Muppet Retro Reviews: Muppets Tonight, Part 7

Written by Abigail Maughan.

207—DENNIS QUAID

PLOT: While Kermit is forced to spend a disturbing evening with Gilbert Gottfried, Clifford feels unneeded when Dennis Quaid excels in all of his jobs.
GUEST STAR: We have actor Dennis Quaid, who gets to reference his previous movie roles and good-guy persona. Also present is Gilbert Gottfried, whose obnoxiousness is well-harnessed in a subplot that genuinely generates sympathy for Kermit.
COMEDY: This one hits physical, verbal, and parodical comedy from lots of different characters, such as the falling bowling balls, the knightly name “Sir Cumference of the Circle,” and the buildups and executions of the various “Great Balls of Fire” verses. Strangely, there is not a single recurring skit in this episode.
MUSIC: A very musical show that includes perhaps the most absurd of the show’s music-cue running gags. Two more fantastic songs are “Up on the Roof,” performed by Clifford, and “Dancing with Myself,” performed by Gonzo and his multiple clones.
LOWLIGHTS:

• “The Mario-Nuts Show” goes on a little too long after the point has been established and drags down the otherwise crisp scene and episode. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Gilbert Gottfried: I made a shrine of you. It’s made of nothing but soda crackers and lemon juice!
• (later) Dennis Quaid: And that, my friends, is how you make a four-tiered mock wedding cake using nothing but soda crackers and lemon juice.
• The gags of Dennis Quaid being the best in the most obscure fields, such as squid-wrestling, rat taxes, and show-hosting, are perfectly silly.
• All of the musical numbers are well done. The “Great Balls of Fire” running gag is energetic and funny in how outlandish it eventually becomes, Clifford’s song showcases one of Kevin’s Clash’s remarkable singing voices, and Gonzo’s “Dancing with Myself” is one of my personal favorite numbers in all of Muppets Tonight.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• Note the cameo by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Gilbert Gottfried’s... girlfriend?
• Clifford proves to be a good choice for the series’ most central character. Aside from having previously-established roots in Muppet history, he has a Kermit-like way of being organized until snapping at the breaking point, without being too Kermit-like in his personality or ways of handling situations. Kevin Clash gives consistently impressive performances.

MY RANKING: 5/5 interpretive squid dances. Just plain solid! No distractions from sub-par recurring sketches, good use of Muppets and guest stars, and strong writing.

208—THE CAMEO SHOW

PLOT: Bobo accidentally poisons the guest star, Arsenio Hall, and has to go on the hunt for a new one. Meanwhile Clifford, Rizzo, and Zippity Zap try to keep their cover.
GUEST STAR: Many previous episodes have one major guest star and another celebrity making a cameo, but this is the first of a handful this season that has no headlined guest star, and instead various cameos. With the most exposure are talk show hosts Arsenio Hall, who dies twice, and Jay Leno, who gets irritated by Bobo. Also present are model Kathy Ireland, who inspires Bunsen and Beaker to don bikinis; attorney Chris Darden, who intimidates the Muppets; guitarist Kevin Eubanks, who Bobo adores; and singer Little Richard, who Beaker can impersonate rather well.
COMEDY: The story arc featuring the dead guest star hits all the right, irreverent notes. Regarding sketches, we have the last “Tubmans of Porksmith” skit (renamed “Boarshead Revisited” this season), the second and final “E-I-E-I-O-R,” a “Real World Muppets,” the only “Tales from the Vet” skit to feature a human, and an ad for “Johnny Fiama’s Pasta Playhouse.”
MUSIC: Not much, save for the fittingly wild “I Hear You Knocking,” by Little Richard and the rarely-seen- on-this-show Animal and Zoot.

LOWLIGHTS:

• While still a clever concept, I think this “Real World Muppets” is the least creative of the three.
• Per usual, another mediocre “Boarshead Revisited” simply makes one eager to get back to the real story.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Clifford: Don’t you think this whole thing is kinda weird?
• Rizzo: Weird? Nah, this is just slightly bizarre. You want weird? I can tell you weird stories...
• Beaker’s "impersonation" of Little Richard and the singer’s subsequent performance are just plain enjoyable.
• It’s a fun group of guest stars who are not afraid to be as silly as needed, and mesh well with the story arc, propelling it to a strong finish.

