Scariest Muppet Show Moment

[behemoth]

Hopefully this thread will continue on for a while. What do you guys think the scariest Muppet Show Moment was? For me it was the Rich Little "Inchworm" sketch. I first saw it when I was about 5 and it scared the bejeesus out of me for about 5 years lol.

[Salmoto]

In the Alice Cooper episode when Alice is entertaining a female bird monster on a blanketed area of the floor in his dressing room. Scooter pops in and announces that Piggy is due on stage for "Pigs in Space" the bird monster looks in the mirror, tells Alice to change her back, and poof! he monster turns into piggy. It's cringe-worthy, what they did in this scene, and I'm sure this was Alice Cooper's influence over the muppets.

[Billy's Girl]

I just love that number on the Alice Cooper show:)

When I was a kid I watched an episode when the band decided it was time to move on from TMS. I can't even remember who the guest star was - I just remember crying because I thought I would never see those muppets again.

It was very stressful and scary!!

[Janice & Mokey's Man]

Without a doubt:

"The Phantom of the Muppet theatre"...

*shivers in fearful recollection of childhood memory of the Twiggy episode*

[Daffyfan2003]

When I was a kid I watched an episode when the band decided it was time to move on from TMS. I can't even remember who the guest star was - I just remember crying because I thought I would never see those muppets again.

That was the Kaye Ballard episode. I've read it in The Muppet Show Book and on the episode guide. I'm still kind of wondering about that one. Didn't it end with Rowlf playing that piano-only closing theme? What made the band change their mind and come back all of a sudden?

[anathema]

Originally posted by Janice & Mokey's Man
Without a doubt:

"The Phantom of the Muppet theatre"...

*shivers in fearful recollection of childhood memory of the Twiggy episode*


Apparently there is no logical explanation....yeaarrrgghh!!

[Billy's Girl]

Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
Didn't it end with Rowlf playing that piano-only closing theme? What made the band change their mind and come back all of a sudden?

Yes - I remember that. And at the end of the song Rowlf makes a complaint to the conductor and his reply is 'Play Boy PLay' or something like that.

[anathema]

Originally posted by Amy
Yes - I remember that. And at the end of the song Rowlf makes a complaint to the conductor and his reply is 'Play Boy PLay' or something like that.

'Play, hound, play!'

[Billy's Girl]

I stand corrected - except I'm sitting

[anathema]

My scariest moment: Bruce Forsyth's toupee. Terrifying! :)

[Gorgon Heap]

It's a toupee? Huh, learn something new every day.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

[anathema]

Well, I hope it wasn't his own hair! :D

[Daffyfan2003]

Yes - I remember that. And at the end of the song Rowlf makes a complaint to the conductor and his reply is 'Play Boy PLay' or something like that.

No offense, Amy, but that doesn't completely answer my question. Was there anything indicating that the band came back or did they just happen to show up in the next episode? Ever since I read that in The Muppet Show Book, I've been sort of confused.

[Drtooth]

Originally posted by anathema
My scariest moment: Bruce Forsyth's toupee. Terrifying! :)

Scariest Moment.. BRUCE FORSYTH HIMSELF!!!

[Chilly Down]

As a child, I was terrified of the old man dying -- and his ghost getting up and dancing! -- in the "Gambler" production number in the Kenny Rogers episode. He looked so realistic compared to the other Muppets. Ironically, I saw the episode again recently on Time-Life, and he looks so primitive by later Creature Shop standards. You can see how the back of his shirt is sewn into the seat so Jerry's hand can fit through.

I never noticed this till the most recent viewing, but the Gambler puppet is in the background during the closing curtain call. I suppose that was to make kids feel better -- "See? It was all pretend. He's really fine." Actually, if I had noticed this as a kid, I would have been even more terrified. He died in one number, and he's alive again for the curtain call??

Also, the "Lime in the Coconut" is one of the strangest numbers they've ever done. Those eyes on the doctor freak me out. I saw this on a compilation video first, and only recently learned that this number is from -- you guessed it -- the Kenny Rogers episode. What was up with the Company that week? They were in a really strange mood, it seems.

The whole Alice Cooper episode is just creepy/strange from beginning to end.

For that matter, the African masks in the Harry Belafonte number freaked me out as a kid. (No offense intended -- I'm just saying my reaction to it when I was younger.)

There was another episode with realistic Muppets. The guest star, a female singer (Cleo Laine, maybe?) sings some ballad while the one human Muppet watches the other one die in a field. Then we see its spirit float away. Maybe I misread what was going on in that scene, but that's how it seemed to me as a kid. Does anyone know which episode that was?

[Joggy]

That song was "If" by Cleo Laine and the puppets were built/performed by guest puppeteer Bruce Schwarz. Wonderful song.

My scariest moment is definitely the finale of Mummenschanz. Those faces!!! :eek:

[Chilly Down]

Was Bruce Schwarz the same guy who did the guest puppeteering on the Senor Wences episode?

