This is a narrative of very Nixonian proportions!

October 8, 2010 11:35 AM

What's your favorite moment from The Muppet Movie? Is it the opening, when Kermit leaves his bait shop to seek fame and fortune? The part where Miss Piggy tells Kermit that her aunt is sick? The part where Mount Rushmore talks? Or the Henry Kissinger cameo? Tough Pigs, the Muppet Fans Who Grew Up, share their thoughts on an early draft of The Muppet Movie screenplay.
posted by cottoncandybeard (44 comments total)

Fav moment? Easy.

"I've got a dream, too, Hopper. It's the kind of dream that gets better and better the more people you share it with."

Either that, or when Steve Martin sniffs the wine cap.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:38 AM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

My favorite moment is when Steve Martin serves the wine. But it's hard to pick just one favorite.
posted by Miko at 11:39 AM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

jinx
posted by Miko at 11:39 AM on October 8, 2010

GAH!
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:39 AM on October 8, 2010

My friends think I am weird because I still insist on watching The Muppet Movie every New Year's Day. It's a family tradition and a good luck charm.
posted by muddgirl at 11:40 AM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

We picked up a weirdo...
posted by MrVisible at 11:44 AM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

A bear in his natural habitat...a Studebaker.
posted by ColdChef at 11:46 AM on October 8, 2010 [6 favorites]

muddgirl, your friends are weird. Tell them some guy on the Internet said so.

Thanks for this post.

My favorite moment that's actually in the movie:

Madeline Kahn : Hello, sailor, buy me a drink?
Kermit: Well, you see, I'm not a sailor, I'm a frog.
Madeline Kahn : Oh, cut the small talk and buy me a drink.
Kermit: I don't even know you.
Telly Savalas: Hey. Did you make a move with my girl?
Kermit: No, sir.
Madeline Kahn : He did too. He touched me.
Telly Savalas: Ugh. Wash up, you'll get warts.
Kermit: No, no, myth, myth!
Carol Kane: Yeth?


My truly favorite style of comedy: people falling down/getting blown up unexpectedly. But if you asked me I'd say the joke above to save face.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:47 AM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

"Patriotism swells in the heart of the American Bear."
posted by ChuraChura at 11:56 AM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sure...
posted by el_lupino at 11:57 AM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

No matter how well I write, I will never craft a moment as perfect as

Kermit: Turn left.
Fozzie: Right, Frog.
posted by Mchelly at 11:58 AM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

"A four foot PRUUUUUNE!"
posted by Gator at 12:01 PM on October 8, 2010

"This guy is lost."
"Have you tried Hare Krishna?"
"Good grief it's a running gag."
posted by rainbaby at 12:01 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

The line in "Movin' Right Along" where they say "Hey I've never seen the sun come up in the West". It's actually how I remember which side the sun comes up on.

also, the fork in the road
posted by GuyZero at 12:03 PM on October 8, 2010 [5 favorites]

No matter how well I write, I will never craft a moment as perfect as

Kermit: Turn left.
Fozzie: Right, Frog.

Ah, but it's even better than that. Kermit says, "bear left."
posted by cottoncandybeard at 12:06 PM on October 8, 2010 [5 favorites]

@Mchelly:
Kermit:Fozzie?
Fozzie: Yeah?
Kermit: Ah, bear left!
Fozzie: What?
Kermit: Bear left!
Fozzie: Right, Frog.
posted by plinth at 12:09 PM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

I had the album of this movie when I was little. You know how some people can recite whole swaths of dialogue from Monty Python skits? I was like that for the Muppet Movie. I knew/know all the songs and can pretty much sing them by heart.

My favourite line belongs to the Swedish Chef: " Da flim is okey-dokey!"
posted by LN at 12:09 PM on October 8, 2010

"Bear left."
"Right, frog."

It's such a perfect exchange because you can't tell what Fozzie's thinking. He could have genuinely misunderstood, or he could be pretending to misunderstand for a joke, or he could be completely oblivious to the whole thing. The ambiguity is maddening and brilliant.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:11 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

Miss Piggy's love-at-first-sight moment with Kermit. Gloriously funny. Also, when she single-handedly rescues everyone from Mel Brooks' mad scientist (also a highlight).

