GUEST STAR: Aretha Franklin
STYLE: Early/Mid Season 4 (Between Beverly Sills and Anne Murray)
COLD OPENING:
Scooter: Aretha Franklin! Aretha Franklin! 15 seconds till curtain, Miss Franklin!
Aretha: Thank you, Scooter. I'll be ready as soon as Swedish Chef here finishes tossing my salad.
Swedish Chef: -tossing bowl of salad into air- Bernda gurden hurver veeeee!
The bowl of salad accidentally lands on Aretha.
Aretha: Didn't say his accuracy was good.
THEME SONG
TRUMPET GAG: Gonzo gets trampled by a herd of cows before he can play his trumpet. One of the cows then plays the trumpet for him.
INTRODUCTION:
Kermit: Thank you, thank you! Hi ho and welcome again to The Muppet Show! And tonight, is a very special night on the show for two things. Number one, our guest star tonight is that Queen of Soul and Gospel herself, Miss Aretha Franklin! And number two.....well....how do I explain this.....today is our beloved Miss Piggy's birthday.
Miss Piggy: -rushes on- Oh, Kermie! I knew you wouldn't forget! -hugs Kermit-
Kermit: Oh, you know I'd never forget your birthday.
Miss Piggy: Oooooh, Kermie! There's just a few things moi would require for tonight.
Kermit: What's that?
Miss Piggy: First, an opening number...for moi!
MUSICAL NUMBER: Hello, Dolly (Piggy), sung by Kermit, Miss Piggy and a group of male pigs.
BALCONY:
Statler: So today is the pig's birthday?
Waldorf: Huh, she doesn't look a day over 365.
Statler: What do you mean?
Waldorf: She gets older with each day of stress!
Both: Dohohohoho!
BACKSTAGE:
Various Muppets (including Kermit) gather around Miss Piggy as they sing "Happy Birthday" to her. Miss Piggy then blows out the candles to her cake.
Miss Piggy: Oh, thank you! Thank you, everyone!
Kermit: Happy Birthday, Piggy.
Miss Piggy: Oh, Kermie, this is so wonderful!
Floyd: For a pig, she doesn't look a day over thirty. -laughs-
Annie Sue: -rushing over with gift- Oh, Miss Piggy, will you open my present? Will you? Will you?
Miss Piggy: Ahahaha....later. Right now, moi has more important things to do than to worry about presents or....-glances at Floyd- age jokes. Right now, comes to most important request for moi's perfect birthday. -turns to Kermit- Kermie?
Kermit: Yes?
Miss Piggy: Moi would like to host the rest of the show, if vous don't mind.
Everyone then gasps.
Gonzo: -not aware of why everyone gasped- Oh boy! Are we playing "who can hold their breath the longest?" That's some party game! Let me try! -holds his breath-
Kermit: Well....Piggy....I....uhhh
Miss Piggy: -begging- PLEASE, KERMIE! PLEEEEEEASE!
Kermit: Ummm....well....
Aretha: -entering from dressing room- Kermit?
Kermit: Oh, look, it's our guest star, Aretha Franklin! Yaaaaaaay!
Aretha: Kermit, what's going on out here? And why's Gonzo holding his breath?
Gonzo: -exhales, giving in- That game is hard.
Kermit: Well, if you don't mind, Aretha, would you be alright if Piggy hosts the rest of the show?
Aretha: Of course! I wouldn't mind that at all! After all, it is her birthday. Give the girl what she wants, Kermit.
Miss Piggy: Yes, Kermie, give the girl what she wants.
Kermit: Alright, Piggy, you can host the rest of the show.
Miss Piggy: Yes!
Everyone except Kermit, Aretha, and Miss Piggy: Noooooooooooo!
Kermit: Now, Aretha, you go get ready for your number. And, Piggy, you go introduce Aretha. -Aretha and Miss Piggy head onstage-
Floyd: Man, you're making a wrong choice here. Remember the last time the Queen of Pork hosted the show?
Scooter: -shudders in fear- Uhhh....don't make me think of that.
Kermit: Oh come on, guys, maybe things will be different this time.
Floyd: By different, do you mean having us dress like up posies again? Frills are not my thing, man.
Kermit: Fellas, it's just for one night. What can possibly go wrong?
Everyone then gasps again.
Scooter: Kermit, you can't say that on television!
Kermit: What? What could possibly go wrong?
Everyone gasps again.
Floyd: Man, you should know what happens when someone says "What could possibly go wrong?"
Everyone gasps again.
Gonzo: Everyone stop saying "What could possibly go wrong!"
Everyone gasps again.
Floyd: Stop saying that, man!
Gonzo: Saying what?
Floyd and Scooter: "What could possibly go wrong?"
Everyone gasps again.
Kermit: Good grief.
INTRODUCTION:
Miss Piggy: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I, Miss Piggy, your official host this evening, would now like to introduce to you our wonderful guest star for your pleasure right now, Miss Aretha Franklin!
MUSICAL NUMBER: Chain of Fools, sung by Aretha, locked up in a prison cellar setting, backed up by "Jail Birds" (Birds that are in jail attire)
MUPPET LABS: Bunsen believes he has found a cure for the "common cold" be using a potion that he has whipped up. He tests it on Beaker, but Beaker turns into a sickly green, monster like, thing. ("It certainly looks like he now has a case of the "uncommon cold." " )
UK SKETCH: MUSICAL NUMBER: Turkey Lurkey Time (from Promises, Promises), sung by a group of chickens. A turkey then appears onstage, but the Swedish Chef chases it off.
