Marvin Suggs is the worst Muppet. He's a great and funny character. But he is still the worst.
Like Bobby Benson, Marvin exploits a group of small defenseless creatures and forces them to make music, but Marvin takes things a step further and beats his artists until they produce the sound he wants.
Marvin Suggs, ready to strike.
Somehow, Marvin has come across a group of creatures known as the Muppaphones. They are little balls of sentient fur that yelp in specific musical notes when struck with a mallet. Marvin first presented his act to the world with the Muppaphone rendition of "Lady of Spain."
He would later perform similar violent numbers, but things really took a turn for the worse when he hijacked Rowlf's performance in order to play "Blue Danube." It was clear that Marvin had become unpopular among the rest of the Muppet Show cast and was forbidden to continue his horrible act onstage. This was probably the result of Kermit's one-on-one interview with him where, despite Marvin's claims that the group operates on "Mutual love and respect," the Muppaphones fear their abuser since many have perished after becoming flat...like a pancake.
The Muppahones could barely get a word in without Marvin telling them to shut up.
When asked what happens to the flattened bodies, Marvin responds "I don't think you want to know." He is aware that what he is doing is wrong, yet he revels in his art. One is led to wonder how he found himself in this situation in the first place. He presumably discovered this species, but, like an evil Pinocchio villain, he only sees them as a means for profit and entertainment.
Frank Oz shed some light on Marvin's backstory, saying "I've always felt Marvin lived in a scuzzy trailer park with his put-upon wife, and he kept the Muppaphones in a cage and would beat them regularly." No other Muppet was so relentlessly cruel.
But can a monster like Marvin truly be blamed for his actions? What if there is more to Marvin than we see on the surface? He disappeared during the later seasons of The Muppet Show only to return unexpectedly when he wound up on the bed of Veterinarian's Hospital. At death's door, he finds himself hooked up to a monitor and it is discovered that the music is in his heart.
Life is a constant song for Marvin and he requires a means to get it out of his system and into the world. Like any artist, he longs to share his gift. It spends so much time pent up inside him that it bursts out in violent rages.
His heart beats the music, so he beats the musicians.
...Okay, that doesn't change anything. He's still a horrible Muppet.
An unofficial mantra that The Muppet Show regularly stands by is "Expect the unexpected." Very rarely does the straightforward occur on the show. Traditional songs are covered in non-traditional scenarios, abstract creatures speak made-up languages, and sketches don't end without something going horribly wrong. The show became increasingly bizarre because the writer's always had to top what had appeared the previous week. By the third season, Henson and his crew had to change the game. And that game-changer appeared with the introduction of a seven-foot-tall carrot singing tunes from The Pirates of Penzance.
"Episode 304: Gilda Radner" is considered by many to be a classic due to the presence of its guest star. Known for her work on Saturday Night Live, Radner was one of the few cast members who actually appreciated Henson and the Muppets when they worked on the show in its first season. She happily brought her comedic charm to the set of The Muppet Show for the chance to work with her old friends again. And while she is a great asset to this episode, a guest star cannot carry an full episode by his or herself. She is just half of the reason this episode is fondly remembered.
The episode starts right away toying with expectations. Radner appears as her classic character Emily Litella who, like many SNL characters, has a common schitck. Litella often mishears key words and gets worked up into a repressed outrage over her misinterpretation before being corrected and stating sheepishly, "Nevermind!" This time she confuses "Muppets" for "Muffins" and the audience would be so familiar with this routine that they could say her catchprase in unison with her.
Easing the audience in with a smile.
The opening number involves a classic bit of Muppet misdirection where "a traditional Eskimo lullaby" turns out to be the "Lullaby of Broadway." Songs like this are so common to the show that it'd be weird if they actually did sing an Eskimo luallaby.
Lulling us into a false sense of security.
Then, we get our first hint that this show will be different. Radner prepares for her first number, and discovers her singing partner for the "Parrots of Penzance" number is here for the "Carrots of Penzance." As Kermit says, "I introduce 'em, I don't explain 'em."
It's a shame this character never appeared again.
It would have been typical for The Muppet Show to include a giant parrot for this bit, but taking the pun one step further into a non-sensical outcome is "a terrible joke, but it's worthy of us," as Henson stated. The number goes on much longer than the average song as it includes squabbling amongst Radner and the carrot as they attempt to prove to the other that they can sing better. Having just the carrot perform would have been enough, but making him this vain operetta singer ready to allow his duet partner to look bad on stage takes this segment into a whole new territory.
And when there is one singing vegetable, more can't be far behind.
Contining with the theme of "unlike anything we've seen before," we are introduced to the first "Muppet Melodrama." This was intended to be a recurring segment, but it only appeared once after this (possibly because there was only one joke and it worked well the first time it was told). In a rare collaboration of characters, the trio of Miss Piggy, Uncle Deadly, and Wayne (of "Wayne and Wanda" fame) would reenact classic moments similar to The Perils of Pauline (the inspiration for Dudley Do-Right and any scenario where there is a dashing hero, a mustachioed villain, and a damsel-in-distress).
The Perils of Piggy
The plot is so obvious that it barely gets past the introduction of the hero for expectations to be thwarted. Wayne appears and immediately bonds with the villainous Deadly over their shared passion for flamenco dancing. And Piggy falls to her watery grave below, provoking her to reprimand her co-stars with some swift karate chops after the scene is finished.
