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The Muppet Show transcript for Episode 521: Johnny Cash.

Cold open[]

Pops fiddles with a transistor radio, but only gets static.
Pops Aw, drat this thing! Never works. I'm gonna miss my favorite program.
He puts his ear to the radio as Johnny enters.
Johnny Hi, Pops.
Pops (perks up) Who's that?
Johnny I'm Johnny Cash. I sing and play a little guitar.
Pops (excited) How about that! Johnny Cash is on the radio!
521.coldopen
Johnny I'm not on the radio.
Pops What? I can't hear ya!
Johnny Why don't you turn the volume up?
Pops Oh, okay!
Johnny (into Pops' ear) Can you hear better now?
Pops Yeah! It's like he's right here in the room with me!
Johnny grins and shrugs.
TMS-JohnnyCash

Theme[]

Kermit It's The Muppet Show, with our very special guest star, Johnny Cash! Yaaaay!
The curtain opens, and the theme begins.
LipsTrumpet Opening
521.Gonzo
A duck bites Gonzo on the nose.

Opening number[]

Main stage. Kermit enters to applause, wearing a cowboy outfit.
Kermit Thank you, thank you, thank you and how-DEE! (chuckles) Tonight, The Muppet Show goes country-western, and our guest star is the king of country-western music, Mr. Johnny Cash! (audience aahs) Yes! And as an added surprise, the show is going to be broadcast live over radio station WHOG.
A bell is heard, and Kermit is surrounded by the WHOG singers.
521.opening
WHOG singers (harmonizing)

W… (H…) (O…) (G…)!
Love us like an old hound dog,
We're country radio!
W… (H…) (O…) (G…)!

Kermit Uh, why are you guys doing that? We're not even broadcasting yet.
WHOG singers (harmonizing) We're just rehearsing.
Kermit (shoos them away) Off, off, off. Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out, get out.
Billy Boy Uh, uh, uh, 'scuse me?
Kermit What?
521.opening-2
Billy Boy Just fixin' to check the sound.
Kermit Huh?
Billy Boy (into microphone) Testing! 1-2, A Boy Named Sue! 3-4, there ain't no more! (guffaws)
Kermit Uh, yeah. Terrific. Now can I start the show?
Billy Boy Oh, you can't start. We ain't broadcasting yet.
Kermit Well, I can't help that! Uh, ladies and gentlemen, before our radio broadcast actually begins, here's a great country group. They used to be enemies, but uh, well, I'll let 'em tell their own story, so here they are, the Martins and the Coys! Yaaaayy!
Open on a barn. A group of hillbillies sing "The Martins and the Coys", but the song ends abruptly with a violent gunfight.
TMS.521.Martins
One hillbilly aims from the balcony.
Lead singer You all right, Jake?
The hillbilly fires at the stage.
Hillbilly (to Statler) I can really bushwhack 'em from up here!
Waldorf Are you a Martin or a Coy?
Hillbilly Neither one. I'm a music lover.
Statler and Waldorf laugh. The hillbilly fires again and laughs.


Backstage[]

More shots are fired backstage as the hillbillies walk by. Kermit is now sans costume.
Kermit No shooting in the theater! … No fighting in the theater, either!
Billy Boy Hey, that opening number bombed.
Kermit Well, no bombing in the theater!
521.backstage1
BOOM! A bomb explodes right behind him. Billy yelps.
Kermit Uh, now listen. Uh, what's all this stuff doing on my desk?
Billy Boy Well, Mr. Frog, you said we could broadcast from y'all's the-ater.
Kermit I said you could put a microphone on the stage! Eesh! (through the intercom) Now, Fozzie Bear on next! Fozzie Bear!
Billy Boy Well, you see, your microphone, it feeds into your preamp here, then you got your mixin' board and your patch panels.
Kermit Yeah? Well, what's this wire here about?
Fozzie makes his way to the stage, but snags his neck on the wire and falls down.
Fozzie Hahahaha — WHOA!
Billy Boy About neck high.
Kermit Uh, Fozzie, are you okay?
Fozzie Uh, could you please postpone my act, Kermit? I got a little sore throat. (walks away)
Kermit (through the intercom) Uh, Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash on stage, please. Uh, now when are you gonna start this broadcast of yours?
Billy Boy Eh - whenever Big Tiny Tallsaddle gets here!
Tiny arrives, strumming an acoustic guitar.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Howdy, howdy, frogs and neighbors!
Billy Boy Here he is!
521.backstage1-1
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Big Tiny Tallsaddle here a-talkin' at'cha! Okay, Billy Boy, y'all saddle up! Let's climb aboard Ol' Paint n' get this here roundup a-goin'!
Billy Boy Oh, you betcha, Big Tiny!
Kermit Uh, translate for me. Does that mean you're about to broadcast?
Billy Boy Yeah!
Kermit Okay, I'll introduce Johnny Cash. (runs onstage)
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Who's that little green feller?
Billy Boy Well, I think he's called Gonzo the Frog.

