Recap / The Muppet Show S 2 E 10

Gonzo fiddles while George Burns. Meanwhile, Fleet Scribbler, reporter for "The Daily Scandal", searches the theater for the best news to exaggerate.

Songs and Sketches

• "Cuanto Le Gusta"
• "Train Back Home"
• "Chattanooga Choo-Choo
• Veterinarian's Hospital: Telephone.
• UK Spot: "Wotcher Knocked 'Em In The Old Kent Road"
• At The Dance: "I Won't Dance"
• Coffee Break Machine
• "It All Depends On You" / "You Made Me Love You"

This episode has examples of

• Audience Participation Song: The UK spot sees the entire audience, including Statler and Waldorf, singing along with Fozzie's performance of "Wotcher Knocked 'Em In The Old Kent Road".
• Never Work with Children or Animals: Discussed Trope. George tells Rowlf of a vaudeville act he did where he sung while holding a cute little dog in his arms. When he reached a high note, the dog bit him. invoked
• Page Three Stunna: In a reference that will likely go over most American viewers' heads, Fleet offers Miss Piggy a picture spread on page three to entice her into giving him gossip on her costars.
• Second-Face Smoke: Fleet Scribbler interviews George, who gives him some wisecrack answers—and a good puff in the face from his cigar.
• So Unfunny, It's Funny: And becomes a Running Gag throughout the episode. At the start, Gonzo is playing a fiddle in George's dressing room.
  George: What is that?
  Gonzo: It's my new act: "Gonzo fiddles while George Burns."
  George: I like that joke. It's a pleasure to hear something that's older than I am.
• Twisting the Words: Fleet Scribbler interviews Kermit.
  Fleet Scribbler: Say, is it true you're dropping a lot of stuff from the show this year?
  Kermit: Uh, no, no, not particularly.
  Fleet Scribbler: Aha. "Muppets Relying on Same Old Tired Junk."
  Kermit: Uh, wait, wait, wait. On the other hand, we have a lot of brand new, innovative stuff.
  Fleet Scribbler: Oh. "Muppets Changing Format, Desperate to Sustain Show."
  Kermit: I never knew the press could be so depressing.

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Waldorf: How do they do it?
Statler: How do we watch it?
Waldorf: Why do we watch it?
Statler: [to the viewer] Why do YOU watch it?!