| The Muppet Show | |
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| Guest | Ethel Merman |
| Production | November 16-18, 1976 |
| Premiere | UK: April 9, 1977 NYC: February 21, 1977 |
| Releases | Season One |
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Fozzie's agent, Irving Bizarre, negotiates Fozzie's contract with Kermit. Kermit ends up offering Fozzie ten times as much money; unfortunately, Fozzie made nothing before. "Yeah, and don't forget," Irving says, "I get ten percent of that."
Songs/Sketches[]
- "Java"
- Ethel sings a medley of duets: "You're the Top" / "Friendship" / "De Lovely" / "Together Wherever We Go" / "You're Just in Love" / "Anything You Can Do" / "Mutual Admiration Society"
- Blackout: Ethel and Animal
- UK Spot: "Don't Sugar Me"
- Talk Spot: Kermit, Miss Piggy and Ethel
- Richard Bradshaw performs shadow puppetry
- Fozzie's Comedy Act
- "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Notes[]
- The heckler in the audience is Leo, from the Muppet Meeting Films.
- Mary Louise and Miss Mousey switch seats in the audience during Fozzie's monologue.
- This is the first episode (and only one from the first season) to not have At the Dance.
- This is Miss Mousey's only appearance from the first season aside from being seen as an audience member.
- This is the first time Janice was seen without her wig while wearing her chorus girl outfit. This is also the last episode, to feature Janice and Trumpet Girl as chorus girls.
- During Fozzie's Comedy Act a Koozebanian Phoob appears, a character that doesn't have a proper introduction until Season 2.
- Timmy Monster (with his original design) appears in publicity photos for this episode, but doesn't appear in the episode itself.
- In the Disney Xtreme Digital "Drive-Thru" segment with Miss Piggy, audio conversations between Miss Piggy and Irving Bizarre appears in the video being played in the limousine.
Episode[]
| Picture | Description |
|---|---|
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"The Muppet Show Theme": Before Gonzo can hit the gong, the Green Frackle hits him with a mallet. (Repeated from episode 117.) |
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During Kermit's introduction, Miss Piggy comes onstage to announce her tribute to Ethel Merman: a medley of all her great hits. Since Ms. Merman is there to sing her own hits, Miss Piggy decides that she will sing the medley as a tribute to Irving Berlin instead. |
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Two creatures dance to "Java." The small creature keeps getting booted off by the other. Eventually, this leads to the large creature's destruction. |
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Fozzie Bear informs Kermit that his agent will be stopping by, and asks Kermit to talk to him about his contract... or, rather, the fact that Fozzie does not have a contract. |
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Ethel sings a medley of duets:
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Fozzie's agent has arrived, but he's a little short. Fozzie introduces Kermit to Irving Bizarre. Kermit cannot resist the obvious short jokes, including asking Irving if he also handles Rich Little and Tiny Tim. Irving states that he wouldn't handle Kermit, as he would get warts, thus, Fozzie's contract negotiations stall for now. |
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Blackout: Ethel's irritated, because a mouse is in her dressing room. Whe she complains to Hilda, she's surprised to find that the mouse "sings in the band!" Ethel calls the show a zoo-which is supported when Animal appears to bother her. |
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UK Spot: Miss Mousey appears in Statler and Waldorf's tea cup, and sings "Don't Sugar Me." |
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Talk Spot: Kermit and Ethel talk about her long Broadway career. Eventually, Miss Piggy enters carrying a glass, offering a toast to Ethel-and asking for a free singing lesson. Ethel tells Piggy that her porcine voice is too subtle. She shows off her own high note-which shatters the glass! |
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Australian puppeteer Richard Bradshaw performs shadow puppetry. An ostrich, a mouse, and a hippopotamus each play on a slide and cross a tight rope. |
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Miss Piggy meets Irving Bizarre, who asks if he can handle her. Piggy informs Irving that she already has an agent. He says that he never wanted to be her agent, but just wants to handle her. The conversation does not end well for Irving. |
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Fozzie's Comedy Act: Fozzie gets heckled, not only by Statler and Waldorf, but also by Leo, sitting in the audience. Additionally, Fozzie's Cousin is in the audience but even he deserts the bear when the entire audience walks out on him. Statler and Waldorf stay, however. |
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Despite the fact that Fozzie has just driven away the entire audience, Kermit agrees to give Fozzie three times as much money. Irving eventually works that figure up to ten times as much as Fozzie is making now. It is soon revealed, however, that Fozzie used to make nothing. And ten times nothing is still nothing. "And don't forget," Irving says, "I get ten percent of that." |
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Ethel Merman, in an attempt to cheer up the now depressed Fozzie, reminds him that he is still doing what he loves to do. She then sings "There's No Business Like Show Business" with Fozzie and the rest of the Muppets. |
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At the closing, Miss Piggy presents Ethel Merman with roses. Ethel expresses her concern that they might explode. |
Edits[]
- On Nickelodeon, the first Statler & Waldorf comment and first backstage sequence were cut.
Cast[]
Muppets:
- Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, Java, Two-Headed Singer, Uncle Deadly, Irving Bizarre, Hilda, Animal, Miss Mousey, Leo, Fozzie's Cousin
Background Muppets:
- Eel, Beautiful Day Monster, Baskerville the Hound, Miss Kitty, Frackles, Droop, Mary Louise, Mary Louise, Wayne and Wanda, George the Janitor, Janice, Floyd Pepper, Pigs, Whatnots, Sexy Muppet, Trumpet Girl
Audience Muppets:
Performers[]
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, and Leo
- Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal, and Fozzie's Cousin
- Jerry Nelson as Irving Bizarre, Uncle Deadly, and Miss Mousey
- Richard Hunt as Scooter and Statler
- Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo
- Eren Ozker as Hilda
- John Lovelady as Two-Headed Whatnot
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Falk, Karen. "Jim Henson's Red Book", 11/16/1976 – Ethel Merman (MS)
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