Out to Lunch (TV program)
Out to Lunch is a prime-time television special that was broadcast on December 10, 1974, on ABC, from 9 to 10pm ET. It mixed the Sesame Street Muppets and the cast of The Electric Company along with guest stars Elliott Gould, Barbara Eden and Carol Burnett. This is the first of several Sesame Street-related productions directly produced by Henson Associates (the others being the 1978 television special Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, the 1983 television special Big Bird in China, the 1985 feature film Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, the 1989 television special Sesame Street… 20 Years & Still Counting, the 1996 television special Elmo Saves Christmas, the 1998 television special Elmopalooza!, and the 1999 feature film The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland).
| Out to Lunch | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Christopher Cerf Tom Dunsmuir Clark Gesner Bryan Joseph Norman Stiles Jim Thurman Tom Whedon |
| Directed by | Bill Davis |
| Starring | Rita Moreno Luis Avalos Hattie Winston Morgan Freeman Skip Hinnant Judy Graubart Jim Boyd Elliott Gould Barbara Eden Carol Burnett Bill Beutel |
| Composer(s) | Joe Raposo |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | David Connell |
| Producer(s) | Norton W. Wright |
| Running time | 60 mins. |
| Production company(s) | Children's Television Workshop |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | December 10, 1974 |
A member of the Electric Company cast, Rita Moreno, received an Emmy nomination in 1975 for her participation in the show in the category of Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music.
Plot
In the program, ABC News anchor Bill Beutel and his stage manager wrapped up a newscast, and left the studio to take a lunch break. After they leave, the Muppets and the cast of The Electric Company take over the studio, to fill an hour of programming on ABC while the studio staff is on break.
Cast
Jim Henson's Sesame Street Muppets performers
- Jim Henson - Ernie, Kermit the Frog, and Guy Smiley
- Frank Oz - Bert, Cookie Monster, and Grover
- Jerry Nelson - Count von Count, Herry Monster, and Anything Muppet Dog
- Caroll Spinney - Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
- Richard Hunt - Additional Performer
Electric Company cast
- Luis Ávalos - Roberto, Dr. Doolots, Daniel Schorr, Casino Owner, and others
- Jim Boyd - Andy, J. Arthur Crank, Stage Manager, Gambler, and others
- Morgan Freeman - Mark, Easy Reader, Dracula, Walter Cronkite, Croupier, and others
- Judy Graubart - Winnie, Julia Grownup, Jennifer of the Jungle, Football Girl, and others
- Skip Hinnant - J.J., Fargo North, Harry Reasoner, Cowboy, Spectator, and others
- Rita Moreno - Carmela, Pandora the Brat, Miami Lady, Divorced Wife, Spectator, and others
- Hattie Winston - Sylvia, Valerie, and others
Guest Stars
- Barbara Eden - Herself
- Elliott Gould - Himself, Kookamonga Kid, Divorced Husband, and others
- Carol Burnett - Herself
- Bill Beutel - Himself
- Gary Owens - Announcer