Drinking, smoking, gambling - and death. Just another Muppets routine.

@armstrongjosh

4 жыл бұрын

Stuff like this might actually be one reason Disney+ doesn't have The Muppet Show. I mean, yeah, they have The Simpsons, but Disney wants the Muppets to be squeaky clean these days.

@mechazoic

4 жыл бұрын

The Muppets was like a lot of comedy programs at the time, family friendly but not really intended to be a kids show. I think that’s why they created Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.

@sominboy2757

4 жыл бұрын

They said hell during their rendition of "devil went down to georgia" plus it was meant for a general audience not strictly for kids

@aurumvale9908

4 жыл бұрын

and this was a kids show! now compare this! to the crap they show nowadays

@Tommy1977777

4 жыл бұрын

We didnt try to insulate kids from the shit of the world. Doing that means you are hiding it from them.

The Gambler has played his last hand. Rest in peace, Kenny.

@danielburkett821

3 жыл бұрын

The Gambler may have played his last hand, but he STILL ended up a WINNER!!! RIP Kenny Rogers!!!

@joshhuskins5363

2 жыл бұрын

He finally broke even

@autobotjazz1972

Жыл бұрын

Some where in the darkness , Kenny he broke even.

@user-te9he7zu7s

Жыл бұрын

Dad always listens to him because old country music is amazing

@linmal2242

6 ай бұрын

Despite His Most Popular Song, Rogers Never Did Much Gambling. Rogers' most popular song is arguably his 1978 release "The Gambler," but in 2015, he told NPR that he'd never been a big gambler himself. "I learned a long time ago, I can't win enough money to excite me, but I can lose enough to depress me," he admitted.

This is apparently the only time in all of Muppet history that we actually see a Muppet die on camera

@iammumawaldi

4 жыл бұрын

Mind....blown.

@pinkfloydmeddle6692

4 жыл бұрын

Good

@marcusblackwell2372

3 жыл бұрын

Well, it isn't really apart of the Muppets, but The Dark Crystal had Jen's Master die

@MuppetDude

3 жыл бұрын

@Tin Watchman Not quite. One could debate that Fozzie holds the record for dying the most on stage!

@Bladerunner93

2 жыл бұрын

@@marcusblackwell2372 By that same logic I think Yoda dying in Return of the Jedi should be an honorary example

Kenny Rogers has reunited with the Gambler, finally broke even, and just dropped in to see what condition his condition was in. RIP Kenny Rogers.

@hollyoconnor303

4 жыл бұрын

Jarrah White ♥️

@arnoldjack7956

4 жыл бұрын

What do you mean?

@WhiteJarrah

4 жыл бұрын

@@arnoldjack7956 Kenny Rogers died three days ago.

@arnoldjack7956

4 жыл бұрын

@@WhiteJarrah I know but do you mean he's in heaven now with the muppet gambler dude?

@WhiteJarrah

4 жыл бұрын

@@arnoldjack7956 Yes.

You can really see how hard Kenny tried to keep a straight face! He´s so close to burst into laughter! What a trooper he was!!

@user-yl2dq1tc7z

6 ай бұрын

Dthrnj mmnbmakqyqkqajscydvhwdhhbsbcbc. Hebuwjwjhyrhnyysjuwjhckmvmncjaiiurqsfhjkqkkuejrmfmukc,Megan’s s f

Muppets make everything better

R.I.P. Kenny Rogers. Also the human hands creeped me the Hell out as a kid.

@chrismiccolupi5181

4 жыл бұрын

Simone Farber actually it not creepy it genius. R.I.P. Kenny Rogers

@xAllSystemsReadyx

4 жыл бұрын

Indeed he will be missed, all our legends of our time are leaving this world.

@captainpaul2782

4 жыл бұрын

Lol, haven’t seen this in ages and must’ve forgotten/never noticed the creepy human hands!

@Nessa_the_Embroidery_Nerd

4 жыл бұрын

SAME.

@JayAyers

4 жыл бұрын

What a voice this man had!

I still vividly remember seeing this as a young child on the Muppet Show. I'm older now than Kenny was when he made this. It's funny how things have changed. They'd NEVER put mention of alcohol or cigarettes in a kid's show today. It would be unthinkable.

@BarryRowlingsonBaz

Жыл бұрын

...or gambling!

@jychilly

Жыл бұрын

@@BarryRowlingsonBaz I bet they would!

@jfd1008

Жыл бұрын

Well, I seemed to survive, without smoking or gambling...

