plot
Three uncut classic episodes of The Muppet Show.
1) "Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO,
and R2-D2 hijack the crew from Pigs in Space to rescue
Chewbacca, then join in a big "star" tunes
finale in a galaxy far far away."
2) "Paul Simon The popular singer-songwriter
runs afoul of the law while performing "Scarborough
Fair" with Miss Piggy, and joins the Muppet
band for a rollicking "Loves Me Like a Rock"."
3) "Raquel Welch The international
sex symbol goes prehistoric toi sing and dance with a
giant spider, and teams with Miss Piggy for a show-stopping
"I Am Woman (W-O . . . P-I-G!)"."
dvd review
story
I've always been rather fond of The Muppets, I recall
watching them on the BBC when I was a kid, in the
evenings. I've followed them ever since, through a range
of films, tv revivals and cartoon spin-offs. The
brainchild of the late Jim Henson, the series has always
provided a peculiar mix of entertainment for a family
audience. Whilst having a great appeal for the pre-teen
audience, in appearances at least, and jovial
characterisation, they also incorporate guests and more
subtle lines and routines which appeal directly to the
adult and family audience. The long-term love affair
between Miss Piggy (Frank Oz) and Kermit the Frog (Jim
Henson) being the most obvious example.
This selection is a good all-round example.
Mark Hamill gets to appear on the show as himself and in
character as Luke Skywalker, in a straight lift from Star Wars. The chance to
see the Muppets interact with C-3PO, R2 and Chewbacca is
not to be missed. The interaction with Miss Piggy and
Fozzie Bear is doubly fun of course, as Frank Oz plays
these characters and Yoda in the Star Wars trilogy.
Low on the musical numbers this time (involving the cast)-
the finale seems a little silly. But these things always
are. The sight of Mark Hamill gargling Gershwin is value
for money alone.
The second show pays full tribute to Paul
Simon as all the musical pieces (always a mainstay of the
Show) are written by
the maestro. I'm just getting into some of Simon's music
myself, so I rather enjoyed the episode. He's softly
spoken and provides an interesting balance to the
relative manicness of the Muppets themselves. Whilst
Benson's Babies (a group of singing babies driving around
in a old pram, accompanied by a middle-age musician) may
seem a little out of place and contraversial in today's
environment, Gonzo's crazy version of El Condor Pasa
(If I Could) ("I'd rather be an elbow than a
sneeze / in the breeze..."). A much more thoughtful
instalment of the show.
 Racquel Welch
meanwhile opens by trying to shake off her sex-pot image,
only to find a roomful of male Muppets keen for her to
keep the old look, and indulge in some scantily clad
shaking about - which she does with her usual enthusiasm.
References to her rise to stardom can be found in the
poster for One Million
Years BC which is on the wall backstage.
Whilst much more overtly sexual than the typical Muppets episode, Ms Welch
is given chances to show her recently (at the time)
developed skills of dancing (long-legged Racquel in
scanty cloth with a sensual spider in the opening gambit),
and singing (the latter not her stong point, with a
rather awful duet with Miss Piggy - badly written and
performed). Still, there's fun to be had with the Swedish
Chef and Raquel's transfixing the attention of Fozzie.
Three very different and fun episodes. Go
on, buy it.
transfer
Full screen transfer of the original tv shows. Picture is
broadcast standard and generally very good. Supplemental
features fare well too.
Design
Menu screens are easy to follow, with the
rousing loop theme for the show playing over the main
menu (thumping sound there). The packaging for the discs
are generic and the series of dvds are in similar
distinctive white keep-cases, with bright labels (this
one orange).
extras
I felt a little disappointed by the extras
on these dvds. The scenes listed as *bonus* are not
explained, and appear in the UK vhs box set of 2001 (availble
only in HMV). I wondered if these had been cut from US
transmission, but can see no evidence for this. In
addition, the rest of the non-trailer extras are so brief,
they dissapoint.
Brian Henson Intros The son of Muppet
creator Jim Henson, and an established producer now
himself, Brian introduces each of the episodes on the
disc. Each intro is snappily edited with snips from the
episode in question. Each lasts approximately one minute,
but leaves the viewer wanting more behind the scenes info.
Worst of all is the into to the Racquel Welch episode
which includes a tantilising glimpse from behind the
scenes. If the footage is out there, the fans would love
to see it. Perhaps something can be done for future
releases?
Movie Mania : Never Give
Up... (1mins 02secs) Shot in 1999, almost an
ident segment, designed to attract interest in the
Muppets series. Funny, perhaps, but with only one per dvd
(plus the Muppet Moments ident), one ends up clamoring
for more. This one is a selection of screen tests for the
Muppets to do Yoda in Star Wars. Most amusing of course
is Fozzie bear - first up - as Frank Oz is Yoda.
Muppet Moments
: don't sweat the "little" stuff... (52secs) Stylish
segment with Miss Piggu clamoring for attention as the
diva. Voice sounds a little off, but nice ident all the
same.
From the archive Merely one
illustration from the design board. This one, of Angus
McGonagle the Gargling Argyle Gargoyle, from the Mark
Hamill show.
Trailers
Muppets From Space (2mins 22sec) Fullscreen G rated
trailer. Fantastic trailer with great sound. Great film
too, and the dvd wasn't too bad neither.
The
Muppets Take Manhattan (43secs) Non-inspiring poor
trailer for the old vhs release. I've seen better quality
transfers and trailers.
Bear
in the Big Blue House (33secs) Fullscreen. Quick, and
reasonable trailer for the Jim Henson company-produced
kids show.
Kermit's
Swamp Years (1min 33secs). Fullscreen trailer for the
video and dvd exclusive release of the new Muppet film.
Digital source material, good picture.
SUMMARY
Super fun with the age-transcending, and barrier crossing
family-appealing extravaganza that is the Muppets.
RJES
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