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EPISODE NOTES This episode was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing-Comedy/Variety or Music Series. Dom DeLuise played an important role in 1979's The Muppet Movie as the fisherman who inspires Kermit to trek out of the swamp to audition in Hollywood. Dom DeLuise and Jim Henson also worked together in the early '70's on The Flip Wilson Show. Muppets that were bribed by Scooter to go wild for Piggy in the audience include Zelda Rose, Baskerville the Hound, Brewsters, Mary Louise, Droop, Shaky Sanchez, and even Miss Mousey (who will be Piggy's rival next episode). Miss Piggy once again enlists Scooter to assist with her schemes to win the frog's attention...forging fan mail and sending flowers to the pig would apparently remain a regular part of Scooter's backstage duties. |
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PRODUCED BY Jim Henson WRITTEN BY Jerry Juhl, Joseph A. Bailey, Jim Henson and Don Hinkley DIRECTED BY Philip Casson THE MUPPET PERFORMERS FEATURING Frank Oz (Miss Piggy, merdlidop, Animal, Doglion) Jerry Nelson (merdlidop, whatnot, announcer, cow, Slim Wilson, Floyd) Richard Hunt (Scooter, Statler, merdlidop, Janice, Big Mama) Dave Goelz (Gonzo, merdlidop, Luncheon Counter Monster) Jim Henson (Swedish Chef, Kermit, Waldorf, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth) [uncredited] Louise Gold (Louisey) PUPPETS
AND THEIR COSTUMES BY Caroly Wilcox, Mari Kaestle, Dave
Goelz, SPECIAL PUPPETS BY Don Sahlin MUPPET CREATIVE CONSULTANTS: Frank Oz, Michael Frith MUSIC CONSULTANT: Larry Grossman ART DIRECTOR: Malcolm Stone ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY Jack Parnell MUSICAL ASSOCIATE: Derek Scott LIGHTING DIRECTOR: Jim Boyers AUDIO: Henry Bird VIDEO TAPE EDITOR: John Hawkins ASSISTANT TO THE PRODUCER: Joan Chaplow SENIOR FLOOR MANAGER: Richard Holloway FLOOR MANAGER: Stephen Springford STAGE MANAGER: Caryl Cruickshank SENIOR VIDEO ENGINEER: Jim Reeves SENIOR CAMERAMAN: Dennis Bartlett VISION MIXER: Carole Legg COSTUMES BY James Dark MAKE-UP BY Shirley Muslin THEME MUSIC: Sam Pottle EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR HENSON ASSOCIATES, INC.: David Lazer |
Dom DeLuise - Episode 35
Taping Dates: August 9-11, 1977.Original Airdates: October 17, 1977 (New York) and October 14, 1977 (LA)
DVD Release: Time-Life, 2002; Columbia Tri-Star, 2004; Buena Vista Home Video, 2007
GENERIC INTRO: SWEDISH CHEF'S LANGUAGE
Brian Henson: "Hi, I'm Brian Henson. The Muppets have always gotten a lot of fan mail. Over the years, we've received thousands of letters and believe it or not, we do try to read and answer every one of them."
"The staff received a memorable letter from a Scandinavian businessman who saw the show while on a trip to London. He wrote to inform my father that The Muppet Show's so called Swedish Chef did not actually speak any real Scandinavian language, not even Swedish. The Muppet Show head writer Jerry Juhl sent a reply, saying "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We were going to fire the Chef on the spot, but he has got a wife and family and he promises to take Swedish lessons." So here's the Swedish Chef and all of your other favorite Muppets on The Muppet Show."
DRESSING ROOM
Swedish Chef makes Dom a salad.
OPENING
The balcony: Statler says, "Why do we keep doing this?"
Gonzo's horn: Red smoke coming out of Gonzo's trumpet causes him to cough.CURTAIN
Under threat of fractured flippers, Kermit opens the show with Miss Piggy.
OPENING NUMBER - "DON'T DILLY DALLY ON THE WAY"
In similar staging to "The Boy in the Gallery" number, Miss Piggy sings, gets the audience (including Statler & Waldorf) to sing along and receives thunderous applause.
