The Muppet Show | |
Guest | Bruce Forsyth |
Production | July 27-28, August 5, 1976 |
Premiere | UK: January 30, 1977 NYC: December 6, 1976 |
Releases | Season One |
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Fozzie Bear has a plan to get back at Statler and Waldorf when he does his act, but is crushed when he's replaced by Bruce Forsyth. Fozzie throws some nasty jokes and, for the first (and last) time, leaves the two old codgers speechless. Then Fozzie and Bruce end up performing together, and sing "Side by Side." A duck appears frequently in the sketches and skits.
Songs and sketches[]
- "In a Little Spanish Town"
- "All I Need Is the Girl"
- At the Dance
- UK Spot: "I'm My Own Grandpa"
- Talk Spot
- "Trees."
- Fozzie's Monologue: "Side by Side"
- Veterinarian's Hospital: Duck
- "Let There Be Love"
Episode[]
Picture | Description |
---|---|
"The Muppet Show Theme": Gonzo breaks the "O." (Repeated from episode 102.) | |
The Snerfs dance to "In a Little Spanish Town." | |
Backstage, a duck approaches Kermit, excited that she finally has the punchline to her act down: "Quack!" When Kermit does not respond enthusiastically, the "bitter duck" wanders off complaining about it. Fozzie Bear is ready to handle any insults Statler and Waldorf might throw at him tonight. He asks Kermit to test him, having the frog insult his jokes. When he does so, Fozzie's technique to ward off hecklers is by begging, "Oh, please, don't heckle me." | |
Bruce Forsyth performs "All I Need Is the Girl," but is interrupted by an amorous Gawky Bird. A second bird appears at the end of the performance. As Bruce is being attacked by the birds, he calls out "Mr. Hitchcock! Mr. Hitchcock!" | |
Fozzie is certain he has mastered the art of handling hecklers, and so asks Kermit to test him again. When Kermit heckles Fozzie this time, he is hit with a rubber chicken. Fozzie is concerned, however, that the response may be too subtle. | |
At the Dance: Two variations on the "Kipling" joke, and a monster asks his dance partner if she minds that he "light up." | |
UK Spot: The Gogolala Jubilee Jugband sings "I'm My Own Grandpaw." | |
Talk Spot: Bruce feels a little strange being on The Muppet Show, stating that he'll buy Kermit as a talking frog, and he'll even buy the chicken sharing his dressing room. Kermit stops Bruce to tell him that the chicken is not for sale, her husband plays in the band. Bruce does, however, end up leasing a duck for a pig and a rat (receiving change of a woodpecker). | |
Kermit, knowing that Fozzie is concerned about being heckled, promises that Statler and Waldorf will not bother him tonight. The show's running long, and Fozzie's act has been cut. | |
Wayne and Wanda perform "Trees." A tree falls on Wayne. | |
Fozzie begs to have his act put back into the show, insisting that in this type of show, people expect to see a stand-up comic. Kermit says that they have one, Bruce Forsyth. | |
Bruce Forsyth fills in for Fozzie, and immediately goes to burying Statler with insults. Fozzie enters to ask for Bruce's advice on handling hecklers. Bruce tells him that all he needs is a bit of pacing, timing, and the right retort. Fozzie's first attempt is, "Do you mind? We work alone! ... Unless we work together." It's not the best, but Bruce has Fozzie "go for the jugular." He does just that, getting a bit carried away at first, but he succeeds in getting Statler and Waldorf to surrender. With their success, Fozzie and Bruce sing "Side by Side." | |
Veterinarian's Hospital: The patient is a duck, but Dr. Bob keeps confusing it with a chicken. The duck constantly yells "Duck!" when someone says he's a chicken, but the doctors take it as a sign that something is about to fall down. Finally, something does fall down: a lamp, which lands on Dr. Bob's head. | |
Bruce and Miss Piggy sing "Let There Be Love." | |
At the closing, Bruce tells Kermit that he is a terrific emcee. Fozzie, continuing with his insults, says that Kermit is more like an emcee squared. Bruce suggests Fozzie take on a little humility, particularly if he wants to be working next week. |
Cast[]
Muppets:
- Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Rowlf the Dog, Statler and Waldorf, The Snerfs, Janice, Zoot, Mildred Huxtetter, George the Janitor, Miss Kitty, The Gogolala Jubilee Jugband, Paul, Duck, Sam the Eagle, Wayne, Hilda, Pigs, Red-Haired Woman
Background Muppets:
Performers[]
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Miss Kitty, Miss Kitty's dancing partner, Gogolala Jubilee Jugband jug blower, and Waldorf
- Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Sam the Eagle, George the Janitor, and Mildred
- Richard Hunt as Statler, Wayne, Miss Piggy, and Miss Piggy's dancing partner
- Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo and Zoot
- Cynthia Adler as the Duck
- Peter Friedman as Paul
- Eren Ozker as Hilda, Wanda, and Janice
- John Lovelady as the Announcer
Gallery[]
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Peter Ustinov | Sandy Duncan |