Episode 108: Jason Alexander

	Muppets Tonight
Air Date	June 30, 1996
Written by	Dick Blasucci, Paul Flaherty, Darin Henry, Jim Lewis, Dan McGrath, Kirk R. Thatcher, and Patric M. Verrone
Director	Greg V. Fera
Prod. no.	112
	(TRANSCRIPT)

Creative differences threaten to close down a revival of "Bats," a musical written by Gonzo and Jason Alexander during their college years. Swedish supermodel Vendela also appears in a cameo.

Skit Highlights[]

Fairyland PD: The Big Crack-up (UK spot)
Murder on the Disoriented Express
Pigs in Space: Deep Dish Nine
At the Bar (UK spot)
Muppet Bandstand
Thor, God of Thunder
"Bats: The Musical"

Episode[]

Picture	Description
	In the cold open, Jason Alexander and Gonzo reminisce about their school days, laughing over yearbook memories. The pair recall an unsuccessful musical they wrote in school, embracing its oddity as quintessential to the Muppets' style they decide to revive it as the closing number.
	"Muppets Tonight Theme"
	Clifford welcomes the audience to Muppets Tonight, joking with the house band before introducing the night's guest, Jason Alexander. After comments from two "eggheads" in the audience, Animal takes to the stage for a classical music interlude, knocking his head against a gong and incapacitating himself.
	Meanwhile, Statler and Waldorf, watching from a nursing home, hope the fast start means the show will end sooner.
	In a "Fairyland PD" UK spot, Clifford and Bobo try to prevent Humpty Dumpty from jumping off a wall and committing suicide. However, Bobo's attempts to talk him round only stiffen his resolve and the detectives decide to eat the evidence.
	As the "Bats" crew sets up, Jason excitedly discusses the musical, but he grows concerned when Gonzo introduces a group of chickens performing "Turkey in the Straw." Jason stresses the need for emotional depth and professional artists, while Gonzo remains optimistic, encouraging the chickens and celebrating their performance.
	Jason stars as Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Disoriented Express a "Muppet Masterpiece Mystery Movie" and Agatha Christie spoof. Mr. Poodlepants is murdered, and Hercule is called on to solve the case. But everyone thinks he is "Hercules," the fictional Greek hero. Jason makes several in-character attempts to explain who he really is, but when Bunsen mistakes him for Superman, he loses patience, and leaves, falling off the train in the process.
	In a "Pigs in Space: Deep Dish Nine" sketch, Miss Piggy and her crew's spaceship is invaded by space pirates led by Vendela. Miss Piggy tells her crew that Vendela is an ugly monster princess, but she turns out to be the Swedish supermodel, and all the male members of the crew go off to be her personal slaves, leaving Miss Piggy to vent her anger on the new spaceship computer.
	Gonzo discusses set design when Jason expresses concern about his idea for a massive laser cannon in the final number. Despite Jason's insistence on focusing on emotional storytelling, Gonzo argues that flashy effects enhance the experience. Their argument escalates as they reference past creative differences, leading both to declare they will never work together again.
	In an "At the Bar" UK spot, Clueless has been recycling cans- by eating them! He and Polly start to sing "Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay" but are both knocked out by hammers which come down from the ceiling.
	Clifford reveals that in the late 1970s, Jason Alexander made his television debut as a number one disco sensation named "Jason Alexanderploatz" on Muppet Bandstand (a parody of American Bandstand hosted by Kermit the Frog). A clip is shown.
	Thor goes to the library in "Thor, God of Thunder."
	In the control room, Zeus and Thor discuss their recent performance while Nigel instructs them to clean up before the closing number. Clifford and Rizzo realize they need to reunite Jason and Gonzo for the final act and decide to trick them into working together. When Gonzo enters, he unwittingly falls for their scheme, believing he must perform with Jason after guessing the number Clifford was thinking of. Meanwhile, Jason refuses to be tricked, insisting he won't work with Gonzo and is confronted by his good and bad consciences, Pepe and Seymour. Ultimately, Jason relents, deciding that the show must go on.
	Jason and Gonzo perform a medley from their original musical, "Bats." The scene opens in a dark cave, where Jason sings a serious verse about bats, only for Gonzo to interrupt and switch to a lively performance of "That's the Way I Like It," accompanied by dancing bats. Despite Jason's initial hesitation, he joins in with a romantic variant of "Memory," but the audience is left cold. Realizing they need more spectacle, Gonzo brings in chickens dressed for the Fourth of July, who perform "Grand Old Flag."
	After their performance, Gonzo, Jason, and the chickens take their curtain call, with Clifford thanking Jason Alexander for being their guest. Jason credits Gonzo's special effects for making the musical successful, while Gonzo insists it was Jason's heartfelt delivery that gave the show emotional depth. Clifford wishes everyone a good night. As the credits roll, outtakes feature Animal's gong routine and humorous moments with Jason, Seymour, and Pepe.

Notes[]

According to this episode, Jason and Gonzo were in the drama club together at the South Bay Regional Polytechnic Institute for the Performing and Industrial Arts Nightschool, Downtown Campus.

Performers[]

Kevin Clash as Clifford, Craniac, Polly Lobster, Humpty Dumpty

Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Waldorf, Egghead, Snorty, Ernest Pleth, Iced Mocha Stirring Rod

Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Mr. Poodlepants, Rizzo the Rat, Captain Pighead

Jerry Nelson as Statler, Jowls, Egghead

Brian Henson as Seymour, Thor, Nigel, Spectator

Bill Barretta as Pepe, Bobo, Al-1995 Plus tax, Clueless Morgan, Bee, Zeus

Frank Oz as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Spectator

Cast[]

Muppets:

Clifford, Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat, Jowls, Kermit the Frog, Nigel, Fozzie Bear, Mr. Poodlepants, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Seymour, Pepe the King Prawn, Animal, Miss Piggy, Muppets Tonight Band, Captain Pighead, Craniac, Snorty, Bobo the Bear, Mr. Callahan, Polly Lobster, Clueless Morgan, Eggheads, Humpty Dumpty, Ernest Pleth, Thor, Zeus, Iced Mocha Stirring Rod

Background:

Bobby Benson, Eugene, J.P. Grosse, Stalactites

Audience Muppets:

Begoony, Big Mean Carl, Blustering Bellowpane Monster, Buster Bergman, Butch, Chickens, Chip, Crocodile, Frackles, Gnu, Large Marvin Fraggle, a Monkey, Doris, Pigs, Rats, Quongo, The Newsman, Shirley

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