The Muppets: Going, Going, Gonzo
December 2, 2015 2:37 AM - Season 1, Episode 9 - Subscribe
Following a duet with Miss Piggy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt heads to play poker with Scooter, Pepe, and the gang; The Great Gonzo gets ready to perform his dream stunt; Dave Growl and Animal compete in a drum-off.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- Brandon Blatcher
My 14-year-old was in control of the remote while we were watching this, and felt obliged to add her commentary throughout, so I did not get to watch this episode as closely as I would have liked. I feel like I missed virtually all the dialog, but the overall feel of the episode seemed to make a very concerted effort to reconnect with The Muppet Show visually and with the characters. As usual, my favorite part of the whole episode was the scene with the Electric Mayhem in their lair.
As far as the puppet work, Henson really pushed through the envelope with the puppets as far back as "Hey Cinderella", so it doesn't surprise me how good it still is and how well they manage the complicated action scenes. They really are marvelous, though.
Maybe after I go back and watch the episode again online, I might have some other observations.
posted by briank at 5:51 AM on December 2, 2015
As far as the puppet work, Henson really pushed through the envelope with the puppets as far back as "Hey Cinderella", so it doesn't surprise me how good it still is and how well they manage the complicated action scenes. They really are marvelous, though.
Maybe after I go back and watch the episode again online, I might have some other observations.
posted by briank at 5:51 AM on December 2, 2015
For some reason, I can really imagine Dave wanting a drum-off with Animal.
I was thinking through that whole thing, I don't know whether Dave always knew he wanted to do this, but I know that he always wanted to do this.
I loved this episode more than any of them so far. It just worked for me in a way that the other ones often haven't.
But Kermit's face is too expressive. It throws me off whenever he wrinkles up.
posted by Etrigan at 7:02 AM on December 2, 2015
I was thinking through that whole thing, I don't know whether Dave always knew he wanted to do this, but I know that he always wanted to do this.
I loved this episode more than any of them so far. It just worked for me in a way that the other ones often haven't.
But Kermit's face is too expressive. It throws me off whenever he wrinkles up.
posted by Etrigan at 7:02 AM on December 2, 2015
When I saw Steve Whitmire at Dragoncon a couple of months ago, he actually mentioned that he had developed some new facial expressions for Kermit while filming The Muppets, so I don't think y'all are imagining things.
(also he BROUGHT KERMIT OUT and ANSWERED QUESTIONS AS KERMIT and it was WONDERFUL)
posted by nonasuch at 8:41 AM on December 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
(also he BROUGHT KERMIT OUT and ANSWERED QUESTIONS AS KERMIT and it was WONDERFUL)
posted by nonasuch at 8:41 AM on December 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
Two things. The JGL duet with Piggy is where I learned I need Joseph to be in a traditional 1950s musical. Like Guys and Dolls only way less sexist and weird.
Also, so many things in my life have changed since childhood, but that blue, big-nosed weirdo still speaks to my heart. I'm off to find a cannon and a pool of fat water.
posted by teleri025 at 10:39 AM on December 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, so many things in my life have changed since childhood, but that blue, big-nosed weirdo still speaks to my heart. I'm off to find a cannon and a pool of fat water.
posted by teleri025 at 10:39 AM on December 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
JGL turned into a young Sinatra so gradually I hardly even noticed.
This was a proper Muppets episode, though. The Gonzo plot was perfect, and felt right for the character (particularly his reaction after falling onto craft services), it was the right balance of jokes and performance, without getting too plot heavy, Deadly and Big Mean Carl were excellent as usual, and of course Dave Grohl wanted to do a drum off with Animal- he's old enough to have seen the original Animal/Buddy Rich battle when it first aired. All they need next season is penguins and pigs.
Schnooktofleece?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:49 AM on December 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
This was a proper Muppets episode, though. The Gonzo plot was perfect, and felt right for the character (particularly his reaction after falling onto craft services), it was the right balance of jokes and performance, without getting too plot heavy, Deadly and Big Mean Carl were excellent as usual, and of course Dave Grohl wanted to do a drum off with Animal- he's old enough to have seen the original Animal/Buddy Rich battle when it first aired. All they need next season is penguins and pigs.
Schnooktofleece?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:49 AM on December 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
On the point of this being a proper Muppet episode - there was no relationship drama, which I think was a key factor in shifting the show away from The Muppet Show. It was all kooky character stuff, dialog and puppeting, no (overt) sexual tension. I liked this episode.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:53 AM on December 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 8:53 AM on December 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
And yeah, the puppeteering. The show deserves a technical Emmy.
posted by lmfsilva at 5:27 AM on December 2, 2015