Justice is served, with a side of bacon.
This is followed by a return appearance of the cruel ringmaster Marvin Suggs and his abused Muppaphones, but, in yet another reversal of expectations, Suggs gets a taste of his own medicine.
We have reached the halfway point of the episode, and despite all the wackiness, everything is par for the course on The Muppet Show. Up next is an installment of the reliable recurring sketch, "Muppet Labs." Bunsen will invent something, and Beaker will suffer as a result. We're used to the routine. But wait, what's Gilda Radner doing?
I don't make these episodes, I just report on them.
For the first time, a human guest star is appearing in a "Muppet Labs" sketch (not counting Peter Ustinov's appearance in the second one which was in the non-canon pre-Beaker era). Since celebrities are always able to pick which Muppets they want to appear on screen with, it is evident from this arrangement that Radner's favorite Muppet was Beaker. And when you choose Beaker, you're going to get stuck with him. Literally.
As Mac Davis would find out in a later episode.
Bunsen invents super-adhesive glue and of course, the glue ends up everywhere. Gilda gets trapped in Beaker's exercise equipment as Bunsen starts attracting all of his desk supplies. Driving home the theme of this episode, Bunsen remarks, "It wasn't meant to go this way!" Normally, this would be the end of the sketch but this small action affects rest of the episode permanently.
It's like the Butterfly Effect.
Rowlf and Zoot can't put down of their musical instruments,...
...the Newsman is glued to his seat during a riveting news flash,...
...all of Piggy's dreams start coming true,...
...and Gonzo can't keep his eyes of the television set!
The show runs "normally" in an attempt to compensate for this added nuisance and it all leads to Radner's show-stopping final number "Tap Your Troubles Away." This is an amazing spectacle as it greatly combines the comedy of both the Muppets and Radner perfectly. There is a gracefulness to the mayhem and it is easily one of The Muppet Show's finest moments.
After all is said and done, the cast remains stuck together for their bows and Kermit tries to keep things under control by ironically stating, "Okay, that just about does it for another regular, nothing-out-of-the-ordinary, everything-under-control Muppet Show."
...Perfect.
This episode was far from ordinary and it knew it. Up until this point, episodes were either a hodge-podge of moments or a small story involving the characters. But now, the writer's started looking at the bigger picture. It was as if Henson and his crew were turning a page, realizing that they not only should they avoid the limits set by others, they should avoid the limits set by themselves. Many times, the crew conflicted with the artistic vision of the guest stars, many of whom had little imagination (which is a terrible thing to bring to The Muppet Show). It took a brilliant comedienne to help raise the stakes, proving that there are always expectations to be subverted. Creativity doesn't stop when the ideas run dry. You just have to dig a little deeper.
Because at The Muppet Show, you never know what you'll get yourself into. And that's where the fun begins.
In the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, we are treated to a world where the world of cartoons and reality are intertwined. The laws of physics do not apply in Toontown and the impossible becomes possible. While the Disney theme parks try their best to recreate the world of cartoons, they will always be limited by the rules of logic. The Muppets, however, are able to exist peacefully in that in-between state between fiction and non-fiction. When we encounter them, we treat them as living creatures, willingly suspending all rationale. But, like cartoons, they can endure great physical stresses that no human could survive. Objects that were once inanimate can start talking. And, yes, the food can sing.
And you thought being a vegan was tough before...
The Singing Food is another one of those omnipresent aspects that let you know you have entered Muppet territory. Unlike other Muppet species, the food comes in dozens of varieties and voices, yet they seem rather simple minded. Perhaps because they are lower on the food chain (literally), they haven't quite developed as much as their puppet brethren. While they lack intelligence, they can be trained to perform complex musical numbers, such as "Yes, We Have No Bananas."
And it is not only the abusive Muppet-tamer Marvin Suggs who is able to get these fruits and vegetables to sing. Even the Swedish Chef could train them to sing their signature hit in his native tongue, Fake Swedish. Considering the battles the Chef often has with his meals, this is quite the accomplishment!
What causes these plants to mimic the behavior of other sentient beings? They all seem to exhibit the exact same personality. But even though they are simple minded, does that make it right to eat them? I mean, Muppet Monsters eat living creatures whole every day. Sure, these Muppets are enslaved to perform show tunes before becoming someone's dinner, but this is a cartoonish world! We don't have to worry about the food, right?! It's just harmless fun!
Did I mention that the Singing Food have offspring that hatch from eggs?
That's right. That is a picture of newborn baby asparagus. How adorably tragic.
But don't worry. The Singing Food is rarely seen on somebody's plate. Perhaps their abilities have allowed them to escape a grim demise. They always seem to pop up in large chorus numbers, without anyone threatening their lives.
Vegetables are more likely to survive in groups.
The Singing Food have been spared from the fates of their non-verbal siblings. At least, that was the case until the most recent film The Muppets in which !!!SPOILERS!!! their abandoned refrigerator is discovered and all the Food is revealed to have gone rotten. So they are disposed of in a manner befitting to a Muppet, a fiery explosion. !!!END OF SPOILERS!!!
So, while a cartoon world may seem like a fun place to visit, be glad you live in a world where food cannot talk or sing or exhibit any signs of life once in your kitchen. And should you happen to discover a musical fruit, please, let him toot his melody and continue on his merry way.
