Muppeturgy: A "The Muppet Show" Rewatch Podcast

For the second time in a row, scheduling and technical issues delayed our season finale, but we hope we’re getting it to you just in time. We think it was worth the weight ($1.69 a pound at Zabar’s!) for the legendary Cloris Leachman and…a violent hostage situation led by revolutionary pigs? You know, for kids! Put on your best polka dot scarf (other clothing optional) and start marking the days on the wall in chalk until season three! https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/cloris-leachman

This! Is an ex! …tremely funny episode of The Muppet Show! At least some of us thought so. As is so often the way with these things, John Cleese’s modern shenanigans have given us some mixed feelings about him, but he was at his prime here and his comic sensibility wasn’t at all a stretch for the Muppets, leaving no souls lost. You don’t have to pirate this episode, listen now! https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/john-cleese

We sure hope you like our podcast episode better than we liked this Muppet Show episode, which had us shaking with rage at Kermit, Scooter, diet culture, and whoever thought this swill was a good idea, even in 1977. This backstage plot really takes the cake and you’re just going to have to lettuce workout our feelings about it. We promise to get back to less weighty matters less week. It's not all bad… There are some cute songs, a fourth-wall-breaking Pigs in Space, and we have our own very special guest star, Tough Pigs’ Joe Hennes! https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/teresa-brewer

We’ve lost all hope…but we’ve found Michal’s sister! Also some hillbilly ding dongs, the components of a horse, an unusually prescient Muppet Labs invention, and a whole lotta puns. Stop! Hey, what’s that sound? It’s our podcast episode about the Bob Hope episode of The Muppet Show! Quit loafing around and give it a listen. https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/bob-hope

When you're alone and life is making you lonely, you can always join the Mickey Moose Club and give your heart gladly to our Petula Clark episode! Will our rowboat sink or will the sun come out tomorrow? I’m tired already. https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/petula-clark

We have questions about this episode. Mostly: Why? Peter Sellers famously said (to Kermit!) “You see, there is no me, I do not exist,” and it’s sort of fun to see him prove that by only appearing in character on The Muppet Show, we just wish those characters were less creepy and/or racist. When Kermit has a nervous breakdown in Muppet Labs, it’s easy to see why. Content warning: this episode contains discussions of brown-face makeup, an offensive word, and content warnings. https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/peter-sellers

We confess we didn’t know much about Jaye P. Morgan before (we definitely knew she was not a railroad heiress…definitely) but after watching this explosive episode we’re super into her! Come for the horny, chaotic Studio 54 energy, stay to hear us slander Morris dancers! Plus incredible hats, deeply weird birds, and Dr. Teeth bringing new meaning to The Gong Show. We know you won’t be really indifferent, give it a listen! https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/jaye-p-morgan

High on a hill was a lonely podcast…If you’ve ever listened to us before, you can safely assume we have positive feelings about Dame Julie Andrews. But have we loved this episode since it was a tadpole and we were a fish, or think it should be egregiously overlooked? Do we have beef with the live cow backstage, or will somebody dance to a happy tune? We have here a list of a few of our favorite things, so do (re mi) give it a listen, won’t you? Super! https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/julie-andrews

We’re down a panelist but up a puppeteer for the Cleo Laine episode of The Muppet Show. Yay? How low can you go? If depressing Japanese death puppet narration isn’t low enough for you, perhaps we can interest you in an extra helping of colonialism? Does Fozzie’s mom have that swing in her first appearance or does she not mean a thing? Is it weird that Fozzie is in drag in an episode featuring a character who is also Fozzie in drag? And just what IS Link’s deal? Listen and find out! https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/cleo-laine

Is Lou Rawls the one who’ll make us feel like groovy people, or did this episode have us saying “bye bye (blackbird)?” No need to be a pig, we will definitely say it all (Budweiser may or may not be involved) with our very special guest star, Tough Pigs’ Becca Petunia! https://muppeturgy.com/episodes/lou-rawls