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Heartwarming / The Muppet Show

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A Muppet Family Christmas has its own entry here.

  • The Veterinarian's Hospital Sketches are mostly comprised of funny moments, but there’s a heartwarming element when one considers how much fun Piggy, Rowlf, and Janice are always visibly having performing them.
  • Bernadette Peters and the Muppets singing "Just One Person" to Robin, who is feeling ignored and overlooked. It's a beautiful moment, but the Muppets manage to top it when they reprise the song, twice, after Jim Henson's death (once during the memorial service with Scooter as the lead singer, and once during the Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson TV special with Robin as the lead singer), dedicating the song to him. It is a serious Tear Jerker, but also warm and heartfelt.
    Robin: "You know, this Jim Henson may be gone, but maybe he's still here too, inside us — believing in us!"
    • Pretty much the entire The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson special, in fact.
      • Even Statler and Waldorf couldn't find anything to say after hearing the letters from Jim’s fans. They even sang along.
      • Kermit, now operated by Steve Whitmire, enters and smiles at the tribute. For Kermit to move on was exactly what Jim would have wanted. And photos of Jim Henson are visible.
  • In fact, Robin is the king of this trope. He just has to open his mouth, and eight times out of ten it'll be a Heartwarming Moment — especially if he's singing. Is it any wonder they chose him to play Tiny Tim in The Muppet Christmas Carol?
    • Robin singing "Halfway Down the Stairs".
    • The fact that the "one nice thing" on the Alice Cooper episode was Robin's straightforward rendition of "Over the Rainbow".
    • There also that truly wonderful scene where the master illusionist, Doug Henning, cheers up Robin with some magic, the kind of magic that went so beautifully with Jim Henson's own magic.
  • In the first season, after Animal ruins Gonzo's "Pop Goes The Weasel" act, Lena Horne comforts Gonzo by singing "I'm Glad There Is You."
  • The second season had two very similar sketches that were just made of d'aww: one where Rowlf sings "What a Wonderful World" to a puppy, and one where Link Hogthrob sings "Sonny Boy" to a piglet. In both cases the "children" were played by actual live animal babies, multiplying the cuteness and heartwarming factors by several orders of magnitude.
    • The latter number was one of very few skits in which Link kept his dignity to the end.
  • The Harry Belafonte episode.
    • Scooter reassuring Harry when the latter thinks he heard people calling him "Crazy Harry" is in the dressing room...until Scooter remembers that it means Crazy Harry is ready with bombs. Cue the explosions, and Harry Belafonte grinning wildly at the little prank.
    • Fozzie comes up and praises Harry for singing verse one of "The Banana Boat Song". Then he gets into performing it, even if no one has bananas until the very end. Harry even remains calm as the Muppets start bickering and ask them to perform with him.
    • Harry gives Fozzie a pep talk when the latter admits he's stuck on this latest script.
    • Harry Belafonte and the Muppets singing "Turn the World Around". I dare anyone to watch that and not come away singing and smiling.
      • The creators were apparently well aware that what they were doing was special. In the end, even Statler and Waldorf join in the singing. This was something even they couldn't snark at.
      • Belafonte's lead-in to the song deserves a mention, too; in it, he states,"All of us, we're here for a very short time, and in that time it makes no difference in any of us, if we take time to understand one another. So the question is: do you know who I am? Do I know who you are? Do we care about each other? Because if we do...then together, we can turn the world around."
      • Henson stated that "Turn the World Around" was his favorite segment from the show. Fittingly, Belafonte performed it at Henson's memorial service.
