Most renditions of the song has Amos in a empty room. I love the fact that in this version he on a "crowded" street where nobody even notices him. In combination with Ben's over exaugurated movements, the song is driven home.
That funky lil soft-shoe right at the beginning - love how John C Reilly did it during his part....such a lovely tribute and I didn’t even know until just this very moment
Even as a child, I was mesmerized by his talent... at 45, I'm just as mesmerized ❤ The effortlessly slide...the fluidity...ALL OF IT!!! Always a treasure Mr. Vereen. ❤
I've thought of this performance off and on since I first saw it on tv as a kid. Left a big impression. Finally looked it up, and it's even better than I remember. This song, and Stop Children What's That Sound are vivid childhood memories, maybe more so than the funny skits. The Muppet Show and its performances are a treasure.
That’s really some biting social commentary, if you take into consideration the fact they used almost exclusively flesh-colored muppets (some light blues & greens, but they blend in amazingly). Black man on a city street, passing 2 businesses, being ignored completely... ouch.
@@JIreland1992 you realize that you can take something and put it in a different context than from the source material and it can represent something wholly different, right? The original commenter was right, it’s intentional imagery designed by the creators to be evocative of an idea, using something from somewhere else to cement that idea.
@@TheKingsPride except it makes no sense. The song is about a man who is so inconsequential and meaningless that he doesn’t stand out . Making this an allegory about racial prejudice makes no sense since a black man in a white neighbourhood would stick out.
I remember when this aired. One-of-a-kind. I can't remember if this is the episode where he also did another knockout. Every time I ask around, they think it's Bill Withers's song "Grandma's Hands"...but it isn't even close and I haven't found it yet.
OMG!! I’ve never seen this: Ben Vereen, the Great❣️❣️❣️ In the top 5 of my ALL TIME favorite performers!!! Fancy seeing this! I love you Mr. Vereen!!!!!
@@juliannehannes11 No it's because Hollywood doesn't make Musicals you nimrod. They make movies. If you want song and dance men go see a broadway play or something. As well, most men don't take an interest in song and dance, and musicals are more oftem written around women or focus on the female ensemble because that's what's widely available.
@@B-Side.72Hollywood makes plenty of musicals. The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and Singin’ in the Rain are among the most beloved films of all time and they’re all musicals.
@@guystudios All musicals that originated as stage plays. Hollywood does not MAKE musicals, they ADAPT musicals. And while they do this, yes, it is not Hollywood's focus. Musicals are traditionally a stage art because it suits that form of acting better than a film.
I just saw the movie Chicago for the first time a couple days ago, and was wondering why this song was so familiar -- never saw the musical, either. NOW I know why! This is from the Muppet Show, right? The Muppet Show, introducing us GenX kids to classics and culture and making it fun!
Golly, so many different aspects of this performance conspire to make it the most desperate rendition of “Mr. Cellophane” I’ve seen yet. (It’s especially dark if you consider the Muppets to be figments of his imagination - but that’s not even necessary for this to be remarkably tragic.)
Even after seeing Chicago (hate watching no doubt with a few points I zoned out) I didn't realize this was from Chicago. Because of this version, it becomes my favorite Chicago song by default, because this is actually good unlike every other thing in Chicago. I used to sing this all the time because of the Muppet Show, though.
Why does the music at the end make me like really sad... Like the song is sad already but the instrument they are using at the end made me tear up man (here 2:55)
When the original album was released, I played the Reilly cut over and over and over ....it made me weep and tore at my heart. Ben's is just as potent , with the added obvious connotation. Splendid! Thanks for posting this gem.
....well clearly he couldn't get toooo into it, it was a children's show. But he did well, he made it a bit more soft/enjoyable for the target audience.
Most renditions of the song has Amos in a empty room. I love the fact that in this version he on a "crowded" street where nobody even notices him. In combination with Ben's over exaugurated movements, the song is driven home.
I love the way it's designed so his costume blends into the background.
Omfg 😭
Didn't even peep this
@@kedahmiller Right?? So good...
Smart!!
Only Ben Vereen could make this iconic song into such an amazing dance piece!!
That funky lil soft-shoe right at the beginning - love how John C Reilly did it during his part....such a lovely tribute and I didn’t even know until just this very moment
It's a tribute to Bert Williams, the OG "Nobody" that the song is based on! Ben Vereen was a huge fan of Bert Williams.
