Muppet Show Episodes
Episode 215: Lou Rawls
Guest Lou Rawls
Production November 1-3, 1977
Premiere UK: December 16, 1977
NYC: March 3, 1978
Releases Season Two
(TRANSCRIPT)
Fozzie Bear has a new rollerskating act, but since he doesn't know how to skate, he spends the entire episode careening around backstage. He eventually manages to roll out onto the stage to tell his jokes, but when he gets too ambitious and tries to skate backwards on one leg, he falls off the stage.
Songs/Sketches
"Groovy People"
Muppet News Flash: Mallarditis
Veterinarian's Hospital: Dr. Bob Does a Sketch Twice
The Swedish Chef (Robin the Frog)
At the Dance
"Ukulele Lady"
UK Spot: "Sonny Boy"
Talk Spot: "Bye Bye Blackbird"
Muppet Labs: Nuclear Shaver
Fozzie's Comedy Act: Roller Skates
"You're the One"
Cold Open: Sam the Eagle tells Lou Rawls that he respects his talent and has followed his career from the very beginning. He adds, "It's just too bad it has to end here."
"The Muppet Show Theme": Green smoke comes out of Gonzo's horn. (Repeated from episode 208.)
Fozzie Bear was supposed to perform the opening number on roller skates, however the act needs a bit more rehearsal. And so, with the opening number a bust, we suddenly find ourselves at "guest star time." Lou Rawls sings "Groovy People" with the Sleeze Brothers.
The schedule for tonight's show has been changed since Fozzie could not perform the opening number. Scooter arrives backstage to ask Kermit who goes on next: Fozzie or the Newsman. He gets his answer when Fozzie rolls through out of control. Scooter goes to fetch the Newsman.
Muppet News Flash: The Newsman reports on an outbreak of Mallarditis, a disease which causes people to turn into ducks.
Veterinarian's Hospital: Dr. Bob lost another one of his patients. By the end of the sketch, he asks who the Announcer is, and the Announcer answers, "I'm the guy who says, 'And now Veterinarian's Hospital, the continuing stoooory of a quack who's gone to the dogs...'" and the sketch is repeated (with slightly adjusted jokes).
Outside the theater, Lou meets Floyd Pepper out "walking the drummer." Lou tries to tell Animal how much he enjoys his drumming, but it's not getting through. Floyd reminds Lou that you have to consider Animal a "basic, primitive man." He translates Lou's compliment in a way that Animal will understand it: "Good drummer." Lou tries to invite Animal to go on the road with him, but Floyd explains that you couldn't get a long enough chain for that.
The Swedish Chef tells Scooter that he cannot go on. His act was supposed to be in the second half of the show, and he isn't ready yet. Scooter tells Kermit, who explains that they had to switch a few things around for this week's show due to Fozzie's roller skating. He is still zipping around backstage out of control. The Chef, Scooter, and Kermit watch in horror as he comes flying toward them. They move out of the way, he rolls down the stairs, and exits into the alley.
The Chef demonstrates how to cook frog's legs, with Robin the Frog as the dish. Kermit stops him, shouting, "Cut! Cut!" Robin yells "Don't say cut! Say stop!"
At the Dance: The first three jokes follow a rather monstrous theme. A man dances with a cyclops, another man dances with a Jaws aficionado, and Gonzo looks for the monster who swallowed his harmonica.
Kermit sings "Ukulele Lady" to Miss Piggy, who sits on a crescent moon in a grass skirt.
UK Spot: Link Hogthrob sings "Sonny Boy" to a live piglet.
Talk Spot: Kermit asks Lou how he is able to sing jazz the way he does. Although Lou explains, Kermit still sounds square when he attempts it. He asks Lou to demonstrate, but he can't. He says that you can't sing jazz without soft lights, the right atmosphere, and a band. Kermit arranges for all of this, and leaves the stage so that Lou can sing "Bye Bye Blackbird" with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
Fozzie is finally ready to do his act... sort of. He apologizes to Kermit for taking so long, but states that roller skating is very, very difficult. Kermit and Fozzie then watch as the Swedish Chef expertly glides around backstage on a pair of his own skates.
Muppet Labs: Dr. Bunsen Honeydew presents his latest invention: the Nuclear-Powered Shaver. In order to test it, Beaker must wear a lead helmet (to protect his hair from nuclear fallout). The weight of the helmet causes Beaker's head to shrink down into his shirt, thus eliminating any reason to shave.
Fozzie's Comedy Acts: Fozzie performs "funny jokes and figure eights." He tries to perform his comedy act while roller skating, but when he gets too fancy with his tricks, he falls off the stage.
Lou, backed by the Electric Mayhem, sings "You're the One" to Miss Piggy, making this the second song of the evening to be dedicated to her.
At the closing, Lou Rawls and several others have joined Fozzie in his roller skating.
Muppets:
Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Statler and Waldorf, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Zoot, Janice, Animal, Sam the Eagle, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, The Swedish Chef, Link Hogthrob, Robin the Frog, The Newsman, The Sleeze Brothers, Chickens, Pigs, T.R. the Rooster, Whatnots, Miss Kitty, Blue Frackle
Background Muppets:
Bobby Benson
Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Dr. Teeth, Newsman, Link Hogthrob, Rowlf, Swedish Chef, Whatnot Dancer and Waldorf
Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal, Sam Eagle and Whatnot Dancer
Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper, Sleeze Brother, The Announcer, Robin, T.R. Rooster, Flo Chicken and Whatnot Singer
Richard Hunt as Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Sleeze Brother, Pig Dancer, Whatnot Dancer and Statler
Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Zoot and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
Louise Gold as Pig Dancer
Elton John Cleo Laine
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