The Muppet Show Season 1 Episode 8

Peter Ustinov

This is one out of only three episodes this season to not contain an official "Talk Spot" although there is a slight exchange between the guest and frog in front of the curtain before Peter's first sketch. The Newsman finally develops the voice he would have for the rest of the series and gets glasses. (Which fly to the back of his head and back on his face at the end of the sketch.) This is the first episode of two that Cynthia Adler performs in. Her main character, Cynthia Birdley, appears during the talks spot, a shorter nosed, brasher version of Mildred what with the curly hair, purple skin and rhinestone glasses. Making its Muppet Show debut, the song "Bein' Green" was already well associated with Kermit. The song had previously been sung on Sesame Street and various guest spots on other shows. Kermit will sing it once again on the show next season and the song would become Kermit's best known song until 1979's "Rainbow Connection" from the Muppet Movie. A running gag throughout the show, "The Hatrack" is even listed in the closing credits as one of the writers! A similar running gag occurs with the name Gummo in the 1981 special "The Muppets Go To The Movies". Peter Ustinov would later make a cameo as a truck driver in 1981's "Great Muppet Caper" movie sharing screen time with both Miss Piggy and Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch!