Changes: Gonzo's stunts

Revision as of 12:36, 11 July 2019

The stunts of 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!'^[1]

Sketches

The Muppet Show Season 1

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Gonzo Eats a Rubber Tire 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.
	Gonzo Grows a Tomato Plant Episode 102: Connie Stevens	Gonzo grows a tomato plant to the tune of the "1812 Overture." The plant later captures Hilda, Scooter, and himself.
	Gonzo Demolishes an Automobile Episode 103: Joel Grey	Gonzo demolishes an automobile to the tune of the "Anvil Chorus."
File:TMS.109.GRockAct.jpg	Gonzo Does a Rock Act Episode 109: Charles Aznavour	Gonzo does a rock act: hitting a rock with a mallet.
	Gonzo Impersonates a Female Episode 109: Charles Aznavour	Gonzo dresses as a little girl.
	Gonzo Does a Balloon Act Episode 111: Lena Horne	Gonzo has planned a balloon act, but Animal ruins it.

The Muppet Show Season 2

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Gonzo Wrestles a Brick Episode 207: Edgar Bergen	Gonzo, blindfolded, wrestles a brick.
	Gonzo Fiddles While George Burns Episode 210: George Burns	Gonzo fiddles while George burns.
	Gonzo Plays the Bagpipes Atop a Flagpole 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.
	Gonzo Plays a Solo Trumpet to "Flight of the Bumblebee" Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan	Backed by Rowlf on the piano, Gonzo plays "Flight of the Bumblebee" on his trumpet while Animal chases the bumblebee.
	Gonzo Does a Knife-Throwing Act Episode 219: Peter Sellers	Gonzo throws knives at Peter Sellers in character as Inspector Jacques Clouseau.
	Gonzo Recites Shakespeare While Hanging by His Nose Episode 222: Teresa Brewer	Gonzo recites 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.
	Gonzo Catches a Cannonball Episode 223: John Cleese	Gonzo catches a cannonball with his bare hand.

The Muppet Show Season 3

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Gonzo Recites the Seven Times Table Episode 301: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge	Gonzo attempts to recite the seven-times tables while standing on a hammock and balancing a piano.
	Gonzo Yodels While Riding a Motorized Pogo Stick Episode 303: Roy Clark	Gonzo yodels Rimsky-Korsakov while riding on a motorized pogo-stick. The pogo-stick goes out of control, acting as a jack hammer through the floor.
	Gonzo Rides a Motorcycle into Statler and Waldorf's Balcony Episode 315: Lesley Ann Warren	After a failed attempt, Gonzo rides his motorcycle into Statler and Waldorf's theater box.
	Gonzo Hypnotizes Himself 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

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Gonzo Recites Poetry While Defusing a Bomb Episode 407: Dudley Moore	Gonzo recites the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley while defusing a bomb.
	Gonzo Shoots Himself from a Catapult Episode 410: Kenny Rogers	Gonzo shoots himself from a catapult to sky-write the "Hallelujah Chorus" but ends up sending Kermit and Miss Piggy flying into Statler and Waldorf's theater box.
	Gonzo Tap Dances in Oatmeal Episode 411: Lola Falana	Gonzo sings "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" while tap-dancing in oatmeal.
	Gonzo Does an Indescribable Act Episode 424: Diana Ross	The curtain opens for Gonzo, onstage with a swinging rubber tire, a flaming torch, and a cow (she replaced the typewriter). The act goes no further and he is pelted with vegetables.

The Muppet Show Season 5

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Gonzo conducts Liebesträume and battles a crab Episode 504: Shirley Bassey	Gonzo conducts Liebesträume and battles Buster the crab and the violinist.
	Gonzo Wrestles a Wild Mountain Gorilla 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 Pack 12 of the 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

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Gonzo's inverted, suborbital, rocket-powered, anti-gravity bungee jump Episode 102: Garth Brooks	Garth Brooks participate in Gonzo's stunt act of inverted, suborbital, rocket-powered, anti-gravity bungee jump.
	Gonzo and his Misguided Missiles of Death 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.
	Gonzo Shoots Cannonballs 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.
	Gonzo Gets Hammered into a railway tie. 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.

Muppets.com

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Dancin' With Danger	Gonzo tap-dances on tapioca pudding and thumbtacks.
	Going Up?
	Intermural Skydiving	Gonzo explains the ins and outs of skydiving only to discover he forgot his parachute.
	Me and the Alligator	Gonzo explains how to butter an alligator.

The Muppets

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Shot out of a cannon into Niagra Falls 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 Canadian side.)
	The Great Gonzo brought to you by Piggy Water 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

Picture	Theme / Episode	Description
	Gonzo's aquacade act 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 "The William Tell Oveture."
	Head bowling 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.
	Gonzo's Stunt Spectacular Kermit's Party	Gonzo balance a pole with a bucket of a great white shark swimming in finger paint on his head.
	Cirque du Poulet Just for Laughs	The Great Gonzo debuts 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.
	Indoor Running-Of-The-Bulls Muppets Most Wanted	Gonzo and Salma Hayek both wear a leotard with a target on the front as running of the bulls chase them.
	Magic Act 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.
	Time Travel Magic Act 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 (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 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: 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

Sources

↑ Plume, Ken. Muppet Central Interview with Dave Goelz.

Muppet Wiki