Tuesday, March 11, 2014

THE MUPPET SHOW: Every Episode Ranked - Part II



THE MUPPET SHOW
EVERY EPISODE RANKED
#'s 90 - 61

PART II
90. EDGAR BERGEN
Season 2, Episode 7 - Ventriloquism
Legendary ventriloquist Edgar Bergen was quite possibly Jim Henson's biggest influence.  His appearance on The Muppet Show early in its second season was treated on the set with great awe and reverence from all the crew members.  And of course his beloved Charlie McCarthy makes some of his best comments about the Frog, the Bear, the Pig and all the crazy Muppets surrounding him in this episode.

89. CANDICE BERGEN
Season 1, Episode 15 - Deliveries
A year before his appearance, Edgar Bergen's daughter Candice did her friend Jim Henson a favor by appearing in the show's first season.  Her good looks and flair for photography were showcased.  But some of the best moments came from scenes like the one below where you see why years later she became famous for rolling her eyes as hard-nosed reporter Murphy Brown.  Also, if you watch her sing Barry Mannilow's "Friends" with the rest of the Muppets, you'll understand why they made so many jokes on Murphy Brown about her tone deaf voice.

88. DIZZY GILLESPIE
Season 4, Episode 13 - Keep the Noise Down!
The best part of this episode is the backstage story where apparently neighbors of the Muppet Theater have complained about the noise and they have to try to keep it down or get evicted.  The trouble is that their guest star that week is one of the great legends of jazz, Mr. Dizzy Gillespie!

87. SANDY DUNCAN
Season 1, Episode 14 - The Great Banana Sketch
I'm gonna say it and it may be a horrible thing to say, but I spent most of this episode trying to guess which one is her glass eye!

86. MELISSA MANCHESTER
Season 5, Episode 12 - Crisis Upon Crisis
She was one Bette Midler's former back-up singers before she started her own career on the pop charts (she sang the haunting love theme from Ice Castles people!).  Her episode is rather ordinary, but the songs she sings are quite enjoyable and the Muppets are up to their usual crazy hi-jinx.

85. VALERIE HARPER
Season 1, Episode 20 - Love Among the Ivy
Her work as Rhoda Morgenstern was well-known, so she wanted to show off her singing and dancing skills.  And, of course, that doesn't leave out a little crazy comedy.  It is the Muppets after all!

84. ANNE MURRAY
Season 4, Episode 15 - Skateboardin'
The songs pop singer Anne Murray sings on the show are quite good, but the highlight of the episode is Scooter on a skateboard the whole time...and driving Kermit nuts!

83. JAYE P. MORGAN
Season 2, Episode 18 - A Tale of J and P
When I first saw this episode years ago, I had no idea who Jaye P. Morgan was.  Well, its several years later and I'm still not sure who she was...but she sings some catchy tunes on this episode (especially "That Old Black Magic!").

82. BRUCE FORSYTH
Season 1, Episode 13 - Hecklers' Surprise
British comedian Bruce Forsyth was a fun guest for the Muppets to have in the first season.  He dances with a strange bird and duets with Miss Piggy (he even fights with her too!).  But the best part (naturally) is Fozzie Bear who spends the whole episode worried about the heckling he gets from Statler and Waldorf.  Kermit "relieves" his worry by cancelling him and putting on Bruce Forsyth instead and Bruce shows ol' Fozzie how to handle the boxed curmudgeons.

81. JAMES COCO
Season 3, Episode 12 - The Old Razzle Dazzle
James Coco tries to give the show a little more pizazz and change the pace.  The result being one of the funniest Vetrinarian's Hospital sketches and some very confused Muppets.

80. KAYE BALLARD
Season 1, Episode 23 - Band On Strike
The Muppet Orchestra, led by Floyd Pepper, is tired of the show's theme song and they threaten to walk out.  Kermit convinces them to stay through the show because Kaye Ballard is the guest.  Why a comedienne should make them rethink their position I don't know, but they do (It's the Muppets, don't ask for logic!).  And she wears what is quite possibly the most horrid costume in her first number.

79. CRYSTAL GAYLE
Season 4, Episode 2 - Little Prairie Dogs on the Muppet Show
The long-haired country singer sings some sweet and beautiful songs on this episode.  My brother has always remembered the Prairie Dogs being so funny (we were toddlers when we first saw it!) and I have never been able to get "We Must Believe In Magic" (below) out of my head.

78. DEBBIE HARRY
Season 5, Episode 9 - Frog Scouts
Getting punk goddess Debbie Harry on the show must have been a great way to get viewers who usually feel alienated by variety TV.  She sings two of her biggest hits, "One Way or Another" (below) and "Call Me" (probably not the most appropriate song considering its about prostitution, but whatever!), and she even duets with Kermit the Frog on his classic Muppet Movie anthem "Rainbow Connection."

77. RUTH BUZZI
Season 1, Episode 4 - The Robot Emcee
Known for her hilarious work on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, Ruth Buzzi was one of the earliest guest stars for the Muppets.  And of course her comedic timing is perfect in certain scenes (like the one below!).

76. BOB HOPE
Season 2, Episode 21 - The Hardest Working Man
Bob Hope always seemed to be doing a Television special.  Which is why the writers decided to use that as a plot point of the episode where he was the guest.  And Hope manages to make even riding a Muppet horse look...well watch it below!

75. SYLVESTER STALLONE
Season 3, Episode 19 - Groupies
I want to know what person in the writers' room at The Muppet Show said that since they have one of the biggest Hollywood stars as the guest, they should let Sylvester Stallone sing.  I also want to know why that person was never fired.

74. MILTON BERLE
Season 2, Episode 3 - The Baggy Pants Show
Fozzie spends most of the episode hiding from Uncle Miltie cause he's intimidated by Berle's legend and the rest of the Muppets have their fun with the man known as "Mr. Television."  The highlight is of course when Berle comes face to face with the Muppets' biggest critics, Statler and Waldorf (below).

73. LOLA FALANA
Season 4, Episode 11 - Goodbye Gonzo!
Gonzo has finally gotten a contract to become a movie star...in Bombay, India.  So it is time for him to leave The Muppet Show and with the help of guest star Lola Falana, the Muppets say their farewells.  It all gets resolved in the end and, of course, Gonzo is back the next week but it is a heartwarming episode.

72. HAL LINDEN
Season 5, Episode 17 - Statler & Waldorf Run the Show
Statler and Waldorf think they can run the show better than the Frog can.  And they choose the episode that Hal "Barney Miller" Linden guest stars on to do it.  Hal is wary considering that everything they try goes entirely wrong.  But Linden is a trooper who still makes it through his songs (including a charming duet with Robin!) with his stage-trained aplomb and is grateful when the old codgers decide to hand the reins back over to the Frog.

71. JEAN STAPLETON
Season 3, Episode 6 - Backstage Melodrama
The lady known as Edith Bunker duets with Fozzie and speaks fake Swedish with the Swedish Chef.  But of course, for me, the highlight of this episode was her rendition of "I'm Just Wild About Harry" with Crazy Harry accompanying her on the explodaphone (don't ask, just watch!).

70. GEORGE BURNS
Season 2, Episode 11 - A Little Scandal
The comic legend has some great moments with the Muppets (see his final Medley and pay particular attention to Gonzo!).  But the best part is how the Muppets rely on the classic joke: Gonzo fiddles while George Burns!

69. PHYLLIS DILLER
Season 1, Episode 18 - The Young Look
The late great Phyllis Diller does some of her usual schtick with the Muppets (she has a great time doing her standup routine with Rowlf!).  But the highlights include her trying to play the saxophone (below) and the classic Muppet bit known as "Hugga Wugga."

68. CAROL CHANNING
Season 4, Episode 23 - These Shoes Weren't Made For Walkin'
Broadway legend Carol Channing makes an appearance with the Muppets and helps Miss Piggy deal with some really tight but stylish shoes.  It's ordinary, but Piggy and Carol make it fun (and I marvel at Carol Channing has managed to sound the same in over 50 years in showbiz!).

67. LESLEY ANN WARREN
Season 3, Episode 15 - Gonzo's Motorcycle
The pretty and talented Lesley Ann Warren takes center stage and has some great moments.  But it's Gonzo's Motorcycle stunt that fans remember most from this episode.

66. NANCY WALKER
Season 2, Episode 6 - Fozzie Runs the Show
When Kermit gets sick, Fozzie takes charge.  You can just imagine what its like.  Lucky he has Broadway and TV star Nancy Walker to help him through it I guess.

65. CHERYL LADD
Season 3, Episode 24 - The List
Charlie's Angels star Cheryl Ladd gets to kick up her heels and show off her musical talents (and she certainly looks good while doing it!).  But the best part is the duet she shares with Miss Piggy singing the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "I Enjoy Being a Girl" all while beating the crap out of Kermit.  Poor Kermie!

64. PHYLLIS GEORGE
Season 4, Episode 12 - The Freds
With the Oscars now over, this would probably be a great episode to watch because it pokes fun at everything we hate (and even love!) about award shows.  I don't quite know why Phyllis George is the guest star (she's quite beautiful but only moderately talented), but the Muppets make the Freds an award I'd like to see given out every year!

63. LORETTA SWIT
Season 5, Episode 2 - Fired Up Pig
This is the notorious episode where Kermit the Frog has had it up to here with Miss Piggy and fires her.  And he goes as far as to ask guest star Loretta Swit (of M*A*S*H) replace her in all Miss Piggy's sketches (you know Vet's Hospital and Pigs In Space).  Of course its all resolved by the end, but it is one hilarious ride.

62. VICTOR BORGE
Season 4, Episode 5 - Baby-Sitting
Comedic legend Victor Borge was a perfect choice to appear on The Muppet Show.  And his piano duet with Muppet fave Rowlf the Dog was one of the episode's top highlights (below).

61. HARVEY KORMAN
Season 1, Episode 10 - Token Person
Harvey Korman was a great variety performer and his work on this episode was pretty good.  But the moments that stand out in this episode center more around the Muppets themselves.  First, one of the greatest Fozzie Bear sketches ever (and I mean EVER!!!).  And second is "Halfway Down the Stairs," a sweet song sung by little Robin the Frog which had the distinction of becoming the first song recorded by The Muppet Show to become a chart-topper.

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