A list of Gonzo's openings during "The Muppet Show Theme" on The Muppet Show, and in some later spin-offs.
Season One[]
During the first season, Gonzo hit the Muppet Show sign's letter O like a gong, with the following results...
| Picture | Episode | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Episode 101: Juliet Prowse | Gonzo's mallet explodes; completely blackening him. |
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Episodes 102, 110, and 113 | The O breaks with a shattering sound, and Gonzo peers through it. |
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Episode 103: Joel Grey | Gonzo misses the "O" and falls down. (A longer version is used in The Best of the Muppets) |
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Episode 104: Ruth Buzzi | The sign goes up, Gonzo misses the "O" and falls down. |
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Episodes 105 and 108 | Gonzo hits the "O" with such force that he can't stop shaking. |
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Episode 106: Jim Nabors | The white circle inside the "O" is gone, so Gonzo hits his own head. |
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Episode 107: Florence Henderson | The sign goes up in the air after Gonzo hits it. |
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Episode 109: Charles Aznavour | The "O" plays the Westminster Chimes. |
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Episode 111: Lena Horne | The "O" makes a foghorn sound. |
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Episode 112: Peter Ustinov | Gonzo's mallet gets stuck between the "S" and "H" and breaks. |
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Episode 114: Sandy Duncan | Gonzo hits the "O" with his own head. |
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Episode 115: Candice Bergen | Gonzo hits the "O" with a boxing glove and gets the sound of a ringside bell. |
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Episodes 116 and 121 | Beautiful Day Monster appears in front of the "O" and Gonzo hits him accidentally. |
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Episodes 117 and 122 | The Green Frackle hits Gonzo with a mallet. |
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Episodes 118 and 123 | Crazy Harry causes an explosion. |
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Episodes 119 and 124 | Gonzo shoots the "O" with a blunderbuss. |
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Episode 120: Valerie Harper | Gonzo knocks himself on the head with a sledgehammer. |
Season Two[]
From season 2 onwards, Gonzo would appear inside the Muppet Show sign's letter "O" and try to blow a note on his horn, with the following results...
| Picture | Episode | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Episode 201: Don Knotts | Gonzo's horn shoots a flame (Gonzo: "I'm sorry!") |
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Episode 202: Zero Mostel | Sparks and smoke fly out of Gonzo's horn |
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Episodes 203 and 214 | Gonzo's horn squirts water (The sound effect is re-dubbed in 214) |
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Episode 204: Rich Little | A balloon comes out of Gonzo's horn |
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Episode 205: Judy Collins | Gonzo's horn makes a flute sound |
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Episode 206: Nancy Walker | Gonzo's horn fires off two gun shots |
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Episode 207: Edgar Bergen | Gonzo's horn makes an exploding sound and blows Gonzo away |
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Episodes 208 and 215 | Green smoke comes out of Gonzo's horn (Gonzo: "Green smoke!") |
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Episode 209: Madeline Kahn | Orange smoke comes out of Gonzo's horn; Gonzo 'scrunches his nose' |
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Episode 210: George Burns | Gonzo's horn makes an exploding sound |
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Episodes 211 and 224 | Gonzo's horn makes a deep sound as red smoke comes out; Gonzo coughs |
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Episode 212: Bernadette Peters | A balloon comes out of Gonzo's horn and pops |
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Episode 213: Rudolf Nureyev | A balloon comes out of Gonzo's horn and inflates after he stops blowing |
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Episodes 216 and 220 | Gonzo's horn flies away. 216: "Come back here!" (First season Gonzo puppet used) |
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Episode 217: Julie Andrews | Gonzo's trumpet glows in the dark |
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Episodes 218 and 221 | Crazy Harry blows Gonzo up |
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Episode 219: Peter Sellers | Beautiful Day Monster blows a tuba ("Gonzo: "Good grief!") |
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Episode 222: Teresa Brewer | Gonzo's trumpet shoots two flames (Gonzo: "I'm sorry... Sorry!") |
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Episode 223: John Cleese | Perfect note comes out of Gonzo's horn (Gonzo shakes his head, as if in annoyance. The audience cheers!) |
Season Three[]
| Picture | Episode | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Episodes 301 and 506 | Hiccups prevent Gonzo from playing ("Excuse me.") |
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Episodes 302 and 523 | White chunks fly out of Gonzo's horn. 302: "My teeth!" |
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Episode 303: Roy Clark | Swoopfoomer flies out of Gonzo's horn (Gonzo: "Three times!") |
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Episode 304: Gilda Radner | Red smoke comes out of the horn; Gonzo hiccups a second red cloud |
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Episode 305: Pearl Bailey | Gonzo says "I'm not even gonna try it." Then the horn plays by itself |
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Episode 306: Jean Stapleton | Kermit stands behind Gonzo and blows a horn |
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Episodes 307 and 518 | A light blue spirit comes out of Gonzo's horn; Gonzo quivers |
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Episode 308: Loretta Lynn | Gonzo's horn makes the sound of a train whistle |
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Episode 309: Liberace | Gonzo's horn doesn't work: "Aw, rats." Then it plays the "Charge" fanfare by itself |
