Powder-Burn

"Powder-Burn" is one of the surviving episodes of Sam and Friends, broadcast on August 20, 1959.Shemin, Craig. Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show. p. 144 The title is announced through voice-over and shown on-screen, although the end title and some listings refer to it as "Punsmoke."
A Western sketch, the segment extensively spoofs both the radio and TV versions of Gunsmoke (then running concurrently on each medium), with elements of both, as well as other Western cliches. The opening has Harry the Hipster as Miss Doggie (spoofing Miss Kitty) going into a cafe to ask Kermit (as Pester, spoofing Chester) for a Western omelette. Since the eggs are old, that would make it an "adult Western."
Then the intro (using verbiage from the radio version) presents Marshal Matt Dilly (played by Chicken Liver, as a cowardly counterpart to Matt Dillon). The marshal constantly ducks under his desk to tie his non-existent shoelaces. When Miss Doggie informs him that Black Bart is coming to town and has challenged him to a showdown at 12 noon, Dilly breaks into a part of the theme song from High Noon before he's reminded that's a different story.
While awaiting the arrival of the stage coach, the marshal's musings are interrupted by dramatics teacher Thaddeus Quentin Ovaltone (Professor Madcliffe), who's the other variety of stage coach.
When Black Bart (Yorick) finally surfaces, the challenge turns out to be a game of chess, which the marshal wins.
The closing title, using "Punsmoke," is modeled after the still art of Dodge City used as the first Gunsmoke TV closing.
==Sources==
Category:Sam and Friends Segments