The Muppet Show | |
Guest | Lola Falana |
Production | July 10-12, 1979 |
Premiere | UK: January 18, 1980 NYC: November 22, 1979 |
Releases | Best of the Muppet Show Paley Center Archive |
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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
- "Pick a Little, Talk a Little"
- "He's the Greatest Dancer"
- "My Way."
- UK Spot: "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair"
- Muppet Sports
- "Smile"
- "United We Stand"
Notes
- The episode's storyline was directly inspired by an event where two key members of the show's production staff left.[1]
- In reference to The Muppet Movie, Gonzo gets a Bollywood contract.
Episode
Picture | Description |
---|---|
Lola talks on the phone with her agent, trying to get out of doing The Muppet Show. | |
"The Muppet Show Theme": Gonzo blows his trumpet triumphantly and says he gives autographs after the show. | |
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". | |
For Gonzo's farewell number, he and the chickens sing "Pick a Little, Talk a Little/Goodnight, Ladies". | |
Backstage, a jealous Miss Piggy asks Gonzo to keep her in mind when talking to producers. | |
Lola, the Muppet Monsters, and Fletcher Bird dance and sing "He's the Greatest Dancer". Gonzo joins them, until Fletcher kicks him offstage. | |
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. | |
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 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?" | |
Gonzo overhears that Scooter has found a replacement for him: Trevor the Gross, a best friend of Scooter's uncle. | |
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. | |
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". | |
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. | |
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". | |
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 and Lew Zealand
- 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
- ↑ Of Muppets and Men, page 118
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Kenny Rogers | Phyllis George |