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Episodes 310, 512, and 520 | Kermit blows Gonzo away with his horn from the left side |
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Episode 311: Raquel Welch | Flowers come out of Gonzo's horn |
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Episodes 312 and 323 | Four horns from four different directions startle Gonzo. (The music is re-dubbed in 323) |
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Episode 313: Helen Reddy | Colorful musical notes come out of Gonzo's horn |
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Episode 314: Harry Belafonte | A bee comes out of Gonzo's horn; Gonzo tries to follow it and faints dizzily |
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Episode 315: Lesley Ann Warren | Gonzo's horn makes a cow sound and attracts a cow. Gonzo faints |
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Episodes 316 and 524 | A soccer ball jams the horn down Gonzo's throat |
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Episode 317: Spike Milligan | Beautiful Day Monster dribbles Gonzo |
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Episode 318: Leslie Uggams | Gonzo's horn makes a duck sound and attracts two ducks |
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Episode 319: Elke Sommer | A plane comes out of the horn and crashes ("Watch out for the balcony!") |
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Episode 320: Sylvester Stallone | Beautiful Day Monster plays the horn for Gonzo |
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Episode 321: Roger Miller | Butterflies come out of Gonzo's horn and flute music plays |
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Episode 322: Roy Rogers & Dale Evans | Gonzo's horn makes a horse sound |
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Episode 324: Cheryl Ladd | Gonzo's horn makes a ringing sound. |
Season Four[]
| Picture | Episode | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Episode 401: John Denver | Gonzo's head explodes and appears in another corner, shouting "Whoopee!" Nearly identical to episode 502 (below). |
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Episode 402: Crystal Gayle | Bubbles come out of Gonzo's horn. |
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Episode 403: Shields & Yarnell | Gonzo vanishes |
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Episodes 404 and 501 | The horn rings; Gonzo puts it to his ear ("Hello? He's not home.") |
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Episode 405: Victor Borge | Bobby Benson's Baby Band pop up |
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Episode 406: Linda Lavin | Gonzo disappears in small portions (like a blind) |
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Episode 407: Dudley Moore | Gonzo turns into a beetle ("Surprise!") |
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Episode 408: Arlo Guthrie | Gonzo is run over by a herd of cows |
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Episodes 409 and 509 | Gonzo blows the horn with his ear. 409: "I play by ear." |
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Episodes 410 and 508 | 410: Gonzo plays a single note that falls flat. 508: Gonzo plays the opening notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. |
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Episodes 411 and 516 | Gonzo: "I give autographs after the show!" |
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Episodes 412 and 522 | A boxing glove knocks Gonzo to the floor |
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Episode 413: Dizzy Gillespie | Gonzo plays racing fanfare |
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Episodes 414 and 510 | Gonzo plays a trumpet riff.
414: "That's my new hit single!" |
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Episode 415: Anne Murray | Gonzo blows on a cow's horn ("Another television first!") |
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Episode 416: Jonathan Winters | Gonzo attracts a horse ("You called?") |
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Episodes 417 and 521 | A duck bites Gonzo's nose. Gonzo screams, while the duck laughs (refilmed for 521) |
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Episodes 418 and 503 | Rats appear (Gonzo: "Aw, rats.") |
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Episode 419: Lynda Carter | Gonzo's dental plate sticks to the horn (Gonzo: "The embarrassment...!") |
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Episode 420: Alan Arkin | Gonzo's horn makes a typewriter sound |
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Episode 421: Doug Henning | One half of Gonzo disappears, Gonzo says "Goodbye!" and disappears completely |
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Episode 422: Andy Williams | Muppet dogs appear |
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Episodes 423 and 519 | Gonzo is blown away in an Autumn storm. |
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Episode 424: Diana Ross | A snake (that just crawled into Zoot's saxophone) comes out of Gonzo's horn. |
Season Five[]
| Picture | Episode | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Episode 502: Loretta Swit | Gonzo's head explodes and appears in another corner, shouting "Woo!" Nearly identical to episode 401 (above). |
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Episode 504: Shirley Bassey | Gonzo's horn makes a rooster sound ("Camilla, your uncle's calling!") |
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Episode 505: James Coburn | No sound comes out of the horn, but it attracts Foo-Foo ("Well, she heard it...!") |
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Episode 507: Glenda Jackson | Penguins appear. |
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Episode 511: Paul Simon | Gonzo attracts a duck that kisses him (Duck: "Kissy kissy.") |
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Episode 513: Tony Randall | Gonzo blows on a fish. |
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Episode 514: Mac Davis | A turkey scares Gonzo away. |
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Episode 515: Carol Burnett | Gonzo's horn makes an air raid siren sound. |
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Episode 517: Hal Linden | Gonzo blows on a screaming banana. |
Audio Appearances[]
- The Muppet Show (album): Gonzo beats the "O" with a big crash and an explosion (The German album version has Crazy Harry causing an explosion and laughing, while the Italian album version uses the gag from episode 115.)
