New Collectibles •11/01 - The Muppet Christmas Carol Pop! Figures: Bob Cratchit with Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit, Charles Dickens with Rizzo, Fozziwig, The Marley Brothers, Scrooge
•10/24 - The Muppets Take Manhattan 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with Frank Oz Commentary •10/1 - Supersize Count von Count •10/01 - Sesame Street Action Figures Wave 1: Ernie with Rubber Duckie, Bert with Bernice, Count von Count, Yip Yip Martians •9/1 - Fraggle Rock Action Figures Wave 1: Gobo, Red, Traveling Matt, Architect and Cotterpin, Flange |
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EPISODE NOTES In the first and second season of The Muppet Show, whenever the camera cuts to the audience, they show a few rows of seats. (The "house set" was expanded a little more for the Steve Martin episode.) Since it was easy enough to populate the audience with whatever Muppets or action they desired for a particular scene, the show could always tape a special "audience scene" as opposed to a "stock footage" audience shot, making it possible for the house to be full of chickens or singing along and waving handkerchiefs to a song, or having a particular Muppet sit in the audience like Fozzie's cousin. That technique is used here with Fozzie's mom for the first (and only) time, when the camera cuts to her watching the show, they show her in an upper balcony level instead of the usual row of chairs set used for the audience. The intent was probably so they could still insert stock footage shots of the audience applauding where it wouldn't look weird that Fozzie's mom has disappeared because it's a shot of a different area. However there aren't any other audience shots in this episode. Among the "better known" Muppets in the balcony section watching around Mrs. Bear are Bunsen Honeydew and Bobby Benson. Fozzie's mom would appear later in The Muppet Show in a cameo appearance and also be seen in post-Muppet Show specials where "Emily Bear" became more a developed character ("Muppet Family Christmas", "Muppets At Walt Disney World"). She makes her film debut in "The Muppet Christmas Carol". Fozzie's phrenology act is this year's "Comedian is a Bear" in that for a change the comedy bit is a routine between Fozzie and Kermit and ends up being one of the funniest Fozzie bits of the season. Bruce Schwartz also does a guest spot in season 5's Senor Wences episode. |
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PRODUCED BY Jim Henson WRITTEN BY Jerry Juhl, Joseph A. Bailey, Jim Henson and Don Hinkley DIRECTED BY Peter Harris THE MUPPET PERFORMERS FEATURING Frank Oz (Animal, Fozzie, Miss Piggy) with Jerry Nelson (Baskerville, Floyd, Strangepork, Robin) Richard Hunt (Scooter, Statler, Janice) Dave Goelz (Gonzo, pig, Zoot) Jim Henson (Kermit, Waldorf, Dr. Teeth, Link, Rowlf, Swedish Chef) [uncredited] Louise Gold (Kaftan) GUEST PUPPETEER: Bruce D. Schwartz PUPPETS
AND THEIR COSTUMES BY Caroly Wilcox, Mari Kaestle, Dave
Goelz, SPECIAL PUPPETS BY Don Sahlin MUPPET CREATIVE CONSULTANTS: Frank Oz, Michael K. Frith MUSIC CONSULTANT: Larry Grossman ART DIRECTOR: David Chandler ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY Jack Parnell MUSICAL ASSOCIATE: Derek Scott LIGHTING DIRECTOR: Phil Hawkes AUDIO: Ted Scott VIDEO TAPE EDITOR: John Hawkins ASSISTANT TO THE PRODUCER: Sue Taylor SENIOR FLOOR MANAGER: Richard Holloway FLOOR MANAGER: Martin Baker STAGE MANAGER: Sara Paul SENIOR VIDEO ENGINEER: Jim Reeves SENIOR CAMERAMAN: Mike Whitcutt VISION MIXER: Moyra Bird COSTUMES BY James Dark MAKE-UP BY Marion Phillips THEME MUSIC: Sam Pottle EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR HENSON ASSOCIATES, INC.: David Lazer |
Cleo Laine - Episode 40
Taping Dates: Week of November 8, 1977Original Airdates: May 15, 1978 (New York) and May 27, 1978 (LA)
DVD Release: Buena Vista Home Video, 2007
GENERIC INTRO: ROWLF
Brian Henson: "Hi, I'm Brian Henson. Not many people know that Rowlf the Dog was actually the Muppets first network television star. Rowlf was originally built for a Purina Dog Food commercial. But he later gained fame with weekly appearances on The Jimmy Dean Show in the 1960's. Back then Rowlf was a quiet philosopher with a lot of punch lines."
"When The Muppet Show came along Rowlf became known more for his piano playing expertise. Kermit was my father's best known character, but a lot of people think he was more like Rowlf in real life except he couldn't play the piano as well. Here is another classic episode of The Muppet Show."
DRESSING ROOM
Animal boosts Cleo's ego.
