Customer Reviews

Best of the Muppet Show - Harry Belafonte / Linda Ronstadt / John Denver

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm glad that someone finally got around to releasing episodes of the zaniest variety show in history, Jim Henson's hilarious puppet-driven "The Muppet Show," which first ran in the late seventies and early 80s. Unfortunately, Columbia/TriStar is releasing only three episodes per DVD, when they could easily fit six onto one. The packaging also show that they're marketing these DVDs to a children's audience, but the presence of some extras shows that they also want to attract viewers like me, who fell in love with the show as children and want to relive these great episodes. So as a presentation, these DVDs fall in the middle: could be much better, but could have been much worse.

As for the episodes themselves: this is the first of the DVDs released, and they couldn't have picked a better episode to lead-off the series. The Harry Belafonte episode is my personal favorite and the one I best remember from childhood. In his brief introduction to the episode, Jim Henson's son Brian Henson comments on the close friendship between his father and Harry Belafonte, and that Belafonte performed the final number from this episode, "Turn the World Around," at Jim Henson's memorial service. "Turn the World Around" is a beautiful, very moving melody, and the performance in the episode with African mask Muppets is stunning puppetry artwork. The episode's running plot has Fozzie trying to script out the whole show, which doesn't really work well. Harry Belafonte sings "The Banana Boat Song" in a hilarious scene where Fozzie keeps interrupting him for explanations. Harry and Animal get involved in a drum duel, Floyd and Zoot perform "Honeysuckle Rose," and there's an episode of Pigs in Space where Dr. Strangepork switches everybody's bodies around. This is an all-around hysterical episode, and touching as well.

The Linda Ronstadt episode, from late in the show's run, is the weakest on the DVD. The running plot, with Linda getting a crush on Kermit while Miss Piggy fumes, is kind of a bore, as are all of Ronstadt's numbers. She performs "Blue Bayou" of course, but nothing particularly Muppet-like or clever happens during it. The highlight of the episode are two musical numbers (without Linda) that are classics among Muppet fans. Rowlf the Dog sings "The Cat Came Back," complete with bombs and cannons and an invincible little feline. Hilarious! Later, in one of the strangest musical numbers ever, two anonymous muppets in a dusty mansion dressed in dreary black clothing, both coated in cobwebs, sing "I Am So Happy" with the joy of a funeral dirge. It's screamingly funny to hear this gloomy puppet moan, "I - like - to - have - fun." The rest of the episode is just okay, but we do get another installement of Pigs in Space.

Finally, we have John Denver, another man very closely connected to Jim Henson (and also gone too young). Brian Henson again provides some interesting information on Henson's relationship with Denver at the beginning of the episode. John Denver seems very comfortable performing with the Muppets and seems to having a good time (in fact, he almost cracks up and loses it during one scene). His numbers are okay: "Grandma's Feather Bed" is pretty cute, but the garden number doesn't have enough happening in it. The real killer musical number is the opener: a version of "Why Can't We Be Friends?" performed in the midst of a full-scale war between every nation and every time period in history. The technical skill here is incredible, and the idea is darkly funny. The Swedish Chef pops up to make squirrel stew, only to face a deadly squirrel uprising. Some pigs sing "The Happy Wanderer" while climbing the Alps and fall off one by one. It's a pretty fun episode.

I recommend this DVD for the Belafonte episode alone; I really think it's of the best half-hours the Muppets ever did. But you also get exploding cats, Pigs in Space, two Swedish Chefs, the most depressing "happy song" ever, and Miss Piggy slugging an obnoxious tree. They just don't make entertainment like this any more.

I remember watching the original broadcasts of "The Muppet Show", when it first came on TV in the the 1970's.I greatly enjoyed the strange and hilarious backstage antics of Kermit (my favorite), Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and the rest of the foam cast, as they weekly tried to put on a vaudeville style show. Now, over twenty five years later, my two year old toddler and I are laughing out loud watching the series on DVD.The great thing about "the Muppet Show" is that it was always fast, witty with an almost surealistic sense of humor.Both kids and adults alike can enjoy it, because the storylines and jokes are so well written.It also helps that the series featured a wide variety of interesting, international stars from the world of entertainment to 'guest host'. This particular DVD volume is my favorite. It features three wonderful singers, Harry Belafonte, Linda Rondstadt and John Denver.The Belafonte episode is very artful presenting a hilariously, interrupted version of the Calypso tune, "Day-O".But the real show stopper is a soaring, beautiful song called "Turn the World Around".The Ronstadt episode is one of my favorites, featuring a very jealous, Miss Piggy and Linda performing "Blue Bayou" in a swamp backed by rippetting frogs!Finally, there is the John Denver episode, which has an ecological theme and a explosive version (literally) of the old rock classic "Why Can't We Be Friends". The DVD series "Best of the Muppet Show" is well put together. Each volume contains three episodes (introduced by Brian Henson, son of the late Muppet creator, Jim Henson) plus some Muppet extras.For kids and adults of all ages, I highly recommend this DVD series.