- "Welcome to the Muppet Show Fan Club": Gonzo says "Hoooonk - toot!" Kermit asks him what happened to his trumpet. Gonzo replies, "I ate it!"
- The Muppet Show 2: Gonzo blows his horn, followed by a crash and an explosion (There is no trumpet gag in the French album version)
- The Muppet Show Music Album: Gonzo's horn makes a duck sound
- The Muppets (soundtrack): Gonzo's horn is replaced with Zoot's bum note
Season 1 replacements[]
When The Muppet Show was repackaged for re-runs, the opening theme for season one episodes was replaced with a version of the theme as it was re-shot for subsequent seasons. In these instances, Gonzo's trumpet gag is recycled from another episode.
- Episodes 101, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116 (Odyssey airings), 118 (Odyssey airings), and 120: Gonzo's horn squirts water. (re-used from 203 and 214)
- Episodes 101 (TNT airings) and 122: Gonzo's trumpet glows in the dark. (re-used from Episode 217)
- Episode 103: A soccer ball jams the horn down Gonzo's throat. (re-used from 316 and Episode 524)
- Episode 104, 105 and 119: Crazy Harry blows Gonzo up. (re-used from Episode 218)
- Episode 106: Kermit blows Gonzo away with his horn from the left side. (re-used from Episode 310)
- Episode 107: Green smoke comes out of Gonzo's horn. (re-used from Episode 208)
- Episode 110 and 116: Gonzo's horn shoots a flame. (Gonzo: "I'm sorry!") (re-used from Episode 201)
- Episode 114 (TNT airings): Kermit blows Gonzo away with his horn from the left side. (re-used from Episode 520)
- Episode 114: Sparks and smoke fly out of Gonzo's horn. (re-used from Episode 202)
- Episode 115: A balloon comes out of Gonzo's horn and inflates after he stops blowing. (re-used from Episode 213)
- Episode 117: Gonzo's horn makes a deep sound as red smoke comes out. (re-used from Episode 211)
- Episode 118: A balloon comes out of Gonzo's horn. (re-used from Episode 204: Rich Little)
- Episode 121: Gonzo's horn flies away. (Gonzo: "Come back here!") (re-used from Episode 216)
- Episode 121 (TNT airings): Rats appear (Gonzo: "Aw, rats.") (re-used from 418 and 503)
- Episode 122: Gonzo's trumpet glows in the dark. (re-used from Episode 217)
- Episode 124: A balloon comes out of Gonzo's horn and pops. (re-used from Episode 212)
Other Projects[]
- Muppets Inside: Gonzo plays a terrific solo, presumably the one he'd been trying to play all these years. Gonzo: "Ha! Didn't think I could do it, did ya?"
- An Australian McDonald's commercial promoting Happy Meal toys for the show's 25th Anniversary, featured a plush Gonzo hitting the McDonald's smiling logo like a gong, similar to his first-season openings.
- The Muppets: Gonzo's trumpet sounds like Tarzan.
- Just for Laughs: Gonzo plays "O Canada."
- Muppets Most Wanted: A soccer ball comes out of Gonzo's trumpet.
- America's Got Talent: Gonzo's trumpet sounds like the show's buzzer.
- The Muppets Take the Bowl: Gonzo's trumpet sounds like a car alarm. When it doesn't stop right away, he runs offstage, presumably to check his car.
- The Muppets Take the O2: Gonzo's trumpet sounds like a siren, causing a Muppet bobby (English policeman) to clear the area.
- Muppet Babies "The Muppet Babies Show": Camilla flies out of Baby Gonzo's trumpet.
The Muppet Show Comic Book[]
Gonzo's antics within the title have continued on into The Muppet Show's comic book series.
Meet the Muppets[]
- Issue #1: Kermit's Story: A balloon animal emerges from the horn.
- Issue #2: Fozzie's Story: A rocket shoots out of the horn.
- Issue #3: Gonzo's Story: The horn itself is a balloon.
- Issue #4: Miss Piggy's Story: A string of sausages hang from the horn.
The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson[]
- Issue #1: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: A fish leaps out of Gonzo's horn.
- Issue #2: You May Meet a Stranger: The horn is a fish.
- Issue #3: Follow the Money: Gonzo is replaced with a rat, saying, "I love hard work. I never get tired of looking at it."
- Issue #4: Be It Ever So Humble...: Gonzo holds a swordfish.
On the Road[]
- Issue #1: Watch That Tiger: Gonzo plays the bagpipes.
- Issue #2: His Wackiness, Clint Wacky!: Gonzo peers through a telescope.
- Issue #3: Box Clever: Gonzo is replaced with a chicken reading a map.
Family Reunion[]
- Issue #4: Gonzo's nose gets stuck in a didgeridoo.
- Issue #5: A duck comes out of the horn.
- Issue #6: Two fishing hooks fall through the "O."
- Issue #7: Gonzo appears in scuba gear blowing into a seashell.
Muppet Mash[]
- Issue #9: Gonzo rings what appears to be a stone gong.