  • From the Gene Kelly episode: The final sketch, where Rowlf keeps trying to get Gene to sing "Singin' in the Rain" by playing the opening vamp. Gene is reluctant to sing it because he doesn't think he will ever be able to do it as well as in the movie, so each time he uses the vamp to transition into one of his other famous songs. Finally, Rowlf gives up, and then Gene tells him to play it again because he knows another song the vamp goes with — which is, of course, "Singin' in the Rain." As Gene leaves backstage, he strolls onto an exact recreation of the rainy street from the film, looks back on it, and smiles. This sketch is a Heartwarming Moment in part because this was the final sketch of the final episode to be taped (though not the last one broadcast). It just seems a very moving end to the series' long run. It's also a poignant gesture from Gene...a man who knows he's too old to dance as he once did, but will always be proud he was part of something so special. Watch it here.
  • A bit more on Jim Henson, but his memorial service was... unique. He had stated in his will that no one would wear black (as this was to be a celebration of life, not a commemoration of death). Everyone in attendance was handed a specially-crafted, rainbow-colored puppet butterfly they could wave along with the presentation. And during the funeral, many of Jim's favorite songs were sung, including "Lydia the Tattooed Lady", "Halfway Down the Stairs", "Cottleston Pie" and "You Are My Sunshine".
  • Danny Kaye wanders backstage and hears Statler and Waldorf apparently insulting him. It's saved from being a Tearjerker when Statler and Waldorf meet Kaye and are shocked to realize he's this week's guest, and not the person they were talking about, and gush over how much they love him.
    • Plus, Kaye's backstage performance of "Inchworm."
    • The entire episode, really. Perhaps the clearest it ever was just how much everyone involved with the show adored the guest.
    • With Statler and Waldorf missing, the other characters went looking for them. When Danny brings them onto the stage, Kermit remarks that they're part of the family.
  • Another heartwarming Statler and Waldorf moment is in the Steve Martin episode, where the night's show is cancelled but Steve Martin sticks around as Kermit and friends audition new acts for the show. To their surprise, Statler and Waldorf decide to audition for the show and their act is a performance of dance and song number out of the 1930s. You could pass it for a time killing segment, but when you look closer, they are both in what looks like their old college outfits, and are basically feeling young together. It's a charming example of what is likely a close friendship that has lasted most of their lives.
  • Considering how bitter Statler and Waldorf are usually, just about any words of praise from them can qualify as this. The Danny Kaye episode is one example; another is the aforementioned Bernadette Peters episode.
    • another notable moment with the old geezers in another episode, Fozzie sings "Wotcher Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Road." and not only does he manage to entertain Statler and Waldorf but they as well as the audience join in.
  • The Muppets singing "Consider Yourself" to Edgar Bergen, a beautiful tribute to one of Jim Henson's biggest inspirations.
    • This was also a year after his daughter Candice appeared on the show, which likely had a lot to do with her family connection.
  • In the George Burns episode, after a particularly bizarre conversation with Gonzo, Burns remarks that Gonzo reminds him of someone he used to talk to a lot. Gonzo is thrilled to be compared to... Walter Matthau. And Burns just deadpans "Yeah, that's her." A beautifully understated tribute to his wife and partner.
  • Any time Kermit and Piggy have a falling out and inevitably get back together in the end, especially in the Loretta Swit episode, and in The Muppets. After Kermit fires her and storms out of the scene, Piggy is initially, uncharacteristically aghast and says to herself, "...he doesn't really mean it..." That small moment really shows how much she loves him.
  • Marty Feldman and Cookie Monster bonding over their similar googly eyes.
  • After every show, the Muppets thank their guest stars with a Muppet version of them to take and keep for themselves. It just says a lot that the creators would give a sort of tribute and well-thought out gift to thank them for their time.
    • That was actually dropped after the first two episodes, due to the expense of creating the gifts. However, later in the first season, Paul Williams received one of the Paul Williams Muppets used in "Just an Old Fashioned Love Song", and Jason Segel received the Jason Segel Muppet used in the 2011 film.
  • At the end of the Statler and Waldorf song "It Was A Very Good Year" Waldorf kind of cuddles next to Statler. It's brief and not too noticeable, but it shows the cute friendship between the two, despite how they bicker and argue.
