Carstairs Considers....: TV Show Reviews: The Muppet Show

Saturday, April 20, 2013

TV Show Reviews: The Muppet Show - Season 1

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Classic variety show that stands up 35 years later.

Cons: Many of the talented guest stars are unknown today.

The Bottom Line:

Many unknown stars

But the jokes are still funny

Laugh from start to end

"You Can Get Quite an Education Watching this Show." "Are We Watching the Same Show?"

I think I may have seen a few episodes of The Muppet Show over the years, but I wouldn't swear to it. I have seen the most recent movies and enjoyed them. Still, I avoided the first season set for years. Why? Because I was afraid I would discover another show I loved and feel the need to buy all the seasons. But when I found a great deal on the set, I couldn't pass it up.

During the 1970's, variety shows were extremely popular on TV. And this show fits right into that genre. Every week, a human guest star and an assortment of Muppets (large, fancy puppets) put on a variety show. There are skits. There are song and dance numbers. There's an interview with the guest star. There are jokes.

And there's back stage drama. Every week, there's some kind of story happening behind the scenes as the cast tries to put on the show, and host Kermit the Frog is always caught right in the middle of it. There's the week the band decides they are sick of the unhip theme song and quits as soon as the show starts. Then there's the time that the phantom of the theater threatens to shut the show down. The theater is almost taken over by a fast growing vine. One running storyline features Miss Piggy and her undying love for Kermit, a love that isn't returned. She gets jealous of several of the lady guest stars and uses one or two of the men to make Kermit jealous as well. And Kermit tries desperately to get someone to tell him about the classic banana sketch.

While each episode features a variety of new song and dance numbers, there are several recurring skits as well. At some point during each episode, we visit a ballroom where the dancing partners engage in some bad puns. We visit Muppet Labs to learn about the latest scientific breakthrough, like exploding clothes or gorilla detectors. There always seems to be some sort of Breaking News, most of it weird. We check in with Veterinarian's Hospital to hear multiple puns from the doc and his nurses. In an effort to raise the intellectual level of the show, there are panel discussions on various important subjects that somehow always seem to get out of hand.

Nothing is sacred on this show. What proof? The closing credits include "The Hat Rack" as a writer after they joke about it in the show.

And as long as we're talking about the credits, you don't want to skip through these. There are little differences every time. Granted, they are always in the same spots, but you don't want to miss a minute of the silliness.

When looking at the guest stars, it is important to remember the show is now 35 years old. I am not familiar with many of them. Granted, I do recognize names such as Joel Grey, Florence Henderson, Candice Bergen, Vincent Price, and Valerie Harper. Most of them are strangers to me, however. But, to be honest, that doesn’t matter. The jokes are timeless, and the music is good no matter who is singing it. In fact, one of my favorite guest stars was Mummenschanz, a drama act that uses masks and pantomime. They were very fun to watch. Sometimes the guest stars are in several scenes and sketches. Sometimes they only appear in one or two.

There are two Muppet classic songs in this set. In one of the early episodes, we get their version of "Mahna-Mahna." When things get the best of Kermit, he sings "It's Not Easy Being Green." Other classics include "Happy Together" as sung by Florence Henderson and the monster Muppets and Valerie Harper worrying about messing up a song about messing up. And as an added treat, look for "Never Smile at a Crocodile." The song was written for Disney's Peter Pan, but only the music appeared in the film. This is one of the few places I know where you can hear the words sung.

And then there are my favorite characters, Statler and Waldorf, probably better known as the two gentlemen in the balcony. They do nothing but heckle the performers, especially Fozzie Bear when he goes out there to do his weekly stand up comedy act. Their sarcasm and put downs are a riot.

Even though I don't know the Muppets well, I do know enough to know that some things changed as the series progressed. Miss Piggy's look changed, and she got even more personality, if that is possible. Beaker, the lap assistant is gone. And "Pigs in Space" is nowhere to be seen either.

This four disc set features 24 half hour episodes. Never having seen them before, I don't know how complete they are, but there's certainly enough here to make you laugh. Each episode has a "Muppet Morsels" play option. If chosen, you'll see trivia about that episode of the Muppets in general pop up from time to time. The final disc features the original pitch reel put together to sell the show as well as the original pilot. Personally, I found the show much funnier than the pilot. Finally, there are the gag promos done to help draw audiences to the show.

And the verdict on buying more seasons? Well, I will now be on the look out for sales until I get my hands on every season I can. The show may be 35 years old, but the entertainment is still fresh. Even when I didn't know who the guest star was, I was laughing at the jokes and tapping my toes along with the music. As soon as one episode ended, I wanted to watch the next.

So if you've been hesitating on buying this set, stop. The first season of The Muppet Show is solid entertainment you'll want to have in your library for years to come.

Season 1 Guest Stars:

Juliet Prowse

Connie Stevens

Joel Grey

Ruth Buzzi

Rita Moreno

Jim Nabors

Florence Henderson

Paul Williams

Charles Aznavour

Harvey Korman

Lena Horne