Unlike some guests, Glenda Jackson was appreciated by the producers when she said, "You people know what you're up to. I'll do anything you write for me." With that complete freedom, the producers created the overall story of her going crazy as a pirate captain, hijacking the Muppet Theater itself as her ship.
The opening number "Workin' At the Car Wash Blues" features a fantasy sequence in which Gonzo is a rich businessman in his office. Visible the background are some of the awards The Muppet Show had received, include two BAFTA Awards and the Rose d'Or.