WINGS/BACKSTAGE
Kermit figures tonight's crowd must be an easy house as Miss Piggy consults with Scooter on her plan to pay off the audience to "go hog wild" so Kermit will notice her more.
CURTAIN
Since Dom DeLuise is so out of this world, his first sketch tonight will be from the planet Koozebane.
SKETCH - THE MERDLIDOPS
A group of chanting aliens with syncopated smoke steaming from their heads poke in and out of craters until they see an astronaut (DeLuise) poking around their environment. They steal his hammer, break his walkie-talkie, and engage Dom in a live version of whack-a-mole until DeLuise partakes in their native customs.
[For those who've ever wondered, Koozebane is apparently in our solar system as Pluto and Saturn can be viewed from there with the naked eye. Some of Koozebane's most popular aliens with Muppet fans, the Merdlidops were included in their craters in Palisades' 2003 Koozebane Kermit set.]
STATLER: You suppose they have any life on other planets?
WALDORF: What do you care, you don't have any life on this one.
[This joke is recycled in 1999's "Muppets From Space."]
ANIMAL'S DRUM SOLO
After an energetic solo, Animal is surprised at the apparent echoing acoustics.
BACKSTAGE
MISS PIGGY: You're jealous because I've got all these flowers and you only have is that little teensy basket of fruit.
DOM: Actually the 'little teensy basket of fruit' is more suitable to you.PIGGY: Oh and why is that?
DOM: Because ... (stuffs apple in Piggy's mouth) ... it looks more natural.
With a bovine patient, the cast breaks out the Muppets' famous "herd of cows" routine. ("Of course I've heard of cows.") The audience could care less how old or corny the jokes are as they shower Piggy with roses.
UK
SKIT: MUSICAL NUMBER - "HENRIETTA'S WEDDING"
Two Jug Band members, Slim and Louisey, sing about no one knowing when to attend Henrietta's wedding, including the bride.
[This song was included on the 1979 record, The Muppet Show Music Album.]
MUSICAL
NUMBER - "DON'T BLAME THE DYNAMITE"
Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem perform a song that only they could sing with lyrics like "Her hair is in the closet. Her teeth are on the shelf. I put the good parts in a bag and go out by myself."
BALCONY
STATLER (noticing Waldorf's tapping hand): Don't tell me you liked that trash!
WALDORF: No my hand went to sleep.
BACKSTAGE
Scooter and Miss Piggy stage a discussion for Kermit to overhear regarding Piggy getting an offer from another show for twice the money which Piggy has to mull over due to her loyalty to her frog. Kermit sees through the horrible acting through the two and probes Scooter to find out what's really going on.
SKETCH - ORPHANED MONSTERS
Dom DeLuise makes a plea on behalf of Sheppard's Institute of Animal Protection where the animals on site are actually monsters which Dom seems to need more protection from.
BACKSTAGE
Kermit, getting his own back, tells Piggy he knows of her other offer and has decided to let her go so as not to stand in the way of her rising career. A shocked Miss Piggy tries to carry out her charade a little longer until she breaks down in tears and Kermit gives her her job back...with a paycut.
KERMIT: I mean, you know, if you can afford to pay off the audience and buy all those flowers and the fur and the mail and all that stuff...
CURTAIN
Kermit decides it's time for the world to know that Dom DeLuise is also a singer as well as a comedian.
CLOSING NUMBER - "WE GOT US"
Dom,
aware how upset Miss Piggy is brings her on stage (to much applause
of course...)
MISS PIGGY (to audience): COOL IT! He knew!
Dom sings to her and brings out "her friends" (which also includes the flower delivery guy among her co-stars!) to join in.
[A Muppet-only version of this song appeared on The Muppet Show 2, Muppet Hits and The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem and More.]
CURTAIN
Kermit thanks Dom and the audience "...especially those of you that weren't paid off by the pig."
CLOSING
STATLER: I wouldn't mind this show if they just got rid of one thing.
WALDORF: What's that?
STATLER: Me.
Guide
Written by
D. W. McKim and Phillip Chapman
Video Captures by
James Carroll
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