Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

From Muppet Wiki

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass was an ABC television variety special starring Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass band; though the title card read simply Herb Alpert and the TJB, the announcer read the full title. The special was written by Marty Farrell and directed by Dwight Hemion, and produced by Smith-Hemion Productions.

Muppet segments

Halfway through the concert, Brewster (the Guru) and Rufus mistake one of the other brass players for Herb. When Herb himself appears, Rufus uses gestures to request his favorite song, "Spanish Flea." While the band performs, the Boss Men dance to the music. At the end of the number, Jim Henson and Frank Oz are seen sitting in the audience, performing Bert and Ernie.

A smooth-talking pig agent who calls himself Hoggie Marsh gives Herb the opportunity to work with the latest talent he just found: a shy, singing girl pig named Miss Piggy. This is Piggy's first television appearance, and her name is mentioned for the first time. Her personality is a precursor to where she would later develop on The Muppet Show, with many traits intact, such as oogling over men and vying for attention. Jerry Nelson performs her.

A Muppet man introduces more Muppet performances with the music of Herb Alpert, and can't come up with the right abbreviation for Tijuana Brass. The acts consist of the Snerfs dancing to the song "In a Little Spanish Town" (which would later be performed on Episode 113 of The Muppet Show) and a female version of Beautiful Day Monster singing "Five Minutes More" while chasing Gonzo. The song ends with the two creatures running past the band, and the monster remarking to Herb: "Hey, big boy! I'll check you out later!" This is Gonzo's first TV appearance outside of a cigar box.

Muppeteers

• Jim Henson as Ernie (cameo, non-speaking), Hoggie Marsh, and Gonzo (non-speaking)
• Frank Oz as Rufus, Bert (cameo, non-speaking), and Beautiful Day Monster (puppet only)
• Jerry Nelson as Miss Piggy, Muppet Man, and Beautiful Day Monster (voice only)
• Dave Goelz as Brewster
• John Lovelady

Other appearances

Alpert and his band appeared on a 1966 episode of The Hollywood Palace, which also featured Kermit the Frog performing the "Inchworm" sketch.