Episode 518: Marty Feldman

The Muppet Show
Guest	Marty Feldman
Production	July 14-17, 1980
Premiere	May 1981
Releases	Best of the Muppet Show
(TRANSCRIPT)

The Muppets present their version of 1001 Arabian Nights, with guest star Marty Feldman playing the role of Scheherazade, telling tales to an evil Caliph (played by the Swedish Chef).

Songs/Sketches

• Sinbad the Sailor (Kermit) runs across an evil genie (Sweetums), and pretends to be Sinbad the Surfer. He and his band of frog sailors sing "Surfin' USA".
• The genie of the lamp (Feldman) grants a wish to Aladdin (Gonzo) -- and gives him a chorus of chicken dancing girls dancing to the "Persian Market".
• UK Spot: "Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish" sung by Whirling Wanda and Turkish Whatnots
• Sam the Eagle plays a patent officer in a sketch with Feldman as Wilbur and Orville Wright (His mother wanted twins) attempting to patent the flying carpet. When the sketch gets too out there, Feldman brings it to an end by sing "The Laughing Policeman" with a chorus of policemen
• A puppet version of Feldman appears as Ali Baba, with Fozzie Bear as the head of the Forty Thieves (or, as it turns out, the Three Bears). To escape being boiled in oil, Fozzie sings "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight". When he yells "Open Sesame," the cast of Sesame Street emerges.
• Feldman meets his favorite muppet: the similarly googily-eyed Cookie Monster.
• The Muppet cast all develop Feldman's signature crossed eyes.

Notes

• In the cold opening, Feldman brings Sopwith the Camel into the theater. For this episode, the camel is called "Loretta".
• This episode is the third time Sesame Street characters appear on The Muppet Show.

Cast

Guest appearance by:

The cast of Sesame Street: Cookie Monster, Ernie, Bert, Grover, Count von Count, two Little Anything Muppets

Muppets:

Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, the Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Sweetums, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, Pops, Sopwith the Camel (aka Loretta), Ali Baba (Marty Feldman look-alike), Whirling Wanda (the Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish), Animal, Whatnots, Frogs, Chickens

Background Muppets:

Robin the Frog, Beauregard, Gaffer, The Female Singers

Performers

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, The Swedish Chef, Waldorf and Ernie

Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle, Animal, and Cookie Monster

Jerry Nelson as Pops, Robin, Policeman, Horse and Count von Count

Richard Hunt as Scooter, Statler, and Sweetums

Dave Goelz as Gonzo and Ali Baba

Steve Whitmire as Frog and Whatnot Singer

Louise Gold as Goldilocks and Whirling Wanda

Kathy Mullen as Gaffer and Female Singer

Brian Muehl as Bear

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