- published: 03 Oct 2010
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The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on September 5, 1976, and five series were produced until March 15, 1981, lasting 120 episodes. The programme shows a vaudeville- or music hall-style song-and-dance variety show, as well as glimpses behind the scenes of such a show. Kermit the Frog stars as a showrunner who tries to keep control of the antics of the other Muppet characters (and his temper), as well as keep the guest stars happy. The show was known for outrageous physical slapstick, sometimes absurdist comedy, and humorous parodies. Each episode also featured a human guest star. As the show's popularity rose, many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in film.
Many of the puppeteers also worked on Sesame Street. Muppet performers over the course of the show include Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, Brian Muehl, Eren Ozker, Bob Payne, and John Lovelady. Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns were two of the show writers.
The Swedish Chef is a Muppet that appeared on The Muppet Show. He was operated by Jim Henson and Frank Oz simultaneously and is now puppeteered by Bill Barretta.
A parody of television chefs, the Swedish Chef wears a toque blanche and has bushy eyebrows that completely obscure his eyes. He was one of the few Muppets to employ an actual puppeteer's hands, originally Oz's, in the designs – that is, they were visible to the audience through his sleeves and facilitated handling food and utensils.
Nearly all Swedish Chef sketches begin with him in a kitchen, waving some utensils while singing his signature song in his typical mock Swedish – a semi-comprehensible gibberish mimicking Swedish phonology and prosody. The song's lyrics vary slightly from one episode to the next, but always end with "Bork, bork, bork!" (translates as 'away/be gone') as the Chef throws the utensils (or whatever else may be in his hands) aside with a clatter that seems to startle him.
After this introduction, the Chef begins to prepare a recipe while giving a gibberish explanation of what he is doing. His commentary is spiced with the occasional English word to clue in the viewer to what he is attempting; for example, "Aweenda shmure da froog's legs." These hints are necessary as he frequently uses unorthodox culinary equipment (firearms, sports equipment, hand tools, etc.) to prepare his dishes. In the pilot episode of The Muppet Show, the Chef's commentary was supplemented by Chinese subtitles, but this was abandoned for all other episodes of the series. The sketch typically degenerates into a slapstick finale where the ingredients or equipment get the better of him.
An above view of Washington.. resembles.. the Goat of Mendes..
I stay dipped with throwaway raps that feed cats
Enough brainwashed to shoot they mans in the back
But not enough to murder Congressmen, get
to do the Trilateral Commission with a Tec
Cause they pull strings of the seen government
Just like the Muppet Show and Jim Henson's the threat
But ya ain' even trying to hear that
Scream "Illuminati" and you not even illuminated, fact
It's not about races or the dollar bill packing
Manhattan island residents just need to start packing
Nobody's saving you from bullets, the rockets
All your prophets are high, and sweat in they pockets
"Death to the masses!", the Feds toast they glasses
You getting slaughtered like lambs
And you're enslaved to fascists
They're going to tell you aliens have got control
But that's a trick to take over the planet as a whole
One world, one order, one government
While you get gassed by flicks, they plotting at the summit
But fuck hearing knowledge - you prefer metaphors
There's no revolution, just a world with new laws
While you in the streets playing the ground like beat
I'll be in the mountains while the gas chamber's deep
Just wait around for death because the news is gonna air it
Don't be chickenshit conformists like your parents
We need to - shoot cops, and hang politicians
Concentrate divisions, concentrate your visions
Burn all the judges, and decision-makers