Original air date: November 9, 1978
Let’s not waste time or mince words: the Cheryl Ladd episode of The Muppet Show is good. Extremely good. Like, possibly Top 20 Muppet Show episode material. But what’s interesting about it is that it’s so simple. For all that we’ve spoken about how The Muppet Show grew and changed throughout its three seasons thus far, this episode is remarkably similar to a lot of the Season 1 fare. Unlike, say, the Alice Cooper episode, the guest star doesn’t play a large role in a backstage plot, nor is the episode an extended spotlight of a guest’s talents, as in the Liberace episode. It’s just a pretty typical Muppet Show episode. But that’s not a bad thing at all.
In summary, there isn’t really a plot at all to this episode. Sure, Fozzie asks Kermit to write a list of his strengths and weaknesses so he can improve himself, and sure, Frank Oz performs this scene masterfully. But the plot doesn’t really go anywhere from that. That conflict simply services two brief segments and one quick one-liner.
But what a one-liner it is! This is a tough review to write, because what makes this episode so amazing is largely the quality of its simple, quick jokes. That’s what I mean about this being a typical (but amazing) episode. Every character is firing on all cylinders. As mentioned, Fozzie is pleading and self-conscious in all the best ways. Kermit is matter-of-fact and overstressed. Gonzo is stubborn and desperate. Even Rowlf’s Beethoven bust gets a fairly prominent role as a sardonic bystander in two backstage scenes. Again, if I were going to detail this, I’d simply be giving a list of great jokes, so I won’t bother. The Muppets tell them better than I could. It’s what they do.
Still, it’s fitting that in an episode guest-starring one of Charlie’s Angels, it’s the women who steal the show. Ladd is a great guest, because she’s not only talented but very clearly down to do anything. Her opening number, “South Rampart Street Parade,” is a fun giant Muppet monster dance (my favorite genre), and the closing number, “Sunshine on My Shoulder,” is a cute cover of one of my favorite John Denver songs. The best number, however, is her duet with Miss Piggy. The duo sings “I Enjoy Being a Girl” while trashing Ladd’s dressing room and pummeling an unsuspecting Kermit, and it’s legitimately hilarious. The sketch has so much energy, and I’m surprised it isn’t a more popular Muppet Show number. And in the end, it has no bearing on the plot at all.
Really, should I be surprised? The Muppets are simple, energetic, and funny. Isn’t that sometimes enough?
MVM (Most Valuable Muppet): As a rule, I try to give these Most Valuable Muppet awards to obscure characters to give them a chance to shine. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give it to Miss Piggy this time, whose karate-chopping performance is one of her best.
Best Joke: As I said, there are so many great jokes in this, I could never choose just one. The classic is probably Kermit, on being told to be gentle in his criticism of Fozzie: “How can you gently run over someone with a truck?”
Worst Joke: Cheryl can’t go on stage until she gets her costume off! But that’s ridiculous, you say? Well, she has to get her costume off of Luncheon Counter Monster and on to her! This basically sounds like a Little Bird lecture.
Coolest Puppetry Trick: Gonzo gets crushed by a 5000 lb weight. It’s not a trick, but I love the squashed Gonzo puppet that’s around for the rest of the episode.
Musical Highlight/ Most Classic Moment: I already highlighted “I Enjoy Being a Girl,” but the real classic piece is Scooter’s “There’s a New Sound.” This song is, by all definitions, not good, but it’s somehow still entertaining. You might remember it from the second Muppet Show album, which I listened to a lot. Also, the musician DJ BC once did a pretty great remix of it for his Muppet Mashup album. You can still find it online here: http://www.djbc.net/muppetmashup/
Obscure Character Watch: Timmy is the most often-forgotten of the giant Muppet monsters, but he’s a really fun character. I love how he dances with Ladd in this, especially how he uses his tail. It’s something that distinguishes him from the other monsters.
Last Muppet Show Appearance Of: Hey, those kooky Clodhoppers are back! And they won’t appear again until a live performance in 1993, then the Paula Abdul episode of Muppets Tonight in 1997. And then: never again! Goodbye, you weird ugly Grovers. We hardly knew ye.
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by Evan G
