Gonzo's stunts

The stunts of [[Gonzo|The Great Gonzo]] frequently attempted to combine bizarre performance art with high culture on ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. They are terrible acts, but Gonzo considers them artistic. [[Dave Goelz]], performer of Gonzo, recalled that [[Jack Burns]], the show's original head writer, who during an early meeting suggested Gonzo perform "these crazy acts like eating a tire to '[[Flight of the Bumblebee]]!'<ref>Plume, Ken. [http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/goelz2.shtml Muppet Central Interview with Dave Goelz].</ref> 

==Sketches==
===The Muppet Show Season 1===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- {{divid|101}}
| [[Image:Flight of the Bumblebee.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Eats a Rubber Tire<hr/>[[Episode 101: Juliet Prowse]]
| Gonzo eats a rubber tire to the music of "Flight of the Bumblebee," and gets booed off the stage after a few bites.

|- {{divid|102}}
| [[Image:1812_Overture.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Grows a Tomato Plant<hr/>[[Episode 102: Connie Stevens]]
| Gonzo grows a tomato plant to the tune of the "[[1812 Overture]]." The plant later captures Hilda, Scooter, and himself.

|- {{divid|103}}
| [[Image:TMS.103.GonzoAct.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Demolishes an Automobile<hr/>[[Episode 103: Joel Grey]]
| Gonzo demolishes an automobile to the tune of the "[[Anvil Chorus]]."

|- {{divid|109a}}
| [[Image:TMS.109.GRockAct.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Does a Rock Act<hr/>[[Episode 109: Charles Aznavour]]
| Gonzo does a rock act: hitting a rock with a mallet.

|- {{divid|109b}}
| [[Image:GonzoDrag.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Impersonates a Female<hr/>[[Episode 109: Charles Aznavour]]
| Gonzo [[Cross-dressing characters|dresses]] as a little girl.

|- {{divid|111}}
| [[Image:TMS.111.Balloon.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Does a Balloon Act<hr/>[[Episode 111: Lena Horne]]
| Gonzo has planned a balloon act, but [[Animal]] ruins it.

|}


===The Muppet Show Season 2===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- {{divid|207}}
| [[Image:Gonzobrick.JPG|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Wrestles a Brick<hr/>[[Episode 207: Edgar Bergen]]
| Gonzo, blindfolded, wrestles a brick.

|- {{divid|210}}
| [[Image:210_fiddles.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Fiddles While George Burns<hr/>[[Episode 210: George Burns]]
| Gonzo fiddles while [[George Burns|George]] burns.

|- {{divid|217}}
| [[Image:Nachtmusik.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Plays the Bagpipes Atop a Flagpole<hr/>[[Episode 217: Julie Andrews]]
| Gonzo performs "[[Eine Kleine Nachtmusik]]" on the bagpipes while sitting atop a flagpole. A beaver chews the flagpole down, ending Gonzo's act.

|- {{divid|218}}
| [[Image:GonzoTrumpetSolo.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Plays a Solo Trumpet to "Flight of the Bumblebee"<hr/>[[Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan]]
| Backed by [[Rowlf the Dog|Rowlf]] on the piano, Gonzo plays "Flight of the Bumblebee" on his trumpet while Animal chases the bumblebee.

|- {{divid|219}}
| [[Image:Peter_Sellers.jpeg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Does a Knife-Throwing Act<hr/>[[Episode 219: Peter Sellers]]
| Gonzo throws knives at [[Peter Sellers]] in character as [[Inspector Jacques Clouseau]].

|- {{divid|222}}
| [[Image:Gonzofeatherboa.png|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Recites Shakespeare While Hanging by His Nose<hr/>[[Episode 222: Teresa Brewer]]
| Gonzo recites [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s "The Merchant of Venice while hanging by his nose from a feather boa nine-feet in the air, but sneezes in the middle of it.

|- {{divid|223}}
| [[Image:Gonzocannonball2.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Catches a Cannonball<hr/>[[Episode 223: John Cleese]]
| Gonzo catches a cannonball with his bare hand.

