The Muppet Show Season 1 Episode 10
Finally, success with Fozzie’s comedy spot! While maybe not “the world’s funniest joke”, this routine is by far the funniest of the season. The experimentation that the writers have been taking finally pays off. The key ingredient being the interplay between Fozzie and Kermi. The rest of the season will return to the monologue format, but as a result, more interplay between the bear and the frog will be seen backstage leading to the redemption of a possible failed character. Next season will see more experimentation occur in Fozzie’s act as he tries roller skating, ventriloquism, and in another classic pairing with Kermit, a phrenology demonstration!
A side benefit of Fozzie having more involvement in backstage plots will be more character development as we learn more about his offstage persona. Most of Fozzie’s stories this season will concern his struggling for success, be it overcoming Statler and Waldorf’s heckling, the threat of being canceled or replaced when he’s stuck in a magician’s box, and bringing in his agent to negotiate his contract. Second season episodes will deal with Fozzie’s desire for acceptance as he meets his idol, tries to impress his mother in the audience, finds ways to improve his act, and takes on more backstage responsibility. Then in the third season, we’ll follow Fozzie confronting his insecurity by going to group therapy, asking Kermit for a list of his good points and bad points, and trying to become more assertive.
Harvey Korman would later have the honor of being the only actor to perform in both of the Flintstones movies (with contributions by The Jim Henson Creature Shop) in different roles (The Dictabird and Colonel Slaghoople).
Serie: The Muppet Show
Episode Title: Harvey Korman
Air Date: 1976-11-07