MY RANKING: 4/5 drums of explosives, for creatively handling so many diverse guest stars while still keeping the Muppets center stage. Of the Muppets Tonight cameo shows, “The Cameo Show” is the strongest and most cohesive.

209—THE BEST OF MUPPETS TONIGHT

PLOT: Gonzo and Rizzo are forced to piece together a Muppets Tonight clip show, showcasing  the best of their sketches, songs, guest star scenes, and parodies. Because this episode is so different in format than the others and full of bits we’ve seen or will see elsewhere, I won’t be going too in-depth in reviewing it. Besides, who wants to read my exact same reviews of various skits all over again? (Cue Statler and Waldorf: “Who wanted to read them all the first time? D’oh-ho-ho!”) I’ll just say that the clip selections are very well made indeed, especially music and guest star clips.
HIGHLIGHTS:

• Rizzo: Wait a second, Gonzo, what are you doing here? I thought Clifford gave everybody the week off.
• Gonzo: Oh, he did, I just came to pick up my nasal floss.
• Rizzo: Of course you did.

MY RANKING: N/A. This episode really can’t be ranked against the others, but it’s hard to go wrong with Gonzo, Rizzo, and tons of skits.

210—THE GARY CAHUENGA EPISODE
PLOT: In the studio basement, Clifford and Rizzo discover a trunk housing Gary Cahuenga, a sentient ventriloquist’s dummy hidden away since 1956. Meanwhile, Gonzo hosts the Lollapalosers festival.
GUEST STARS: Another episode full of rapid-fire cameos that includes magicians Penn and Teller, boxer Evander Holyfield, actress Kathy Najimy, and American Gladiators Ice and Zap, in scenes written specifically for each of them. “The Cameo Show” worked better because the celebrities were all characters in a story, whereas this one, while entertaining, plays more like a series of skits.
COMEDY: Gonzo’s parade of delightful nonsense brings us crisp band parody puns and over half of the guest stars, plus a running gag about whether or not the show has a script. Kathy Nijimy’s irritated nonchalance in the final “Thor, God of Thunder” makes it the best segment of the recurring skit.
MUSIC: The parody acts of “The Benedictine Monkees” and the literal “Smashing Pumpkins” are just as imaginative as they sound.

LOWLIGHTS:

• The lack of ending to Gary Cahuenga’s story is abrupt and disappointing. After a funny sequence in which various Muppets failingly audition to be Gary’s new comedy partner, the show makes an awkward cut to a long and meandering segment with Johnny, Sal, and boxer Evander Holyfield that lasts the entire rest of the episode. It’s odd and non-resolving, and makes the show feel unfinished.
• And speaking of the long and meandering segment with Johnny, Sal, and boxer Evander Holyfield, it was easily the weakest skit of the bunch, with no real punchline.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Kermit: Gonzo, you are not all the way across the country, you are right here on our stage.
• Gonzo: I know. My mom wouldn’t let me go.
• Kermit: What?
• Gonzo: She said there were too many weirdos. Might be a bad influence on me.
• I found the segment with magicians Penn and Teller highly entertaining despite the lack of Muppet characters.
• The idea of Gary Cahuenga is a good one. An interloper from another age of puppet-based entertainment now forced to live in the current age of puppet-based entertainment is an intriguing concept. It would have been interesting to see if, had the show run longer, he’d ever do anything more than his conversation with Prince in the season premiere.
• Gary: Wait a minute, this isn’t 1956?
• Rizzo: Not unless you go by my paychecks.

MY RANKING: 2.5/5 trap doors. I would have ranked this higher if the ending didn’t leave things hanging so far out. Both plots have bright points, but overall the episode stumbles just short of the finish line because of the flat ending.

We’re almost done with the show—next week, in fact! In the meantime, we invite you to vote in another poll. What is your favorite episode of Muppets Tonight’s second season?

What is the Best Episode of Muppets Tonight Season 2?

201 - The Artist Formerly Known as Prince

202 - Rick Moranis

203 - Heather Locklear

204 - Pierce Brosnan

205 - Coolio & Don Rickles

206 - Paula Abdul

207 - Dennis Quaid

208 - The Cameo Show

209 - The Best of Muppets Tonight

210 - Andie MacDowell

211 - Johnny Fiama Leaves Home

Poll Maker

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Muppet Retro Reviews: Muppets Tonight, Part 6

Written by Abigail Maughan.