The entirely of the "Movin' Right Along" song.
posted by JHarris at 12:15 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

"Why are there so many songs about rainbows?" All grown up now and I still know the lyrics.
posted by gracedissolved at 12:22 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't know how a person could possibly pick just ONE favorite...the entire film is full of win.

From the opening in the swamp because FROG WITH A BANJO. Guys, FROG WITH A BANJO singing a nice song! End of movie - entire muppet cast singing about how you write your own ending! In between there are many road scenes, a stoner band, a carnival, a love story, creepy guy who wants Kermit's legs and franchising opportunities, Madeline Kahn, Steve Martin, Elliot Gould, Richard Pryor, Cloris Leachman, Mel Brooks, Carol Kane, Telly Freaking Savalas, etc.

Rainbow Connection is (and will always be) one of my favorite songs but it's gotta be the Kermit version.

Part of me still wants to marry Kermit.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 12:31 PM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

Probably Gonzo's song around the campfire. I well remember watching the movie with some friends from college, and a very flamboyant Latino gay guy saying, "Well, that's just the saddest fucking song I ever heard!" immediately after. Can't ever listen to that song without thinking of him.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:33 PM on October 8, 2010 [6 favorites]

"I kill frogs"
posted by Kafkaesque at 12:34 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Rainbow Connection covers, previously on MeFi.
posted by cavalier at 12:34 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Muppet Movie has been my absolute favorite movie since I was a small child, so I find it very hard to pick a favorite moment. Maybe the scene in which Fozzie and Kermit have run into Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem for the first time, so, instead of taking the time to explain everything that's happened thusfar, they just hand Dr. Teeth a copy of the script.

They don't look like Presbyterians to me!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 12:53 PM on October 8, 2010 [5 favorites]

I'm also very happy about Gonzo having the most poignant song in the film.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 12:57 PM on October 8, 2010

This thread is cracking me up. Everybody's just quoting their favorite scenes from the movie as it was released, half of us are getting the quotes wrong (about which, nobody cares, because we all love this movie so much no matter how fuzzy our memories), and meanwhile, nobody has anything to say about the actual links in the post. Even though I'm loving this, I actually feel a little bad for the OP, who might just as well have posted, "MUPPETS YAY AMIRITE?"

Anyway, great post, cottoncandybeard, especially for your first time out. The "So What's the Difference" stuff was interesting to read. You done good.
posted by Gator at 1:04 PM on October 8, 2010 [7 favorites]

I agree that there are so many perfect moments (Gonzo's song makes me tear up even without hearing it), but I have to say I love the whole sequence in Lew Lord's office, from giving the secretary an allergic reaction right up to Orson Welles being most austere... "prepare the standard Rich and Famous contract".
posted by muddgirl at 1:06 PM on October 8, 2010

Even though I'm loving this, I actually feel a little bad for the OP, who might just as well have posted, "MUPPETS YAY AMIRITE?"

That's kind of how it works on Metafilter. In my first comment I was going to say that I'm way less weird than anyone who's in a Muppet Fan Club... but really, I'm not.
posted by muddgirl at 1:07 PM on October 8, 2010

nobody has anything to say about the actual links in the post.

I'm sure I will after I've had time to read them. There's a lot of reading in there. It makes sense that people will want to chime in and say they loved the movie, and the OP did ask the question "What's your favorite moment," so it's logical for people to reply. I'll check out the alternate Muppet reality when I have time and perhaps there will be more to say then. This is partially a result of the post framing and partially just that people tend to like to start the discussion even before they've read the longer links in full. I don't think that's a big sin; it shows enthusiasm for the topic, and when an enterprising person pulls out something particular to talk about, the conversation tends to focus more on the link content.
posted by Miko at 1:08 PM on October 8, 2010

I love Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, so pretty much all scenes involving them are good by me. Hanging out with as many musicians as I do, it's clear that Henson's people knew of which they spoke in crafting characters who were talented, a bit crazy, and very often on drugs of some kind.

