This weekend, I borrowed a copy of the Best of the Muppet Show DVD – the one that featured the episodes of Elton John, Julie Andrews, and Gene Kelly. During the Elton John episode, while he was singing “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and playing with other Muppets, Dr. Teeth (leader of the in-house Muppet band “The Electric Mayhem”) had a Minimoog behind him! It’s kind of hard to see, but the pattern of knobs and switches is unmistakable.
(I should include a screen shot, but there are probably copyright restrictions that would preclude me from doing so.)
Those were great shows. I’ve been looking for them on DVD, can’t find them on TV anywhere. I dropped cable TV years ago, nothing on worth watching anymore.
I watched the Muppet Show pretty religiously when I was a kid - I bet I could at least do some of the voices!
One of my favorite episodes was the one with the drum battle between Buddy Rich and Animal - if I remember correctly, Buddy Rich won, but Animal broke his bass drum over Buddy Rich’s head!
I also remember Floyd doing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” - they worked in the Beatles a lot…
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”! Really, considering the season… be on the look out for Jim Henson’s ‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’ (1977) (TV). If I recall correctly, when the Jug-Band competes against the Electric Mayhem Band, Dr. Teeth was actually playing a Modular Moog! It has been a long time (and many atrophied brain cells) since I saw it, so don’t shoot me if I am wrong, but I am almost positive that he did. Anyway, it was really cool and worth a viewing if you can find it or catch it on the tube.
I don’t remember ever seeing that… I’ll have to track down a copy, Amazon has it but it’s pretty expensive,
Do you remember the first Christmas Special with John Denver, around 1979/1980 ? The thing I remember most is Animal singing " Twelve Drummers Drumming" on the LP it’s Kermit.
“Actually, Janice played guitar and Floyd played bass.”
I kinda knew that too, I had a twinge of doubt when I typed my list. I remembered thinking that there was a contradiction that Floyd was a bassist but sang the song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, but then I thought, this can’t possibly be a real memory. But I guess I did think it, just not sure when! I don’t think I was even aware of the difference between guitar and bass when the show originally aired - must’ve caught a rerun during the '80s…
The next time you’re up watching David Letterman, wait til the camera is on Paul Schaffer. Behind him (TV left, Paul’s right) in all it’s beauty and glory is a Minimoog Voyager AE…
I just got a new cat, and named her Moog (She’s black and makes interesting purring sounds just like my Minimoog Voyager AE!) I hope I’m not violating any copywrite law
[quote=“Synthesist”]“, Dr. Teeth was actually playing a Modular Moog!
I know for a fact that Jim Henson had a Modular Moog of his own that he used to play around with.
Years ago I had a welcoming party for his daughter Cheryl when she came to town promoting her new puppetry book. She saw my keyboard set up and noticed the MiniMoog. We started talking about Moogs in general and she told me that her dad had one that he used to make wild sounds with when she was a wee lass.
I always wondered how Dr.Teeth played chords on his Minimoog. I was thinking that maybe he had it modified. I would do anything for that Minimoog so I could really shine in my Muppet Show Band tribute band. (MSBTB for short). Oh. Also, if anyone knows someone who looks like Animal, we’re auditioning new drummers.
There is a theremin hidden on the Simpsons episode “The Ziff Who Came To Dinner.” In the episode Bart and Lisa hear some strange noises coming from the attic, they explore to find Ziff playing a Theremin and living in their attic nonetheless.
(Though, it’s a quick moment and I think they cut it out in syndication)…
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