"Riders in the Sky"[]

Main stage. Kermit enters to a fanfare.
Kermit Okay! And now it's time to introduce our very special guest, one of country-western music's all-time great stars, ladies and gentlemen, here he —
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Step aside there, Gonzo, this is the big time!
Billy Boy (hands him the microphone) You're on, Big Tiny!
A bell is heard, and the singers re-emerge.
521.TinySingers
WHOG singers (harmonizing)

W… (H…) (O…) (G…)!
One to get ready,
Two to go,
On the Big Tiny Tallsaddle Show!

Character.tallsaddle
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Yes sir! Thank you, thank you, howdy, friends and neighbors! This is Big Tiny Tallsaddle comin' at'cha from radio station W-H-O-G, W-HOG, where everybody has a swill time! And tonight we're broadcastin' live from … (to Kermit) what's the name of this theater?
Kermit (into the mic) Uh, this is the Muppet Theater, and this is —
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Yeah, right — from the Muffin Theater! Now let's kick things off with an old buddy o' mine, Mr. Johnny Cash!
Kermit Uh, Mr. Johnny Cash! Yaaaayy!
TMS.521.GhostRiders
Johnny sings "Riders in the Sky" while Gonzo runs around the stage as an outlaw.
Waldorf If men that ride horses are called cowboys, what do you call chickens that ride cows?
Statler Stupid!
They chuckle.

Kermit vs. Tiny[]

Big Tiny Tallsaddle Ah, thank you, thank you, Johnny Cash! Now that's what I call a real country classic.
Rowlf Uh, 'scuse me, I think I'm on next.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle You? Why, you're a dog!
Rowlf Yep, ever since I was a pup! (laughs)
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Go bury a bone.
Rowlf Huh?
Big Tiny Tallsaddle GIT!
Rowlf (growls) Woof! (exits)
Big Tiny Tallsaddle All right. (nods) And now, that great old-time country act, Grampaw McGuire and his Whistlin' Bricks!
Kermit approaches him, frowning.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle You're not Grampaw McGuire.
Kermit I sent him home. Listen, I'm the one that says what goes on and what doesn't go on on this show!
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Let's have a big hand for this little feller — he's gonna show off his cham-peen ship style, that won him the Calaveras County Frog-Jumping Contest!
Kermit What? I — I am not! I have never been in any frog jumping contest in my life!
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Billy Boy? You got them red-hot marbles?
Kermit What?
521.hotmarbles
Billy Boy Sure do, Big Tiny!
He pours them on the floor, next to Kermit. Kermit starts yelping and hopping offstage as music plays.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Let's hear it for the frog-jumpin' champ! Ha ha!
Kermit makes his way backstage.
Kermit Ooh! That Big Tiny Tallsaddle is driving me crazy! He won't even let me stay on my own stage!
Billy Boy Careful what you say about Big Tiny. (walks onstage)
Kermit I will not be careful! He makes me mad! He makes me angry!
521.backstage2
Johnny Kermit, why are you getting so angry?
Kermit Well, that Big Tiny Tallsaddle — I promised him he could do his radio show here, but he acts like he owns this theater.
Johnny Big Tiny Tallsaddle is as tough as a 25-cent steak.
Kermit He can't be that bad.
521.backstage2-1
A metallic sound is heard, and Billy Boy emerges with the microphone stand wrapped around him.
Billy Boy All I did was drop Big Tiny's gee-tar pick. (collapses)
Johnny It's gettin' worse.