Brilliant entertainer! I saw him in person in Hollywood, Florida, and he got five standing ovations (well-deserved)!
No, Ben, you didn't take up too much of my time.
i wish he took up more time
Even as a child, I was mesmerized by his talent... at 45, I'm just as mesmerized ❤ The effortlessly slide...the fluidity...ALL OF IT!!! Always a treasure Mr. Vereen. ❤
Same. And I'm 10 years older than you are :D
@@AaronSpielman When it's good, it's good right? 🥰
@@nonisimmons7431 Absolutely!
Brilliant, best rendition in my book
He puts everything into it.
My word I was not expecting that voice what so ever. Such a beautiful version to such an amazing piece of music.
I've thought of this performance off and on since I first saw it on tv as a kid. Left a big impression. Finally looked it up, and it's even better than I remember. This song, and Stop Children What's That Sound are vivid childhood memories, maybe more so than the funny skits. The Muppet Show and its performances are a treasure.
I remember a kid being wowed by his talent. He moves beautifully & sings well too.
How can anyone not notice a guy who can dance like that?
I've watched this version a hundred times and it gets me every time. Ben Vereen got it too!!!!! Splendid..simply splendid.
Brilliant! The Muppets, an absolute gift to humanity.
That was a brilliant performance.
That’s really some biting social commentary, if you take into consideration the fact they used almost exclusively flesh-colored muppets (some light blues & greens, but they blend in amazingly). Black man on a city street, passing 2 businesses, being ignored completely... ouch.
And given Jim Henson et al and their personal politics, it is most likely intentional.
You know the song is from Chicago right? And it has nothing to do with racial discrimination.
@@JIreland1992 it is just an interpretation. Let them take what they want from it
@@JIreland1992 you realize that you can take something and put it in a different context than from the source material and it can represent something wholly different, right? The original commenter was right, it’s intentional imagery designed by the creators to be evocative of an idea, using something from somewhere else to cement that idea.
@@TheKingsPride except it makes no sense. The song is about a man who is so inconsequential and meaningless that he doesn’t stand out . Making this an allegory about racial prejudice makes no sense since a black man in a white neighbourhood would stick out.
I remember when this aired. One-of-a-kind. I can't remember if this is the episode where he also did another knockout. Every time I ask around, they think it's Bill Withers's song "Grandma's Hands"...but it isn't even close and I haven't found it yet.
Maybe you need to rewatch the episode...
I think you're thinking of "Pure Imagination."
th-cam.com/video/wj5dfw4sNow/w-d-xo.html
This is my cousin I met him today😁
Three of my favorite things ever: The Muppets, Ben Vereen and this song.
Ben Vereen-one of the great,underrated talents of the 20th century. Also did a pretty good Al Jolson impression in this video.
Chicago The Musical (Broadway) sent me here. Great number Mr. V !!!! Outstanding.
Super sad😢. I first heard this on the 2002 Chicago musical. As a black person in America I would have loved this version more 😢
Best voice ever! 😍😍
Goosebumps when the chorus hits. Friggen LOVE THIS!
His voice is so emotional! Love him!
Best ever! I remember this as a kid in the 70's I was stunned.
OMG!! I’ve never seen this:
Ben Vereen, the Great❣️❣️❣️
In the top 5 of my ALL TIME favorite performers!!!
Fancy seeing this! I love you Mr. Vereen!!!!!
When does Ben Vereen come on?
never.
love Ben Vereen...class act
Ben Vereen was so talented!
We need more song and dance men. Don't see it very often in the modern Hollywood.
Because modern Hollywood is too homophobic as well as China and they don't like musicals unless they have pop stars
@@juliannehannes11 girl what
@@juliannehannes11 No it's because Hollywood doesn't make Musicals you nimrod. They make movies. If you want song and dance men go see a broadway play or something. As well, most men don't take an interest in song and dance, and musicals are more oftem written around women or focus on the female ensemble because that's what's widely available.
@@B-Side.72Hollywood makes plenty of musicals. The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and Singin’ in the Rain are among the most beloved films of all time and they’re all musicals.
@@guystudios All musicals that originated as stage plays. Hollywood does not MAKE musicals, they ADAPT musicals. And while they do this, yes, it is not Hollywood's focus. Musicals are traditionally a stage art because it suits that form of acting better than a film.
I love Ben Vereen!
