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in: Repeated Sketches, Muppet Show Sketches, Variety Show Sketches, Sam and Friends Segments

Changes: The Glow-Worm

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[[Image:Sam and Friends Glow Worm.jpg|thumb|300px|''Sam and Friends'']]
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'''Inchworm''' (not to be confused with the [[Inchworm (song)|song]] from ''Hans Christian Andersen'', which was sung in two episodes of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'') is a sketch that involved [[Kermit the Frog]] humming a tune (usually the song "'''Glow Worm'''", an alternate name for the sketch) while sitting on a wall. While he does this, a worm crawls to him and taps him. Kermit sees this worm and eats it. Another worm shows up and does the same thing (and Kermit eats it). The third time a worm shows up, Kermit catches it early, but it gets longer and longer until it's revealed to be the nose of [[Big V]], who eats him. This sketch was performed many times for variety shows in the 1960s.
  
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"'''The Glow-Worm'''" is a song from Paul Lincke's operetta ''Lysistrata''. It was written in 1902 with German lyrics by Heinz Bolten-Backers as "Das Glühwürmchen". The song was translated into English by Lilla Cayley Robinson and used in the 1907 Broadway musical ''The Girl Behind the Counter''. A later version by [[The Mills Brothers]], with expanded lyrics by Johnny Mercer, became a hit in 1952.
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The instrumental version of the song, in the form of a gavotte, has been used in a sketch repeated by the Muppets on several occasions. It's usually referred to as "Glow Worm" or "Inchworm" as a reference to one of the characters.
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The sketch involved [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] humming the tune while sitting on a wall as a worm crawls to him and taps him. Kermit sees the worm and eats it, followed by another worm who shows up and does the same thing. The third time a worm shows up, Kermit catches it early, but it gets longer and longer until it's revealed to be the nose of a larger entity (often [[Big V]]), who eats him.
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According to the book ''[[Jim Henson: The Works]]'' and [[Jim Henson's Red Book]], the sketch originated on ''[[Sam and Friends]]''.<ref>[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2013/11/11-1969/ Jim Henson's Red Book - 11/-/1961]</ref> In this early incarnation, Kermit is bothered by two fingers, which he eats. When a third one appears, Kermit pulls it up, revealing an entire human hand. The two inspect each other before the hand tickles Kermit off the wall.
   
 
The sketch was performed in [[Episode 204: Rich Little|episode 204]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', with [[Lenny the Lizard]] taking Kermit's place, being eaten by [[Gorgon Heap]].
  
The sketch was performed in [[Episode 204: Rich Little|episode 204]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', with [[Lenny the Lizard]] taking Kermit's place, being eaten by [[Gorgon Heap]].
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The animated ''[[Fraggle Rock (animated)|Fraggle Rock]]'' series paid tribute to this sketch. In a few episodes, a Fraggle bug collector shows up in the background, picking up little worms from the ground. The worm turns out to be the trunk of a large monster.
  
The animated ''[[Fraggle Rock (animated)|Fraggle Rock]]'' series paid tribute to this sketch. In a few episodes, a Fraggle bug collector shows up in the background, picking up little worms from the ground. The worm turns out to be the trunk of a large monster.
   
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<gallery orientation=landscape widths=209 spacing=small captionalign=center hideaddbutton=true position=center>
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<gallery orientation=landscape widths=200 spacing=small>
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Image:Jack paar.JPG|Kermit and Big V on ''The Jack Paar Show'', 1964
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Image:Jack paar.JPG|''[[The Jack Paar Show]]'', 1964
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Image:Glow Worm.JPG|Inchworm as seen on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'', 1966
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GloWorm-Douglas.jpg|''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', 1966
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Image:Inch Worm.JPG|Inchworm as seen on ''The Muppet Show'', 1977
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Image:Glow Worm.JPG|''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', 1966
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The Hollywood Palace - March 19, 1966 - Inchworm.png|''[[The Hollywood Palace]]'', 1966
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Inchworm-Cavett.jpg|''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'', 1971
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Image:Inch Worm.JPG|''The Muppet Show'', 1977
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   
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==Appearances==
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==Other appearances==
  
