild West" sketch.
	The Snerfs dance to "Little Brown Jug".
	Fozzie's new ideas for mime acts include "Bear watching a tennis match between two turtles" and "Bear going to drive-in movie with porcupine." Kermit advises him against doing those, but Fozzie misinterprets it as a compliment.
	Fozzie's mime act bombs as Statler and Waldorf throw him off-guard.
	In a circus setting, Shields, Yarnell, and the Muppets perform "Make 'Em Laugh."
	At the closing, Shields and Yarnell thank Fozzie for letting them do his "feeding spaghetti to an elephant" routine.

Notes[]

Hilda makes a rare post-Season 1 appearance in the background, during the "Make 'Em Laugh" number. Also appearing in the number are Leo and Fred Lizard.