|}

===The Muppet Show Season 3===

{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- {{divid|301}}
| [[Image:TMS.301.GonzoPiano.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Recites the Seven Times Table<hr/>[[Episode 301: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge]]
| Gonzo attempts to recite the seven-times tables while standing on a hammock and balancing a piano.

|- {{divid|303}}
| [[Image:303 pogo stick.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Yodels While Riding a Motorized Pogo Stick<hr/>[[Episode 303: Roy Clark]]
| Gonzo yodels [[wikipedia:Rimsky-Korsakov|Rimsky-Korsakov]] while riding on a motorized pogo-stick. The pogo-stick goes out of control, acting as a jack hammer through the floor.

|- {{divid|315}}
| [[Image:TMS.315.GonzosMotorcycle2.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Rides a Motorcycle into Statler and Waldorf's Balcony<hr/>[[Episode 315: Lesley Ann Warren]]
| After a failed attempt, Gonzo rides his motorcycle into [[Statler and Waldorf's Box|Statler and Waldorf's theater box]].

|- {{divid|324}}
| [[Image:Gonzo500lb.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Hypnotizes Himself<hr/>[[Episode 324: Cheryl Ladd]]
| Gonzo hypnotizes himself into holding up a 5000-pound weight with one arm. He snaps his fingers and becomes crushed by the weight.

|}

===The Muppet Show Season 4===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- {{divid|407}}
| [[Image:407-14.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Recites Poetry While Defusing a Bomb<hr/>[[Episode 407: Dudley Moore]]
| Gonzo recites the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley while defusing a bomb.

|- {{divid|410}}
| [[Image:TMS.410.Catapult.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Shoots Himself from a Catapult<hr/>[[Episode 410: Kenny Rogers]]
| Gonzo shoots himself from a catapult to sky-write the "[[Hallelujah Chorus]]" but ends up sending [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] and [[Miss Piggy]] flying into [[Statler and Waldorf's Box|Statler and Waldorf's theater box]].

|- {{divid|411}}
| [[Image:gonzooatmealact.png|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Tap Dances in Oatmeal<hr/>[[Episode 411: Lola Falana]]
| Gonzo sings "[[Top Hat, White Tie and Tails]]" while tap-dancing in oatmeal.

|- {{divid|424}}
| [[Image:424-18.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Does an Indescribable Act<hr/>[[Episode 424: Diana Ross]]
| The curtain opens for Gonzo, onstage with a swinging rubber tire, a flaming torch, and a [[Cows|cow]] (she replaced the typewriter). The act goes no further and he is pelted with vegetables. 

|}

===The Muppet Show Season 5===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- {{divid|504}}
| [[Image:Liebestraume.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo conducts Liebesträume and battles a crab<hr/>[[Episode 504: Shirley Bassey]]
| Gonzo conducts [[Liebesträume]] and battles [[Buster (crab)|Buster]] the crab and the violinist.

|- {{divid|509}}
| [[Image:509-23.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Wrestles a Wild Mountain Gorilla<hr/>[[Episode 509: Debbie Harry]]
| Gonzo planned a wrestling match with [[Quongo the Wild Mountain Gorilla]], but he canceled the match when Quongo got stuck in traffic. Kermit announces the precision drill team from the [[Okefenokee Swamp|Okefenokee]] Pack 12 of the [[Frog Scouts|Frog Scouts of America]] as a replacement. As the scouts go through their drills, Quongo enters expecting to wrestle Gonzo. Instead, the confused gorilla is trampled by the marching frogs.

|}

===[[Muppets Tonight]]===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- {{divid|mt102}}
| [[Image:MT102-Stunt.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo's inverted, suborbital, rocket-powered, anti-gravity bungee jump<hr/>[[Episode 102: Garth Brooks]]
| [[Garth Brooks]] participate in Gonzo's stunt act of inverted, suborbital, rocket-powered, anti-gravity bungee jump.

|- {{divid|mt106}}
| [[Image:MT106-Stunt.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo and his Misguided Missiles of Death<hr/>[[Episode 106: Tony Bennett]]
| Gonzo's rocket stunt sends him all around the [[Earth]] until he crashed in a living room of a retirement home where Statler and Waldorf are watching the show on TV.