I actually never liked Fozzie Bear because seeing someone suck on stage is so painful to watch, even if that someone is a bear puppet.

And while I loved Piggy's Hot Lips/karate girl power, if I watch it now I tend to see the weird dynamic between her and Kermit (especially as reflected in the song he sings with Rowlf) as very Not Healthy.

/beanplating
posted by emjaybee at 1:08 PM on October 8, 2010

... nobody has anything to say about the actual links in the post.

Yeah ... I must admit that I haven't yet had a chance to read through them all, and probably won't until I get home from work. But it's just so hard to contain talking-about-the-Muppet-Movie-type excitement!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 1:13 PM on October 8, 2010

I'm looking forward to clicking the links when I'm not at work, but until then, here's my poorly remembered quote:

Dr Bunsen Honeydew: ... but the effects (of the Animal enormizing pill) are sadly temporary

Beaker: (shakes head) Mee-mee meemeemeemee.
posted by travertina at 1:21 PM on October 8, 2010 [4 favorites]

FWIW, I did notice that nobody was actually commenting on the links themselves, but seeing as we're all huge fans of the Muppets and the Muppet Movie, I was having too much fun reading everyone's favorite moments from the movie for it to bother me.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 1:21 PM on October 8, 2010

It's actually how I remember which side the sun comes up on.

Me too.

Opening scene is the best; it reduces me to man-tears.

Dr Bunsen Honeydew: ... but the effects (of the Animal enormizing pill) are sadly temporary

Beaker: (shakes head) Mee-mee meemeemeemee.

God I love this movie.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:26 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

Perhaps my favorite, absolute favorite, movie of all time. This is an interesting read! Oh.. the joys of editing.
posted by cavalier at 1:41 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I'm struck by how flabby the script is, and how some of the best scenes (Steve Martin's cameo, the very first scene) are really flat on the page.

Also, I would have loved one more song along these lines:

FLOYD'S REUNION SONG. It's a very bright, happy song -- perhaps a song that, out of this context, would appear to be about lovers that broke up and are now reuniting, but has another obvious meaning in this context. Floyd does the solos with everyone joining in with harmony and handclapping."

posted by muddgirl at 2:27 PM on October 8, 2010

My favorite part is when I played "Rainbow Connection" on ukulele with MrsMoonPie singling along in her Elmo voice and cortex's brother, who I'd just met, jumping in with his dead-perfect Kermit while cortex picked along on little e's banjo. That's my favorite part.
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:32 PM on October 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

Just looking on youtube for clips from the movie and stumbled across Big Bird singing "It's Not Easy Being Green" at Jim Henson's memorial.

*sniffle*

Damn ragweed
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:40 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

MISS PIGGY: Oh, Kermie, whisper sweet nothings into my ear!
KERMIT: Uh, motorcycle cop.
MISS PIGGY: "Motorcycle cop" is a sweet nothing?!

(It certainly has been between me and mine for at least three years now.)
posted by Spatch at 4:03 PM on October 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

"Rowlf, tadpoles don't have feet." "Oh. Sorry."
posted by galadriel at 5:48 PM on October 8, 2010

A bear's natural environment is a '57 Studebaker.

"If frogs couldn't hop, I'd be gone with the Schwinn."
posted by azpenguin at 7:49 PM on October 8, 2010

Thirding using 'Moving Right Along' to remember which side the sun comes up.

Fave moments:

'I'm going to go back there someday'
'Can you picture that?' (such a rocking' tune)
The Finale


I just realized I have NO Idea where my treasured Muppet Movie LP is.
posted by AzzaMcKazza at 7:57 PM on October 8, 2010

Finished reading the link about the early version of the script. I think they were right on with all the changes they made in the eventual movie. But it made me happy-smile to read about part of the process of making the movie, things they threw out and things they kept.
posted by galadriel at 12:34 PM on October 9, 2010