This makes me deliriously happy!
Ohh my! this version is really good!
Came looking for Ben and as always got so much more than I expected. 🤩🥳🥰
Man, this guy is brilliant!! Love you Ben!
MAYOR BEN IS ON THE MUPPET SHOW!!!!!!!
I just saw the movie Chicago for the first time a couple days ago, and was wondering why this song was so familiar -- never saw the musical, either. NOW I know why! This is from the Muppet Show, right?
The Muppet Show, introducing us GenX kids to classics and culture and making it fun!
Thank you for this! Love Ben Vereen.
amazing performance!
That's the Muppets show for you. ^v^ Gotta love it though.
such a talent. bravo!
Incredible
He's invi-zooble!
Never mind. Afterward was his touring as Billy Flynn.
I cryed
We as a people forget about Profroming like this insane
One of the best Dam
Is Ben giving us "Mammy, how I love ya" vocals?
Yes, and it adds. (IMHO.)
I noticed his angled arched Fosse backwards bend.
Very, very nice.
2:09 uhh... those muppets were making out.... okeeeeee 😳
Awesome!!
❤❤LEGEND!!❤❤
Awesome
Ben Vereen... Chicken George. Where one ends and the other begins is kind of hard to see.
I AM HERE RIGHT WITH YOU Beautiful Man xxx
Una belleza.
this made me feel better :)
Golly, so many different aspects of this performance conspire to make it the most desperate rendition of “Mr. Cellophane” I’ve seen yet.
(It’s especially dark if you consider the Muppets to be figments of his imagination - but that’s not even necessary for this to be remarkably tragic.)
awesome
Great
He definitely did the singing parts better than the speaking parts of the song
Eh he was pretty spot on with the music at the very least so I disagree with you entirely
@@ReddFoxx1562 so is it “eh” or disagreeing entirely? You can’t be both.
🤩Ben Vereen🤩
Even after seeing Chicago (hate watching no doubt with a few points I zoned out) I didn't realize this was from Chicago. Because of this version, it becomes my favorite Chicago song by default, because this is actually good unlike every other thing in Chicago. I used to sing this all the time because of the Muppet Show, though.
I thought this was New York
At the risk of being wooshed, I'm talking about the musical Chicago. That's where this song originated.
What's wrong with the Musical Chicago?
Was he Billy Flynn in _Chicago_ before or after this airdate?
Eyup.
No, strangely enough he’s from Chicago, but never acted in it
I'd love to see a Barney Martin version...
you'd never even know he was there
Just sign in
I always thought the person who shouted "fire" was in the second row but everybody seems to sing it as if the fire is in the second row.
is the scene New York?? Like a old school Brooklyn?
All set
Why does the music at the end make me like really sad... Like the song is sad already but the instrument they are using at the end made me tear up man (here 2:55)
We probably subconsciously associate that pitch to something sad.
What special was this from? I vaguely remember seeing this
I have no idea, but the song is from Chicago.
It's from a first season episode of The Muppet show, probably from 1976.
I'm getting a distinct Al Jolson vibe from his singing.
He was in an “All That Jazz” remake :)
Glad someone else noticed that. VERY weird, because Jolson did blackface!!!
@@lynnmanheim5116 I see it as restorative justice him taking Al Johnston's place
@@juliannehannes11 Al Jolson. :-)
More like Bert Williams
what a strange video!?
Bougangles
Not bad...
So Mr cellophane from Chicago is from this show. Nice to know.
I assumed the opposite, but I have no idea what this is, I’m very confused
Anyone notice similarity with Chris Rocks voice?
Is that the original Sesame Street set? Lol
WHY DON'T YOU WANT YOUR SON, WILL, MAN?
I sang this song for a choir solo.
Hunter KU How’d that go over?
They want me to sing that from Chicago.
J
Who the fuck was singing? I know it wasn't the puppets, I didn't see anyone else?
Lol great cover of John Cenas theme song
Very good but not quite as good as John C. Reilly, who's the best Amos in my opinion.
When the original album was released, I played the Reilly cut over and over and over ....it made me weep and tore at my heart. Ben's is just as potent , with the added obvious connotation. Splendid! Thanks for posting this gem.
....well clearly he couldn't get toooo into it, it was a children's show. But he did well, he made it a bit more soft/enjoyable for the target audience.
Who's going to remember John C. Reilly?