The Muppets Go Hollywood

The Muppets Go Hollywood is a one-hour television special that promoted The Muppet Movie, the first theatrical film in The Muppets franchise. It first aired May 16, 1979 on CBS, six weeks before the American release of The Muppet Movie.

Plot

Kermit the Frog throws a glamorous party at the Cocoanut Grove night club to celebrate the release of The Muppet Movie. Among the highlights of this special are:

The Muppets and the celebrities arriving in the limousine.
Sweetums, Timmy Monster, Doglion, Mean Mama, and the Mutations singing and dancing to "Hooray for Hollywood."
Rita Moreno conducts a poolside interview with Miss Piggy with Scooter interrupting Miss Piggy by asking for some change for the pay phone so that he can call Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, and Robert Redford on her behalf.
Dick Van Dyke has a conversation with Sam the Eagle about the party. Despite Sam the Eagle showing his disapproval of the Hollywood ways, Dick then notices that the small book that Sam the Eagle has been carrying is an autograph book containing the names of the celebrities attending the party. Sam asks Dick if he's seen his favorite actor Walter Pidgeon when Dick tells him that Walter Pidgeon isn't at the party.
Scooter calls Kermit the Frog into the kitchen where the Swedish Chef is doing his version of serving Swedish meatballs.
The Peter Matz Orchestra plays "How High the Moon," featuring a solo by Zoot on saxophone. Rita Moreno is seen dancing with Floyd Pepper while asking how the Muppets are adjusting to Hollywood.
Dick Van Dyke interviews Phyllis Diller while bringing up his encounter with Fozzie Bear in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
Upon being introduced by Gary Owens, Miss Piggy arrives on a chaise carried by four bodybuilders, to the strains of "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" and proceeds to sing "Baby Face" backed by the pigs.
Johnny Mathis sings "Never Before, Never Again" while backed up by Rowlf the Dog on piano.
Miss Piggy shows some footage from The Muppet Movie to Rita Moreno despite Kermit's objection.
Kermit the Frog tells Dick Van Dyke that the Muppets are staying at the Bide-A-Wee Motor Court since it is the only area that gives the Muppets a good rate and they allow livestock. Kermit and Dick laugh at this until Miss Piggy karate chops both of them.
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem sing "Can You Picture That?"
The Muppets and the celebrities do a dance on the dance floor.
Dick Van Dyke serenades Miss Piggy with "You Ought to Be in Pictures."
While Animal tries to get at Rita Moreno, Dick Van Dyke interviews Jim Henson who mentions how lyricist Paul Williams and composer Kenny Ascher came up with "The Rainbow Connection." Footage of the pair performing the song cuts to a scene with Kermit the Frog singing "The Rainbow Connection."
Dick Van Dyke asks Peter Falk on what the Cocoanut Grove was like back in the 1930s.
Rita Moreno does a Carmen Miranda dance routine backed up by the Mutations while forming a conga line with guests and Muppets alike.
After most of the guests have left in the conga line, Kermit and the other Muppets do a reprise of "Hooray for Hollywood."

After the musical number, Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppets clean up the Cocoanut Grove upon Kermit stating that they can save money by cleaning it up themselves.

Cast

Kenny Ascher - Himself
Dick Van Dyke - Himself
Jim Henson - Himself
Johnny Mathis - Himself
Rita Moreno - Herself
Gary Owens - Himself/Announcer
Paul Williams - Himself

Muppet performers

Jim Henson - Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, and Waldorf
Frank Oz - Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam the Eagle
Jerry Nelson - Floyd Pepper
Richard Hunt - Scooter, Janice, and Statler
Dave Goelz - Gonzo the Great and Zoot

Additional Muppets performed by Steve Whitmire and Kathryn Mullen.

Special guest appearances

The following celebrities appeared at the party: