The B List: 10 Great Muppet Show Videos
From 1976 to 1981, The Muppet Show entertained both children and their parents with a humorous blend of skits and physical comedy. Each week Jim Henson’s show would feature a special guest star as the host, and many times these stars were plucked straight from the music industry.
This week’s edition of The B List features 10 must-watch musically themed videos from The Muppet Show that we know you’ll enjoy. Read on for some great clips featuring Buddy Rich and Animal’s drum duel, Alice Cooper inspiring some scary muppets, Steve Martin and his banjo, Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Simon and more…
1. The Muppet Show had a heady house band called Electric Mayhem. This clip features Electric Mayhem playing Paul Simon’s 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover. My favorite part is Rizzo The Rat’s epic cymbal playing:
2. In this clip from the Italian version of the Muppet Show, Animal challenges drumming legend Buddy Rich to a Drum Duel. Man, Buddy Rich is nasty!
3. Debbie Harry of Blondie freaked out when the original members of Blondie wanted to perform with her at last year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, but she had no problem performing Call Me with Electric Mayhem:
4. Steve Martin whips out his banjo to play Ramblin’ Guy for the Muppets:
5. Some scary looking Muppets join Alice Cooper for a rendition of School’s Out:
6. Here is a well-done homemade mashup of video footage from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show featuring audio from NWA’s Fuck Tha Police:
7. From 1996 to 1998, The Disney Channel showed an updated version of The Muppet Show called Muppets Tonight. The show wasn’t successful, but did yield a few fun videos such as Kermit singing Dancin’ In The Dark. Gotta love Miss Piggy in the Courtney Cox role:
8. Paul Simon plays a solo rendition of It’s Been A Long Long Day from 1980’s One Trick Pony for an assembled group of Muppets. Check out Janis making the O face, I think she’s more than just a fan:
9. Elton John performs Crocodile Rock. Nice fucking outfit Elton — how did people really think this guy was straight back then?
10. Dizzy Gillespie sits in with Electric Mayhem for a hot rendition of St. Louis Blues:
Did I miss any kickass Muppet Show musical performances? Did you like these?
these are so great!
this is brilliant.
Awesome list Scotty! Buddy Rich is good, but Animal ROCKS! And that vid with Dizzy is Great!!
No John Denver and the 12 days of Christmas??
thanks for these - thats a half-hour of stoned bliss right there
Easily the best B List of all-time. I’ve seen that Buddy Rich and Animal clip before, but the rest are new to me. And they all rock! I can’t wait to watch again when I get free time.
Scotty, in the words of the immortal Andy Gray, “Take a bow, son.”
I remember watching Paul simon to a great version of “Love Me Like A Rock” with the muppets
The NWA vid is hysterical, A
What a great idea for a list, Scotty! To be honest, though, I was really expecting to see the Muppets version of Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth. I still vividly remember the animals singing the song as hunters ran around the woods. Great stuff and good times. Thanks as usual . . .
Always thought Animal’s drum style reminded me more of Keith Moon of The Who.
John Denver is Scooter from the Muppets.
Dr. Teeth in Electric Mayhem is Dr. John.
I can’t find it, but I remember Electric Mayhem doing a sick run of some Chopin piece with Animal screaming “SHOW-PAN! SHOW-PAN! SHOW-PAN!” over and over at the end.
And the sickest original piece, “Mahna Mahna”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YevYBsShxNs
Weezer!!!
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