Don Knotts is tonight's special guest star. Meanwhile, Fozzie becomes a bona fide registered Hip Dude—but only temporarily.
Sketches and Songs:
- Song: Sweet Gingerbread Man - Muppet Gingerbread Men
- Song: Windmill of Your Mind - Three-Legged Screaming Thing
- Backstage
- Sketch: Don Knots hosts Beast of the Week
- Backstage
- Sketch: Veterinarians' Hospital - The Three-Legged Roadrunner is Dr. Bob's patient.
- Song: Burlington Bertie
- Sketch: Talk spot - Fozzie Bear interviews Don Knotts.
- Song: What a Wonderful World - Rowlf the Dog sings to a puppy.
- Backstage
- Sketch: The Swedish Chef - Fish Chowder
- Backstage
- Song: Lullaby of Birdland - Don Knotts with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
This episode provides the example of:
- Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole: The removal of everything involving "Lullaby of Birdland" on Disney+ leaves it a mystery why the Electric Mayhem suddenly decides Fozzie is officially hip, and then takes it back. Though it actually might make it funnier that it comes off as totally arbitrary.
- Anthropomorphic Food: Five gingerbread men, who dance while singing "Sweet Gingerbread Man."
- Black Comedy: The Swedish Chef makes fish chowder with a live fish. During the sketch, the fish grabs his collar and attempts to drown him.
- Cool Shades: The Electric Mayhem gives a pair to Fozzie after declaring him a "bona fide registered Hip Dude" when he selects the jazz classic Lullaby of Birdland for the band to play. The shades are so dark, he can't see a thing. Floyd eventually takes them back after the number turns into a disaster.
- Couch Gag: First episode to have Gonzo's Trumpet gag.
- Dreadful Musician: Since Floyd is playing vibes in "Lullaby of Birdland", the band needs someone to play bass. Fozzie says he's found the perfect bass player. It turns out to be Don, who's anything but the perfect bass player—he first tries playing the bass with a bow instead of plucking it, and then has trouble keeping up with the tempo.Floyd: Faster, man. This ain't no wedding.
[Don plucks faster.]
Floyd: Faster, man, faster!
[Don plays faster and faster, with the band cheering him on.]
Floyd: Take it, man!
Zoot: All right!
Animal: Yeah! Yeah!
Floyd: Here we go!
[The bass starts to smoke, then explodes, along with Don's zoot suit, leaving him in long underwear.]
Animal: I loved it! - Evolving Credits: This episode introduces a new version of the Muppet Show theme song, which replaces Kermit's sung line with a Statler and Waldorf gag, as well as using the now-iconic rings with the Muppets inside.
- Eye Recall: This is essentially how the "Windmills of Your Mind" number begins.
- Failed a Spot Check: Statler and Waldorf both fail to notice a gibbering Wheel o' Feet guy come charging into their box and flinging himself over the railing.
- Forgetful Jones: Waldorf after the "Beast of the Week" segment:Statler: Well, that Don Knotts is one great performer.
Waldorf: He certainly is. When is he gonna be on?
Statler: He was just on!
Waldorf: Oh. Did I like him?
Statler: Yeah, you laughed like crazy.
Waldorf: Oh, good.
Statler: He's got a great sense of humor, but a terrible memory. - Monster Is a Mommy: The "Beast of the Week" sketch ends with the beast's mother coming to take her baby back, then beating up Don.
- Promotion to Opening Titles: The updated opening sequences adds Sweetums, Swedish Chef, Sam, Dr. Strangepork, and Link Hogthrob, among others to the Muppet ensemble.
- Re-Cut: The song Burlington Bertie was only shown in the UK.
- Sanity Slippage Song: "Round like a circle in a spiral like a wheelwithinawheel..."
- The Teaser: Starting with this episode (and continuing until the fifth season), Scooter will alert the guest star that the show is about to start.
- Wheel o' Feet: The fellow singing "Windmills of Your Mind" is equipped with a set of these, even when he's not running.
- Statler: This show was awful.
Waldolf: Terrible.
Statler: Disgusting.
Waldolf: See you next week?
Statler: Of course.
