Episode 519: Chris Langham

A messenger brings a message from the scheduled guest star -- Benny Brillstein, the Yiddish yodeler. Benny refuses to be on the show, so Kermit asks Chris, the messenger boy, to be the guest. Chris knows a joke, so Kermit introduces him as a comedian.

Chris' bizarre acts include owl impersonation and odd magic tricks -- "Pick a sausage, any sausage." Finally, doing an escape act in his dressing room, Chris locks himself in a wardrobe and can't get out. He has to do his final number, "Hawaiian Cowboy", from within the wardrobe.

Highlights

• Kermit and Robin sing "Friendship" with two whales, and the frogs save the whales from hunters.

Quotes

Waldorf: "You know, if you ever think about it, there are these strange pauses in this show when nothing happens on stage."

Notes

• Chris was the only British writer on The Muppet Show. He was hastily made the guest for this episode after the original guest, Richard Pryor, was unable to make the taping.

• The mother whale puppet in the opening number was over 8 feet long; it was the biggest hand puppet ever featured on the show. After the show was taped, the producers donated the whale puppet to the environmental advocacy group Greenpeace as a mascot.

• Chris later wrote for and appeared in The Jim Henson Hour.

• The name of the cancelled guest star is a backstage reference; Bernie Brillstein was Jim Henson's agent.

Cast

Guest Star:

Chris Langham

Muppets:

Background Muppets:

Performers

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog and waldorf

Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear

Jerry Nelson as Pops, Robin, and Floyd Pepper

Richard Hunt as Scooter and Statler

Dave Goelz as Gonzo

Louise Gold as Mother Whale

Steve Whitmire as Rizzo the Rat

Kathy Mullen

Next Episode

Episode 520: Wally Boag