Did a Guest Star ever refuse to go on TMS

[Vic Romano]

I think that was mentioned in the Muppet Central interview with Jerry Juhl. I can't remember if it was mentioned that any of them didn't want to be on there, but I think there were both budjet problems of having four guests and also because Paul McCarthy had a contract with Wings at the time and I believe that either Wings had to be with him or he couldn't be with the beatles.

Close, it was actually from a post from a very notable Muppeteer:

Some Guests I would like to have seen on TMS.
The Beatles come immediatly to mind. There were some talks with Paul or at least his Representative but his condition ( as I understand it ) was Wings and Linda had to appear also which our budget could not handle.George or Ringo wanted to do it, I was told, but for some reason they didn't. I think whomever was negotiating for Muppets didn't want to compromise the deal they were talking with Paul.

 

[Gorgon Heap]

Does anyone know why Richard Pryor was replaced? Was it scheduling conflicts?

I think that was when Pryor had his legendary accident, later revealed to be a suicide attempt, when he lit himself on fire while free-basing cocaine.

In Jerry Nelson's interview on MC, he said that they tried to get Paul, who was interested but wouldn't do it without Wings, and they couldn't afford the whole band. George Harrison was interested as well, but they really wanted Paul and consequently let George slip through their fingers. I believe Jerry also mentioned that they tried to get Frank Sinatra.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

 

[Speed Tracer]

As I recall, John Cleese wasn't too keen on the idea of being a host.

But seriously.

I read somewhere that Gene Wilder was rumored to have either been interested in being a host, or was offered a spot and didn't want to. I have no idea if this is true or not... to be honest, for all I know, he did host the show later on.

 

[Gorgon Heap]

As I recall, John Cleese wasn't too keen on the idea of being a host.

But seriously.

I read somewhere that Gene Wilder was rumored to have either been interested in being a host, or was offered a spot and didn't want to. I have no idea if this is true or not... to be honest, for all I know, he did host the show later on.

Wilder was never on TMS.

And it's guest star, by the by. Kermit was the host. Nowadays the terms guest star and guest host are used interchangeably, thanks to the ubiquity of SNL, but truthfully the guests on TMS were not hosts, just guest stars. Come to think of it, heck, they're called guest stars at the beginnings and endings of every episode and well throughout every episode.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

 

[Gonzo14]

Don't quote me on this because I may be totally wrong, but I remember reading there being a good bit of interest to have the Beatles on, but not all of them wanted to be on, like it was a split decision, but due to scheduling conflicts, it ultimately fell through anyway.

I don't know if this is right, but i heard that one of the Beatles didn't want to, but the other 3 did

 

[The Flying Sheep]

Not sure if this counts, but SNL definatly HATED the fact that they had anything to do with the Muppets, and certaintly would never "loan" any of the "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" to do some synergy

Not all of the SNL crowd hated the muppets. Chevy Chase seemed to like them: he appeard in (and apparently wrote) the majority of the later Gorch segments. John Belushi on the other hand...

 

[Convincing John]

Don't forget Gilda!

Don't forget Gilda Radner! She was on SNL and actually liked the Gorch Muppets (especially Scred). And later, Gilda was on TMS too. One of my all-time favorite episodes.

Also, Chevy Chase was in "Follow That Bird" as a newscaster.

Convincing John

 

[JJandJanice]

Just to let you know the man whom created Beavis and Butt-Head was Mike Judge, as well as voiced both Beavis and Butt-Head, really just about all the characters. Judge also co-created King of the Hill and wrote the funny movie Office Space.

 

[Gorgon Heap]

Don't forget Gilda Radner! She was on SNL and actually liked the Gorch Muppets (especially Scred). And later, Gilda was on TMS too. One of my all-time favorite episodes.

Also, Chevy Chase was in "Follow That Bird" as a newscaster.

And I think Laraine Newman voiced one of the dodos in "Follow That Bird".

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

 

[Lettuce]

Whatever happened to Cher on the Muppets?