EPISODE NOTES

Signaling that Richard Hunt is still grasping the character, Janice is onstage during the opening number playing with the rest of the band but has no lines throughout the episode nor is seen with the others leaving the stage.

In other recasts, Jerry Nelson makes his debut as Crazy Harry (previously played by John Lovelady). The voice and mannerisms are very close to what was previously established.

In an effort to fill the now-void female Muppeteer role, actress/voiceover artist Richenda Carey provides the voice for "Queen Featherstone" in an uncredited performance. Starting here and with the following two episodes, a different female performer is publicly "auditioned" to join the repertoire. Carey only does voiceover work and no puppeteering (unlike the other two) in her episode which is probably why she didn't get the job. The third to audition in the Rich Little episode will be Louise Gold who wins the open slot and would remain with The Muppet Show for the rest of its run.

"At The Dance", an almost constant sketch in the first season, is seen less each subsequent year. It returns for year two with a successful gimmick used in last year's Vincent Price episode, all the jokes revolve around a theme. Some future At The Dance spots will still be random jokes, but a common motif starts becoming more evident.

Another returning sketch is "Muppet Labs". After his last encounter with exploding clothes, it appears Bunsen Honeydew has wised up and hired a full-time assistant, er guinea pig, Beaker. He's a tall thin creature who looks like he might be related to Zelda Rose. One of Beaker's trademarks would become his limited vocabulary. Most of his dialogue consists of "mee mee meeps". In his first appearance, it seems that the original concept of the character is of a being that is so terrified of what he's experiencing that he isn't able to spit any words out and communicates mostly in wordless gasps - this will quickly evolve in future appearances into his more famous "meeps".

A new set is introduced in this episode's UK skit, the prop room. The function appears to be as a place where backstage action can occur that might not necessarily be appropriate for the regular backstage set, though why it's used in this particular episode is unclear as the scene itself would have worked perfectly in the regular backstage set and ends up looking odd precisely because it's in a different place. Kermit has his call sheet on a table in front of him as he would be expected to reference at his standard desk and when he calls out for Fozzie and Zero to get ready for the pantomime number, it's unclear where is this particular location. Mostly, it just seems like the set is used in this episode simply because it was built so it may as well be seen. In future episodes, scenes that take place here seem more apt for a rehearsal room, which may be why the third season will debut a canteen/green room set.

This episode heavily features Sam the Eagle. Although he was a major character in the Sex & Violence pilot where he was introduced as someone who kept things from getting out of hand, this role was never really addressed or officially mentioned during the first season of the show proper; Sam was mostly seen introducing Wayne and Wanda and as being an overall grumpy character. With the absence this year of Wayne and Wanda (Wanda having been an Eren Ozker character), Sam's function as a self-appointed censor is redefined in this episode, with Sam even reminding Kermit in the prop room scene what the heck he's doing hanging around the theatre: "I feel my job is to make sure this program is morally upright and cultural and wholesome." For those outside the UK who missed this scene, he later introduces himself to Zero as "the upholder of decency and dignity for this show".

Among the monsters featured in "The Fears of Zero" are the Snerfs, making a rare Muppet Show appearance (seen here without the horn noses from the Bruce Forsythe episode) as well as Timmy Monster who was previously only seen at the end of Ben Vereen's closing number (and in a group publicity shot that would be used for the cover of The Muppet Show LP). The costumed Muppet is given some more distinct facial features giving him a meaner looking appearance which would be redesigned later in the season to a more benevolent look.