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* November 20, [[1964]] - ''[[The Jack Paar Show]]''
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* December 18, [[1964]] - ''[[The Jack Paar Show]]''
 
* December 31, [[1965]] - ''[[The Tonight Show]]''
  
* December 31, [[1965]] - ''[[The Tonight Show]]''
 
* April 30, 1966 - ''[[The Hollywood Palace]]''
  
* April 30, 1966 - ''[[The Hollywood Palace]]''
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* December 3, [[1968]] - ''[[That's Life]]''
  
* December 3, [[1968]] - ''[[That's Life]]''
 
* September 26, [[1969]] - ''The Tonight Show''
  
* September 26, [[1969]] - ''The Tonight Show''
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* July 8, [[1971]] - ''[[This Is Tom Jones]]''
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* November 25, [[1971]] - ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]''<ref> [http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2010/11/25/11251971/ Jim Henson's Red Book - 11/25/1971] (<span class="plainlinks">[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/GUE_4902_Cavettrundown2.jpg noted in script rundown]</span>)</ref>
  
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* November 25, [[1971]] - ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]''
   
 
==Video releases==
  
==Video releases==
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*''[[Muppet Moments]]'' (1985)
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*''[[Muppet Moments (video)|Muppet Moments]]'' (1985)
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*''[[Muppets Magic from the Ed Sullivan Show]]'' (2003)
   
 
==Sources==
  
==Sources==
 
<references />
  
<references />
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[[Category: Repeated Sketches]]
  
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{{wikipedia}}
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[[Category: Muppet Show Sketches]]
  
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__NOWYSIWYG__
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Glow-Worm, The}}
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[[Category:Repeated Sketches]]
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[[Category:Muppet Show Sketches]]
 
[[Category:Variety Show Sketches]]
  
[[Category:Variety Show Sketches]]
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[[Category:Sam and Friends Segments]]

Revision as of 23:52, 22 September 2018

Sam and Friends Glow Worm

Sam and Friends

"The Glow-Worm" is a song from Paul Lincke's operetta Lysistrata. It was written in 1902 with German lyrics by Heinz Bolten-Backers as "Das Glühwürmchen". The song was translated into English by Lilla Cayley Robinson and used in the 1907 Broadway musical The Girl Behind the Counter. A later version by The Mills Brothers, with expanded lyrics by Johnny Mercer, became a hit in 1952.

The instrumental version of the song, in the form of a gavotte, has been used in a sketch repeated by the Muppets on several occasions. It's usually referred to as "Glow Worm" or "Inchworm" as a reference to one of the characters.

The sketch involved Kermit humming the tune while sitting on a wall as a worm crawls to him and taps him. Kermit sees the worm and eats it, followed by another worm who shows up and does the same thing. The third time a worm shows up, Kermit catches it early, but it gets longer and longer until it's revealed to be the nose of a larger entity (often Big V), who eats him.

According to the book Jim Henson: The Works and Jim Henson's Red Book, the sketch originated on Sam and Friends.[1] In this early incarnation, Kermit is bothered by two fingers, which he eats. When a third one appears, Kermit pulls it up, revealing an entire human hand. The two inspect each other before the hand tickles Kermit off the wall.

The sketch was performed in episode 204 of The Muppet Show, with Lenny the Lizard taking Kermit's place, being eaten by Gorgon Heap.

The animated Fraggle Rock series paid tribute to this sketch. In a few episodes, a Fraggle bug collector shows up in the background, picking up little worms from the ground. The worm turns out to be the trunk of a large monster.

Appearances

Video releases

Sources

  1. ↑ Jim Henson's Red Book - 11/-/1961
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