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The Muppet Show Season 5 Episodes
Season 5 Episode Guide
24 Episodes 1980 - 1981
Episode 1
Roger Moore
Sun, Oct 5, 1980 30 mins
A "007" extravaganza honoring guest Roger Moore turns "unsaintly" when a group of enemy spies infiltrates the Muppet theater. Also: Roger is less-than-intrigued by his duet with Miss Piggy, "On a Slow Boat to China."
Episode 2
Loretta Swit
Sun, Oct 12, 1980 30 mins
After Miss Piggy creates a bogus press story about a "secret" marriage between her and Kermit, the green emcee fires the swine star---and guest Loretta "Hot Lips" Swit finds herself in "hot water!"
Episode 3
James Coburn
Sun, Oct 19, 1980 30 mins
Tough-guy James Coburn inspires "A Salute to Japan" when he befriends Animal and teaches the unruly drummer how to release his aggressions through meditation. Also: Coburn joins the Muppet theater in a salute to the "Roaring Twenties."
Episode 4
Linda Ronstadt
Sun, Oct 26, 1980 30 mins
Kermit is all tied up after guest Linda Ronstadt croons "I've Got a Crush on You," and a green-eyed Miss Piggy locks him up for safekeeping. Also: Linda sings "Blue Bayou."
Episode 5
Tony Randall
Sun, Nov 2, 1980 30 mins
It's not a laughing matter when comedian Tony Randall accidentally turns Miss Piggy to stone, a disaster subjecting her porcine pride to numerous pig-of-stone jokes. Music: "Yakety Yak" (Muppets); "Tipi Tin" (Tony, Muppets).
Episode 6
Brooke Shields
Sun, Nov 9, 1980 30 mins
Brooke Shields has a hard time controlling her height when she stars in the Muppet version of "Alice in Wonderland." Music includes "We're Off to See the Wizard" (Brooke, Muppets) and "Jabberwocky" (Muppets).
Episode 7
Melissa Manchester
Sun, Nov 16, 1980 30 mins
After the Vienna Downhill Choir takes a bad fall, only guest Melissa Manchester's smooth rendition of "Don't Cry Out Loud" can calm the Muppets. Music: "Doggy in the Window" and "Your Cheatin' Heart."
Episode 8
Señor Wences
Sun, Nov 23, 1980 30 mins
The Muppet theatre turns into a "Puppet theater" when ventriloquist Senor Wences arrives with his trunk load of associates. Music: "Puppet Man" and "Japanese Noh Music."
Episode 9
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Sun, Nov 30, 1980 30 mins
Flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal's fluent French obviously intimidates Mademoiselle Piggy---she cleverly avoids a tete-a-tete by acquiring a sudden case of laryngitis. Music: "Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark," "Ease On down the Road" and "Rockin' Robin."
Episode 10
Gladys Knight
Sun, Dec 7, 1980 30 mins
Amid the theater's rowdy renovation, a cluster of groovin' grapes gets down with Gladys Knight in "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." Also: a group of Egyptian mummy Muppets croon "Night and Day."
Episode 11
Joan Baez
Sun, Dec 14, 1980 30 mins
A pack of rats infiltrates the Muppet theater, and even guest Joan Baez's peaceful folk tunes fail to subdue the rowdy rodents. Also: Joan sings "Honest Lullaby" to a Muppet child; and the Swinetrek crew find a rodent stowaway aboard the ship.
Episode 12
Marty Feldman
Sun, Dec 21, 1980 30 mins
Marty Feldman narrates a disastrous Muppet version of the "Arabian Nights"---complete with Captain Kermit Sinbad, Gonzo and the Magic Lamp and the Open Sesame Street cast. Music: "Surfin' U.S.A." and "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight."
Episode 13
Glenda Jackson
Sun, Dec 28, 1980 30 mins
It's "Anchors Aweigh" for the Muppets when guest Glenda Jackson arrives as a pillaging pirate, and hijacks the theater out to sea. Glenda also performs "Blow the Man Down" and "A Capital Ship."
Episode 14
Gene Kelly
Sun, Jan 4, 1981 30 mins
Guest Gene Kelly tries to resist the Muppets' plea for a song but finally succumbs to a certain pig's porky charm and sings "You Wonderful You." Also: the Endangered Species Chorus sings "Jambalaya"; and Gene joins the Muppets for " 'S Wonderful."
Episode 15
Hal Linden
Sun, Jan 11, 1981 30 mins
The crotchety team of Statler and Waldorf finally step down from their "bitter box" and get a chance to direct the show---a true calamity for the Muppets and guest Hal Linden. Also: Geri and the Atrics sing "Who Put the Bomp in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp?"
Episode 16
Wally Boag
Sun, Jan 18, 1981 30 mins
Comedian Wally Boag brings a bit of craziness to the theater when he performs a rock version of "Swanee River" on bagpipes, backed up, of course, by the Electric Mayhem Band. Also: Lotte Lemon and her Singing Wig sing "Squeeze Me."
Episode 17
Deborah Harry
Sun, Jan 25, 1981 30 mins
When Deborah ("Blondie") Harry cruises in for the show, a raucous troop of frog scouts infiltrates the theater in hopes of earning Punk Merit Badges. Music includes "Call Me" (Harry, Muppet Punk Band).
Episode 18
Johnny Cash
Sun, Feb 1, 1981 30 mins
Kermit's idea to broadcast the show on a country-music station for guest Johnny Cash turns sour when WHOG's Big Tiny Tallsaddle gets too big for his britches and takes over the show. Also: Johnny insults Rowlf.
Episode 19
Carol Burnett
Sun, Feb 8, 1981 30 mins
Carol Burnett isn't laughing when she's literally swept off her feet by frenzied drummer Animal in a never-ending dance marathon. Also: the Muppets join the renowned charlady in "But Not for Me".
Episode 20
Buddy Rich
Sun, Feb 15, 1981 30 mins
Buddy Rich learns that no one upstages the Muppets---Miss Piggy outchops him in karate and Animal refuses to gracefully accept defeat in a drum duel. Music: "Good Day Sunshine," "Dancing in the Dark."
Episode 21
Paul Simon
Sun, Feb 22, 1981 30 mins
The Muppet theater is buzzing when guest Paul Simon sings "Love Me like a Rock" with the aid of the harmonious Dixie Hummingbird Gospel Group. Other musical selections include "Scarborough Fair" (Minstrel Paul, Medieval Muppets); and "Long Long Day.'
Episode 22
Chris Langham
Sun, Mar 1, 1981 30 mins
If the Muppets appreciate clever scripts they ought to be on their best behavior for Chris Langham---after all, he's a writer for their show! Music: "Friendship" (Kermit, Robin, Muppet whales) and "Hawaiian Cowboy" (Chris, Muppets).
Episode 23
Mac Davis
Sun, Mar 8, 1981 30 mins
While singing "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me," guest Mac Davis takes to the water in a Muppet aquarium, backed by a "fishy" chorus and Miss Piggy, the magnificent mermaid. Also: duplicate Beakers result when Dr. Bunsen Honeydew invents a new copy machine.
Episode 24
Shirley Bassey
Sun, Mar 15, 1981 30 mins
A band of pig thieves are intent upon ruining singer Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger" number when they discover the Muppet stage is decked with real gold bars. Also: the Electric Mayhem Band sings "Barnyard Boogie"; Shirley joins the Muppets in "Fire Down Below" and "Pennies from Heaven."