I FINALLY got my season 1 DVD set of The Muppet Show! YAAAYYYYY! I’d forgotten how borderline risque that show could sometimes be, like Miss Piggy practically raping Kermit when she gets carried away by the Muppet Glee Club rendition of “Temptation.” And Zoot and Floyd are totally stoned. And Kermit singing “Lydia the Tattooed Lady” had my 7 year old daughter rolling.
“Oh, hi, Piggy. Have you met Lydia?”
“No. Have you met my left fist?” Whack!
I’m so excited! I’m trying to ration myself and not just sit down and watch every single show in one long caffeine-fueled marathon, but oh it’s hard. The Muppet Show was my favorite when I was a kid, and to this day I only have to hear the theme song and I’m instantly in a good mood.
Great timing for this thread. I was just thinking how I wanted to watch some of the first few seasons of The Muppet Show the other day.
My favourite muppets were Statler and Waldorf. I’d happen a guess they’re why I’m such a snide ass today. I wanted to grow up and be JUST LIKE THEM. heh heh
I was a big Star Trek fan back then so I always liked Pigs in Space.
The Muppet Show with Harry Belafonte as guest star has always been my favorite. Belafonte said that this was the first time he’d performed “The Banana Boat Song” on television and so he wanted it to be perfect. In the skit Fozzie was the tally man, I mean “The Tally Bear,” and they kept having the wrong fruit delivered to the boat. It was a lot funnier than I’m describing it here.
I bought this for my daughter…okay, and for myself. What a trip down memory lane! We already had a few Muppet Show episodes that we’d bought on VHS, but this collection is superb.
Just a couple of points that might help to put some of my reactions into perspective. I grew up watching The Muppet Show in the late 70s and early 80s, but have never seen it since. Other than my fond memories, my only exposure to Kermit and the gang has been through the movies, which have for the most part declined steadily in quality. So certain aspects of Muppetdom that mights seem obvious to those who don’t have a twenty year gap in their viewing history will come as a revelation to me.
That being said, a few observations on the First Season DVDs:
[ul]
[li]At the end of the first couple of episodes, Kermit awards the guest star a Muppet version of themselves. I guess that arrangement didn’t work too well since they dropped it pretty quickly.[/li][li]Piggy’s appearance has changed more than any of the other major characters over the years, and her voice jumps around quite a bit. Did someone besides Frank Oz do Piggy’s voice during the “Veterinarian’s Hospital” sketches?[/li][li]Janice’s voice is completely different from the one used in later seasons and in the movies.[/li][li]The first season includes several performances by a Muppet folk trio, each of which is much more “human” than the typical Muppet. The lead singer, I notice, looks suspiciously like Jim Henson (and features his voice). I think the double bass player is supposed to be Frank Oz. Don’t know who the third member is.[/li][li]There are some characters who are prominently featured throughout the season, but who I barely remember at all. I’m guessing they didn’t get their contracts renewed after the first season or so. Hilda the Romanian costumer. George the Janitor. Baskerville the Hound. The Phantom.[/li][li]Characters who have yet to appear: Link Hogthrob and Dr. Strangepork. I can’t remember if Beaker is there with Dr. Bunson Honeydew – he might be. Beauregard the Janitor. Pops. Some of the members of the jug band haven’t turned up yet.[/li][li]Was Sam the Eagle supposed to be a parody of Republicans? He sure comes off that way now. Not that that’s a problem, mind you.[/li][/ul]
Anyway…my daughter is now thoroughly versed in Muppet lore. What’s more, she has no idea who Nick and Jessica was (or were), couldn’t pick Paris Hilton out of a police lineup, and has probably never heard a Brittany Spears song. But she sure loves Ethel Merman, Joel Gray, Vincent Price, Paul Williams, and Peter Ustinov. Not to mention the Mummenschanz.
You are raising a cultured, intelligent, and discerning girl. Kudos.
I haven’t watched any of the special features or anything yet; I’m saving them for very last. Piggy has definitely changed, and I think Gonzo has, too. It seems to me in the later episodes and movies he has a bigger head and more of a neck. Floyd has a different voice in the earlier shows, too; it’s not quite as nasal.
Animal remains eternal, though. I love Animal. “1,2,3, dip!” “Aaaagghh!”
Well I havn’t seen the DVD, so this is going by memory…
I love the episode where the writer Chris Langham becomes the gues host. I love the Hawaian Cowboy song.
I also like when Roger Moore sings Talk to the Animals and it becomes a full blown James Bond Spectacular (I’ll them in Judo and Karate and talk to them in a language I think they’ll understand. And they won’t talk back to me)
But my favorite character has to be Rolf the Dog. He just had that subtly sarcastic sense of humor I always loved. I mean a song about women entitled “I Hope That Somethin’ Better Comes Along” really talks to me.
Most of your questions are answered in the pop-up trivia special feature, so switch that on while you watch, and all will be revealed. And loads more besides.
