Episode 104: Ruth Buzzi

The Muppet Show
Guest	Ruth Buzzi
Production	May 25-27, 1976
Premiere	UK: October 3, 1976 US: October 11, 1976
Releases	Season One
(TRANSCRIPT)

Scooter's uncle sends a mechanical, wind-up TV show host, an exact duplicate of Kermit. The robot harasses Kermit and flirts with Miss Piggy.

Songs/Sketches

• "Sunny"
• At the Dance
• "Row, Row, Row"
• Muppet News Flash: Kidnapped Ocean
• "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"
• UK Spot: "I Never Harmed an Onion"
• Talk Spot: Kermit and Ruth "chew the fat."
• Fozzie's Comedy Act: The Greatest Straight Man in the Business
• Talking Houses: The Monastery
• "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd"
• Panel Discussion: Is The Human Body Obsolete?

Episode

Picture	Description
	"The Muppet Show Theme": The Muppet Show logo is pulled into the rafters just as Gonzo is about to hit the gong.
	Floyd leads the Electric Mayhem in "Sunny." Animal increases the tempo after every verse, and the band follows suit.
	Backstage, Scooter drags in a crate approved by his uncle (he owns the theater, after all). The crate is opened to reveal a Mechanical Wind-up TV Show Host, and a dead-ringer to Kermit the Frog. Kermit is against the robot's arrival, and so the Mechanical Wind-up TV Show Host stuffs him into the crate.
	At the Dance: A Blue Frackle reveals to his dancing partner that he has three feet.
	Statler tells Waldorf that he's going out to stretch his legs, but Animal agrees to stretch them for him.
	In preparation for his next introduction, Kermit unexpectedly faces his robotic doppelgänger via a mirror. (This comedy routine originated with The Marx Brothers film Duck Soup)
	Wayne and Wanda sing "Row, Row, Row." They get much farther in the song than they typically might, but their boat sinks as soon as they reach the chorus.
	Muppet News Flash: The Newsman reports on the Atlantic Ocean being kidnapped and how the kidnappers demand two Christmases every year and a hug from their mommy every night.
	Ruth Buzzi sings "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" as a duet with Sweetums, a duet which turns into a fight.
	UK Spot: Rowlf sings "I Never Harmed an Onion."
	Talk Spot: Kermit and Ruth talk about her diet. They then discuss what "tickles" them.
	Fozzie's Comedy Acts: Fozzie finds himself playing the straight man to Statler and Waldorf.
	Ruth plays a prisoner who is interrogated by a Blue Frackle and a Whatnot and gives them more information than they could possibly want.
	The Mechanical Wind-up TV Show Host finds Miss Piggy in her dressing room, and tries to woo her. It seems like a dream come true to Piggy. The robot offers to take her away, telling her they'd be a match made in heaven and could have bouncing baby figs. But his advances soon turn rather inappropriate when he tries whispering "sweet nothings" to her. Kermit enters just in time, and tries to explain things to Miss Piggy. But, just as she has mistaken the robot for Kermit, she mistakes Kermit for the robot and knocks him to the floor.
	Talking Houses: One House's son, a hotel, is thinking of becoming a monastery.
	The Gogolala Jubilee Jugband sings "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd."
	Panel Discussion: Is the Human Body Obsolete? Amid the discussion, Gloria Goodbody and Sam the Eagle talk about yoga (not the sour milk stuff).
	The Mechanical Wind-up TV Show Host thanks the guest star, "Miss Buth Ruzzi." He breaks down, and Kermit's job is secure.

Notes

• This is Jerry Nelson's first credited episode.
• Ruth Buzzi introduces the closing number as the jugband act, though the episode actually has the panel discussion after it.
• This is the first episode not to feature Gonzo, other than during the opening.
• The Muppet ball that bounces through the goodnights (though not seen elsewhere in the episode) was originally created by Dave Goelz for a industrial video for the Raychem corporation. (YouTube)

Edits

• Nickelodeon: This episode's Muppet News Flash segment was cut.

Cast

Muppets:

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Statler and Waldorf, Floyd Pepper, Zoot, Animal, Janice, Dr. Teeth, The Houses, Paul, Gogolala Jubilee Jugband, Sweetums, The Newsman, Wayne, Wanda, Sam the Eagle, George the Janitor, Mildred Huxtetter, Blue Frackle, Dancers, Robot Kermit, Whatnot, Pigs

Background Muppets:

Green Frackle, Mary Louise, Hilda, Ball-like Object

Performers

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Robot Kermit, Rowlf, Waldorf, The Newsman, and Rowlf's dancing partner

Frank Oz as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam the Eagle, George the Janitor, Janice, Blue Frackle, Mildred, and the Gogolala Jubilee Jugband guitar player

Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper, Paul, Pig, Whatnot and one of the Houses

Richard Hunt as Scooter, Statler, Sweetums, Wayne, Miss Piggy, Miss Piggy's Dancing Partner, and the Gogolala Jubilee Jugband banjo player

Dave Goelz as Blue Frackle, Zoot and the Gogolala Jubilee Jugband jug blower

Eren Ozker as Blue Frackle's Dancing Partner and Wanda

John Lovelady as one of the Houses

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