If you are my age (33) and watched The Muppet show as a kid, I am sure you are going to love it just as much or maybe even more! When you realize the work and artistry that went into each episode and the Muppets, you appreciate the show even more! It is touching how Brian Henson gives introductions for the episodes, there are 3 on this disc, plus some bonus clips.
I am a John Denver fan as well and hope that Brian Henson brings all of The Muppet Show episodes to VHS and DVD for this generation and our children. My son loves the Muppets and I am so glad to be able to share with him something I loved as a child with him. Thanks Jim in Heaven! Thanks to Brian Henson for continuing your dads legacy for all kids and for me! Thanks to all of the Muppets!

I am a muppet fan from the original days, and happily remember the evenings of watching the Muppet Show before heading off to bed. I was very excited when I found the "Best of" DVDs and we now own several of them. This is an excellent way to pass along some great family entertainment to a generation that is largely without this type of quality TV programming. Of all of the muppet show DVDs we have so far, this one is by far my favorite (the one with the Elton John episode would be next in the list). The Harry Belafonte episode is great, and "Turn the World Around" is one of my favorite performances on any Muppet Show episode that I can remember (catchy tune, too, so the little ones will dance to it). Linda Ronstadt is also good, and her voice is as beautiful as always. John Denver and the muppets are always a good mix. This particular DVD is a great one to start or expand a collection.

This set truly deserves this title. The segment where Harry Belafonte sings "Turn the World Around" with all the Muppets- including the grumpy old men(!) singing along has to be the greatest moment in Muppet history! I think most Muppet fans will agree. The John Denver segment has it's moments too, and while the Linda Ronstadt segment is not up to the other two, there is really no such thing as a completely bad Muppet Show.


It would be nice if the Alice Cooper episode, with the stuffy eagle having a fit over the freakish one, and the Milton Berle episode, where the heckling old men go toe to toe with Uncle Miltie, would also see the light of day.

The genius of the Muppets and Jim Henson was their ability to appeal to both kids and adults at the same time, unlike much of the Sid and Marty Kroft stuff and the New Zoo Revue and their descendant Barney who will make anyone over three years old run to the Pepto-Bismol! This DVD is a fine example of what I mean.

A great series giving everyone a chance to enjoy the muppet show again. There are so many great parts, Pigs in space, veterinarians hospital and loads of great musical numbers.
If you have any interest in the muppets of the henson company then you have come to the right place. Fun for all ages.

This disk is worth having just for the Harry Belafonte episode. It's FABULOUS, and includes music worth introducing to children.

The Linda Ronstadt episode is very flat. I love The Cat Came Back- but that's about it. Linda's numbers are downright boring, and not very Muppet-y.

The John Denver episode is lovely, but not like the Belafonte episode. Even if they don't put out all the Muppet episodes- and I wish they would- I would at least like a collection of teh John Denver Episodes. This is the one with Grandma's Featherbed and Inch By Inch. It also has a rendition of the Happy Wanderer done by Muppets that I adore.

Someone bought this for me when I was pregnant with my first child. Three kids later, I finally unwrapped it. My 5 year old and 3 year old absolutely love this dvd. They don't just love the muppets, they've become huge fans of the guests. I've had to purchase songs by Linda Ronstadt, Harry Belafonte, and John Denver for them on itunes. They ask to watch it all the time and are always laughing at something new. I have to get some more of these.

Applause to the person who chose these three episodes to begin the series: each the premier of its type. For pure artistry, Harry Belefonte. His starring episode is the overlay of classic folk music and puppetry, imagry and message, and was nominated for an Emmy award. For pure vocal talent (short of Pavorati), the expressive and powerful Linda Ronstadt. Forget the Blue Bayou number and listen to the heart wrenching When I Grow Too Old to Dream, for its message to the audience giving their love to puppet characters. (This number was also prominently featured in the memorial show for Jim Henson.) For maximim fun and blending the line between puppet and performer, no-one accomplished this like John Denver. Where does the character stop and the puppet begin? Denver was a live Muppet, and the Muppets were characterizations of John Denver's agendas. John Denver was so much a Muppet he headlined two hour-long Muppet specials, one of which was based on the camping theme in this episode. * * * Part of the greatness of the Muppet Show was the updating of classic talent, the showcasing of contemporary talent, previewing international talent, and prying new or wildly different skills from big names (Raquel Welch as song and dance!?) As for the body of episodes most were great, some were classic, a few were pedestrian. But if one were tasked to sum up four years of performance genius, my vote would go to the three episodes in this collection (not that the rest are lesser, on the contrary, different themes and different talents). Note: Ronstadt's version of WIGTOTD still brings tears to my eyes, and you won't find it anywhere else.

These were three excellent episodes of the Muppet Show, each one showcasing the potential of the creations of Jim Henson and company. Belafonte's will always be a classic, allowing his famous "Bannana Boat" song to become a comedy act (a series of bizarre interupptions and stage whispers during the song) while still highlighting his vocal talent. Turn the World Around was one of the best numbers in the history of the show. John Denver and Linda Ronstadt also highlight the creativity of the backstories in the show (Linda having a crush on Kermit while Miss Piggy tries to break them up and John inviting the group to go camping). The moment where Kermit tells Piggy that she doesn't have to go camping, and that they can instead go where "her roots are, the sty! Where pigs eat swill and wallow in the mud!" was a classic. Look for the "why can't we be friends" song, which does not feature any of the guest stars, but was a great concept, with excellent execution. Together with the Coburn/Stallong/Harry DVD, some of the best moments in Muppet Show history.