  • "Something's Missing," in which a Muppet with an incomplete face, an incomplete set, and even an incomplete song, sings about how he always gets the short end of the stick, only for that to change when he's around his love.
    "Now my love, I beg you, stay, 'cause when you stay I can say, 'Nothing's missing, nothing's missing, nothing's missing!'"
  • In the Peter Ustinov episode, Kermit is feeling overlooked and neglected by his friends over the guest star which eventually culminates in him singing "It's not Easy Being Green." While it starts out sad in tone, with Kermit wanting to stand out so his friends praise him again, it ends with Kermit realizing that he has to get over his jealousy and accept himself.
    • Kermit also sang it—with the same arrangement—in the Peter Sellers episode. (Interesting that the two episodes should be linked in that way, since Peter Ustinov was almost Inspector Clouseau...) Kermit is feeling overwhelmed that so many things have gone wrong with the show this week, culminating with an act not showing up and nothing to replace it. He apologizes to the audience while sitting on an empty stage. "You may have noticed we're not terribly well-organized around here...and tonight I'm just barely making it...I don't know, sometimes it's very difficult." Sitting on a crate, he beings the song, and as he sings, the stage behind him slowly transforms into a beautiful wooded area. As it transforms, and as the song progresses, he seems to gain more confidence, and as it ends, he seems to be far more at peace with himself, looking around and nodding in satisfaction.
  • In the Kenny Rogers episode, Kermit is injured during an act and his friends immediately stop the show to see if he's okay with Fozzie asking for a doctor in the audience. It was a very sweet way of showing that for all that they drive each other crazy, at the end of the day the Muppets are True Companions.
  • The Lola Falana episode mixes this with one hell of a gut punch Tear Jerker. Gonzo celebrates seemingly getting a Bollywood contract and acts rather narcissistic, supposedly setting up for a standard "leaving fake-out" plot where Gonzo burns all his bridges before having to crawl back. Midway through his swan song performance, however, Gonzo admits he doesn't want to leave everyone and breaks down sobbing, with a sympathetic Kermit quickly calling off the action to encourage him to go for his dream before gently leading him off the stage.
    • When Gonzo finally returns and pulls off another disastrous act involving tap dancing on a giant vat of oatmeal, the others quickly step in to fish him out (with spoons and milk and brown sugar at the ready) while Kermit, despite his frustrations at the mess that has occurred, makes sure to tell Gonzo he's happy he's back. Lola begins to sing "United We Stand", and Kermit, Gonzo, and everyone else joins in... even Trevor the Gross, who Kermit had hired as Gonzo's replacement after Gonzo left for Bollywood and who had had his heart set on doing the oatmeal act himself.
      All: [singing] For united we stand, divided we fall.
      And if our backs should ever be against the wall,
      We'll be together... together, you and I.
  • Scooter as a whole can be considered Heartwarming in Hindsight due to having something bearing a character arc. He starts as a naive kid who bugs the others for a part in the show, not quite getting it's because they're all terrified of his uncle who runs the theatre. Early interactions make clear the Muppets fear Scooter will end up a hindering Spoiled Brat. As the show goes on, however, Scooter proves a genuinely reliable and enthusiastic gofer for Kermit, proving anyone, privileged or not, can still earn a role if given a chance. Kermit even introduces him with pride for "Six-String Orchestra" saying he always works hard and please give him a round of applause.
    • Scooter is also among few that actually has positive things to say about Fozzie's acts and even joins him on stage at times without the same exasperation the other costars show. The "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" number being a cute example; Fozzie becomes wary of his role at first and tries to escape, but quickly starts to enjoy their double act. They both end it by hugging.
  • Star Wars crossover
    • The reason why Luke, Artoo and Threepio have crashed the show; they got a distress signal from Chewbacca saying he was being held hostage by "weird turkeys." Kermit nods and realizes it must be from their show, giving them permission to search the studio. Sure enough, Chewbacca makes a great comeback by handling Gonzo's Darth Vader Expy character when he tries to attack the "Pigs in Space" crew.