@jychilly

Жыл бұрын

@@jfd1008 Ah, the exception that proves the rule. :)

@liamodynsky4871

Жыл бұрын

The Muppet Show was also very specifically not a kid's show though. It was targetted at families, although it's creator always hoped to push it more towards adults. That's part of why it did so good with all audiences.

"Somewhere in the darkness The Gambler, he broke even But in his final words I found an Ace I could keep." -The Gambler, final verse. R.I.P. Kenneth Ray "Kenny" Rogers August 21, 1938 - March 20, 2020

@taylorboys3791

4 жыл бұрын

😥

@demakos1939

4 жыл бұрын

Respests paid sadly another sad death in 2020

Kenny Rogers and Jerry Nelson (played The Gambler here)... two legends that'll never be replaced. Rest well, gentlemen.

@josepharmstrong1788

Жыл бұрын

This song hits harder upon viewing with this in mind.

And somehow The Muppets Show is the one who did The Gambler the best. So much creative talent. Rest well Kenny, rest well Jim.

I can't believe it took me over 30 years to realize the Gambler died. 😳😩

@tomt6142

7 жыл бұрын

True story - I'd liked the song for many years, but never listened to all the lyrics. I was drunkenly singing it at an office Christmas karaoke party with my boss ...and got all bummed mid-song to find out that's what happened!

@jamesmoyner7499

6 жыл бұрын

Chandra Dicks Kenny Rogers is still alive he's 79 years old.

@TommygunNG

6 жыл бұрын

The character in the song dies.

@jasongoldman3850

6 жыл бұрын

It was kind of foreshadowed in the lyrics of the song. Don't feel bad if you didn't notice that right away.

@voyagersa22

6 жыл бұрын

He” broke even” 😢

One of the great moments on The Muppet Show, and a fantastic performance by Kenny Rogers. And he wasn't asked to soften the lyrics. The ending is just classic. RIP Kenny Rogers.

Drinking whiskey and smoking cigs on the Muppet Show God I miss the 70"s

I remember watching this as a kid; my first recollection of this song was on the Muppet Show. RIP Kenny Rogers.

@t_man7259

3 жыл бұрын

when you learn what this song is actually about its more relevant to children than you would think

@ThorMaximus

2 жыл бұрын

This might very well be my first memory watching with Grandma and Grandpap Thank you Kenny Rogers.

@saltwaterinmyveins

2 жыл бұрын

Me too!!

When I was a young kid, we all heard The Gambler on the radio but didn't pay much attention to the words. When I saw this on TV, I understood what the song was about. Thank you, Jim Henson.

The performance of this song on the Muppet Show always brings tears to my eyes!

I remember being in both awe and fear at the man-muppets with the real hands. Not sure we'll see muppets drinking and smoking anytime soon....miss the good ol days.

@Dracomut

6 жыл бұрын

Wel drinking and smoking isn’t integral to any of their characters so no big loss

@ArthurMorgan-pq4tr

4 жыл бұрын

Elmo should pick up smoking.

@ArthurMorgan-pq4tr

4 жыл бұрын

Ash his cigarettes in Dorthy's fishbowl.

@ArthurMorgan-pq4tr

4 жыл бұрын

@Tourist Tshirts I'm gonna go check that out.

@doughesson

4 жыл бұрын

@@ArthurMorgan-pq4tr If it was crack or pot it would be totally acceptable to the folks who think that tobacco use is evil.

Millenial here, this guy taught me more about living than my dead beat dad. Rest in peace Kenny, you've earned it.

@johndalton3180

Жыл бұрын

Sorry to know that about your dad. Glad you rose above it.

@Warratron

Жыл бұрын

You're grounded, son!

Some of the best advice I've ever heard. I saw this show when I was a kid, and those lyrics stick in my head as a reminder how you could deal with some of the situations in life...some things you can hold on to, some you got to let go, other times you need to walk away, or better yet, run. Classic song, one of my favorites from Kenny.

This was one of the episodes I recorded on Betamax when I was a kid. I watched it over so many times that my grandmother ended up buying me Kenny Rogers' The Gambler record album. That was the first album I ever had that wasn't Disney or Sesame Street or something like that.

@marcusblackwell2372

5 жыл бұрын

What's that? A thing from the time of my parents? I wasn't born then

@doughesson

4 жыл бұрын

Betamsx fell by the technological wayside because Sony didn't license it to be used by the porn industry like VHS was.

