This year, “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, and to honor this forerunner to the show we know and love, we’re dusting off an old series and giving this special its long overdue review!
Original air date: March 19, 1975
After years of development, The Muppet Show is here! Sort of! In the form of a half-hour special with songs and comedy! Yes, the title shows up here, and we do get to see characters and sketches that would become staples of the series, but there’s still a ways to go before we arrive at the framework of what would become one of the most popular television programs on the planet. So where does Sex and Violence lie on the roadmap to The Muppet Show? The answer can be found by looking at its similarities and differences. And in examining them, it’s pretty clear to see that some improvements were still to come before music was played and lights were lit.
So what’s different? The biggest thing that stands out is the pacing. This special comes at you at warp speed, hardly letting any of the sketches breathe. It almost gives the impression of channel surfing. As a result, a lot of the bits, like “At the Dance” and the Swedish Chef, are broken up into recurring segments throughout the special, which makes it slightly harder to follow. It’s a chaotic rhythm, which reflects the chaotic nature of the show. Compare that to The Muppet Show proper, which is more about finding order in the chaos. Longer sketches allow the tone to really be established, keeping the flow more manageable to the average viewer.
Another big difference is the choice of host. While Kermit is part of the special, his role is rather reduced, and so our host is Nigel. And for what’s supposed to be an anarchic show, he just doesn’t measure up. There’s just nothing funny about him, and frankly, he doesn’t do much hosting. He spends the majority of the show playing games with Floyd and Sam the Eagle backstage, finally getting some of his hosting work in during the Seven Deadly Sins pageant. Nigel’s just too passive, considering the role he’s been given. Kermit, on the other hand, is a far more active host, not only emceeing the show, but participating in sketches and musical numbers. He’s the engine that keeps The Muppet Show running without running amok. To have an anarchic show work, you need someone to keep on top of it. Nigel just doesn’t do that.
Still, some advances toward what we call The Muppet Show can be seen, especially in the backstage material. Where The Muppets Valentine Show has a sort of backstage setup, many of the musical numbers are non-diegetic. Nobody in the context of that special’s framing sees or acknowledges “Froggy Went a-Courtin’” (aside from the intro) or “Real Live Girl” happening. Here, The Muppet Show is, well… a show. The characters know they’re a part of the show, and they interact accordingly. This opens up the possibility to really get to know them as they deal with the pressures and conflicts of being part of an ensemble.
As for content, the point was to show that the Muppets didn’t have to be bound by the constraints of “kiddie” entertainment, and to that end, I think it achieves its goal. Of course, this is still meant to be family-friendly, but it does tackle some more mature subject matter, like romance and aggression. (Sometimes both at the same time, in the case of the Electric Mayhem’s performance of “Love Ya to Death.”) We see human astronauts in danger on the Planet of the Pigs, birds attracting mates with catchphrases, and several presidents on Mount Rushmore swap bad jokes. The humor is mature too, as a lot more is drawn from the dialogue than visual gags. The establishment of “At the Dance” and bringing in Statler and Waldorf help to push that idea forward, broadening the Muppets’ appeal to those who aren’t all about the fantastical creatures.
So where does Sex and Violence sit on the road map to The Muppet Show? Imagine a fork in the road. (Not that fork, weisenheimer.) On the one path, you have the sweeter approach of Valentine Show. I see this special on the other path; a more edgy, anarchic take on the Muppets. In the middle, you have the series that would become a worldwide phenomenon. Both specials inform the direction that The Muppet Show would ultimately take: that of a gentle chaos. Sweet, but not too sweet. Exciting, but a controlled pace. And in the end, that path proved to be the right one.
Best Joke: Statler and Waldorf’s first exchange:
STATLER: I’ve been thinking.
WALDORF: What’ve you been thinking?
STATLER: About the younger generation.
WALDORF: What about them?
STATLER: Don’t know where they’re goin’!
WALDORF: You can say that again.
STATLER: Don’t know where they’re goin’!
WALDORF: Neither did the Kaiser.
STATLER: He comin’ too?
Worst Joke: George Washington’s knock-knock joke. Easy to understand, hard to laugh at.
MVM (Most Valuable Muppet): Because of his quick jokes and stylish walk, in his first-ever appearance, Floyd grooves his sway to the title. (“Sway” was a typo, but darn if it doesn’t feel right.) Sadly, his hypnotic eyes didn’t follow him to the series.
Most Classic Moment: The only bit to be reused in the series, “Love Ya to Death.”
Most Dated Moment: At the very beginning, Nigel stamps the title with the label “Do Not Erase.” This references the practice of tape wiping, when videocassettes were so expensive that distributors used to tape over their master copies to reuse them. Classic Doctor Who fans are likely familiar with the practice.
First Appearance of…: Floyd, Animal, Janice, Zoot, the Swedish Chef, Statler, Waldorf, Nigel, Sam the Eagle, and “At the Dance,” to name a few. Additionally, Dr. Nauga in “Return to Beneath the Planet of the Pigs” looks similar and sounds identical to Dr. Julius Strangepork, so you can count him too if you firmly believe Gonzo’s first appearance was The Great Santa Claus Switch.
Obscure Character Watch: Keep an eye out for Bert, who only appeared in two episodes of The Muppet Show. Talk about obscure characters!
Adultiest Content: For such a risque title, the naughtiest moment is Theodore Roosevelt’s joke about feeling up two women. And that’s why I won’t vote for him.
One More Thing…: Keep an eye on the clocks backstage, as they change with every scene. There’s lots of jokes for fans of surrealist art, Simon & Garfunkel, and Port Jervis, New York!
Okay, One More Thing…: A word of advice: don’t try to use “gribbaziggy” in Scrabble, unless you want a “Q” and “Z” shoved somewhere delicate.
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by Matthew Soberman – [email protected]
