Linda Lavin guest stars, but not for a typical show. Instead, the Muppets have decided to celebrate Kermit's birthday, regardless of what the frog actually wants or says.
Songs and Sketches
- "Be a Frog", sung by Miss Piggy and the Muppets.
- "The More I See You", sung by Linda Lavin.
- UK Spot: "Frog Kissin'", sung by Robin and the frogs.
- Veterinarian's Hospital: Robin
- "It Was a Very Good Year", sung by Statler and Waldorf
- "Beyond the Blue Horizon", sung by Linda Lavin and the Muppets.
- "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow", sung by Linda and the Muppets.
This episode has examples of
- Birthday Episode: The show is a special birthday performance for Kermit, but at the end he admits that they have the wrong day. His real birthday is four months later.
- The Bus Came Back: The episode marks the return of Wayne and Wanda. It's revealed that Kermit fired them. Feeling bad upon learning they've fallen on hard times, he decides to hire them back. He quickly realizes why he fired them (they were terrible), and fires them again.
- Butt-Monkey: Zuzu the Water Juggler, whose act was initially planned for the episode, only for Piggy to axe him in favor of Kermit's (premature) Birthday celebration, with him getting No Sympathy from anyone except Kermit. Even worse, his girlfriend, Gloria, had come down to see his act.
- Celebration Miscalculation: The Muppets celebrate Kermit's birthday with a This is Your Life-style show. At the end of the episode, Kermit reveals that it isn't his birthday, and his real birthday is four months away.
- The Ditz: When it's mentioned that the replica Kermit head made of liver isn't green, the Swedish Chef decides to fix this error with a can of spray paint.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: When Miss Piggy starts panicking because her dress ripped right before her number, Linda Lavin slaps her to calm her down.
- Gum In Hair: A variation where the focus is not on the character who gets the gum in their hair. After the "The More I See You" number, Statler drops his gum over the edge of the balcony and yells at a woman below to throw it back. He gets a whole wig thrown back at him and yells that she could've taken it out first.
- Happy Birthday to You!: The Muppets and Linda sing this to Kermit after the reveal that they're turning the episode into a tribute show for him.
- Jumping Out of a Cake: Miss Piggy does this at the end of the episode.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: At the end of the episode, Kermits reveals that, contrary to what everyone believes, it's not his birthday. That's in four months.
- "Take That!" Kiss: At the end of "Frog Kissin'"...Statler: Ever kissed a frog before?
Waldorf: Never!
[Mrs. Appleby and two other frogs appear in Statler and Waldorf's box.]
Mrs. Appleby: No time like the present!
[She kisses the two old geezers, then laughs at their disgusted reactions.]
- Waldorf: [singing] Should old acquaintance be forgot...
Statler: Why are you singing that?
Waldorf: I forgot.
