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3 and a half stars3 and a half starsI am a huge fan of The Muppets.  And while I am not that big a fan of owning DVDs, when I learned that season one of The Muppet Show had been released it was a must-have.  The Muppet Show is my favorite manifestation of the ubiquitous puppets with it's silly Vaudeville style and the characters' edgy relationships.

What made the show work was that, quite like human performers, the puppet performers had their ups and downs, dreams, disappointments, and despite anything that might happen they seem to find kind words and encouragement for each other.  Just like life, only funnier.

I never felt that the human guest stars got how to interact with the Muppets, or most of them, at least.  But some really connected.  Joel Grey has an advantage in his episode, because he was famous for doing the razzle-dazzly cabaret numbers the Muppets also excelled at.  He almost seems like a Muppet himself as he dances with the chorus, or is frustrated when Kermit the Frog interviews him, telling his entire life story and leaving him with nothing to say.

Rita Moreno is a force to be reckoned with, dancing with a full-sized Muppet who she tosses around the room and through a wall as if he had nothing in him but foam and stuffing.

Backstage the gags are as corny as they are on stage.  When Fozzy Bear makes a joke out of any word he hears, everyone gangs up on him -- and he still doesn't get it.  Miss Piggy's backstage slam of a fellow actress after the Dr. Bob sketch is funnier than the sketch.  And when Scooter starts his job as gofer, it is only because his uncle owns the theatre.

Watching these episodes with a crisp, clear picture and no commercials is a special bonus.  And the shows hold up today as well as they did when they were originally broadcast.  The set comes with four DVDs and includes the original pilot, the pitch reel that Jim Henson used to sell the show to a network and even a gag reel.  I recommend it for a rollicking good time.

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