    • Luke at one point shouts, "Remember Alderaan!" He hasn't forgotten how Leia lost her home.
    • Angus MacGonagle the Argyle Gargoyle was supposed to be the guest star. He sneaks onstage while Luke Skywalker is searching for Chewie seizes his chance. "Summertime" plays and he gargles it. Then Mark Hamill also sneaks onstage, shushing the audience with a big smile, and joins in perfect harmony. Angus nods at him and they enjoy each other's company. Well...until Kermit asks Animal to "sic 'em".
    • Everyone praises Luke's outfit, asking who his tailor is. Even if he gets annoyed by the end, it shows how much people admire him.
    • Luke Skywalker gets his "cousin", Mark Hamill, to sing in the finale; Mark comes dressed to the nines in a tuxedo, singing a sincere cover of "When You Wish Upon A Star." Needless to say, it steals the show.
  • When the rats overrun the show while taking advantage of Beauregard's naiveté to the point where Kermit puts his foot down telling Bo that either the rats go, or he goes with them. Bo is about to quit when Miss Piggy, of all people, informs him the rats are only just using him.
  • Gilda Radner's guest appearance, complete with her performing Emily Litella in the cold opening. After Jim Henson's acrimonious time on Saturday Night Live, this was the perfect way to show there were no hard feelings.
  • The end of Petula Clark's episode has her singing "Tomorrow", joined in by the Muppets as back-up.
  • From Debbie Harry's episode, partway through Kermit approaches her in the dressing room to talk about rainbow themed songs she might sing, noting quietly she seems to have forgotten one specific song about rainbows. Debbie admits she thought Kermit might've gotten tired of it by now. He hasn't, so Kermit and Debbie sing "Rainbow Connection" together (later backed up by Robin's scout troop as well).
  • Fozzie spends the Candice Bergen episode playing a Running Joke on Kermit where he makes pun-based "deliveries" with the final joke seeing him dump a load of flour over the frog. Unfortunately for Fozzie, Miss Piggy happens to walk past at that moment and she immediately jumps in to defend Kermit.
    Fozzie: That's a joke. That was the punch!
    Miss Piggy: No, Fozzie, this is the punch.
    (she punches Fozzie and then stomps on him before checking to see if Kermit's alright)
  • In the Madeline Kahn episode, Gonzo thinks that Madeline is in love with him. This gets back to Madeline, who laughingly dismisses the very idea. She leaves the backstage area...to reveal that Gonzo was hidden, overhearing it. He sings the first half of "The Wishing Song", wishing he could be someone else. Now it's Madeline's turn to overhear, and she returns, comforting Gonzo and reassuring him that he's worth something and she'll be his friend even if she isn't in love with him. This cheers Gonzo up, and he sings the second half of the song, giving thanks for all the good things in his life and re-affirming that he's happy to be who he is. And Madeline sniffles in response.
  • Kermit's introduction for Liberace is interrupted by Rowlf walking sadly across the stage because the guest being a pianist means he won't be needed to play tonight. During Liberace's final number he calls Rowlf in to take over playing so he can dance during "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue".
  • The theatre audience is even more unruly than usual during the Diana Ross episode thanks to Statler and Waldorf provoking them. During the UK spot they start booing in the middle of Beaker's performance of "Feelings". Animals walks out from behind the drum kit and yells at them to be quiet so Beaker can finish the song, he then joins in singing backup vocals.
  • A subtle one: During the performance of "Danny Boy" from Wally Boag's episode, all three singers are crying by the end. Several times, the Swedish Chef is seen checking over his shoulder to see if Animal and Beaker are okay before burying his face in his handkerchief.
  • In Dizzy Gillespie's episode, Waldorf is shown to have a soft spot for his wife Astoria, whom he frequently calls "my dear". And although Astoria is just as good of a heckler as her husband and Statler, she managed to get the audience to applaud Fozzie's performance.

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