It's Time to Meet The Muppets

Fergie gets ready to hit it hard this week with Ruth Buzzi’s episode of The Muppet Show! This episode’s Muppet History segment honors and reflects over the legacy and work of Richard Hunt. Fergie discusses the difficult task of performing Sweetums and why Richard Hunt’s execution of the character is so incredible. The very consistent characterizations of The Electric Mayhem. The introduction of the Talking Houses sketch. Fergie also gets to interview Puppeteer, Wrier, Director (and crazily his friend) Noel MacNeal! You most likely know Noel as Bear from Bear in The Big Blue House on Playhouse Disney. Here are the links that were references in the episode: 1. Richard Hunt’s Closing Remarks - Jim Henson’s Memorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STyISx5AftE 2. Don Music Write Mary Had A Little Lamb - Sesame Street https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrJnzBFzEEY 3. Richard Hunt Interview - Down In Fraggle Rock: Behind The Scenes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU9xqZ-mZRc 4. Dumb Son of a Gun - Fraggle Rock, Junior Gorg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhe50xDVT_Y 5. Duck Soup - The Mirror Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKTT-sy0aLg 6. Muppets Most Wanted - Duck Soup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSQoWYDIpV8 Follow Fergie L. Philippe Twitter @fergsters95 Instagram @fergsters95 TikTok @fergsters95 For more info on this podcast, visit bpn.fm/muppets and follow along on instagram @meetthemuppetspod (all lowercase). This podcast is a Proud Member of Broadway Podcast Network! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After quite the hiatus, Fergie is back full force with Joel Grey’s episode of The Muppet Show. Fergie discusses even MORE changes in the opening and re-emphasizes the frequents efforts of the creative team trying out new things. The switch-up in the UK Spot for this episode and why it happened! Lastly, Fergie has a nervous breakdown over the proper pronunciation of Snufflepagus’s name! This episode’s Muppet History segment honors and reflects over the legacy and work of Jerry Nelson. Here are the links that were references in the episode: When the River Meets The Sea - Jim Henson’s Memorial (Emmett Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas) I Give To Thee - Fraggle Rock Lambaba - Sesame Street Truro Daydreams (Info page on Muppet Wiki) Little Red - Jerry Nelson in the Studio Get Yourself Free - Jerry Nelson in the Studio Noah’s Ark - Jerry Nelson in the Studio

 Follow Fergie L. Philippe Twitter @fergsters95 Instagram @fergsters95 TikTok @fergsters95 For more info on this podcast, visit bpn.fm/muppets and follow along on instagram @meetthemuppetspod (all lowercase). This podcast is a Proud Member of Broadway Podcast Network! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fergie discusses the hatred and violence the AAPI community is currently and has been facing for years. He also discusses Gun Control and the Derek Chauvin Trial before diving head first into one of his favorite episodes of the first season - Connie Stevens. Fergie rants about brilliance of Muppet Violence, the solid execution of the small bit/good bit and how Sam The Eagle saying Wayne and Wanda is perhaps the funniest thing to grace his ears. All of this and more on It’s Time To Meet The Muppets! Links: 1. NY Mag Article on Resources to help AAPI Communities https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-to-help-asian-communities-2021.html 2. Jim’s Favorite Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSE1Mtnnm4Y 3. Johnny Fiama sings Close To You https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mgyq3s1yig 4. Teenager in Love - Dion and the Belmonts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fgnEDi7bq0 5. Ain’t Misbehavin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSNPpssruFY Follow Fergie L. Philippe * Twitter @fergsters95 * Instagram @fergsters95 * TikTok @fergsters95 For more info on this podcast, visit bpn.fm/muppets and follow along on instagram @meetthemuppetspod (all lowercase). This podcast is a Proud Member of Broadway Podcast Network! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fergie discusses the key elements to the Muppet performance technique. The opening number “A Nice Girl Like Me” - which features some unofficial introductions to many of the Muppet Monsters. How the musical number “Never Smile At A Crocodile” was the longest sketch shoot of the First Season and of course the infamous Banana Sketch and the even more infamous Gags Beasley is discuss. All that and more on It’s Time To Meet the Muppets!  Here are the links that were referenced in the episode:  A Nice Boy Like Me by Barry Manilow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AfQURpm-lQ Wheels, Flutes and Crowns Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QngRWeEJGo Follow along on @meetthemuppetspod on Instagram and bpn.fm/muppets for more information on the podcast!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fergie makes a couple of corrections about the lore of Muppet History. How Jim Henson and Frank Oz met. Introduces the recurring sketches of Veterinarian's Hospital, Panel Discussion, and Wayne and Wanda. He also delves more into the minutia of how multiple performers perform one character like Sweetums, Janice and once again, Miss Piggy. All that and more in It's Time To Meet The Muppets! As mentioned in this episode, here are the two links that feature the Muppet Likenesses of Jim, Frank and Jerry! You Don’t Mess Around with Jim - The Perry Como Winter Special 1972 To Morrow (UK Spot) - The Muppet Show - Rita Moreno 1976 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his debut episode, Fergie walks through a brief history of how The Muppet Show came to be. Noticeable differences in the theme song in the first season compared to others, the first appearance of Fozzie, how Miss Piggy had two performers and comes to a realization that Mahna Mahna is probably the most famous Muppet Show sketch of all time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Muppet Show mega-fan and Broadway’s Hamilton cast member, Fergie L. Phillipe takes you on an episode-by-episode joyride as he highlights the funny, heartwarming, musical and just straight up WEIRD moments from the show that we all know and love.  When did you first notice that your morning commute was missing flying penguins?! Or that there are not enough piano playing chickens on your runs through the park? Who was gravely disappointed that In The Navy is by The Village People and not in fact a group of Viking Pigs!? Worry NOT, for Fergie is here to fulfill your various Muppet quotas, hopes, dreams, and desires!  Don’t wait for the last shoe to drop into your soup, It’s Time To Meet The Muppets!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices