Episode 321: Roger Miller

The Muppet Show
Guest	Roger Miller
Production	January 16-18, 1979
Releases	Season 3
(TRANSCRIPT)

There's an outbreak of "cluckitis" in the theater, a disease which causes the sufferer to sneeze and turn into a chicken. Kermit tries to hide this from Roger, but it doesn't work -- Robin turns into a chick in front of him, and Roger recognizes the Lew Zealand chicken and his boomerang egg act.

By the end of the show, the backstage is covered in nests, and Gonzo is thrilled. Kermit is humiliated, but Roger's very understanding; he explains that he had cluckitis once.

Songs/Sketches

• "Alabamy Bound"
• "In the Summertime"
• Bear on Patrol: Assaulting an Officer
• "Hat"
• UK Spot: "Down at the Old Bull and Bush"
• "Pop Goes the Weasel"
• Veterinarian's Hospital: Cluckitis
• Medley: "You Had a Do Wacka Do" / "Dang Me" / "My Uncle Used to Love Me But She Died" / "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd"

Episode

Picture	Description
	Cold Open: Roger Miller tells Scooter that things seem awfully quiet for a Muppet show. He asks when things start jumping. Mere moments later, a kangaroo and everything in the room starts jumping up and down.
	"The Muppet Show Theme": Waldorf: "Don't look now, but I think there's penguins among us." Butterflies fly out of Gonzo's horn.
	Pilgrim penguins sing "Alabamy Bound". Life on the Mayflower was certainly not like this.
	As the penguins return backstage, one of them happens to sneeze while passing Kermit... and turns into a chicken! Stunned, Kermit believes there is only one person who could know what has happened, and calls for Gonzo. Gonzo is disgusted to learn that this new chicken was once a penguin, but determines that he has contracted cluckitis! Cluckitis is a disease where anybody can suddenly turn into a chicken... including The Swedish Chef.
	Roger Miller sings "In the Summertime" amidst a patch of music playing watermelons.
	Backstage, Kermit approaches a chicken, assuming it wasn't always a chicken. It is, of course, and Scooter notices this odd behavior. He goes to Kermit, concerned for the frog. As Scooter talks to Kermit, he turns into a chicken, too! In an effort to keep the other Muppets unaware of what's happening, Kermit requests that Scooter only speak like a chicken for now.
	Bear on Patrol: Fozzie arrests a pig who assaulted him. While Sergeant Link Hogthrob fills out an arrest report, the pig demonstrates the assault by kicking and hitting Fozzie. Link, after letting the pig go for being so cooperative, notices that Fozzie is a mess and asks him to do something about his appearance. He does do something about it by sneezing and turning into a chicken.
	Robin the Frog has heard the rumor of a pandemic spreading through the Muppet Theater. Kermit asks him to keep quiet, especially around Roger Miller. Roger enters, and casually asks, "What's happening?" Robin assures him that they are not turning into chickens. It is then that Robin turns into a chicken. Kermit tries to cover, claiming that Robin has gone and they've been joined by a new little chick.
	Roger and three Whatnots sing "Hat." The Whatnots turn into chickens.
	UK Spot: Muppets in a bar sing "Down at the Old Bull and Bush." A cow enters at the end to chase them all away.
	Guest Star's Dressing Room: Kermit enters to talk to Roger about the show. Roger asks how the show is going, to which Kermit responds, "Smoothest show ever." Kermit comments on the closing number. Roger says that he hopes he doesn't turn chicken before he goes on. Lew Zealand enters, already a chicken. Roger recognizes his voice, but assumes Lew is just wearing a chicken suit. Lew explains that he has had to change his act. Instead of fish, he throws boomerang eggs.
	Rowlf the Dog plays "Pop Goes the Weasel." Just before the weasel "pops," Rowlf turns into a chicken.
	Kermit has asked Gonzo to compile a list of all the Muppets who have turned into chickens. As he shares the list with Kermit, a chicken tries to push its way between Kermit and Gonzo. Kermit yells for the chicken to go away, but it seems Gonzo has forgotten to list one very important transformation. Miss Piggy is the chicken that Kermit has yelled at, and he suffers the consequences.
	Veterinarian's Hospital: The entire cast of Vet's Hospital has cluckitis. Dr. Bob is now the dog that has gone to the quacks. He is also concerned that they may have to "work around the cluck."
	Roger Miller sings a medley of songs with the transmogrified Muppets. "You Had a Do Wacka Do" / "Dang Me" / "My Uncle Used to Love Me But She Died" / "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd"
	At the closing, Roger reveals to Kermit the Chicken that he once had cluckitis, and assures him that in a couple of days it will go away. Gonzo says that until then, Kermit will look great!
	The orchestra has been replaced with chickens for the closing theme. Statler and Waldorf have caught cluckitis... and turned into dogs. (Note: The puppets used in this scene are actually designed as possums. Statler barks at the end of the scene, indicating that their transformation was canine.)

Notes

• During the closing number, Floyd is seen with his "regular" eyes. However, during the closing credits, he is seen with regular chicken eyes.

Cast

Muppets:

Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, Chickens, Scooter, Penguins, Statler and Waldorf, Link Hogthrob, Fozzie Bear, Pig, Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand, Rowlf, Miss Piggy, Janice, The Swedish Chef, Watermelons, Whatnots, Brown Dog

Background Muppets:

Kangaroo, Black Rooster, T.R. the Rooster, Floyd Pepper, Cow, Mary Louise

Performers

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef and Waldorf

Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and Black Rooster

Jerry Nelson as Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand, Herbie, Penguin, Kangaroo and Bar Patron

Richard Hunt as Scooter, Janice, Penguin, Statler and Bar Patron

Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Pig and Kid

Louise Gold as Bar Patron

Steve Whitmire as Penguin and Bartender

Kathryn Mullen as other chickens

Template:Ep-nav