I can't think about last night's episode without getting happy all over again. I don't want to carelessly throw around words like "perfect" (because of course it wasn't, nor are many Muppet or non-Muppet productions) but apart from "Pig's In A Blackout" this episode seemed to capture and balance all the elements that we would want in a modern Muppet TV series experience.
The whole thing would have been a great effort even if it DIDN'T end with the Gonzo-and-Kermit cannon sequence. We already had amazing puppetry (Gonzo soaring through the air backstage, Scooter's freak-out with The Electric Mayhem), callbacks to earlier Muppet productions (am I the only one that thought of TMS Season 5's "Another Opening To Another Show" while watching the botched "Fly Me To The Moon" number?), great running gags, a terrific blend of character appearances and interactions, guest-stars that didn't seem forced, a smart use of music, and a thoughtful, well-written approach to Gonzo's past and evolution as a character over the years. (The last one, from my perspective, applies whether or not we're applying strict Muppet canon rules.)
And then...THEN...Dave Grohl and the EM launch into "Learn To Fly" (a song I've always loved) and it underscores the amazing sight of Gonzo soaring over the rooftops and actually completing the stunt, topped by Kermit's enthusiastic response ("You are the GREATEST Gonzo!" and arm-flailing) and two longtime friends celebrating a triumphant return for the daredevil Gonzo we all know and love. It didn't matter that Up Late With Miss Piggy's audience didn't see it - it mattered that those two characters saw it and celebrated it.
Animal and Dave Grohl engaging in the drum battle as the credits rolled (with the innovative gag of the two of them basically destroying their drum kits as they fought for supremacy) was just the icing on the cake. This was a quality Muppet production that I already can't wait to see again and that I am going to treasure for the rest of my life.
Does anybody else remember Dave Goelz being interviewed about this series just before the launch in September and commenting that he hasn't "been this excited about a project since Fraggle Rock"? I'm so happy that he, and his signature character, have been rewarded for this enthusiasm and for the patience he has shown in toughing it out for nine episodes before he, and we, finally got the Gonzo story that we've been seeking since the show came back. Canon or no canon, this is a worthy addition to Gonzo's (and Goelz's) four-decades-plus-long history with the Muppets.
Also, among the many amazing things I could cite about this episode: Sam The Eagle wanting to run for Congress but failing to even get elected to his apartment building's tenancy board. Mrs. Otter and I laughed so hard that we missed the follow-up joke (a regular occurrence through the early goings of what we hope is the show's inaugural season).