[LadyHyde]

You know, Chilly, I think they did the same thing in the Prince episode of "Muppets Tonight". It was actually very beautiful.:o

[Chilly Down]

Did what? A very realistic puppet thing? I haven't seen the Prince episode, but it sounds worth seeing. (Keep in mind I'm not a kid anymore!) ;)

And for that matter, the Chinese puppet thing in the Senor Wences episode -- that scared me too. :p

[Super Scooter]

For some reason, that whole Kermit and Piggy Story tape was very frightening to me.

[Sean Gaffney]

Two immediately come to mind that scared the bejeezus out of me as a kid.

1) Zero Mostel counting and compelling things, in a very spooky, creepy manner.

2) The monster singing Windmills of Your Mind. Both because I found him slightly freakish, and also the abruptness of his crashing into the windmill at the end made me jump in shock/fright.

Others... hm... Liza Minelli appearing at the end of Copacobana singing 'Don't Fall in Love' gave me the shivers. For some deranged reason, the Muppet singing You Are My Sunshine getting blown up (as I was watching these first-run, and was about 3-4 years old, this is less surprising, I suppose).

Oh, and 3) the song Time in a Bottle, and the sudden ending where he ages again. Brrr.

--SG

[Super Scooter]

1) That Zero Mostel thing scared me too! It's one of my favorites!

3) Time in a Bottle? Wow! That's another one of my favorites. It was creepy!!!

[Convincing John]

It's a toupee? Huh, learn something new every day.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole


That would've been funny if Gorgon Heap appeared from behind him "Hmmm...that looks delicious!" (yanks toupee off Bruce's head and eats it!)

Convincing John

[WiGgY]

The Alice Cooper episode freaks me out to this day.

[G-MAN]

The part that freaked me out the most was the "jubilee Time" number from the Andy Williams, I never saw the whole ep, I just saw that skit on "Muppet Moments". That was when I was 3-5 probably. That's the only copy of that number I've seen to this very day.

[dbarrie]

Tonight I watched the Harvey Korman ep. again on my VCR, and it made me remember feeling badly for poor Thog being whipped in that circus sketch. I really felt for the big frackle so much I almost cried. :cry: But of course Thog gets the upper hand, and it made me smile again. :)

The part that freaked me out the most was the "jubilee Time" number from the Andy Williams, I never saw the whole ep, I just saw that skit on "Muppet Moments". That was when I was 3-5 probably. That's the only copy of that number I've seen to this very day.

[Bill Bubble Guy]

When I was little the scariest thing I ever saw was the Sherlock Holmes sketch on the Joel Grey episode.
Actually I had no problems with it when it first aired, but on the re-run when Gorgon Heap started to eat the clues for some reason I couldn't watch it again and ran out and hid under my covers in my bedroom before he ate Piggy and Baskerville.:eek: :o

[travellingpat]

When Vincent Price was salting up Kermit haha,
I got so scared for that little green guy!!!

[Dil]

For some fans, the Weird Opera number is the scariest, because of their mouths.

[Son of Enik]

Yeah that whole Kenny Rogers episode was creepy!!

[RKUNKLER]

2) The monster singing Windmills of Your Mind. Both because I found him slightly freakish, and also the abruptness of his crashing into the windmill at the end made me jump in shock/fright.

For some deranged reason, the Muppet singing You Are My Sunshine getting blown up (as I was watching these first-run, and was about 3-4 years old, this is less surprising, I suppose).


--SG
I too thought the Windmills of Your Mind was verry scary. I was scared by the words and the way he sings the song. it gives me the willies just thinking about it. The sketch is Hugga Wugga and the monster who sings Hugga Wugga gets blown up.

[jacobsnchz]

Okay... this is gonna be weird but my scariest MS moment was when I saw Mahna Mahna for the 1st time when I was 2 yrs. old!

[heralde]

I too thought the Windmills of Your Mind was verry scary.

I used to be TERRIFED of the Windmills of Your Mind song. Mainly the fast music that started as he started singing. ::shiver::

[MrsPepper]

I didn't see too much when I was really small, so I don't have any weird scary memories. However I did see the Alice Cooper episode not too long ago... Freaky. lol!

[jacobsnchz]

I know! Windmills of your wind was weird!

[peyjenk]

As kids, we had one (count 'em: one) episode of The Muppet Show on tape, and it was the one with Alice Cooper. That tape got a mileage, but it always creeped me out. Especially the scene with the stalagtites and stalactites and their "splitting headache." I still don't get that scene.

Also, I remember one part of a special on Jim Henson that we had taped. Somewhere in a montage of clips from Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, etc., there was one shot of one of the Fierys from Labyrinth pulling out his eyeballs. I haaaated that part, and would always look away. I didn't see the actual film until years afterwards, and until that time I didn't have a clue what that was about.

