There are certainly better episodes of the Muppet Show as a whole, but only few of its acts can stand next to Zero Mostel's sketch "Fear of Zero". Nothing short of magnificent, this Poe-esque ("And the accidental walling of myself / Up inside a clammy, dank old dingy cellar") bit of a man sitting at night in his study confronting his manifest fears is a blend of comedy and creeping existential dread that works to perfection. The lyrics mix the joke-fears with the actual horror perfectly, and Zero Mostel's performance alternates between goofy and Klaus Kinski levels of insanity.
For those 3 minutes alone this episode is worth a 10, and should be in any best-of collection of the Muppets.
For those 3 minutes alone this episode is worth a 10, and should be in any best-of collection of the Muppets.
