The Stuff You Might Have Missed: Diana Ross/Brooke Shields/Rudolf Nureyev

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DIANA ROSS:

Some of the third- and fourth-string Muppets in the opening number include Lenny the Lizard, Eric the Parrot, and several parrots that bear a resemblance to El Poco Loco or H. Ross Parrot, two "Sesame Street" characters that made brief appearances.

Puppeteer Switch! It has been widely hypothesized that Jerry Nelson was performing Janice during "Feelings", so that Richard Hunt could be free to perform Beaker. This explains Floyd's absence, and seems to be in his character, since "Feelings" is probably one song he wouldn't want to be caught dead playing.

"The Gills Brothers" is a play on the popular 1940's vocal quartet the Mills Brothers, yet oddly enough, they sound like another popular vocal quartet of the era, the Four Freshmen.

During "The Last Time I Saw Him", although the Electric Mayhem is on stage, we can also see them in the orchestra pit when the shot changes to Diana Ross's point of view.

One of the members of the horn section is Bobby Benson.

After Gonzo gets booed off the stage and pelted with fruit, Rowlf and Janice carry him off on a stretcher in their "Veterinarian's Hospital" scrubs, despite the fact that VH didn't happen on this episode, in fact, the concept of it happening on this episode was shot down outright.

During "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand", although Floyd is on stage, when the camera shows the audience, he can be seen in the orchestra pit.


BROOKE SHIELDS:

Steve Whitmire uses the same voice for the White Rabbit as he does for Rizzo and Wembley.

One of the Gills Brothers appears in the opening number.

The talking jar of marmalade sounds like Droopy Dog.

Although a Humpty Dumpty Muppet was used on "Sesame Street", a different one (with less scary facial features) was used for this episode.

Fozzie alludes to Dr. Bob before the medley in the UK Spot, yet there's no "Veterinarian's Hospital" in this episode.

The Mome Raths in "Jabberwocky" bear a slight resemblance to Kermit the Pig from the Cloris Leachman episode.

Is it just me or does Rowlf get a little too into his script during "Jabberwocky", especially towards the end?

This episode marks the second time "Lady of Spain" was used. The first time (also by Marvin Suggs whacking things on the head) was in the Rita Moreno episode.

Despite the fact that Rizzo was a semi-established character by the fifth season, Camilla plays the Dormouse during the mad tea party.

RUDOLF NUREYEV:

This is one of the few episodes that begins backstage.

Sam gets a little confused at the beginning of the show--he thinks Rudolf Nureyev is an opera star. He'd get a chance to meet one later in the show's run when Beverly Sills guest starred.

Kermit introduces Miss Piggy and Link's operatic duet as being from "The Barber of the Fliedermaus". This is actually an amalgamation of Rossini's "The Barber Of Seville" and "Der Fliedermaus" by (composer's name escapes me at the moment). What's more, he says the composer is "Giuseppe Wagner", a combination of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, yet Link and Piggy are singing Mozart.

During the "Swine Lake" number, there are several moments where it's quite obvious that there is someone in the pig ballerina costume, and other times where someone is not inside it. (i.e. when Rudolf throws it around like a rag doll)

Miss Piggy seems to forget about Kermit when she finds out she's doing her duet with Rudolf Nureyev.
 
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