UK spot[]

Big Tiny Tallsaddle All right. And so the show goes on here at Mighty Hog Radio.
A bell is heard, and the singers re-emerge.
521.UKspot
WHOG singers (harmonizing)

For that finger-lickin' country sound,
Out in the boonies and far around,
It's W… (H…) (O…) (G…)!

Big Tiny Tallsaddle All right. What's next?
Kermit Uh, Lew Zealand and the Gills Brothers.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle (waves the microphone at him) Yeah, well, they'd better be good, Frog. I got plenty of these microphone stands left, you know. (exits)
Kermit Y-yeah, uh, ladies and gentlemen, Lew Zealand! YAAAAYY!
The curtain opens on Lew.
Lew Zealand

Sometimes I do what I wanna.
Heh — sometimes I do what I ought.
Sometimes I feel a great notion
To jump in a net and get caught!
Everybody!

521.UKspot-1
Lew & Gills

Goodnight, Sardine
Goodnight, Sardine
Goodnight, Sardine, goodnight, Sardine,
I'll see you in my stream.

Lew Zealand

Last Saturday night I got married.
Didn't even let Mom and Dad know.
But my soulmate got hooked on an earthworm,
And all I've got left is shallow.
Oh, stop foundering! Stop your floundering!
Oh, you need a new porpoise in life! Heh heh!
Don't do what that sturgeon is urgin'!
Go home to your swell-fish wife! Oh! So —

Lew & Gills

Goodnight, Sardine
Goodnight, Sardine
Goodnight, Sardine, goodnight, Sardine,
I'll see you in my stream.

Applause.
Waldorf Poor soul. He lost his sardine.
Statler Well, finders kippers.
They chuckle.

"Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog"[]

Rowlf sits at a piano.
Rowlf Okay, well, moving right along with our evening of country-western music, ladies and gentlemen, once again, Mr. Johnny Cash! Yeah!
Applause as Johnny emerges with a guitar and sits on the stool.
Johnny Thank you. Thank you very much. (nods) Thank you. I'd like to make a special dedication now. I would like to do a song especially for Big Tiny Tallsaddle. (smiles) It's his favorite song, and it goes something like this.
Rowlf Yeah, 'scuse me, John, but uh, can I play the piano on this song?
Johnny Well, I really don't think I need an accompanist on this song, thank you.
Rowlf Oh, that's okay, that — that's what I'm here for. What are you gonna sing?
Johnny Well, I don't think — I don't think you know this song.
Rowlf Well, what key is it in?
Johnny Well, it's in A-flat.
Rowlf Okay, well, just give me an A and I'll flatten it myself. (laughs)
They begin playing.
521 eggsucking
Rowlf You just sing, and I'm gonna follow right along.
Johnny Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Rowlf Okay. Just jump in any time, now.
Johnny

Well, he's not very handsome to look at.
Aw, he's shaggy and he eats like a hog.
And he's always killin' my chickens.

Rowlf Who's that?
Johnny That dirty old egg-suckin' dog.
Rowlf (shudders) Wha?
Johnny Here comes the chorus, now.

Egg-suckin' dog …

Rowlf This is terrible.
Johnny I'm gonna stomp your head in the ground …
Rowlf Oh no!
Johnny

If you don't stay out of my hen house,
You dirty old egg-suckin' hound.

Rowlf Yeah, but that's a lie! I never touched a chicken in my life! I can't stand 'em! They're nasty, scrawny ol' things!
Johnny Oh, it's nothing personal, it's just a song.

If he don't stop eatin' my eggs up,
Though I'm not a real bad guy,
I'm going to take my riffle and send him
To that great chicken house in the sky.
Everybody sing!

The Jug Huggers join him.
Johnny & band

Egg-suckin' dog,
I'm gonna stomp your head in the ground …

Rowlf They wouldn't do that.
Johnny & band

If you don't stay out of my hen house,
You dirty old egg-suckin' hound.

