The Jimmy Dean Show: Episode 211

Jimmy Dean addresses the fact that despite Rowlf's many talents portrayed on the show, letters are constantly sent in asking why he doesn't do anything dogs normally do. Jimmy assures the audience that Rowlf can do anything a regular dog can, immediately proven wrong when the scene shifts to Rowlf's usual fence-post setting where he's knitting an elongated sweater for a poor, stretched beagle friend of his ("He ran down a whole flight of stairs before he realized his tail was caught in the door.").
Jimmy chides Rowlf for his undog-like behavior, such as talking instead of barking. "A dog that don't bark is unbelievable," says Jimmy, and Rowlf snaps back, "Jimbo, a dog that don't talk is unemployed!" At Jimmy's urging, Rowlf agrees to bark and gets into character before letting out a casual "woof," which is not to Jimmy's liking. Rowlf claims he and his brother used to bark all the time on street corners, until the police ticketed them for "double barking." He is much more receptive to the idea of growling, which only amounts to a meager "grrr."
The sure-fire way Jimmy can prove Rowlf is like any other dog is with a license. Rowlf whips out his wallet, which has his driver's license, hunting license, draft card, and even a restaurant credit card (which he uses to get Chinese food with). Jimmy states that dogs don't eat Chinese food, but "in China they do," Rowlf replies.
Jimmy is fed up with Rowlf's antics by now, so Rowlf finally decides to comply. He starts acting like a regular, non-verbal dog, growling and bitting Jimmy. He tries to get Rowlf to cut the act and talk things out, but Rowlf produces a sign reading, "Dogs Can't Talk." When Jimmy says he can't play to the crowd on his own, Rowlf flips the sign to now read "Suffer." Jimmy apologizes to Rowlf, who starts acting like his normal self again. Jimmy tells the viewers that they can keep their ordinary dogs and he'll stick with his one-of-a-kind Rowlf, who "[pronounces them] man and dog." Rather than ending with a song as customary, Rowlf runs off to check on his cold chow mien.
Elsewhere in the show, Rowlf joins Jimmy and the guests to read some fan mail.Footage screened at "A Jim Henson Birthday Celebration: Jimmy Dean & Rowlf’s 60th Anniversary" at the Museum of the Moving Image, September 24, 2023
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==Notes==
*Rowlf's appearance during the fan mail segment was omitted from the RDF-TV version.
==Sources==
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