105: Rita Moreno & West Side Story

In the first episode of The Muppet Show that we would call great, we're joined by jacqueline-of-all-trades and third-ever EGOT Rita Moreno. Then, we discuss West Side Story, which looms large over Moreno's career - but due to an entirely unplanned mixup, one of us watched the 1961 film and the other watched the 2021 film.

Topics of discussion include whether Miss Piggy's competitiveness is solely gender-based, whether Marvin Suggs is too sadistic, the source of the EGOT acronym, and how a remake can have a point.

Further resources:

• The Electric Company - Director’s Sketch - Good Night
• How Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story Finally Solved the Problem of “I Feel Pretty” by Charles McNulty
• How West Side Story’s Anybodys Went From Tomboy to Trans Character by Isaac Butler
• Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals by Arthur Laurents
• Rita Moreno Winning Best Supporting Actress - 34th Oscars (1962)
• Rita Moreno Wins Outstanding Lead Actress, Single Appearance, Drama or Comedy (1978)
• Rita Moreno Wins Tony (1975)
• Steven Spielberg Wanted to Cut “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story by A. A. Cristi
• West Side Story stars Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno open up about Anita’s attempted sexual assault by Maureen Lee Lenker