Addressing the chicken in the room.
What They Say:
Episode #112: “A Tail of Two Piggies”
When Miss Piggy suffers a scandalous wardrobe malfunction, the network is outraged, and Piggy is forced to question everything she stands for, but Kermit and the gang rally together and come to her defense. Meanwhile, Gonzo misses his ex-girlfriend Camilla, so Pepe and Rizzo decide to throw a house party to cheer him up.
The Review
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
I have to admit I was concerned when I saw ‘wardrobe malfunction’ in the episode description. Uncle Deadly is using Piggy as a guinea pig to market his fashion. Jokes are made about Piggy’s weight and out she goes, and we all know something is gonna give…. what though?
There are some amazing gags right from the start in this episode. Quite a bit of fuss was made by certain… groups… when this new series started. You know their complaints, about how the Muppets were being too adult and the show wasn’t suited for children. In the most benign yet pointed way possible the show pokes fun at those same groups when Sam comes to Kermit in a panic about the dozen mom organization protestors outside. Kermit is not concerned. The network is more concerned that sponsors will pull out, because no one wants to be associated with yucky pig tails!
Everything cumulates in Kermit finding a way to please both the network and Piggy without undermining anyone’s message. He does that with a ‘I’m Spartacus’ moment with the whole cast rocking pig tails. Piggy doesn’t have to display her’s again. Capping off the moment is a Joan Jett cameo, but I have to say I really would appreciate these performances more if they’d stop cutting away during them. (Then again, this entire performance was lip-synched even more than usual so….)
They said they would be inserting more skits back into the show during this soft relaunch, but I’m not really seeing it during this episode. The forced late-night skits aren’t really hitting for me. We get one here, watching Animal play ‘who tweeted it.’ The actual bit is pretty whatever, but the payoff comes during the end credits which almost makes the skit worthwhile.
The barely there B-plot had more of my attention because it focuses on Gonzo. From the first time it was shown Gonzo was suddenly single in this new series I was left asking, where’s Camilla? Muppet cannon is a bit nebulous and shaky on timelines and solid backstory for its characters, but it’s always spot on about their personalities. I knew Gonzo would never break up with Camilla! I was correct, and we find out what happened to the cozy couple’s relationship. Camilla walked out on Gonzo! How dare she!
Gonzo is in a bit of a funk because it’s the anniversary of that event. So Pepe and Rizzo try to convince Gonzo to move on with more conviction. Like, getting rid of his apartment and buying a sweet bachelor pad with a jacuzzi. (What is with these two and jacuzzi?) Rizzo knows a great realtor, Big Mean Carl’s sister, Carla.
After the big episode wraps the after party has everyone at Gonzo’s new place having a good time around the pool. Lessons have been learned, maybe, or maybe not. It’s the wrap up that we’re all expecting and who happens to show up… but Camilla!
In Summary:
The humor in last week’s episode was pretty tepid, but this episode is firing off the jokes left and right, and most hit strong. Especially about the protestors and Piggy’s dramatic announcement promo. That message might be a little twee and obvious, but Piggy continues to be far more reasonable and back to her old self. The Gonzo subplot answers a long-standing question that’s been bothering me since the series began, and for that I am grateful. A very solid episode all around.
Episode Grade: B +