@Drawkcabi

4 жыл бұрын

@@doughesson Also because even though it resulted in better quality overall than VHS, a standard Betamax tape on Beta I (equivalent to SP or standard play on VHS which got best quality) only got you 1 hour of play time opposed to 2 hours of play time on a standard VHS tape. With movie run times usually being between an hour and a half and 2 hours, it was an obvious choice of format when movie studios started releasing their movies onto tapes to be rented at video stores.

@Drawkcabi

4 жыл бұрын

@@marcusblackwell2372 Betamaxes were VCR's. They used tapes like VHS players only they were smaller so a Beta tape wouldn't work in a VHS player and vice versa. In the early days of VCR's Sony was the proprietor of Betamax, they didn't make VHS players, only when it became clear that VHS would likely win the format war did they start making them.

@marcusblackwell2372

4 жыл бұрын

@@Drawkcabi so the only differences were they were smaller & the older tapes wouldn't work? They were basically 1st gen VHS players?

When I first saw this at 3, it wasn't death that scared me, it was being alone when life is short. Thank you, Jim Henson for knowing kids need this. Thank you too, Kenny Rogers

@azurecielo52479

4 жыл бұрын

And yes, I was aware of mortality at 3

@benjaminsmith5972

4 жыл бұрын

@@azurecielo52479 what do you feel about Footloose?

That's so great. I know people who are still scarred from never being allowed to say goodbye.

❤somewhere in the darkness, the Gambler, he broke even °☮❤

@ElnaCopper

9 жыл бұрын

❤knowing what to throw away °☮& what 2 keep❤

@4a8p9x

8 жыл бұрын

+Elna Copper I still get a chill when I hear that line

RIP Kenny. This is my favorite memory of him.

RIP, Kenny Rogers. The Gambler broke even.

this is the version I play in my head when i think of this song

"Ya never count yer money when yer sittin at the table..." The game is life and right now Kenny is counting his many accomplishments since he is no longer at the table. I loved sharing this table with you even if I never actually met you. Bless you Kenny!

Wow... this brings me back. Can still remember watching this as a kid.

@lordsxman

9 жыл бұрын

Me too. It only just occurred to me though after watching that Geico commercial that the gambler died in this sketch so I had to watch it to confirm. Creepy.

@its4it

4 жыл бұрын

So can I.

@monkeybash3000

3 жыл бұрын

Same here: decades.

My wife and I fell in love with this song when we first started going out. RIP Kenny and thank you 😔

I saw this when it was new. I was 4. My jaw hit the floor when I watched a muppet die on tv right in front of me, lol. Scarred me for life 😂 44 years later, I still love this song and the “haunting vibes” it gives me 👻🖤

The Gambler broke even. 😢 *Kenneth Ray Rogers* August 21, 1938 - March 20, 2020

I haven't seen this since it first aired. This is the most memorable sketch from the muppets. I still think about it every time I listen to the gambler. I love the part when he's dancing as a ghost.

I sing this song in my head when I play poker. I do count my money while sitting at the table. The rest is good advice.

@alberthodges2091

4 жыл бұрын

idiot, you gotta get out of you seat to count your money

@doughesson

4 жыл бұрын

If you need to keep track of your winnings or losses during the game, you don't need to be playing.

This is why I loved that show. From Kenny, to Elton, to Alice Cooper, to Christopher Reeves, to Twiggy, & so on... The humor, & good natured fun is lost on shows these days. Artists like these are too few & far between now.

@danielgregory3295

2 жыл бұрын

Everybody wanted to guest on the Muppet Show!😊

@gristlevonraben

2 жыл бұрын

The elite want dystopia, and depression and desperation, so as to kill us when civil war breaks out. Just like the other wars, they will blame us.

@gabrielabarca9011

2 жыл бұрын

What humor or good nature? This is a horror film!

RIP Kenny Rogers. Mom played your records every night when I was a kid. I grew up listening to you ( Im 37)

I was telling a guy at work that the first time I ever saw Kenny Rogers was on the muppet show. All I remembered was it being on a train. Seeing this again brought back a lot of things that I had forgotten

One of my favorite moments on the Muppet Show. Something to show critics when they call the Muppet Show a "kids program." Jim Henson never forced the celebrities to change the words of their songs, even when they are as politically incorrect (by modern standards) as this one. After all, the song does depict a dying old man and his death.

@OrigamiMarie

5 жыл бұрын

I think it has kind of an older sensibility to it, that death is a thing that happens to everyone and we'll all have to learn about it some time. This is sort of the gentlest way to show it, he's an old man who fades away in just the way he wants to. I also like that the stars almost always seem to be truly enjoying themselves. He has that smile at the end, a kind of "hey I just performed a song with The Muppets, isn't that neat?"

