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The Muppet Show
Falana01
Guest Lola Falana
Production July 10-12, 1979
Premiere UK: January 18, 1980
NYC: November 26, 1979[1]
Releases Best of the Muppet Show
Paley Center Archive

(TRANSCRIPT)

Lola_Falana_ad

Lola Falana ad

episode promo

Gonzo the Great plans to quit the show after receiving an offer from a film studio in Bombay. A jealous Miss Piggy asks Gonzo to keep her in mind when talking to producers. Gonzo performs a tearful "My Way", and then leaves the theater. He ends up coming back -- the producers in Bombay thought they were hiring Gonzo the Mediocre -- but he has to face his replacement, Trevor the Gross...

Songs/Sketches[]

Notes[]

  • The episode's storyline was directly inspired by an event where two key members of the show's production staff left.[2]
  • In reference to The Muppet Movie, Gonzo gets a Bollywood contract.


Episode[]

Picture Description
TMS411.coldopen
Lola talks on the phone with her agent, trying to get out of doing The Muppet Show.
TMS516-02
"The Muppet Show Theme": Gonzo blows his trumpet triumphantly and says he gives autographs after the show.
TMS411.opening
Kermit announces that Gonzo is leaving The Muppet Show because he just landed a movie deal in Bombay. Gonzo, already talking like a Hollywood big-shot, promises Kermit that he'll never forget the "little people".
411-PickALittle
For Gonzo's farewell number, he and the chickens sing "Pick a Little, Talk a Little/Goodnight, Ladies".
TMS411.backstage1-1
Backstage, a jealous Miss Piggy asks Gonzo to keep her in mind when talking to producers.
TMS411.greatest
Lola, the Muppet Monsters, and Fletcher Bird dance and sing "He's the Greatest Dancer". Gonzo joins them, until Fletcher kicks him offstage.
Lolafalana

TMS411.backstage2
Backstage, Lola compliments Gonzo on his dancing and flirts with him, making Camilla furious. Gonzo reveals to Kermit that he regrets not doing his "masterpiece act": singing "Top Hat" while dancing in a vat of oatmeal.
TMS411.myway

Gonzoleaves
Gonzo sings "My Way". Midway through the song, he starts crying. He and Kermit have a tender moment, and Kermit announces the commercial break.
Camilla
UK Spot: Camilla and the chickens sing "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair". Camilla pecks Gonzo's picture and rips it off the wall.

Statler: "Well, he's actually gone. Will we ever forget him?"
Waldorf: "Who?"
Statler: "You know, uh, uh … what's-his-name."

TMS411.backstage3
Gonzo overhears that Scooter has found a replacement for him: Trevor the Gross, a best friend of Scooter's uncle.
Klausmueller

TMS411.sports
Muppet Sports reports live from the Marathon Tree-Staring Contest, where Klaus Mueller of West Paraguay defeats the tree after more than 87 hours of staring. Klaus wins the $10,000 prize, but then the tree falls on him.
TMS411.dressingroom

411-Smile
Lola finds Gonzo hiding in her closet. Gonzo reveals a telegram he just got from the Bombay movie studio which shows that his deal fell through. She tries to console him by singing "Smile".
Trevorthegross

TMS411.closethecurtain

TMS411.stomping
Trevor the Gross's act, a direct copy of the one that Gonzo mentioned earlier, is stopped by Gonzo, reclaiming his role as the show's artiste. Gonzo does his own version of the oatmeal act... with typical results.
TMS411.backstage4

UnitedWeStand
Kermit is disgusted with what just happened, but Lola reminds him to be happy that Gonzo is back. Lola and the Muppets sing "United We Stand".
TMS411.goodnights
At the closing, the Muppets start clashing, in contradiction with the lyrics of the song.

Cast[]

Muppets:

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Camilla the Chicken, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, Louis Kazagger, Lew Zealand, Trevor the Gross, Klaus Mueller, Tree, Fletcher Bird, Doglion, Timmy Monster, Chickens, Herbie the One-Octopus Band

Background Muppets:

Rowlf the Dog, Beauregard, Floyd Pepper, Sweetums, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Janice, Nigel, Annie Sue, The Arab, Whatnots

Performers[]

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog and Waldorf
Frank Oz as Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear
Jerry Nelson as Camilla, Louis Kazagger, Lew Zealand and Tree
Richard Hunt as Scooter and Statler
Dave Goelz as Gonzo and Klaus Mueller
Louise Gold as Chickens
Steve Whitmire as Trevor the Gross
Kathy Mullen as Chickens
Graham Fletcher as Fletcher Bird

Gallery[]

Sources[]

  1. The New York Times TV listings, Nov 26, 1979
  2. Of Muppets and Men, page 118


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