Fozzie's joke: "I don't approve of belly dancers. Why can't they dance on the floor like everyone else?"

STAGE CURTAIN

After Fozzie checks the house, Kermit allows some French to slip into his introduction when announcing tonight's guest is Charles Aznavour.

MUSICAL NUMBER: "I FEEL PRETTY"

A beautiful woman prepares for her date by transforming herself into a hideous monster. Her date, Beautiful Day Monster, is enamored.

BACKSTAGE

Gonzo inquires about how he's not been on the show recently to which Kermit gently but firmly replies his acts just aren't working. Gonzo protests that he doesn't entertain for the masses, that he's an artist, to which Kermit replies, "Then you should have got my Van Gogh joke." Kermit advises Gonzo to seek a manager who can guide his career.

STAGE CURTAIN

Kermit introduces Charles singing one of his favorite songs.

MUSICAL NUMBER: "OLD FASHIONED WAY"

Charles sweeps Mildred off her feet as he serenades her while dancing in an elegant ballroom. (Considering Mildred's used to dancing with George, this probably isn't too hard to do.)

[The staging of this number is particularly effective as it opens with a shot of full-bodied costumed Muppets dancing. Charles then glides into frame in front of the other dancers on the same level with what initially looks to be another full bodied puppet but turns out to be Mildred in a flowing dress. One of the full-bodied dancers is Rita Moreno's sparring partner.]

BALCONY

BACKSTAGE

Scooter informs Kermit that in addition to serving as the show's "go-fer", he's also taken up the task of being Gonzo's manager. The first goal on Scooter's agenda is expanding Gonzo's repertoire which now includes a rock act.

VETERINARIAN'S HOSPITAL

In this installment of the pun-filled soap, Dr. Bob (Rowlf) loses a patient. ("No pulse, no heartbeat, no hope.") The doctor assures his nurses that his previous record of saving nine out of ten is still good, "this week he was Number Ten!"

DRESSING ROOM

Hilda presents Charles with an exquisite catered meal which includes French (speaking) bread.

[The bread says, "Oh, voyons, cherie! Mais j'ai l'accent Français!" Which means, "Oh, look, honey, but I have the French accent!"]

AT THE DANCE

As a banana shows a rat its appeal, Animal's dancing partner demonstrates what it's like following his lead. [Pay close attention to Rowlf's dancing partner; it's the flattened Beautiful Day Monster from the previous episode with a blond curly wig.]

UK SKIT: MUSICAL NUMBER - "DOES YOUR CHEWING GUM LOSE ITS FLAVOR ON THE BEDPOST OVERNIGHT?

The Gogolala Jubilee Jug-band perform the classic novelty hit. [This UK skit is included on the 1985 Playhouse video, Country Music with the Muppets.]

TALK SPOT

When Kermit wonders why Frenchmen are so lucky in love, Charles reveals the secret as the beauty of the language. He demonstrates using Miss Piggy as an example. After whispering a few French phrases, Piggy goes completely hog wild over Charles unaware that he just told her, "Your oil filter has a leak and your transmission is sagging."

BALCONY

BACKSTAGE

Hilda is infuriated that Scooter and Gonzo have raided the wardrobe for a costume act. Gonzo pops in dressed as a little girl convinced that female impersonation is a noble art. Kermit proclaims "of all the dumb ideas Gonzo's come up with, this is the dumbest!" [Obviously forgetting that he donned many a dress himself during "Sam & Friends."]

DISCUSSION PANEL

Tonight's topic: "What is man's role in the universe?" Panelists include moderator Kermit, Sam the Eagle ("Peace and courage!"), Gonzo ("Art and culture!"), Hilda ("Pins and needles!"), and Mildred Hockstadder, MA, BA, PHD, OBE, and RSVP. Gonzo continually takes everything said literally. When Sam suggests they "look carefully at what's before us and break it down into separate pieces", Gonzo smashes the table with a mallet. Mildred attempts to get back to the main question: "As to man's role in the universe...I don't think he can. I don't think he can roll! In the universe!" [The only Muppet-only discussion panel, this one is the series' funniest!]

STAGE CURTAIN

Kermit declares "great comedy" can only mean Fozzie Bear.

FOZZIE'S COMEDY SPOT

Fozzie warns Statler and Waldorf that if they continue to heckle him, he'll bury them back with just one line.

Fozzie goes on with his act, but Statler and Waldorf remain silent - they're enjoying it. So much that they start beating Fozzie to the punch lines and doing his act. When Fozzie asks them to stop, Waldorf retorts, "Please, we work alone." Fozzie declares that was his line: "See how well it buried...me?"

BACKSTAGE

Scooter tells Gonzo he's quit managing Gonzo after he ate his contract.

MUSICAL NUMBER: "INCHWORM"

In front of a schoolhouse with silhouetted teacher Zelda and students in the window singing the "Two and two are four" chorus, Charles sits underneath a tree outside with an inchworm crooning the verses. [A practically identical arrangement of the song is done at the end of the third season Danny Kaye episode, inchworm and all.]

STAGE CURTAIN

Charles thanks Kermit for having him on the only show where he's been able to befriend bread.

CLOSING THEME

Guide Written by
D. W. McKim and Phillip Chapman

With contributions from
Jogchem Jalink and Dave Ebersole