OPENING
Balcony: Statler & Waldorf peek out from behind the side curtains.
Gonzo's horn: The horn flies away from Gonzo! [For some reason, the first season Gonzo puppet is used here.]
CURTAIN
Fozzie takes it upon himself to "share" the intro with Kermit since his mother is watching the show in the audience tonight.
OPENING NUMBER - "LIMBO"
A calypso number featuring a limbo stick...Baskerville seems to beat Boppity and Gloat until Kermit takes a crack at it...scrunching himself down and staying that way.
BALCONY
STATLER: Terrific! I wonder how the frog did it.
WALDORF: (Scrunches himself down in like fashion and limbos under Statler's arm) Doo doo doo doo doo doo - do what? Heh heh heh.
STATLER: Never mind.
BACKSTAGE
The cast exit offstage still playing steel drums [the music is the same music that begins the "Pig Calypso" number in the Bob Hope episode]. Fozzie's concerned that he wasn't in the opening number but Kermit could care less being that he's still scrunched up! Fozzie "inflates" Kermit back up by using his arm like a pump!
CURTAIN
Fozzie pushes Kermit out of the way and introduces Cleo Laine.
MUSICAL NUMBER - "AIN'T GOT THAT SWING"
Cleo cooks on the jazz classic and takes some time out to individually acknowledge each member of the Electric Mayhem.
ZOOT: A zebra and a geranium should never use the same toothbrush!
BACKSTAGE
Fozzie figures it must be time for him to go on by now but Pigs In Space is up next.
FOZZIE: Kermit - please at least let me be in Pigs In Space.
KERMIT: Uh - you can't.
FOZZIE: But why can't I be in Pigs In Space?
KERMIT: BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT A PIG!
PIGS IN SPACE
Captain Link calls the crew together for an inspection. Fozzie enters with a group of pigs dressed in a Pigs In Space outfit and long blond wig!
LINK: Now I want this entire ship swabbed down from stem to uh...from stem to uh...uh uh...the back part.
STRANGEPORK: That's 'stern', Captain.
LINK: You BET that's stern!
Link berates First Mate Piggy for not shaving this morning in between Fozzie's mugging and Piggy like French. Captain Link dismisses the crew with the exception of "Piggy"...who he wishes to smooch with!
BACKSTAGE
Fozzie finds himself being chased by both Link and Miss Piggy and talks them into venting on the frog as he slips away to the stage...
CURTAIN
FOZZIE: Hiya hiya hiya! Hi, Ma! Looks like it's just you and me for the rest of the evening folks! Thought I'd come out and tell a few jokes, sing a few songs...
KERMIT: Fozzie - will you get off the stage!
FOZZIE: Uh, that too! Yes yes...
Once the stage is bare, Kermit introduces special guest puppeteer Bruce Schwartz.
BRUCE
SCHWARTZ
The guest performer demonstrates some Japanese influenced puppetry with a delicate ballerina doll.
BALCONY
WALDORF: Oh that puppet looked so alive!
STATLER: Well, that's more than I can say for you.
UK
SKIT: MUSICAL NUMBER - "MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN"
Rowlf, Baskerville, and a Kaftan dog sing some music hall.
BACKSTAGE
Fozzie keeps demanding to know when he's going on...even though he's already "been on" practically everything so far!
SWEDISH
CHEF
Cleo Laine approaches The Swedish Chef after he finishes his introductory theme. She says he looks like an understanding person and may be able to help her...then she bursts into song singing "You're Just In Love". The Swedish Chef accompanies her with her song as Cleo lends a hand to his salad.
BALCONY
WALDORF: Well I just learned something about The Swedish Chef I didn't
know before.STATLER: What's that?
WALDROF: Cooking is the SECOND worst thing he does.
CURTAIN
Fozzie
peeks out from behind the curtain to see if it's finally time for
him.
FOZZIE'S
COMEDY SPOT
Since it's a special night, Fozzie has a special act - phrenology...the art of reading someone's fortune by feeling the bumps on his head using Kermit as an unwilling volunteer. After scrunching Kermit around almost as much as in the opening number, he improves on the frog's intelligence bumps...with a sledgehammer.
CURTAIN
Robin fills in for his uncle who's chasing Fozzie after being no friend to phrenology.
CLOSING NUMBER - "IF"
Cleo
provides the soaring vocals as puppeteer Bruce Schwartz provides
the moving visuals of a grieving lover.
[The set design here is particularly effective as the centerpiece is a tiered row of white steps which Cleo sits on. This doubles in image as a wedding cake that the doll-like puppets perform atop.]
CURTAIN
Fozzie checks up to his mom to see how she enjoyed the show to discover she's fast asleep.
CLOSING
WALDORF: Well shall we call it a night?
STATLER: Might as well. Certainly wouldn't call it a show.
Guide
Written by
D. W. McKim and Phillip Chapman
Video Captures by
Alex Taylor
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