Episode 506: Brooke Shields
From Muppet Wiki
| The Muppet Show | |
| Guest Starring | Brooke Shields |
| Production Dates | April 7-10, 1980 |
| Home Video | Best of the Muppet Show |
Brooke stars as Alice in the Muppet production of Alice in Wonderland. The onstage zaniness can't match the usual backstage chaos -- Fozzie thinks he's going to play the Tin Woodman, and Miss Piggy (scheduled to play the Queen of Hearts) is hoping to take over as Alice.
Bunsen's special effects make Brooke too tall to leave her dressing room -- and then shrink her so small that no one can find her. Piggy, still hoping for the lead, tries to "accidentally" step on Brooke. Finally, Gonzo as the Mad Hatter heads the Mad Tea Party, which ends with a rousing chorus of "We're Off to See the Wizard."
Contents |
Songs/Sketches
- Brooke and the cast sing the "Falling Song."
- The caterpillar scene.
- Humpty Dumpty sings "These Are the Yolks, Folks."
- UK Spot: Medley (Fozzie, Dr. Teeth, Floyd, Gonzo)
- Rowlf and Scooter star in a bizarre dramatization of "Jabberwocky".
- The trial scene features Marvin Suggs as the judge. He swears in Kermit: "Repeat after me: Ow."
- The Mad Tea Party, culminating with Fozzie leading everyone in "We're Off to See the Wizard"
Notes
This episode's format -- an adaptation of a classic book with a guest star as the lead and the Muppets playing supporting characters -- anticipates the later features The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, and especially The Muppets' Wizard of Oz.
The full roster of Muppets and their Lewis Carroll roles in this episode are: Miss Piggy as the Queen of Hearts, Link Hogthrob as the King of Hearts, The Great Gonzo as the Mad Hatter, Dr. Teeth as the Cheshire Cat, Floyd Pepper as the Caterpillar, Scooter as the young man in "Jabberwocky", Rowlf as his father, Statler and Waldorf as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, a chicken (possibly Camilla) as the Dormouse, Marvin Suggs as the Judge, and assorted Whatnots as the cards. Fozzie, of course, is the Tin Woodsman from The Wizard of Oz, with Rizzo the Rat as the Wizard for the finale.
Special Wonderland puppets, apparently built specifically for the episode, include the White Rabbit, March Hare, Jabberwock and related creatures, Humpty Dumpty and the Duchess, all of which are based on the original illustrations by John Tenniel.
Due to child labor laws limiting the amount of time Shields could spend on the set, she spent her spare time in the Muppet Workshop, where she helped build some of the puppets for the Jabberwocky sketch.
It should be noted that several characters and sequences come not from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland but from the sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. These include Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Humpty Dumpty and the Jabberwocky.
Malcolm Stone's recreation of look of John Tenniel's Alice in Wonderland illustrations as backdrops for this episode garnered him the second of two Emmy Award nominations.
Cast
Muppets:
- Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Statler and Waldorf, Pops, The White Rabbit, Jar of Orange Marmalade, Link Hogthrob, Gills Brothers, Flamingo, Dr. Teeth, Humpty Dumpty, Floyd Pepper, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Slithy Toves, Borogroves, Mome Raths, Jabberwock, Marvin Suggs, The March Hare, Chicken, Rizzo the Rat
Background Muppets:
- Ohreally Bird, Alfonso D'Bruzzo, Gaffer, The Duchess, Whatnots, Old Skyball Paint, Prairie Dog, Lobster, Eric the Parrot, Lizard, Snake, Weasel, The Devil
Performers
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, Rowlf, and Link Hogthrob
- Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Marvin Suggs
- Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper, Pops, Humpty Dumpty, and Chicken
- Richard Hunt as Scooter, Statler, and the March Hare
- Dave Goelz as Gonzo and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
- Steve Whitmire as the White Rabbit and Rizzo the Rat
- Kathy Mullen as Others
- Louise Gold as the Duchess
- Betsy Baytos as Others
| Previous episode: | Next episode: |
| James Coburn | Glenda Jackson |