The song concludes. Applause.
Rowlf I told you, I don't like chickens! I hate chickens!
Gonzo I heard that! Get him, girls!
Gonzo's hens attack Rowlf.
Waldorf Hey, you know how dogs like their eggs cooked?
Statler No.
Waldorf Pooched! (laughs)

Backstage[]

Big Tiny Tallsaddle Whoa, Billy Boy, this here radio broadcast is gonna be a hit!
Rowlf Well, it's a dud for us dogs.
Gonzo And an insult to the poultry of the world! Huh!
Kermit Uh, Fozzie, if you're okay, I'll introduce you.
Fozzie Yes!
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Hold back there, Gonzo the Frog, who you gon' introduce?
Kermit (sigh)
Fozzie No, no — the name is Kermit!
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Okay, the bear's name is Kermit. I got it. What does he do?
Kermit Well, if you must know, he's the comic.
Fozzie Ah-ha.
521.backstage3
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Sorry. Only one comic works the Big Tiny Tallsaddle Show — my nephew, Wild Wally Whoopee!
Kermit What?
Fozzie Another comic?? (shivers)
Kermit Listen, on The Muppet Show, Fozzie Bear is the comic. (walks onstage)
Fozzie Yes! (walks onstage)
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Fozzie and Kermit Bear? What is it, a brother act?

Fozzie and Wally's comedy act[]

Main stage. Kermit approaches the microphone.
Kermit Okay, folks, it's comedy time, and here is our own Fozzie —
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Hold on, little green buddy! Which comic you introducin'?
Kermit I was introducing our own comedian …
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Yes, folks, and here he is, that wild wit of the west, wonderful Wally Whoopee!
Kermit Fozzie Bear! YAAAYYY!
The curtain opens. Fozzie and Wally take the stage.
Fozzie Hiya hiya hiya! Thank you! Thank you!
Character.wallywhoopie
Wally Whoopee Howdy, friends! Wonderful Wally Whoopee here and — whoa Nelly! You folks watching on the radio won't believe this, but I am standing next to a wild bear!
Fozzie Oh, no, no, sir, I — I'm not a wild — well. I mean, I'm a bear, b-but I'm not wild.
Wally Whoopee Aww! Listen, I don't blame ya! I'm not wild about bears either! (chuckles, gives him a slap on the back)
Fozzie I — I am a comedian!
Wally Whoopee A comedian?
Fozzie Yes!
Wally Whoopee Do you know the most important thing about being a comedian?
Fozzie No, what's the most impo —
Wally Whoopee Timing! (chuckles) Let's hear one of your jokes, comedian!
Fozzie Oh, all right. Ahem. (blows on the mic) Ahem. See, this walrus, he goes into the theater, and all of a sudden —
Wally Whoopee Hey, you're not nervous, are you?
Fozzie Well — a little bit, yeah. But this walr—
Wally Whoopee A little? Why folks, he's as nervous as a frog on a freeway with his hopper busted! (chuckles, gives him a slap on the back) Just go ahead with your little story, now.
Fozzie Thank you. This walrus, see —
Wally Whoopee And don't be nervous.
Fozzie Fine. This walrus—
Wally Whoopee This better be good, folks!
Fozzie (sigh)
521.fozziewally
Wally Whoopee What's the matter? Cat got your joke? (chuckles, gives him a slap on the back) Listen, why don't you forget about being a comedian — why don't you learn how to ride a bicycle and join the circus?
Fozzie Oh, no, no — I wanna get laughs.
Wally Whoopee Fall off the bike! (chuckles, gives him a slap on the back) Listen! You've been a great stooge, and to show you what kinda guy Wally Whoopee is, I'm invitin' you up to my ranch for the weekend. (nods)
Fozzie You mean — oh, wow! Thank you! Thank you!
Wally Whoopee Yes, I just want you to go up there and relax.
Fozzie Yeah!
Wally Whoopee Just stretch out on the floor and take it easy.
Fozzie On the floor?
Wally Whoopee Yes — my regular rug's at the cleaners! (chuckles, gives him a slap as the closing music plays) Thank you! Thank you! Keep them fires runnin' for me! Yes indeed, we'll see you soon at the Trick Bone Lodge! (laughs)
The curtain closes.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle All riiiiight! Let's hear it for the funniest man west of west of the Pecos, Wally Whoopee! C'mon out, Wally!
521.fozziewally-1
A fanfare plays as Wally bows and exits.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Ha ha! Hey, good man. And while we're at it, let's have a murmur of sympathy, for that poor sap, Fozzie Bear. (audience: "Awwww.")
Kermit Okay, that does it!
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Huh?
Kermit Listen! How dare you say things like that about my friend Fozzie!
521.fozziewally-2
Fozzie peeks from behind the curtain.
Kermit (cont'd) This bear is one of the stars of The Muppet Show! He's loving and friendly.
Fozzie Uh, funny.
Kermit Uh — he's dedicated, loyal, trustworthy —
Fozzie Funny?
Kermit Uh — handsome, generous, sweet, gentle, charming …
Fozzie Funny?
Kermit And very, very FUNNY!
Applause. Fozzie's fanfare plays and he comes out blowing kisses.
Fozzie Thank you! (to Tiny) Ha ha! (exits)
Kermit (nods) Yes. Now, Tallsaddle, just get out of the theater.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle What?
Kermit You heard me. My friends and I work hard every week to do a good show, and we don't need your kind around being mean and cruel!
Big Tiny Tallsaddle (clutches the mic) Speakin' of bein' cruel, I have this little trick I like to do, with necks and microphone stands —
521.fozziewally-3
Scooter Wait a minute, Mr. Tallsaddle! I was just out in the alley, and some kids were letting the air out of your horse!
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Huh? My horse? (runs outside) Hey — hey, you kids get away from that horse! That's a brand-new horse!
Scooter Lock the door, Beau!
Beauregard (offstage) Okay!
CLANG! The door shuts.
Kermit Letting the air out of his horse?
Scooter Well, it's all I could think of.
Kermit Whatever. Scooter, listen, you got rid of Tallsaddle. I can't thank you enough.
Scooter Oh. Gee, Kermit, I don't need thanks. 'Course, I could use some cash. (holds out his hand)
Kermit Well. Of course you could use some cash. Cash is exactly what we all need! So let's just sit back and enjoy the music of the one and only JOHNNY CASH! YAAAAYYY!
Scooter No, but you see, I —
Kermit Scooter, will you get outta here? YAAAAY!

