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Jim Henson had a handful of stock gags that he employed throughout his career, comic bits that would become synonymous with the Muppets: Characters exploding, characters getting eaten, characters getting beaten up and characters flying through the air to name a few.
But the one gag that seems to have been forgotten is the “bald” gag. In its heyday it was as frequently used as any explosion or carnivorous assault. Here’s a few examples:
SESAME STREET:
Ernie’s running a barbershop. Bert comes in for a trim and Ernie basically scalps him.
The adults of Sesame Street fantasize about being bald like Gordon, with a dream sequence showing each of them bald, including Oscar.
Big Bird notices that Olivia looks nothing like her brother, Gordon. So Big Bird takes her into the kitchen and gives her a haircut, resulting in her being bald just like Gordon.
The Muppet News Flash segment where Kermit interviews Rapunzel and her prince. Upon the prince’s request that she let down her hair, Rapunzel lets it ALL down, leaving her bald headed.
THE MUPPET SHOW:
Louis Kazagger (the Muppet Sports caster) commentates for a wig race, only to have his own hair jump off his head and take off running.
The newsman from The Muppet News reports on the race himself, only to have his own hair vacate his head.
Jim Neighbors is singing a romantic song to a female Muppet, the wind violently picks up, blows the girl’s hair off her head and eventually blows her out of the scene.
Bunsen Honeydew creates a formula meant to make hair shiny and smooth and uses it on Beaker, resulting in Beaker’s head starting to smoke and his hair being blown off his head. Another Muppet labs sketch began with Beaker showing the results of a previous experiment by popping off his hair like a cap.
FRAGGLE ROCK:
Uncle Traveling Matt happens upon some sheep being shorn. Subsequently a farmer grabs Matt and shears him bald as well.
These were funny gags, but sadly seem to have been forgotten. The Ernie and Bert bit is NEVER shown anymore, and those sketches with Gordon and the adults seem to have been lost as well. And though the explosions and eating gags remain a staple of the Muppets today, the bald gag hasn’t been used since the early 80s.
The one thing that always confused me is why Miss Piggy, with her long blonde hair, was never subject to one of these bald gags. It seems to me that she would have been a prime candidate. The closest she’s ever come to being bald was in a comic strip in Muppet Magazine where, in a parody of Dynasty, she tries to steal Gonzo’s hair growing formula and spills it all over herself, resulting in her getting clipped bald at the end of the comic. In the course of the Muppet Show, Fozzie’s had his fur set ablaze, Gonzo’s had his nose mangled and Kermit’s been stripped of his collar on countless occasions. So why shouldn’t Piggy have been made bald for the sake of a gag? She’s as susceptible to humiliation as the rest of the cast. If the Muppet folks are ever hard up for a gag, they’d be wise to make Piggy bald at some point. It’s funny stuff and would allow her a little much needed vulnerability.
If anyone out there knows of a bald moment that I’ve forgotten, let me know. Or in the very least, share your feelings on the past use and present lack of the classic bald gag from the Muppets. Speaking for myself, I’ve been waiting to see Piggy bald just once for years, and would think highly of the Muppet folks if they’d make it happen sometime soon. And if anyone knows where I could find footage of the Ernie the barber sketch or the Sesame Street adults in their bald moments, I’d appreciate the information.
But the one gag that seems to have been forgotten is the “bald” gag. In its heyday it was as frequently used as any explosion or carnivorous assault. Here’s a few examples:
SESAME STREET:
Ernie’s running a barbershop. Bert comes in for a trim and Ernie basically scalps him.
The adults of Sesame Street fantasize about being bald like Gordon, with a dream sequence showing each of them bald, including Oscar.
Big Bird notices that Olivia looks nothing like her brother, Gordon. So Big Bird takes her into the kitchen and gives her a haircut, resulting in her being bald just like Gordon.
The Muppet News Flash segment where Kermit interviews Rapunzel and her prince. Upon the prince’s request that she let down her hair, Rapunzel lets it ALL down, leaving her bald headed.
THE MUPPET SHOW:
Louis Kazagger (the Muppet Sports caster) commentates for a wig race, only to have his own hair jump off his head and take off running.
The newsman from The Muppet News reports on the race himself, only to have his own hair vacate his head.
Jim Neighbors is singing a romantic song to a female Muppet, the wind violently picks up, blows the girl’s hair off her head and eventually blows her out of the scene.
Bunsen Honeydew creates a formula meant to make hair shiny and smooth and uses it on Beaker, resulting in Beaker’s head starting to smoke and his hair being blown off his head. Another Muppet labs sketch began with Beaker showing the results of a previous experiment by popping off his hair like a cap.
FRAGGLE ROCK:
Uncle Traveling Matt happens upon some sheep being shorn. Subsequently a farmer grabs Matt and shears him bald as well.
These were funny gags, but sadly seem to have been forgotten. The Ernie and Bert bit is NEVER shown anymore, and those sketches with Gordon and the adults seem to have been lost as well. And though the explosions and eating gags remain a staple of the Muppets today, the bald gag hasn’t been used since the early 80s.
The one thing that always confused me is why Miss Piggy, with her long blonde hair, was never subject to one of these bald gags. It seems to me that she would have been a prime candidate. The closest she’s ever come to being bald was in a comic strip in Muppet Magazine where, in a parody of Dynasty, she tries to steal Gonzo’s hair growing formula and spills it all over herself, resulting in her getting clipped bald at the end of the comic. In the course of the Muppet Show, Fozzie’s had his fur set ablaze, Gonzo’s had his nose mangled and Kermit’s been stripped of his collar on countless occasions. So why shouldn’t Piggy have been made bald for the sake of a gag? She’s as susceptible to humiliation as the rest of the cast. If the Muppet folks are ever hard up for a gag, they’d be wise to make Piggy bald at some point. It’s funny stuff and would allow her a little much needed vulnerability.
If anyone out there knows of a bald moment that I’ve forgotten, let me know. Or in the very least, share your feelings on the past use and present lack of the classic bald gag from the Muppets. Speaking for myself, I’ve been waiting to see Piggy bald just once for years, and would think highly of the Muppet folks if they’d make it happen sometime soon. And if anyone knows where I could find footage of the Ernie the barber sketch or the Sesame Street adults in their bald moments, I’d appreciate the information.