204—PIERCE BROSNAN
PLOT: Everyone is puzzled by Pierce Brosnan’s ineptitude compared to that of his character James Bond, including Peirce himself. Meanwhile, a hostile gang of lobsters seeks to take over the world, starting with KMUP.
GUEST STAR: As we all know, Muppet guest stars get an equal balance of showing off their own skills and engaging in crazy Muppet shenanigans. Pierce Brosnan seems happy to poke fun at himself and his most famous movie role.
COMEDY: This episode is full of spoofs of James Bond movie motifs, from the 007 gun-barrel camera to a self-proclaimed “cheap knock-off of a James Bond song.” That and the Rock Lobsters are all so clever that all of the non-related skits really pale in comparison.
MUSIC: Besides the aforementioned parody song, Piggy sings “Whatever Porky Wants” during the “Spy in the Casino” sketch. Perhaps most memorable is the cover of “Rock Lobster” by the antagonistic lobster rebels. The musical running gag of rats singing “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” whenever the opportunity presents itself is little forced, but funny, nonetheless.

LOWLIGHTS:

• The entire middle section, consisting of “Bay of Pigswatch,” “Swift Wits,” “At the Bar,” and the juggling scene, falls flat when bookended by the spy spoofs.
• The recurring UK spot of the animal-hating game show “Swift Wits” is fine for what it is, and that is filler material. It doesn’t stand up to the typically genius writing of the rest of the show. I do appreciate how the writers kept finding creative new ways for the contestants to fail.
• There’s a scene with the guest star chucking juggling sticks at Andy and Randy, which predictably goes nowhere for way too long.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• This exchange:
• Bunsen: We call this our Deadly Alarm Clock.
• Pierce Brosnan: I see. And how does that work?
• Bunsen: Well, we put it in a great big slingshot and fire it point-blank at somebody’s head. It really hurts.
• The Muppets turn the ridiculous concept of the Rock Lobsters’ song, takeover, and defeat into a highly entertaining plot twist.
• The “Spy in the Casino” sketch, featuring Pierce Brosnan fumbling through a Muppetized James Bond movie scene, is all kinds of funny.

MY RANKING: 4.5 out of 5 Dancing Grandmas. Themed shows are always fun, and this one is so absurdly clever, I’d give it a full 5/5 rating if not for the incredibly weak middle. At that, though, it’s one of my personal favorite episodes.

205—DON RICKLES AND COOLIO
PLOT: The Muppets and Coolio struggle to survive and prove their worth when an oppressive new owner buys their station.
GUEST STARS: From completely opposite ends of the entertainment spectrum come rapper Coolio, who gets to bring what he’s famous for to the Muppets, and comedian Don Rickles, who out-grumps even Statler and Waldorf.
COMEDY: This episode has abundant pop-culture references, from “Star Search” to “Family Matters.” Some work, like the former, and some don’t, like the latter. Other cultural references include the first installment of “The Real World Muppets” sketches and an action movie parody starring Jean-Dodd van Clamme.
MUSIC: The high-energy finale of “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” is a great big Muppet party hosted by Coolio. Elsewhere, Don Rickles sings a few lines of “Bein’ Green” in full Kermit costume.
LOWLIGHTS:

• Coolio: “Man, this Urkel-o thing is stupid.” Agreed.
• “Enter the Chowder: Manhattan Style,” stars Jean Dodd van Clamme and lots of seafood puns. A few are funny, but most have no “sole.” Wocka wocka.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ernst Stavros Grouper makes a good one-time antagonist. He is appropriately intimidating, with a great design. His hilarious voice and mannerisms are courtesy of Bill Barretta.
• Grouper: Now that I’m in charge, there will be lots of changes, Virgil.
• Kermit: Uh, my name’s Kermit.
• Grouper: That is one of the changes.
• Near the beginning, Kermit and Clifford introduce a clip called “The Two Homies of Verona.” Any sketch that includes lines like “Yo-eth!” and “Yea, verily whack!” is funny in my book.
• It’s nice to see Kermit as a prominent character here, which is rare for the show. 

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• Not one, not two, but three different cameos by Bill Barretta are here.
• The word “hip” is continually used in this episode, as a measure of whether the Muppets are or not. The Merriam-Webster definition of the word is “having or showing awareness of or involvement in the newest developments or styles.” If that’s the sense that the series was trying to accomplish, I think it’s fair to say that it succeeded. For better or worse, though, is up to individual fans to decide.

MY RANKING: 5 out of 5 Homies of Verona. The dual guest stars work, and the writers keep it unique and consistently funny almost the entire way through.

206—PAULA ABDUL
PLOT: In the first of two Clifford-centric episodes in a row, Clifford attempts to get Paula Abdul to kiss him while Bunsen and Beaker’s Abraham Lincoln robot terrorizes KMUP.
GUEST STAR: Paula Abdul fits in with the various Muppet personalities quite well, flirting with some, acting as a sounding board to others, and gets two numbers to showcase her talent.
COMEDY: Physical comedy makes up a majority of that in this episode, with characters getting pummeled by cannonballs and the robotic president. This episode seems like it has just as many mediocre recurring sketches as the Pierce Brosnan episode above, such as a repetitive and uninspired “Pigs in Space,” but they are more spread out, which I personally prefer.
MUSIC: From the guest star, we get the song and dance number “Opposites Attract,” as well as a touching yet humorous finale of “Lean On Me,” sung to the dejected Abe Lincoln robot. I’m a sucker for a good parody, and the post-finale closing of the Nine Inch Snails delivers.
LOWLIGHTS:

• Sam the Eagle gets a number of scenes throughout the series attempting to spread culture and morality, as seen here. The problem is, he is almost always accompanied by Andy and Randy Pig, who suck the joy out of nearly every scene they’re in. I suppose they do well demonstrate what a lost cause Sam’s mission is, but that doesn’t mean it’s entertaining.
• Maybe I’m allergic to fish humor, but I didn’t care for “Whale Theater.” At least it was short.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• This exchange:
• Nigel: Okay, we’re going next to the Nine Inch Snails.
• Whatnot assistant: They’re still not here yet, sir.
• Nigel: WHAT? Where are they? What are they doing, CRAWLING?
• Whatnot: In a word, yes.
• “The Refined Young Cannonballs” has the same flavor as a number Gonzo would do on The Muppet Show. A crazy, Muppety, perfect opening.
• The “Opposites Attract” number, featuring Paula Abdul, a neat full-bodied Clifford, and several old monsters like the Clodhoppers and the Extremes, is rather impressive. Paula Abdul isn’t the only talented dancer here; take a moment to appreciate the puppetry that went into creating this amazing number.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• There’s quite a bit of finality in this episode, with the last installments of “At the Bar,” “Great Moments in Elvis History,” “Swift Wits,” and “Pigs in Space.”

MY RANKING: 4 out of 5 Refined Young Cannonballs. This episode is very funny, kooky, and all around pleasant. Above average for sure.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Muppet Retro Reviews: Muppets Tonight, Part 5

Abigail Maughan - Thanks for voting in the poll last week, everyone who voted in the poll last week! The episodes with Sandra Bullock and Cindy Crawford seem to be the overwhelming favorites, with Whoopi Goldberg and Garth Brooks close behind. You can see the results here. Now, on to Season 2!

201-- THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE
PLOT: One of few where the guest star doesn’t have anything to do with it, Johnny becomes disgruntled when Sal wants to pursue osteopathy.
GUEST STAR: Despite coming off as a little bored when talking to bears, rats, and ventriloquist dummies, pop singer Prince gets two opportunities to do what he does best, and he does them well. Many good jokes also come from the Muppets trying to say his name.
COMEDY: Notably, we get the “Hee-Haw” parody “Muppet Hoo-Haw” and a “Tales from the Vet.” Osteopathy subplot aside, I don’t feel like the comedy is as sharp as it has been in the past, particularly in backstage guest star banter.
MUSIC: Two full numbers courtesy of Prince. One is the strange, elaborate, but not unpleasant “Starfish and Coffee” music video. The other is the dull closing number “She Sent Her Angels,” which is one of the few slow song on the entire show, and I believe the only one without Muppet characters singing along.
LOWLIGHTS:

• This one’s “Tales from the Vet” has amusing moments, but the drunken shouting and rambling of Dr. Phil gets rather tedious, as it would in real life.
• I have nothing against non-energetic songs on Muppet shows, but the finale bores me. Unlike in “Starfish and Coffee,” there aren’t any Muppet personalities to enhance it; just some uninteresting angel puppets. It isn’t too long, though, and the episode does end on a more lively note.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• This is my favorite of Bobo the Bear’s openings. “Pretty mouthy for a guy with no name.”
• Prince: I’m the Artist formerly known as Prince.
• Bobo: And I’m the Bear currently known as Not Amused. 
• The “boniologist” plot has some clever dialogue and results in various hilariously contorted Muppets. I approve.
• “Starfish and Coffee” does a great job of combining the guest star’s strange work with the Muppets’ strange work. The result is… strange, but enjoyable.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• In this season, Statler and Waldorf no longer dispense snarkiness from a nursing home. Much less depressingly, they appear in a different exotic location every episode, which I think is a clever and much better idea.
• Seymour says “swordfish, eggs, and coffee” is on the menu, but the song the guest star sings is called “Starfish and Coffee.” Am I just mishearing Seymour’s line?

MY RANKING: 2.5/5 Pop-Up Acupuncture books. I don’t think it’s among the best of what the show has to offer, but it is pretty darn memorable, what with the funky music and distorted Muppets.

202—RICK MORANIS
PLOT: In their only feature episode, Pepe and Seymour’s cooking show, “Hey, What Smells (So Good? It’s Time to Cook with Seymour and Pepe),” gets in the way of Rick Moranis’s big closing number.
GUEST STAR: Actor Rick Moranis, as it turns out, is a wonderful straight man to Seymour and Pepe and is apparently in league with devils. Who knew?
COMEDY: This episode contains not one, not two, but three well-done parody skits: the incredibly goofy “Muppet Odd Squad,” “Co-Dependence Day,” and “Lash Holstein: Space Cowdet,” which is hilarious in its intentional hamminess from the writers and Muppet performers. Everything else, including my favorite of the “Tubmans of Porksmith” sketches and a running gag using the song “Whip It,” is not half bad either.
MUSIC: Rick Moranis casually sings his “Salute to Late Fifties Crooners, Obscure British Bands, and Bill Withers” to the backdrop of Seymour, Pepe, Bunsen, and Beaker fighting a losing battle against a gigantic monster made of dough. Don’t you just love the Muppets?
LOWLIGHTS:

• If I had to choose a lowlight, which is hard for this episode, it’d be Andy and Randy in the “Muppet Odd Squad” skit. Literal interpretations of simple instructions, their primary comedic defense, pale in comparison to the much sharper comedy of the rest of the episode.
• Even though I don’t mind the “Muppet Odd Squad” skit in particular, I think it is fair to call it the weakest of the bunch.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• From beginning to end, I love that scene with Pepe, Seymour, and the guest star in the commissary. Seymour’s ruining of the musical number, the final installation of the “Whip It” running gag, and the conversation itself keep me laughing.
• Rick Moranis: Let me tell you a little story… (music starts)
• Pepe: You have to?
• Rick: I’m afraid so. (starts to sing “High Hopes”)
• I love Seymour, Pepe, and their naïve ambitiousness. I do think they were used perfectly on the show, especially here in season two, with various funny spotlights throughout and one feature episode. They were never overused and always funnily written. I think their move from the elevator to the commissary was a good one, because it’s much easier to interact with guest stars there.
• It’s nice to see so much of Jerry Nelson here. His performances of the “Lash Holstein” villain Moo-ing the Merciless, the President, and one of Rick’s devil agents are perfect.
• The special puppetry tricks in this one are impressive, namely Beaker’s shrunken head, the ants, and of course the Bread Monster.

MY RANKING: 5 out of 5 smashed ants. This episode is continually funny and weird in a good, unique way, and the unfunny is quickly overshadowed.

203—HEATHER LOCKLEAR
PLOT: Heather Locklear undergoes extreme personality shifts after eating Bunsen Honeydew’s Mood Meals.
GUEST STAR: Actress Heather Locklear is pretty believable and just a little bit scary as she gets to act annoyed, ditzy, affectionate, and murderous all in the same episode.
COMEDY: Much of it comes from the scenes with Heather in a mood extreme, saying things like “Don’t you love the way babies’ heads smell?” in one segments, and beating up bunny rabbits in the next. We also get a “Tales from the Vet,” the final “Fairyland PD,” and something called “21 Muppet Heights,” all of which are tightly-written and clever.
MUSIC: We get “The Coffee Song,” and a finale that sees more Muppet abuse from the guest star behind Kermit’s attempt to sing “Strolling through the Park One Day.”
LOWLIGHTS:

• In the closing number, I think it would have been funnier if Heather had done something to demonstrate the “nice” mood shifts before swinging into the evil ones instead of just sort of waltzing around doing nothing in particular.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Rizzo: (as Evil Heather pummels rabbits onstage with her umbrella) We’re gonna hear from people…
• The opening number of “The Coffee Song” is fun and crazy, and a fantastic performance by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph. I like how much she’s used in the second season.
• I appreciate, and rather enjoy, the silliness of the “Jungle Bee-Woman” skit.
• Heather: Your script is based on a Jane Austen pizza?
• Andy and Randy: It is?!
• It’s interesting how frequently Bunsen and Beaker were used in the second season. Over a third of the episodes involve them in the plot. Using them is a good way to incorporate elements that are completely outlandish and only make sense because of them, such as the mood-altering food.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• The multi-talented Brian Henson sure is one skilled performer, and this episode, featuring Sal, Dr. van Neuter, and Nigel is one of many that show it.
• “Green boy” is not a very good insult to a frog, especially one who finds it easy being green.
• It’s funny, but in context of the Muppet universe, why would Clifford, Nigel, Kermit, or whoever was in charge of acts possibly allow the “Hardy Pig Boys” sketch to exist? 

MY RANKING: 4 out of 5 trout to the face. An even mix of verbal and physical comedy makes it hard to find something to dislike about this episode.





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Muppet Retro Reviews: Muppets Tonight, Part 4

Written by Abigail Maughan.

108-- JASON ALEXANDER

PLOT: The egos and creative preferences of Gonzo and Jason Alexander clash while they attempt to make their college musical screenplay “Bats” a reality.
GUEST STAR: Actor Jason Alexander, whose other Muppet connections include doing voices in Dinosaurs, plays off of Gonzo well. He is very good at acting irritated, and his willingness to wear weird costumes makes him a good choice for a Muppets guest star.
COMEDY: There’s a lot of humor here, from skits like “Murder on the Disoriented Express” and an exceptionally good “Pigs in Space” to dialogue in bridge segments. In my opinion, this is one of the strongest-written episodes of the first season.
MUSIC: The only musical number is the “Bats” medley, which is plenty goofy and serves its purpose as a memorable closing number.
LOWLIGHTS:

• I find the “Muppet Bandstand” skit a little weak. The beginning and ending jokes are fine, but the dancing is uncomfortable. That is what it’s supposed to be, though, so what am I complaining about?
• It seems odd that the guest star reverses his opinion on what makes a quality show almost immediately, after arguing with Gonzo about it the entire episode. However, it is made funnier when Gonzo also reverses his stance on the matter.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• It’s hard to compare “Pigs in Space: Deep Dish 9” to the original, as there are only three “Deep Dish 9” sketches. The one in this episode, featuring a robot called Al-1995 Plus Tax and a cameo by Swedish supermodel Vendela, is my personal favorite.
• The banter between Gonzo and the guest star just gets more and more absurd, and thus funnier and funnier.
• Jason Alexander: This is exactly what you did in school! Remember that production of “Death of a Salesman” you ruined?
• Gonzo: Well, if you’re referring to my production of “Death of a Trans-Dimensional Giant Mutant Cyborg Salesman”, that show was a hit! And it won a Pulitzer Prize!
• Jason: It did not win a Pulitzer Prize!
• Gonzo: Well, my mother liked it.
• This is one of very few episodes that feature Gonzo as a central character to the plot. It’s good to see him in the spotlight for the whole episode, and I wish this had happened more frequently over the two seasons.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• It’s neither a highlight nor a lowlight, so I’ll put it here: In this episode is one of the bizarre “At the Bar” segments, which feature Polly Lobster and Clueless Morgan from Muppet Treasure Island telling bad jokes, singing, and serving drinks to an unseen patron by the name of Mr. Callahan. I am honestly not sure what I think of these skits. They’re always weird enough to keep me watching, but they’re never good or bad enough to stand out amongst the rest of the episode. 
• Gonzo: “It’s just like you to take something classy and high-minded—and leave it that way!” It’s a funny line, but isn’t Gonzo usually convinced that his own outrageous acts are classy and high-minded? It seems like an odd thing for him to say.

MY RANKING: 4/5 Fifteen-billion gigawatt laser cannons. I’d call this one a higher than average episode, with plenty of amusing skits and comedy, a pretty strong plot and satisfying resolution.

109—WHOOPI GOLDBERG

PLOT: Miss Piggy, Andy, and Randy race from the airport to the studio for the closing number, while Whoopi Goldberg shows off.
GUEST STAR: Here is one of many Muppet projects that actress Whoopi Goldberg is a part of. I’ve noticed that Muppets Tonight always keeps the guest stars central to the plot, even a loose one like here, whereas on The Muppet Show it seemed to be optional. I’m not saying either method is better than the other, as quality entirely depends on what else the episode contains.
COMEDY: The backstage plot isn’t too uproarious, but we do get some adequate skits, such as a “People’s Court” parody and a scene with various Muppets auditioning to replace Miss Piggy. There’s nothing I’d necessarily consider comedy gold, but it’s all pleasant enough.
MUSIC: We have one of the most notable Muppets Tonight musical numbers here, in the form of Kermit’s cover of The Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime,” which is a rather impressive yet bizarre music video. Whoopi Goldberg also attempts to teach some uncooperative rats how to play reggae music, and, for the second time in Muppet history, the finale is a glitzy duet of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” by Miss Piggy and the guest star.

LOWLIGHTS:

• You know, I honestly can’t think of anything too awful about this one. We have some so-so acts, like a “Fairyland PD,” a brief Big Mean Carl segment, and even Whoopi’s parade of novelty acts, but nothing I’d consider a lowlight. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Speaking of “Fairyland PD”, the UK spot featuring Bobo and Clifford as inept detectives solving fairy tale cases, I think the one in this episode, “Goldi Lock-Up”, is the funniest of the four.
• The totally sincere way both Whoopi Goldberg and Rizzo announce their plans to fly makes me laugh.

• Whoopi Goldberg: Ladies and gentlemen… I will now do something never performed by any human being. I… will fly! 
• Rizzo: Uh, excuse me, Whoopi, but you have a phone call over there. It’s Miss Piggy.
• Whoopi: Oh. Cover me! *leaves*
• Rizzo: But I… Uh… Ladies and gentlemen, I will now do something never before performed by any rat. I… will fly.
• The bloopers to this episode feature an impromptu fistfight amongst Clifford, Johnny, Sal, and Rizzo, and it is delightful.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• Who is driving the limousine when Andy, Randy, and Piggy are all in the back seat?
• Why isn’t Piggy driving from the beginning? She’s aware of her nephews’ incompetence.
• If the theater is only three blocks away, as Piggy says, why couldn’t she just walk there?

MY RANKING: 3/5 Reggae Rodents. I wouldn’t say there’s anything overly special or memorable on whole about this one, but there’s really nothing wrong with it.

110—MARTIN SHORT

PLOT: After getting flattened in the elevator, Martin Short becomes obsessed with eating Johnny Fiama’s mother’s pasta sauce.
GUEST STAR: Mainly, I find the guest star incredibly off-putting and unfunny. Comedian Martin Short’s wild style of comedy is not one that I personally love, and thus this episode is not one that I personally love. However, the skits are written to his strengths, and I can’t think of any other Muppets Tonight guest star who this episode’s plot would have worked for. It just doesn’t appeal to me.
COMEDY: The humor features a lot of puns from Rizzo and odd antics from the guest star. We do, however, get some decent skits such as “E-I-E-I-O-R,” an exceptionally good “Swift Wits,” and Beaker getting attacked by Sal Minella.
MUSIC: The guest star was limited to just one number: “Steppin’ Out with My Baby”, sung in a weird voice by Martin Short wearing a fat suit. Thankfully, there’s a cute background chorus of penguins for the second episode in a row.

LOWLIGHTS:

• I find Piggy’s disgust funny, but the skit featuring Martin Short’s SCTV character Ed Grimley is too weird for me. And, yes, I do realize that “too weird” is not the best excuse for a Muppet fan to give.
• Fat Martin Short + Fat Clifford = disturbing.

HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Rizzo’s term “nuttier than a fruitcake” is a phrase I may or may not occasionally use.
• I really wish we’d seen more of “E-I-E-I-O-R” than just two instances. I think it’s really quite funny, reminiscent of “Veterinarian’s Hospital” but unique enough to stand out on its own.
• Okay, I actually do like the “Flippers” parody skit. Aside from it being just plain funny, it’s probably because Martin Short is not dancing and/or shouting like a crazy person. 