"Orange Blossom Special/Jackson"[]

The curtain opens on Johnny and the Jug Huggers.
Johnny Everybody make like a train now.
521.finalnumber
They make chugging noises. Johnny plays the harmonica and sings a passage from "Orange Blossom Special".
521.finalnumber-1
After a harmonica solo, he sings a passage from "Jackson", joined by a well-prepared Miss Piggy.
521.finalnumber-2
They all conclude with a final chorus of "Orange Blossom", as a train enters the stage. Applause.

Goodnights[]

521.goodnights
Kermit Okay! Well, it looks like we've come down to the end of the line, but before we go, let us have a big round of applause for our guest star, ladies and gentlemen, JOHNNY CASH! YAAAAYYY! Yes! Yeah.
Johnny Thank you. Thank you, Kermit. It's been my pleasure. I really enjoyed being with you.
Kermit Well, we had a good time too, once we got rid of Big Tiny Tallsaddle.
Big Tiny Tallsaddle (offstage) HEY YOU!
Johnny Looks like you spoke too soon.
Kermit Uhhh, listen, Big Tiny, I thought I told you —
521.goodnights-1
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Now, take it easy, Gonzo. I've just come back to borrow your bicycle pump.
Kermit What?
Big Tiny Tallsaddle Well, I gotta pump up Ol' Paint 'fore they tow him away.
Johnny Pump up Ol' Paint?
Kermit I-I'll explain later. Uh, we'll see you next time on The Muppet Show!
The chatter continues as the credits roll.
Statler What kind of show would you call that?
Waldorf Frankly, I'd call it quits!
Pause.
Statler & Waldorf Quits! Quits!
They chuckle.
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