[Winslow Leach]

I always liked "Windmills of Your Mind." Like other Muppety things, this was the first time I was exposed to the song. Years later I found out it was the theme song to the Steve McQueen movie The Thomas Crown Affair.

When I was a young 'un, the "Night and Day" number from the Gladys Knight episode used to scare me. Even though I knew it was Kermit, Gonzo and Fozzie as mummies, those creepy, whispery voices stuck in my mind and would occasionally haunt me late at night when I couldn't sleep. Even though it turns comical towards the end, with the mummies doing a kick-line, it was still freaky!

What a way to be introduced to one of Cole Porter's classiest, sophisticated songs, eh? ;)

[heralde]

You know, I really thought I was over my fear of "Windmills of Your Mind." Then the other day it comes up MC radio, and as soon as that fast music started, it all came back!!! ::shiver::

[Gorgon Heap]

Also, I remember one part of a special on Jim Henson that we had taped. Somewhere in a montage of clips from Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, etc., there was one shot of one of the Fierys from Labyrinth pulling out his eyeballs. I haaaated that part, and would always look away. I didn't see the actual film until years afterwards, and until that time I didn't have a clue what that was about.

I believe that was "The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson", the first thing they did after Jim's death. I also used to look away at that part. Creepy and gross.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

[Gorgon Heap]

When I was a young 'un, the "Night and Day" number from the Gladys Knight episode used to scare me. Even though I knew it was Kermit, Gonzo and Fozzie as mummies, those creepy, whispery voices stuck in my mind and would occasionally haunt me late at night when I couldn't sleep. Even though it turns comical towards the end, with the mummies doing a kick-line, it was still freaky!

Actually, it was Gonzo and two Whatnots. I thought the sarcophagi were scarier, what with the deep voices of Jim and esp. Frank. Speaking of Frank's scary voice, Hugga Wugga scared me. The voice mostly, and the destroying the other characters. I used to sit on top of the couch when something scared me, so that whatever it was wouldn't get me.

Much of "Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff" scared me or freaked me out. This included:
-"All Of Me" (scary voice at first, takes self apart- yipe!)
-"Hugga Wugga"
-"Jabberwocky" (sorta)
-"I Feel Pretty" (she goes from cute to, well, you know)
-"I've Got You Under My Skin" (I felt sorry for Shaky; I had seen him before only in the Roger Moore episode, in a picture with Avery Schreiber in "Of Muppets and Men" and the fears poem w/Zero Mostel, never dreamed that he began his career by getting eaten)

Eatings used to scare me- I was in my 20s when I saw "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Clues" and I covered my eyes when he ate Baskerville- then I grew to love them. I was scared when Gorgon Heap ate Wayne, when he ate Pierre LaCousse, and when he ate Piggy and moreso when he ate Baskerville. I had thought there was an unwritten rule against eating furry animals- imagine, kids would be afraid that said monster would eat their pets. That's also one of the reasons I don't like Big Mean Carl, aside from his face, and voice- hideous and terrifying!

I was also scared of:
-the African Masks
-Big Mama when she bursts in at the end of that Don Knotts sketch
-when Doug Henning cut up the big purple monster in the case
-the murders in the Liza Minnelli episode

There are more that I can't think of now. I was a cowardly child, that much is for certain.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

[Winslow Leach]

Actually, it was Gonzo and two Whatnots. I thought the sarcophagi were scarier, what with the deep voices of Jim and esp. Frank.

David "Gorgon Heap" Ebersole

Ah! All these years I thought Kermit and Fozzie were the other mummies. Thanks for clearing that up!

Yeah, "I Feel Pretty" was another one that used to scare me...especially Jim's voice-change by the end of the song!:eek:

[anytimepally]

You know, I really thought I was over my fear of "Windmills of Your Mind." Then the other day it comes up MC radio, and as soon as that fast music started, it all came back!!! ::shiver::

that was one of my favorite Muppet Show musical numbers :sing:

"Well, how'd you like that opening number?"
"Didn't notice it?! How's that possible? It was loud and raucous with a screaming thing running amuck!"

[peyjenk]

Actually, it was Gonzo and two Whatnots. I thought the sarcophagi were scarier, what with the deep voices of Jim and esp. Frank. Speaking of Frank's scary voice, Hugga Wugga scared me.

*Shudder* I don't think I had ever seen "Hugga Wugga" until I got TMS season 1, but it freaked me out even at 21 years old. It's just so unpleasant.

[Winslow Leach]

Sometimes some of the various voices used by the performers would scare me. I can't think of a specific sketch or song (except for the aforementioned "Night and Day" and "I Feel Pretty"), but sometimes the voice of a particular character would creep me out...these were usually Anything Muppets.

[Winslow Leach]

...on the other hand, I always liked "Jabberwocky," even as a kid. It was just so atmospheric and spooky (in a good way), it never bothered me...

[JEANYLASER]

My scariest Muppet Show Moment is Janice tied up by the pigs!