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Episode 506: Brooke Shields

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The Muppet Show
Guest Starring Brooke Shields
Production Dates April 7-10, 1980
Air Date October 1980
Home Video Best of the Muppet Show
Fozzie plays the Tin Woodman.
Fozzie plays the Tin Woodman.
From the finale of episode 506.
From the finale of episode 506.
Brooke, Gonzo, and the March Hare from the finale of episode 506.
Brooke, Gonzo, and the March Hare from the finale of episode 506.

Brooke stars as Alice in the Muppet production of Alice in Wonderland. The on-stage 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 shrinks 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

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


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