Original air date: November 16, 1978
This episode has two of the best musical moments from The Muppet Show, and they couldn’t be more different from each other.
I’ll start with the big finale, in which the Muppets perform the jousting scene from the musical Camelot. As we’ve previously discussed in these reviews, The Muppet Show was really good at doing elaborate musical numbers that went in strange and unexpected directions, and this is a perfect example. It’s an entire medley rather than a song, and there’s so much going on: Seemingly dozens of Muppets, including a bunch of pigs! A big, ornate set! Beautiful costumes, which I’m sure are 100% historically accurate to the clothing pigs actually wore in King Arthur’s time! There’s even choreography, when the brave knights gracefully gallop around the stage on their horses and gracefully crash into each other! The Muppet Show gang put a lot of work into this thing, and it really pays off.
One thing the jousting scene from Camelot doesn’t have, though, is any music from Camelot. Because Kermit is a pretty bad producer, he doesn’t realize until minutes before the finale that the the people who own the rights to Camelot want money in exchange for the use of their songs. The Muppets proceed to do the jousting scene with familiar songs from six completely different musicals. Among other things, this gag is solid evidence that The Muppet Show isn’t just for children. These musicals might have been more in the public consciousness in 1979 than they are now, but I can only assume that even then, a six-year-old wouldn’t recognize a song from West Side Story.
As Pearl Bailey points out, the resulting scene doesn’t make sense, but it’s a terrific premise, and it’s delightful to hear the Muppets try their darnedest to make various songs fit the context of a medieval joust. By the end, they’ve thrown everything they can at the segment — even Santa Claus! With the Camelot finale, the Muppets are going to great lengths to create something entertaining, and it is excellent.
Elsewhere in the episode, and at the other end of the spectrum, there’s Floyd and Pearl Bailey’s “In the Good Old Summertime” musical number, which is not elaborate at all, and which does not go in strange or unexpected directions. There are just a few things going on: One Muppet! One guest star! A pre-existing set! And… that’s pretty much it. The Muppet Show gang didn’t need to put much work into this thing, but it’s sublime anyway.
Unlike the Camelot finale, nothing here goes comically wrong, and yet, this number is mesmerizing. Floyd plays a sweet bass solo and scats. Pearl leaps to her feet to accentuate a new verse. They banter and riff like old friends. Both seem to be thrilled at how much fun they’re having, and every time I watch this number, it’s impossible for me not to be thrilled too. It’s such a pure expression of the joy of making music.
When they finish the song, they laugh – and the chemistry between them makes it feel genuinely spontaneous, like they had no idea their performance was going to sound so good. If you told me there was no plan for this scene, and that Jerry Nelson and Pearl Bailey just showed up on set without a script and did what came naturally, I would be inclined to believe you. With the “Good Old Summertime” number, the Muppets are simply relying on the sheer talent and charisma of two performers to create something entertaining, and it is excellent.
Those Muppets. They really know how to put on a good musical number.
MVM (Most Valuable Muppet): It has to be Floyd. For the dressing room number, but also for his backstage griping over being cast as a knight in Camelot. Too Cool for the Room Floyd is good Floyd.
Best Joke: In the delightful UK spot, while singing “An Actor’s Life for Me,” Fozzie runs offstage to grab a fish. When Rowlf asks him why he’s carrying a fish, Fozzie says “Oh, just for the halibut.” See? It’s not for kids!
Worst Joke: In the same bit, Fozzie returns to the stage holding a hula hoop. When Rowlf asks him why he’s holding a hoop, Fozzie says “Because Statler and Waldorf are always saying the show is hoopless!” That’s pretty dire, even for Fozzie.
Oldest Joke: The “Muppet Labs” edible paperclips sketch ends with Beaker’s nose falling off. When Statler asks “How will he smell without it?” Waldorf replies “Same as always: Terrible!” That joke may be older than they are.
Should-Be Classic Moment: In “Pigs in Space,” the Swinetrek crew encounter snack-o-waves, which turn their heads into food. Miss Piggy with a cake for a head is a pretty memorable image. And that cake looks delicious.
Coolest Puppetry Trick: Perhaps more of a cool trick on the part of a stagehand. When the Muppet Newsman announces an explosion at a hat factory, an avalanche of hats falls on him – and the very last one, a hard hat, lands perfectly on his noggin! Great job, guys!
Musical Highlight: I already covered the real highlights, but honorable mention goes to the opening number, a rousing gospel tune by Pearl Bailey, backed by a Muppet choir. That choir includes Nigel, who is one of the dorkiest Muppets around, but when he gets the music in him, he really comes alive with the clapping and swaying and dancing. Go, Nigel!
One More Thing: Man, there’s so much good stuff in this episode. I had completely forgotten this is also the episode where Statler and Waldorf have an avocado in their box! It’s the avocado episode, guys! Why is there an avocado in Statler and Waldorf’s box? No explanation is given. Just Waldorf asking the avocado what he thought of the opening number, to which the avocado (who wears sunglasses) replies “Oooh, loved it, loved it, loved it!” When Statler says “That’s amazing!” Waldorf shrugs and says “No, it’s not. He’s been a Pearl Bailey fan for years.”
Is “genius” too strong a word for this? On no other television program in 1979 would the writers come up with such a strange joke. No other program employed a workshop full of talented puppet builders poised and ready to create the world’s most lovingly-crafted talking avocado. And no other program would take all of that and use it to deliver such a ridiculous joke. Yes, I think “genius” is the word.
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by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com