BALCONY (For UK SKETCH):
Waldorf: Do you know what time it is?
Statler: Definitely not Turkey Lurkey Time.
Both: Dohohohoho!
BACKSTAGE:
Miss Piggy: Everyone! Everyone! Moi has announcement to make!
Kermit: C'mon everyone! Gather around!
Various Muppets wander in.
Miss Piggy: Now. Moi has one final request in order to make this birthday the best yet.
Gonzo: And what's that?
Miss Piggy: You are all going to be in moi's closing number!
Everyone cheers.
Miss Piggy: But...-everyone continues cheering and ignoring Miss Piggy- Hey....hey! HEY!!!!!! WILL EVERYONE PLEASE BE QUIET!?!?! -silence- Thank you. Now, moi has all of your outfits ready for the closing number. Kermie, grab the outfits.
Kermit than passes out the outfits for the closing number.
Miss Piggy: Moi hopes you will like these outfits!
Everyone groans at seeing the outfits.
Floyd: Frills!?! Blech!
Miss Piggy: Watch it! I worked hard on these.
Floyd: Not hard enough. -laughs-
MUSICAL NUMBER: Respect, sung by Miss Piggy, backed up by female characters (including Annie Sue and Janice). Aretha joins in later on in the song. Zoot also does a saxophone solo in this song.
NEWSFLASH:
Newsman: Here's a Muppet News Flash! The world's tallest tissue paper monster has just been reincarnated. It has also been updated with heat vision, night vision, ice breath, flight, and everyone other sort of super power that a super hero might have. So powerful it is that even the likes of Superman can't even defeat it. Unfortunately, right now, it is on the loose and wrecking havoc wherever it goes.
Tissue Paper Monster: ROOOOOOOAR! -knocks down Newsman with its roar- You are too weak! Ha ha ha ha!
Newsman: How's a tissue paper monster able to do that?
Tissue Paper Monster: -uses heat vision on the Newsman-
Newsman: Ow! Ow! That I can believe!
BACKSTAGE:
Kermit: -wearing Miss Piggy's frilly costume- Come on, guys. It's just a costume. You can take it off after.
Scooter: -wearing Miss Piggy's frilly costume- Chief, this is really getting ridiculous. Isn't Miss Piggy going a little too far with these outfits we're wearing?
Kermit: How far?
Scooter: So far that Floyd doesn't even wanna do the number.
Floyd: -behind dressing room door- I'm not coming out with this stupid thing on!
Kermit: C'mon, Floyd, it can't be that bad.
Floyd: Oh no? -enters, wearing Miss Piggy's frilly costume (probably the most ridiculous of them all)-
Kermit and Scooter: -in disgust- Yuck!
Gonzo: -enters, wearing Miss Piggy's frilly costume- Woah! Floyd! You look great! You look like you're going to a tea party! Who's up for some tea and crumpets?
Floyd: I don't want no tea and crumpets! I want out of this costume!
Kermit: Oh, c'mon, Floyd. Just do it for Piggy.
Floyd: Not even if she karate chopped me and my butt to Antarctica!
Gonzo: Not even if I tell her you refuse to wear the costume and she'll most likely break your bass guitar?
Floyd: -gasp- Not my baby! Please! Not my baby! Okay! I'll do it!
Kermit: You will?
Floyd: Yeah.....for my bass.
Miss Piggy: Oh, fellas! It's time for the closing number. GET ONSTAGE!
Spooked, Floyd, Kermit, Gonzo and Scooter rush onstage.
Miss Piggy: Men....-goes onstage-
INTRODUCTION:
Miss Piggy: And now, ladies and gentlemen, a song by the lovely Miss Aretha Franklin.
MUSICAL NUMBER:
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, sung by Aretha (accompanied by Rowlf on piano), in a Victorian garden setting. She is serenading various Muppet guys (in the frilly outfits that Miss Piggy made for them).
GOODNIGHTS:
The setting remains the same as before.
Kermit and Miss Piggy come on together.
Kermit: Well, folks, we sure have had an interestingly fun evening tonight.
Miss Piggy: Unfortunately, all fun evenings must come to an end.
Kermit: But before we go, let us say thank you to our absolutely terrific guest star.........
Miss Piggy: Ladies and gentlemen......
Both: Miss Aretha Franklin! YAAAAAAY!!!!
Aretha: Thank you, Kermit. And Happy Birthday, Miss Piggy.
Miss Piggy: Oh, thank you, Aretha.
Aretha: Just one question, though, Piggy. Why did you really make these guys wear those frilly outfits?
Miss Piggy: Well...it was part of the setting for your finale.
Aretha: No really. I hate to say it but frills actually look good on men.
Miss Piggy: Yes, well, maybe they should wear frills more often, then.
Kermit: Good grief. Uhhh.....we'll see you next time on The Muppet Show!
(Goodnights: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Scooter, Gonzo, Floyd, two pigs from the opening number and some of the "Jailbirds" from "Chain of Fools")
CLOSING THEME
BALCONY:
Statler and Waldorf are wearing frills.
Statler: I learned something tonight, Waldorf.
Waldorf: What's that?
Statler: Frills look terrible on us.
Both: Dohohohoho!
END
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I think I might have used one of these songs in another outline, but I had this outline in mind for a while now. Frills. Ha. Best part was definitely the frills. Anyways, stay tuned for more outlines!