The Muppet Show Season 1 Episode 2
Rita Moreno won an Emmy for her performance on the show. This was a significant achievement considering this was only The Muppet Show’s fifth episode. Three years later, Rita would co-host the special, “The Muppets Go Hollywood” and once again find herself trying to keep Animal under control!
Frank Oz and Richard Hunt switch off performing Piggy in this episode. The only time she is not performed by Hunt is the Talk Spot.
Marvin Suggs’ Muppaphones, although there are many, are all voiced by Jim Henson and Jerry Nelson. This is Marvin Suggs’ and the Muppaphones debut.
The Conversation Panel features a rarely seen character, The Guru, who only had three minor speaking parts the whole run of the show. This character was known as Brewsters on The Muppets Valentine Show (1974), the first pilot for The Muppet Show.
Sweetums’ second appearance still recalls his debut from “The Frog Prince” as he keeps referring to Rita as “Nice Lady.”
Some names of Marvin Suggs’ Muppaphones include Lucy, Bernard, and even one named Marvin!
Miss Piggy’s shining star is already taking off. She’s in the first three onstage acts of the show as well as the discussion panel. The unseen announcer is usually performed in season one by John Lovelady though in its debut, it’s done by Jerry Nelson. Jerry would do the announcer a couple more times in season one then become the regular announcer from season two onward.
Serie: The Muppet Show
Episode Title: Rita Moreno
Air Date: 1976-09-12
