The 1970s was a fun time. It’s amazing to watch major television shows and see what people have gotten away with and wonder why, since we’ve come so far in these years, we’ve never really been able to escape this day and age. Paul Lynde said he would never do it on television what he said today in Hollywood Square in the 70s. Archie Bunker probably wouldn’t kill a week in today’s television.
It was also a time when, seemingly, everyone in the world had television variety shows. Most of them were terrible. Hell, anyone who has ever watched “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour” knows it deserves a place of prominence in the “Greatest Television Shows of All Time” museum. . Sonny and Cher had their show and then Tony Orlando and Dawn happened.
But for me, there was nothing like the Muppets. I grew up on the Muppets. I know it’s not hip or cool to say things like that these days, but watching Sesame Street. Then, as I got older, I watched “The Muppet Show.” I loved it then and I love it now. I remember sitting at the desk where I was working, listening to the radio, when it was announced that Jim Henson had Jim Henson. He died and I felt like someone hit me on a guy with a two-by-four. It was the first celebrity-deaths that I almost felt personally affected.
So, it was with a mixture of delight and trepidation that I began watching the new DVD set of “The Muppet Show: Season 2.” You know how it is with the shows you watched as a kid. For example, I know I loved “Speed Racer” when I was a kid. When I went back and watched the adult episode, I was disappointed in the cheapness of the show and wondered what it was about the show that I loved so much. I was very afraid that it would happen again when I repeated the Muppets.
I’m proud and happy to say, the show was as amazing as you probably remember.
It’s amazing to look at the guest list of the two hosts. Don Knotts, Rudolf Nureyev, Madeline Kahn, Elton John, Bob Hope, Dom DeLuise, Lou Rawls, just to name a few You see guest stars on this show all season 2. There are also some interesting guest stars that I actually don’t even remember. I guess there was a time when Nancy Walker, Cleo Laine, Petula Clark and Teresa Brewer were really on the national radar and important to some people.
The DVD collection is also interesting because of the sheer number of people who are in this business who are no longer alive. Many of these must have perished not long after the host. No Mostel, for example, must have had a fatal heart attack not long after this film was made. Edgar Bergen is another, who died in 1978, who should do the least after the episode hosting the film.
All of the classic Muppet characters are here. You can see the show’s development in the second season, find its footing, and look into the cracks. You see how “Veterinary Hospital” became a regular weekly format with “Swedish Chef” and “Juices in Space”. Among these forms that you remember and invited with the classic hosts are very funny, often very surreal, with sketches of various Muppets making very odd shows.
Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piglet, Scooter, Gonzo, Animal, Dr. Teeth and Electric Chaos, Statler and Waldorf are all here and they’re almost as funny as you probably remember from your childhood. They compete every week, try and show a great variety of results, often with hilarious and silly results each week.
It was fair enough to be the guest of honor for the show at the time. It’s interesting when they have a musical act because it’s obvious what you’re going to do. However, when they have Don Knotts or Dom DeLuise, they are left to make comedic characters that are, to say the least, a bit off. However, both things are surprisingly entertaining.
DVD collection has some good ones worth noting. For example, this season 2 DVD has a Muppets Valentine special that aired years before the show. There’s even a joke called “The Muppets on The Muppets,” as the Muppet characters talk about their time on the show. Not all of these work, but it’s interesting to see them.
The show is a tribute to some of the classic actors. Rudolf Nureyev, for example, sings “Baby cold” outside. Even the ballet dancer sings twice…! He also sings that song about putting on his head, black and tails and then dances a great number of tunes. .
Behind this show is the heart of Jim Henson and the amazing abilities of himself and people like Frank Oz. Oz also did a lot of directing for each show. These are the ones who are, of course, having a pretty bad time playing around with cars. The enemies also seem to be having a great time going around the set as well. I think only translators have a good time to damn who I set this CD to.
So, if you’re like me and have loved the Muppets most of your life, this DVD is a definite must-have. lube now from Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