@simonefarber9105

4 жыл бұрын

...not really incorrect...a dying gambler dies broke on a train bumming a cig is a pretty good lesson on how NOT to live your life.

One of my favorite musical numbers on this show. 🙏🏾🌹🙏🏾 RIP

Did anybody else notice or think that those muppets had human hands on them holding that cig or the books? But still pretty cool to see. Awesome video

@rdfox76

9 жыл бұрын

It was actually a common trick for Muppets that needed to manipulate objects on-camera, without video editing where they just glued/stitched an object to their hand. Rowlf has a second puppeteer with his hands in "gloves" for his hands, for example, while the Swedish Chef uses a second puppeteer's hands for his own. (In the latter case, in the old days, it was Jim Henson operating the head and providing the voice, and Frank Oz providing the hands and desperately trying to crack Jim up with his semi-unplanned antics.)

Remember this one as a kid. Love it.

This was one of my favorite pieces from the Muppet Show. I, actually, haven't seen it since it was on tv and I've never forgotten it.

We gamble every day on life. Kenny Rogers wrote the manual for all of us. R.I.P. The Gambler played his most important hand.

I remember watching this the first time it aired. Why did it take so long to post on this page? Because I honestly thought it was a figment of my imagination. I KNEW I had watched it. I would have bet my life on having watched Kenny Rogers singing "The Gambler" on "The Muppet Show" and the ghost of the dead muppet singing along. I finally couldn't fight the urge to find out so I typed it in. I was correct! The only thing I got wrong was misremembering how Kenny sang it; it WAS performed live. So cool! Rest in peace, Kenny, and thanks for the eternal childhood memory!

I love this video. I loved The Muppet Show when I was a kid and I love The Gambler. It's too bad that a sketch like this would never be shown on TV today. Unless they were to do a "kiddified" version, like The Chipmunks, switching Whiskey & Cigarettes for Rootbeer & Twinkies.

@tomsmith3479

4 жыл бұрын

If it involved sex it would be shown today in a heartbeat

I am not a huge country western fan by any measure but I love this song Sooooooooo much !

I remember watching this on the "Muppet Show" when I was in high school. It was pretty special then and now that Kenny Rogers is gone, it is even more special.

as a child this scared the shit out of me!!

Rest In Peace, sir. You knew when to hold them and when to fold them. Thank you for your art, it still lives on.

R.I.P. Kenny Rogers.

This might be my favorite bit from the Muppets Was lucky enough to meet Kenny rogers before he passed A sweet and really kind man

Millions of years later this is my favorite muppets ‘video’...

Only one Jim Henson; none before, none since

I am here to remember my favorite song of Kenny Rogers, after just hearing the news of his death. RIP sir.

Apparently 62 people got taken to the cleaners by that talking gambler. Folks, don't gamble. You'll never beat the house!

@mikeriggi9088

4 жыл бұрын

Eventually u will win there’s cold streaks but when u win it’s a high no drug can make u feel like

@JaneDoe-ci3gj

4 жыл бұрын

My grandma was a minister's wife. She didn't like card games because she'd seen to many people gamble away all their money, as well as their farm/businesses and homes! My dad said to things if you ever gamble don't think you can win back your money and never ever bet money you can't afford to loose!

@rambam77

4 жыл бұрын

IAMTHEHOUSE

This has always ben my favourite bit from the Muppets. RIP Kenny.

The Gambler is definitely on my play list and will be sung in loving memory of Kenny.

Infinite gratitude to you Mr. Kenny Rogers. Your music played the soundtrack of my 1970'S youth along with the enjoyment The Muppets brought. Your contribution to the Arts is greatly appreciated. I'm sure you will continue to do so in your next heavenly journey. SO LONG SIR!

I have only a few happy memories of my childhood, this is one of them.

The one sitting next to Kenny places his hand on the window like he’s alive.

The gambler Broke Even today ~ RIP kenny your music will never be forgotten !

Every now and then I play this. It immediately takes me back to my childhood. Anyone who is old enough to remember this, played outside until the streetlights came on lol

came here to hear this life lesson song. Good by and thank you Kenny Rogers, RIP

RIP Kenny Rogers and RIP Jerry Nelson

@JoshuaSteinUkulele

3 жыл бұрын

don't forget jim henson

And somewhere in the darkness The gambler he broke even But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done... #RIP Kenny!

RIP Kenny.

That Jim Henson was brilliant!

