Recap / The Muppet Show S 2 E 6

Nancy Walker guest stars, but with Kermit out sick, it's up to Fozzie to keep the show going.

Songs and Sketches

• "Night Train"
• Lunch Counter Sketch
• Veterinarian's Hospital / At The Dance
• UK Spot: "My Old Dutsch"
• A Man listens to birds sing.
• "Pick Yourself Up"
• Sam the Eagle Editorials: Nudity.
• "They Can't Take That Away From Me"

This episode has examples of

• Crossover: Two sketches accidentally go on at the same time: "Veterinarian's Hospital" and "At the Dance".
• Everyone Has Standards: Statler is actually concerned when Fozzie announces that Kermit has gone home sick and put Fozzie in charge.
  Statler: Oh, no! Did you hear that? I wonder how sick the frog is?
  Waldorf: Well, if he put the bear in charge, he's very sick.
• Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: Sam delivers an editorial against nudity, specifically how everyone, underneath their clothes, is actually naked. He then goes on to mention animals being naked under their fur, and then he gets to birds... at which point he realizes that he's "naked" under his feathers, covers himself, and walks offstage.
• Extreme Omnivore: During the "Lunch Counter Sketch", a monster Muppet ends up devouring everything he can get his hands on: sodas, menus, Nancy's scarf, and a tray of dishes and glasss.
• Fully-Clothed Nudity: This is what Sam's editorial is about, how everyone in the world is going around naked! ...Beneath their clothes.
• Out Sick: Kermit has the swine flu and Fozzie fills in badly.
• Pet the Dog: At the end of the show, Kermit fires Fozzie for the mess the show ended up being, but decides to hire him back almost immediately (once Fozzie starts smothering him with kisses, that is).
• Reminder Failure: Gonzo interrupts Fozzie's introduction to remind him not to forget Nancy Walker's name, even offering him a few tips for remembering it. Fozzie assures Gonzo that he will not forget their guest star's name... and then forgets to introduce her.
  Fozzie: Heeey! And now, ladies and gentlemen, I take great pride in presenting our wonderful guest star...
  Gonzo: [entering] Psst, Fozzie, don't forget her name this time.
  Fozzie: Gonzo, I will not forget her name.
  Gonzo: It's Nancy Walker.
  Fozzie: I know it's Nancy Walker.
  Gonzo: That's "Nancy". Rhymes with "fancy".
  Fozzie: I know, I know.
  Gonzo: "Walker", rhymes with "talker".
  Fozzie: Gonzo, I have it!
  Gonzo: And it's "Nancy Walker", not "Fancy Talker".
  Fozzie: Gonzo, I know the guest star's name is Nancy Walker. I remember Nancy Walker. I will not forget the name. [walks off, leaving Gonzo alone onstage]
  Gonzo: Okay! ... You forgot to introduce her.
  Fozzie: Ahhhh! [Chases Gonzo offstage.]
• Rewatch Bonus: When Fozzie reads an encouraging message supposedly from Nancy, you can see Scooter, who wrote the note himself, miming along.
• Running Gag: Nancy kids Fozzie about the fact that he keeps forgetting her name.
• The Show Must Go Wrong: Fozzie's management makes the Muppet Show even more of a mess than it normally is.
• Sneeze Interruption:
  • This happens to Kermit during the closing, much to Fozzie's delight.
    Kermit: Ladies and gentlemen, a big round of applause for Miss Nancy—ACHOO!
    Fozzie: Aaah, you blew it, too! It's Nancy Walker!
  • And a few minutes later, when he tries to say his Signing-Off Catchphrase.
    Kermit: We'll see you next time on—ACHOO!
• Spanner in the Works: Due to Miss Piggy's insistence, the "Veterinarian's Hospital" sketch happens at the same time as "At The Dance". Even worse, she's the one to call out the typical mess that it results in.
• Written-In Absence: Jim Henson had to leave early during taping, which is why Kermit is sick and can't host the show. He only appears at the very end to give Nancy Walker one decent introduction and fire Fozzie for botching the show, only to hire him back after Fozzie smothers him with kisses (and to mess up Miss Walker's introduction himself).
• Yank the Dog's Chain: Nancy sings "Pick Yourself Up" to Fozzie, then tells him it's just a song and that the show is in serious trouble.
• You Are in Command Now: Kermit, when going home sick, puts Fozzie in charge of the show.

---

Waldorf: Wonderful, I love it!
Statler: Who was your favorite?
Waldorf: Who else? The frog.
[Statler mumbles, then pulls a Double Take].