|- {{divid|mt206}}
| [[Image:Band.finecannon.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Shoots Cannonballs<hr/>[[Episode 206: Paula Abdul]]
| To the music of the "1812 Overture," Gonzo shoots [[The Refined Young Cannonballs]] from a cannon. Unfortunately, the act knocked much of the cast and himself. 

|- {{divid|mt210}}
| [[Image:Gladiators.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo Gets Hammered into a railway tie.<hr/>[[Episode 210: The Gary Cahuenga Episode]]
| [[Lori Fetrick]] as the Gladiator Ice and [[Raye Hollitt]] as the Gladiator Zap, members of ''[[American Gladiators]]'', hammered Gonzo feet first into a railway tie. 

|}

===[[Disney Xtreme Digital|Muppets.com]]===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|-
| [[Image:muppets-com70.png|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Dancin' With Danger 
| colspan="2" | Gonzo tap-dances on tapioca pudding and thumbtacks.

|-
| [[Image:muppets-com58.png|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Going Up? 
| colspan="2" |

|-
| [[Image:Muppets-com73.png|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Intermural Skydiving 
| colspan="2" | Gonzo explains the ins and outs of skydiving only to discover he forgot his parachute.

|-
| [[Image:Muppets-com94.png|250px|center]]
| Me and the Alligator 
| colspan="2" | Gonzo explains how to butter [[Pickles (alligator)|an alligator]].

|}

===''[[The Muppets (2015)|The Muppets]]''===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- 
| [[Image:TheMuppets-S01E07-Gonzo.png|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Shot out of a cannon into Niagra Falls<hr/>[[Episode 107: Pig's in a Blackout]]
| Gonzo mentions that he once was a stunt man and was shot out of a cannon straight into Niagara Falls (Although, technically, he was supposed to go over Niagara Falls). Later he tells Scooter that the stunt taught him not to be afraid to ask for help (and to learn [[French]] in case the wind carries you to the [[Canada|Canadian]] side.)

|-
| [[Image:Piggy Water 06.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | The Great Gonzo brought to you by [[Piggy Water]]<hr/>[[Episode 109: Going, Going, Gonzo]]
| Gonzo returns to performing stunts and shoots himself out of a cannon in a pool of [[Piggy Water]] in a stunt for ''[[Up Late with Miss Piggy]]''.

|}

===Additional Stunts===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" valign="top"
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
! Picture !! width=100| Theme / Episode !! Description

|- 
| [[Image:MTM-StuntGonzo.png|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo's aquacade act<hr/>''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]''
| "I will first make a death-defying leap from the looped-de-looped ramp, spinning and hurtling my body though flaming circle of doom and landing comfortably in the imitation-leather easy chair; while my chickens do their impression of [[Tony Bennett]] singing "[[William Tell Overture|The William Tell Oveture]]." 

|- 
| [[Image:The Great Gonzo.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Head bowling<hr/>''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]''
|Gonzo attempts to hit a bowling pin off the head of an unwilling [[Jack Black]], but his arm keeps winding up until the end credits, where it finally hits [[Tex Richman]]. 

|- 
| [[Image:Kermit'sParty-Episode2-GonzoStuntSpectacular!-(2012-03-20).jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Gonzo's Stunt Spectacular<hr/>''[[Bounty|Kermit's Party]]''
| Gonzo balance a pole with a bucket of a great white shark swimming in finger paint on his head. 

|- 
| [[Image:gonzoJFL.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Cirque du Poulet<hr/>''[[Just for Laughs]]''
| The Great Gonzo debuts [[Cirque du Soleil|Cirque du Poulet]] - an act that attempts to make chickens fly (using rocket technology and gun powder); however [[Crazy Harry]] gets carried away and blows the chickens up. 

|- 
| [[Image:MMW-1396021944004-MA-02751CR.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Indoor Running-Of-The-Bulls<hr/>''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''
| Gonzo and [[Salma Hayek]] both wear a leotard with a target on the front as running of the bulls chase them.

