Julie Andrews - Episode 41

Taping Dates: Week of November 24, 1977
Original Airdates: (New York) and (LA)
DVD Release: Time-Life, 2002; Columbia Tri-Star, 2002; Columbia Tri-Star (UK HMV Exclusive), 2003; Buena Vista Home Video, 2007

JULIE ANDREWS INTRO

Brian Henson: "Hi, I'm Brian Henson. This episode of The Muppet Show stars Julie Andrews. Julie and the Muppets had worked together several times before doing this episode in a number of TV specials. In fact in this show you'll see her sing a song with Kermit called "When You Were a Tadpole". She wrote this song earlier for one of her own specials. Another moment to look for in this episode is an appearance by a real cow. Now that sounds simple enough but you have to realize that every set is built five feet above the ground and it's really not meant to carry much weight. They had an awful lot of nervous puppeteers surrounding a very nervous cow on a five foot platform. The cow naturally wouldn't do anything he was meant to do but at least he didn't jump off the stage. Here it is, the cow, Julie Andrews and The Muppets in The Muppet Show."

DRESSING ROOM

Julie has some company drop into her room.

OPENING

The balcony: Statler & Waldorf whistle along to the theme.

Gonzo's horn: The trumpet lights up.

CURTAIN

Kermit welcomes a good friend of his, Julie Andrews.

OPENING NUMBER - "THE LONELY GOATHERD"

Julie sings amidst a "Sound of Music" set complete with Muppets in Swiss costumes.

[Annie Sue Pig makes her first onstage appearance here. She would become a supporting character in season 3 as a foil for Miss Piggy and the Classic Muppet character most associated with performer Louise Gold.]

BALCONY

BACKSTAGE

Kermit congratulates the cast of the last number including a live cow...Scooter confirms that there was no cow in the opening number and the two try to find out who it belongs to.

NEWSFLASH

Newsman reports on sports equipment jettisoned from an airplane with predictable results.

CURTAIN

Kermit brings on Gonzo's latest attempt at "death defying musicrobatics".

GREAT GONZO

Gonzo plays "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" on the bagpipes while sitting atop a 10 foot flagpole. The beaver nibbling on the flagpole was not Gonzo's idea.

BALCONY

BACKSTAGE

Kermit apologizes saying they're usually much more careful who they let in...as Gonzo notices (and asks out!) the cow.

[The beaver, played "onstage" by Jim is played backstage by Jerry since Jim's performing Kermit.]

ROWLF'S PIANO

Rowlf plays "Moonlight Sonata" as a moon rises in back of him taking him by surprise and making him lose his place in his music.

TALK SPOT

Julie has trouble holding onto her train of thought as Muppets fly around her - Animal blows Robin out of a tuba when he gets stuck and decides it's fun. The Flying Zucchini Brothers rehearse and Sweetums and Thog play badminton with a chicken.

[Instead of the usual "wall" that Kermit sits upon, Kermit and Julie chat from behind a brick wall in front of a realistic outdoor backdrop.]

MUSICAL NUMBER - "WON'T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME?"

A lonely Gonzo searches out a dancing partner in the At the Dance ballroom and finally tears up the floor with a chicken in a stunning gown.

[Like "I Won't Dance" in the George Burns episode, this number starts off with the music imitating the At the Dance riff.]

UK SKIT: MUSICAL NUMBER - "BORNEO"

Lubbock Lou and his Jug Huggers pay tribute to Borneo Bay.

[The script refers to the male vocalist in this song as "Jed". The same Muppet has also been credited on a Muppet Show record at "Jerry" for the "Henrietta's Wedding" track. For consistency purposes, this guide refers to him as "Slim Wilson" since that's the only name he's ever referenced by within the context of the show itself.]

DRESSING ROOM

Having a little more privacy, Kermit and Julie catch up on old times and sing a duet Julie wrote for Kermit on one of her specials, "When You Were a Tadpole"

SAM'S EDITORIAL

Sam sings the praises of industry and technology and decries "namby-pamby conservationists" for their willingness to slow the tide of progress all for some insignificant animals. Sam reads a list of animals the environmentalists would attempt to save and stops short when he sees "American Bald Eagle".

BACKSTAGE

Gonzo, dressed up with flowers and candy, finds the cow gone and decides he can still call a chicken for his date. Kermit discovers Scooter gave the cow to the Swedish Chef.

CHEF'S KITCHEN

The Swedish Chef is marking up the cow with paint dividing up the various meat portions. Kermit once again comes to the rescue of one of the Chef's almost victims.

MUPPET LABS

The fact that Bunsen obviously needs his hair-growing tonic more than Beaker doesn't stop him from testing it on his assistant.

BACKSTAGE

Scooter again tries to unload the cow on someone...the Flying Zucchini Brothers who decide to try a cow cannonball act.

CURTAIN

Kermit briefly escapes the commotion backstage to bring on Julie Andrews.

CLOSING NUMBER - "I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE"

Julie sings the song to give herself courage as she wonders past a Monster-infested alley.

[The Big Mama puppet is realized as a full costume here.]

CURTAIN

Julie attempts to explain to Kermit that she can't find her cow above the sound of a cannon.

[The camera stays on the Muppets longer than usual before cutting to the stock footage of the closing theme.]

CLOSING

Zoot's last sax note is replaced with a "moo".