My then-boyfriend and I didn't know what "broke even" meant until we watched this. Now we understand it means "died".

just heard the sad news of his passing, Rest In Peace Mr Rogers 😞

real singers, no autotune, no reverb, only his voice

@thor1186

5 жыл бұрын

rap is crap just like sharia

@douglasthomashayden2566

4 жыл бұрын

@@thor1186 Fundy xtianity ain't no better.

@thor1186

4 жыл бұрын

@@douglasthomashayden2566 then move to Saudi Arabia/Afghanistan. be my guest

@douglasthomashayden2566

4 жыл бұрын

@@thor1186 You sound like you'd be happier there...both are theocracies, just not *xtian* theocracies...

@thor1186

4 жыл бұрын

@@douglasthomashayden2566 nope , I love USA

The Gambler has played his last hand. Rest in peace, Kenny. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Thanks

I miss the Muppet Show terribly. I've shown it to my oh-so-hip teenage kids and they love it.

RIP Kenny. 21 March 2020

My childhood... right there

I actually watched this very sketch as a kid when it first came out!

I remember watching this as a kid. I remember getting emotional when the gambler died and smiling when his spirit was dancing. Weird how things this simple stay with you.

holyshit, I've always remembered this and the sadness it made me feel as a little kid when the old man died... and now, Kenny has passed exactly the way it was described in the song... wow.

this song always reminds me of my grandpa and makes me cry super hard. thank you Keith. rest in peace

I remember watching this episode. Back then the Muppet show came on on Friday nights. Such a simple song and such a simple TV show, but both mean so much if you just stop and pause.

So much deeper than just a card game, a game of life. RIP KR

R.I.P Kenny. You really know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run. 😔

i got addicted to that song and it is stuck in my head

Surprisingly mature yet thought provoking scene.

This is the show that really got me into gambling, whisky, and cigarettes as a child

one of my favorite moments of the muppets

You gotta love Kenny, his music, his talent.

This song was a big hit when I was a kid but it was this version I will always remember

one of the best and saddest episodes ever on that show..

We will all miss and remember Kenny Rogers. He touched so many lives with his music.

That moment when this song talks about him RIP your the best

Kenny Rogers and Muppets GREAT!!! made me smiling and laughing - thank you SOOOO MUCH💜💜💜

I love how this sketch has more than three times the hits of Rogers' original video XD

Watching this brings back memories of my bowl of REAL popcorn (made in a pot on the stove) and my one piece PJs with the feet on them that I wore watching this every week as a kid. WOW.

@RockStar67089

9 жыл бұрын

Popcorn in a pot?...On the stove? Wouldn't the pop-up bowl get burned?

@donnag4940

9 жыл бұрын

RockStar67089 Seriously..my parents had a 5qt. saucepan with the lid. U take a little oil and butter melt it down on medium heat add in unpopped corn kernels put the lid on. U gotta constantly move the pot around over the flame so it doesn't burn. Once they get hot enough they start popping. When it starts slowing down move lid over for a quick peek if pot is full then turn off flame let last few kernels pop. Dump in big bowl. We didn't have microwaves or jiffy pop like now. It was done old school. Still make it and my teens would rather have it that way.

@RockStar67089

9 жыл бұрын

Donna Gilhousen I was just pulling your leg :) I told my kid that we used to have to pop corn on the stove and she looked at me like I was an idiot.

@donnag4940

9 жыл бұрын

RockStar67089 I hope I didn't offend u with my tutorial on popcorn. Sometimes its hard to tell when someone is joking on here ;-) Thanks for understanding and explaining.

This is a masterpiece. Kenny Rogers always has amazing performances, and in terms of the muppets, it's incredible artistry.

This was my first exposure to Kenny’s music and have been a fan ever since. He was a master in using metaphors to give life advice. R.I.P. Kenny rest easy you finally broke even and left the world a Ace we will forever keep

I remember watching this for the first time as a kid. Dad was a fan of Kenny Rogers to and he was amazed as we all were with the human sized Muppets in this scene.

lol Muppets smoking a cig!!

@dragonbeast9318

3 жыл бұрын

Lol

@coyoteblue9733

2 жыл бұрын

And drinking whiskey

@tsartodd

Жыл бұрын

and the Gambler Muppet also died!

RIP Gambler!! 😢

Very nice. It's quite touching to see Kenny Rogers and George W Bush singing together.

Also saw this when I was young, always remebered it. Can you imagine the outcry today?? Whiskey drinkin, cigarette smokin??!?!?Lol. Not to mention the muppet going to heaven God forbid.(Opps said the G word) I'm 44, not a drunk, dont gamble, and dont smoke cigarettes. Not everything a child sees young will influence them for the rest of thier lives.