Episode 122: Ethel Merman
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| The Muppet Show | |
| Guest Starring | Ethel Merman |
| Production Dates | November 16-18, 1976 |
| Home Video | Season One |
Fozzie's agent, Irving Bizarre, negotiates Fozzie's contract with Kermit. Kermit ends up offering Fozzie ten times as much money; unfortunately, Fozzie made nothing before. "Yeah, and don't forget," Irving says, "I get ten percent of that."
Contents |
Songs/Sketches
- Two creatures dance to "Java."
- Ethel sings a medley of duets:
- "You're the Top" with Kermit
- "Friendship" with Fozzie
- "De Lovely" with Scooter and Gonzo
- "Together Wherever We Go" with the Two-Headed Singer
- "You're Just in Love" with Uncle Deadly
- "Anything You Can Do" with Miss Piggy. (Piggy wins.)
- "Mutual Admiration Society" with everyone
- Blackout: Ethel's irritated, because a mouse is in her dressing room. Whe she complains to Hilda, she's surprised to find that the mouse "sings in the band!" Ethel calls the show a zoo-which is supported when Animal appears to bother her.
- UK Spot: Miss Mousey appears in Statler and Waldorf's tea cup, and sings "Don't Sugar Me."
- Talk Spot: Kermit and Ethel talk about her long Broadway career. Eventually, Miss Piggy enters carrying a glass, offering a toast to Ethel-and asking for a free singing lesson. Ethel tells Piggy that her porcine voice is too subtle. She shows off her own high note-which shatters the glass!
- Richard Bradshaw performs shadow puppetry
- Fozzie's Comedy Act: Fozzie's Cousin is in the audience but even he deserts the bear when the entire audience walks out on him.
- After everyone leaves Fozzie's act, he's terribly depressed. Ethel cheers him, and sings "There's No Business Like Show Business" with the Muppets.
 "You're the Top" |
 "Friendship" |
 "De Lovely" |
 "Together Wherever We Go" |
 "You're Just in Love" |
 "Anything You Can Do" |
 "Mutual Admiration Society" |
 Irving Bizarre |
 "Don't Sugar Me" |
 Richard Bradshaw's shadow puppetry |
Notes
- The heckler in the audience is Leo, from the Muppet Meeting Films.
- Mary Louise and Miss Mousey switch seats in the audience during Fozzie's monologue.
- This is the first episode (and only one from the first season) to not have At the Dance.
- This is Miss Mousey's only appearance from the first season aside from being seen as an audience member.
- Look closely in the audience during Fozzie's Comedy Act for the Koozebanian Phoob, a character that doesn't make an introduction until Season 2!
Cast
Muppets:
- Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, Java, Two-Headed Singer, Uncle Deadly, Irving Bizarre, Hilda, Animal, Miss Mousey, Leo, Fozzie's Cousin
Background Muppets:
- The Eel, Beautiful Day Monster, Baskerville the Hound, Miss Kitty, Frackles, Mahna Mahna, Droop, Mary Louise, Mary Louise, Koozebanian Phoob, Wayne, Wanda, George the Janitor, Janice, Floyd Pepper, Pigs, Whatnots, Sexy Muppet
Performers
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, and Leo
- Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal, and Fozzie's Cousin
- Jerry Nelson as Irving Bizarre, Uncle Deadly, and Miss Mousey
- Richard Hunt as Scooter and Statler
- Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo
- Eren Ozker as Hilda
- John Lovelady as Two-Headed Whatnot
Edits
- On Nickelodeon, the first Statler & Waldorf comment and first backstage sequence were cut.
- On CTS, the UK spot Don't Sugar Me is cut.
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