Episode 518: Marty Feldman

The Muppets present their version of 1001 Arabian Nights, with guest star Marty Feldman playing the role of Scheherazade, telling tales to an evil Caliph (played by the Swedish Chef).
==Songs/Sketches==
*"Arabian Nights" featuring the stories of Sinbad the Sailor, Aladdin's Lamp, The Wright Brothers and Ali Baba
*"Surfin' USA"
*"In a Persian Market"
**UK Spot: "Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish"
*"The Laughing Policeman"
*"Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" / "Sesame Street Theme"
==Notes==
* The episode was initially conceived as using a theme of different historical periods. This idea was passed on due to the possible similarities to Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part I (then in the filming stage) and Feldman's connection to Brooks.Of Muppets and Men, page 115
* In the cold opening, Feldman brings Sopwith the Camel into the theater. For this episode, the camel is called "Loretta."
* This episode is the third and final time Sesame Street characters appear on The Muppet Show.
* Upon hearing that the final story has to be "Ali Baba and the 3 Thieves" instead of "Ali Baba and the 4 Thieves" (instead of "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves" due to budget problems), Feldman complains, "They didn't do this to Liza Minnelli."
==Episode Guide==
Picture	Description
 	Cold Open: Marty enters the theater with Loretta.
 	The Muppet Show Theme: Gonzo's horn emits a blue spirt, which plays a Middle Eastern tune.
 	Kermit announces that the show is going to be devoted to the Arabian Nights!
 	Sinbad the Sailor: Sinbad (Kermit) runs across an evil genie (Sweetums), and pretends to be Sinbad the Surfer. He and his band of frog sailors sing "Surfin' USA".
 	Backstage, Marty recruits Gonzo to play Aladdin in the next scene.
 	Aladdin's Lamp: The genie (with Fozzie as the light brown bear) of the lamp (Feldman) grants a wish to Aladdin -- and gives him a chorus of chicken dancing girls dancing to "In a Persian Market".
 	UK Spot: Whirling Wanda and company sing "Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish."
 	Backstage, Sam the Eagle is pleased to have a distinguished, British, guest artiste on the show.
 	The Wright Brothers: Sam the Eagle plays a patent officer in a sketch with Feldman, who plays Wilbur and Orville Wright (his mother wanted twins). Wilbur and Orville wants to patent the flying carpet -- but when Sam asks for details, he learns that the flying carpet is on the floor of a passenger jet. When the sketch gets too out there, Feldman brings it to an end by singing "The Laughing Policeman" with a chorus of policemen.
 	Ali Baba: A puppet version of Feldman appears as Ali Baba, with Fozzie Bear as the head of the Forty Thieves (or, as it turns out, the Three Bears). To escape being boiled in oil, Fozzie sings "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight". When he yells "Open Sesame," the cast of Sesame Street emerges.
 	Kermit says goodnight and Feldman meets his favorite Muppet -- the similarly googily-eyed Cookie Monster.
 	In the closing tag, the Sesame Street gang appears in Statler and Waldorf's box. Statler and Waldorf complain they don't know how to get to Sesame Street (a nod to that show's theme), as they don't even know how to get out of their box.
==Edits==
* Nickelodeon: The backstage scene before "The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk" sketch was cut.
* The "Sesame Street Theme" is cut in the Disney+ version.
* The Disney+ release includes a preceding disclaimer about negative stereotypes in this episode.
==Cast==
Guest appearance by:
:The cast of Sesame Street: Cookie Monster, Ernie, Bert, Grover, Count von Count, two Anything Muppets
Muppets:
:Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, the Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Sweetums, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, Pops, Sopwith the Camel (aka Loretta), Ali Baba (Marty Feldman look-alike), Whirling Wanda (the Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish), Animal, Whatnots, Frogs, Chickens, Old Skyball Paint, Billy the Bear, Baby Bear
Background Muppets:
:Robin the Frog, Beauregard, Gaffer, The Female Singers
==Performers==
:Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, The Swedish Chef, Waldorf and Ernie
:Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle, Animal, Grover, Cookie Monster and Bert
:Jerry Nelson as Pops, Robin, Policeman, Old Skyball Paint and Count von Count
:Richard Hunt as Scooter, Statler and Sweetums
:Dave Goelz as Gonzo and Ali Baba
:Steve Whitmire as Frog and Whatnot Singer
:Louise Gold as Goldilocks and Whirling Wanda
:Kathy Mullen as Gaffer and Female Singer
:Brian Muehl as Billy the Bear
==Gallery==
File:Feldman07.jpg
File:Feldman02.jpg
File:Feldman08.jpg
File:Feldman03.jpg
File:Feldman06.jpg
File:Feldman04.jpg
File:Feldman05.jpg
File:Feldman01.jpg
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
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