The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

**The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years** is a UK VHS. This was Distributed by Disney Videos.

## Plot

Various Muppets from *The Muppet Show*, *Sesame Street*, *Sam and Friends*, Uncle Traveling Matt and Sprocket the Dog from *Fraggle Rock*, and other Muppet-related characters host a banquet to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary by presenting a retrospective of their film and television appearances.

After a montage of various Muppet clips dating from 1955 to 1984, and overlaid with Ethel Merman singing "There's No Business Like Show Business", we find an elegant ballroom jam-packed with (as the announcer tells us) "all of Jim Henson's Muppets-except for those who couldn't make it".

Hosted by Fozzie Bear and featuring guest of honor Kermit the Frog, the program provides an overview of the Muppets's history and musical highlights. Kermit doesn't feel he deserves the cheesy words Fozzie uses to describe, but Fozzie insists, reminding Kermit that he was the one who began the Muppets's career. A clip from *The Muppet Movie* is shown, with Kermit getting the Muppets's their big break in Hollywood. A montage early appearances in the 1950s and early 1960s is then shown. These include clips from *Sam and Friends*, *The Ed Sullivan Show*, and commercials for Wilkins Coffee and La Choy. Kermit then mentions that Rowlf the Dog was "the first Muppet to have a regular spot on network television". A clip featuring Rowlf on *The Jimmy Dean Show* is shown. This is followed by a clip from *The Ed Sullivan Show* (with a clip from *The Muppet Show* replacing the actual sketch that Sullivan introduces), Kermit's 1975 appearance on *Cher*, and a clip Kermit's 1979 guest host appearance on *The Tonight Show*. Fozzie then introduces some of Kermit's old friends from *Sam and Friends* where Sam and Harry the Hipster are shown as Harry comments that Kermit is different from the last time he has seen him. When Kermit asks where Yorick is, Yorick appears next to him as he attempts to eat Kermit's arm.

Then, Fozzie introduces a selection of clips from *The Muppet Show* (Fozzie and Rowlf singing "I Got Rhythm", Gonzo the Great's motorcycle stunt, the Swedish Chef's encounter with a group of Mexican lobsters, and Rita Moreno's performance of "Fever" with Animal), before Rowlf the Dog introduces a montage of clips to honor Miss Piggy. After accidentally falling down a flight of stairs, Miss Piggy arrives alongside Kermit to wish him a happy 30th birthday. Kermit tries to convince Piggy that it is not just his birthday, but "ours". Miss Piggy convinces Kermit otherwise. The two then introduce a montage of clips from *The Muppet Movie*, *The Great Muppet Caper*, and *The Muppets Take Manhattan*, all overlaid by "Hey, a Movie!" from *The Great Muppet Caper*. After the montage, Lew Zealand pops up between Kermit and Piggy to bring up "the bicycle scene" from *The Great Muppet Caper*. A clip is shown.

Dr. Teeth introduces a sequence featuring still images of various Muppet book covers, record covers, and magazine covers featuring appearances by the Muppets. Fozzie mentions that the Muppets are seen on television in 150 countries. Before Fozzie can continue, Sweetums and other Muppet monsters interrupt, complaining that their favorite clips were never shown. A montage featuring Muppet monsters, characters eating other characters, and explosions is shown, with "Millions of Us Who are Ugly" and the *1812 Overture* playing over the clips. After the montage, Crazy Harry pops up for one more explosion. Count von Count then introduce Bert and Ernie. Bert tries to give a speech, but is interrupted by Ernie pulling "the old nose joke" on him. A montage of clips from *Sesame Street* is shown. After a collection of scenes overlaid by the Sesame Street theme song, more clips are shown (Kermit singing the alphabet with a little girl, Bert playing checkers with Bernice the pigeon, Cookie Monster singing his trademark song "'C' is for Cookie", and Big Bird parodying American Express ads). Oscar the Grouch then grumpily introduces Big Bird, who introduces clips from other children's shows from the Muppets. Clips featuring live action baby versions of the Muppets in *The Muppets Take Manhattan* is shown followed by clips from the animated Saturday Morning cartoon *Muppet Babies*. Then, clips from the short-lived Saturday Morning cartoon *Little Muppet Monsters* is shown, and is followed by a montage of clips from *Fraggle Rock*.

The Swedish Chef then introduces the Singing Food, who introduce a clip of the Galley-oh-hoop-hoop. Uncle Traveling Matt introduces twenty-one clips involving imagination, overlaid by Ben Vereen singing "Pure Imagination". Floyd Pepper and Janice then introduce Muppet music clips (Ernie singing "Rubber Duckie", Mahna Mahna and the Snowths singing "Mahna Mahna", the Muppet chickens playing the piano, Bobby Benson and his Baby Band performing, various Alaska Muppets singing "Lullaby of Broadway", and Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem performing "Rockin' Robin"). Afterwards, Scooter introduces clips with guest stars (Steve Martin, Ethel Merman, Zero Mostel, Diana Ross, Lily Tomlin, Elton John, and George Burns). When Robin asks Kermit what his favorite thing about the Muppets are, Kermit says that his favorite scenes are the times when the Muppets don't try to be funny, leading to a montage of some of the Muppets more serious moments (Harry Belafonte's "Turn the World Around", various Muppet animals singing "For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield song)", Kermit singing "It's Not Easy Bein' Green" - first alone, and then with Ray Charles). Gonzo then introduces some of the Muppets more cultural moments (five clips from *The Muppets Go to the Movies*, two Muppet News Flashes, and a "Pigs in Space" skit).

Afterwards, Fozzie and the other Muppets decide to pay tribute to Kermit, showing a clip of Linda Ronstadt singing "When I Grow Too Old to Dream", reedited to feature a number of (7) clips with Kermit. At the conclusion, a clip from the finale of *The Muppet Movie* is shown with the Muppets singing "The Rainbow Connection". After the clip, the entire cast reprises the song.

Jim Henson appears briefly at the conclusion of the program being given a bill for his food by Grover.

In the closing, Kermit says, "It's been a great 30 years. Our next 30 years start tomorrow, so there will be a rehearsal at 9 AM sharp."

"Happy Feet" plays during the end credits (sequence with multiple Kermit images cut).

## Notes

* Jim Henson as Himself
* **Muppet performers**: Jim Henson - Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Ernie, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, Waldorf, Link Hogthrob, Harry the Hipster, Frank Oz - Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Bert, Grover, Cookie Monster, Jerry Nelson - Floyd Pepper, Count von Count, Crazy Harry, Lew Zealand, Two-Headed Monster (Left Head), Robin the Frog, Camilla the Chicken, Richard Hunt - Scooter, Janice, Statler, Sweetums, Two-Headed Monster (Right Head), Dave Goelz - Gonzo the Great, Uncle Traveling Matt, Beauregard, Steve Whitmire - Sprocket the Dog, Rizzo the Rat, and Caroll Spinney - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
* **Appearing in archive footage**: Julie Andrews, Harry Belafonte, Carol Burnett, George Burns, Ray Charles, Cher, James Coburn, Jimmy Dean, John Denver, Elton John, Gene Kelly, Steve Martin, Ed McMahon, Ethel Merman, Rita Moreno, Zero Mostel, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Brooke Shields, Sylvester Stallone, Ed Sullivan, Lily Tomlin, Ben Vereen, and Orson Welles
* Release Date: 4th August 1996
* Distributed by Disney Videos

## Opening Previews (UK)

1. Blue Warning screen
2. Closed Captions screens
3. Coming Soon to a Cinema Near You
4. Toy Story teaser trailer
5. The Rescuers 1989 TV Spot trailer 1
6. Coming Soon from Disney Videos
7. The Santa Clause trailer
8. Sleeping Beauty trailer
9. Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Franciscco trailer
10. The Jungle Book trailer
11. Disney Christmas 1995 trailer
12. Disney Videos 1996 trailer 2
13. Walt Disney Classics Range Early 1995 trailer
14. Disney's Storybook Favourites trailer
15. Beauty and the Beast trailer
16. Also Available from Disney Videos
17. Bambi trailer
18. Pinocchio trailer
19. Disney's Sing-Along Songs 1993 trailer
20. A Muppet Moment (spaghetti clip)
21. Stay Tuned
22. Disney Videos logo
23. Start of The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986)

## Closing Previews (UK)

1. End of The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986)
2. Coming Soon from Disney Videos
3. The New Adventures of Timon and Pumbaa trailer
4. The Hunchback of Notre Dame trailer
5. Aladdin and the King of Thieves trailer
6. Basil, The Great Mouse Detective trailer
7. Muppet Treasure Island trailer
8. Walt Disney Classics 1995 trailer
9. The Lion King trailer
10. Also Available from Disney Videos
11. The VCI children's trailer from 1994
12. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey trailer