|-
| [[Image:Gonzo's Act - The Final Countdown.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Magic Act<hr/>''[[The Muppets Take the Bowl]]''
| Using the power of his mind, Gonzo levitates himself and Kermit. He then tries to travel through physical space and swap places, but only manages to swap their heads.

|-
| [[Image:TakeO2-GonzoChicksne.jpg|250px|center]]
| align=center style="font-size:13px; line-height:13px;" | Time Travel Magic Act<hr/>''[[The Muppets Take the O2]]''
| Gonzo performs a magic act with his chicken assistants. He intends on sending the entire arena back in time using only the power of his mind. The trick works as the Kermit delivers his opening intro, realizing something is amiss. The Doctor returns and fixes everything. Kermit segues to the next act, which will take the audience back in time in a different way.

|}

===[[The Muppet Show Comic Book]]===
*'''Cannon-Shooting Act #1''' ([[The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets|Gonzo's Story]])
:Gonzo assures a nervous [[Osbert J. Smedley]] that his act is risk-free, and offers to let Smedley test out his act, which would involve Smedley getting inside a cannon. A frightened Smedley then claims that there was an error and that the insurance company owes the theater thirty-two cents, and rushes off just before the big finale, which ends up sending Gonzo to the hospital.

*'''Cannon-Shooting Act #2''' ([[The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion|The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion Issue #4]])
:[[Skeeter]] agrees to help Gonzo with his cannon-shooting act, but when Gonzo trips over an anvil, Skeeter has to go on in his place. She flies form the cannon and lands safely into a vat of tapioca pudding.

*'''Diving into a Swimming Pool full of Custard''' ([[The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Four Seasons|The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Four Seasons: Summer]])
:Gonzo prepares to dive into a swimming pool full of custard. When a snowstorm cause the custard to become frozen and Gonzo smash his head on the icy dessert. 

==Stunt gear and attire==
<gallery widths="150" spacing="small" orientation="square">
Gonzofeatherboa.png|Episodes [[Episode 207: Edgar Bergen|207]], [[Episode 222: Teresa Brewer|222]], [[Episode 223: John Cleese|223]] (with a silver cape instead of red)
Gonzo-pinkblue.jpg|''The Muppet Show'' [[Episode 301: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge|episode 301]]
Gonzo big-cut.png|''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' (minor variation of previous)
407-14.jpg| [[Episode 407: Dudley Moore|Episode 407]]
gonzo-stunt-motorcycle.jpg|Episodes [[Episode 315: Lesley Ann Warren|315]], [[Episode 410: Kenny Rogers|410]], [[Episode 424: Diana Ross|424]]
Gonzo-stunt.jpg|Promotional photo for ''[[Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff]]'' and other merchandise
Gonzo Daredevil Camp.jpg|Daredevil Camp promotional photo
Gonzo.png|''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'', ''[[Muppet Madness (View-Master Interactive Vision)|Muppet Madness]]'', [[Muppetism]], ''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition|Extreme Makeover]]'', [[Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.|GAD.GADD.]], [[WWE]] and [[The Muppets Gold Spot|Orange]].
Kermit'sParty-Episode2-GonzoStuntSpectacular!-(2012-03-20).jpg|''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' [[Episode 102: Garth Brooks|Episode 102]], ''[[Bounty|Kermit's Party]]''
Gonzo logo.jpg| [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
Muppets-com58.png| [[Disney Xtreme Digital]] short
Gonzofigure.jpg| [[Stuntman Gonzo Action Figure]]
Crashhelmetgonzo.jpg| [[Crash Helmet Gonzo Action Figure]]
TF1-MuppetsTV-PhotoGallery-10-FozzieEtGonzo.jpg|''[[Muppets TV]]''
Muppet show comic 3a.jpg| [[The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets#Issue #3: Gonzo's Story|The Muppet Show Comic]]<br>several similar outfits, counting variant covers
MMW Gonzo stunt gear.png|''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]''
Piggy Water 03.jpg|''[[The Muppets (2015)|The Muppets]]'' [[Episode 109: Going, Going, Gonzo|109]]
</gallery>

==Sources==
<references />

==See also==
{{muppetsketches}}



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