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• It’s hard to believe that Brian Henson still has working vocal chords after doing Sal’s manic shouting on this show. 

MY RANKING: 1 out of 5 pots of sauce. I just don’t like the guest star, but I bet a fan of his would appreciate this episode more than I do.

Well, that brings us to the end of the first season! We’ll begin season two next week, but in the meantime, I’m curious: what do you think is the best episode of Season 1? Let us know in the poll below!

What is Your Favorite Episode of Muppets Tonight Season 1?

101-Michelle Pfeiffer

102-Garth Brooks

103-Billy Crystal

104-John Goodman

105-Cindy Crawford

106-Tony Bennett

107-Sandra Bullock

108-Jason Alexander

109-Whoopi Goldberg

110-Martin Short

Poll Maker

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Muppet Retro Reviews: The Muppet Movie

Today's article, written by our friend Mitchell Stein, was pulled from our sister site The Mickey Mindset in a cross-promotional effort. Check out the site for a dose of Disney to go with your Muppet meal!

Mitchell Stein -  Being a major Muppet fan, The Muppet Movie is my favorite above all the other ones. The movie is funny, heartfelt and inspiring and gives us a nice backstory (sort of) to how the Muppets approximately got started.

Our story begins from the first strum of Kermit’s banjo to the music of "Rainbow Connection," a truly beautiful song. For me, the song is truly about finding yourself and living your dream and really sets the tone for the rest of the movie. When a Hollywood agent named Bernie (Dom Deluise) meets Kermit in the swamp, he convinces him to audition in Hollywood and possibly make millions of people happy. Kermit declines the fame and fortune, but upon hearing he could have the chance to make millions of people happy, he decides to go and audition. This is one of the reasons why I love Kermit. The only thing he cares about is everyone else and how they would feel. He cares about making the audience happy when not even thinking about his own fortune, unlike a certain pig out there.

Along the way Kermit meets up with Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and Camilla, Miss Piggy, Rowlf the Dog, and the Electric Mayhem who decide to join him on his adventure to become rich and famous. Kermit catches the attention of Doc Hopper (brilliantly played by Charles Durning) who wants to use Kermit as his mascot to sell his Frog Legs. He’s so convinced about Kermit and so overshadowed by his own ambitions that he even goes as far as kidnapping him, hiring an evil scientist and a frog killer to convince Kermit to star in his commercials.

The music in the movie is always completely catchy, upbeat, mellow and profitable (I’ve had "Can You Picture" That stuck in my head all day). The "Rainbow Connection" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song, but lost to “It Goes Like it Goes” from Norma Rae, it’s a true shame, as "Rainbow Connection" was a much deeper and meaningful song than the others. "I’m Going to Go Back There Someday" is easily one of the saddest songs in filmmaking history, which is sung by Gonzo when all hope is lost, and it seems that the Muppets will never be able to accomplish their dreams. "I Hope That Something Better Comes Along" is catchy and fun as is "Movin’ Right Along," which is probably one of my favorite Muppet songs ever.

With this being the first Muppet film I have to say they really started things off with a bang! The puppetry is eye-popping and way ahead of its time. Fozzie and Kermit dancing on-stage creates is incredibly eye-popping and sets the stage for an entire film where you will completely forget the characters are even puppets, and this was way before the days of CG animation.

In "Rainbow Connection," Kermit sits on a log in the swamp playing his banjo. Many people think this film is fake and filmed on a soundstage but in fact was actually filmed on location. Jim Henson would bend down into a small tank filled with oxygen with two spots to control Kermit and his banjo. It was extremely uncomfortable, but the finished project was totally worth it.

The cast of cameos lineup is truly terrific and has a great and hilarious lineup of celebrities including many popular names of the decade such as Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Milton Berle, Steve Martin, Cloris Leachman, Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Orson Welles, Bob Hope, Big Bird(!) and so many more. I truly love every cameo in this movie as each one is more memorable than the other. Some remain on-screen for as little as ten seconds, but their lines are quick and memorable and will always have a spot in Muppet history.

I truly love this movie. It’s the beginning of Muppets on the big-screen and began many more Muppet films to come. It’s the seed that grew into an entire big screen franchise and played predecessor seven other great Muppet films. It’s a lot of fun, has a lot of heart, depth and great story. I love this film and it still remains of my absolute favorites.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com