I remember this so well from my childhood. When he lifted his toupee off his head, I nearly died of laughter. I miss Zero so much.

He was a very good friend of my grandmother's. "Uncle Zero" could be both extremely frightening and hysterically funny. My summers were never dull when he was around!

The ending is incredibly coincidental considering he died before this aired on television.

"Fear of baldness on the head!" My brother & I lost it when he lifted that toup & missed the next 10 secs of the sketch because we were laughing ourselves to tears!

Once... they are counted and compelled, They can quickly be dispelled! AH!

This is probably my favorite of all Muppet Show segments, hands down. Zero's sheer theatrical intensity paired with the strange Muppet monsters made for a segment that was both funny and dramatic.

Of the 5 seasons of The Muppet Show, this sketch is one of the most memorable. My friends from then middle school and I still do the finger waggle whenever the topic of Muppets comes up.

This is where I first saw and fell in love with Zero. I was so saddened to find out that by the time this was broadcast he had already passed away. Fortunately, we have his movies, his plays and his television appearances to remember him by. Sleep well, Zero....you will always be a 10 to me.

Zero was an incredible actor. so gifted in his ability to use his body and facial expressions. How does he do that finger waggle?! A shame he was in so few movies.

Sheer genius. The perfect combo of live action performer, script and puppetry. RIP Zero Mostel.

This has always and will always be one of my favorite Muppets sketches.

I rrmber laughing so hard at the spider and him making their mouthed crooked when he was talking about worms crawling on him.

This is one of the most memorable sketches they ever did on the show. Only Zero.

Here was the inspiration of my Drama monologue for a final project. Zero Mostel's performance of Fears of Zero. Rest in peace, my man.

Such a brilliant & gifted actor, esp in comedy. Watch him in The Front, an incredible dramatic performance. This was so chilling & funny as a kid & it's even more fun now! I'm sure they had a lot of fun shooting it!

One of my absolute favorite people and performing a piece of such depth, such nuance, such magnificent range! Something for everyone! Now, before I can finish this comment, you must *first* run 7 times around the 7 hills of Rome!!!

you know that every single one of these fears has a -phobia name to them 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I once met Zero Mostel on 57th Street in NYC outside of the Russisn Tearoom next to Carnagie Hall. He was on his knees on the pavement begging passerbys to patronize the restaurant so it wouldn't go out of business. I almost crossed the street to avoid the melee when I realized it was Zero Mostel doing his public art thing. He was unique.

My brother and I always lost it at that part! 2:20 hahaha!

I thank you for doing this. Everyone should see this. I spent quite a few years trying to find this thing. It's so cool that you found it and gave it to us all. Well Done! Keep posting it.

This sketch was one of many that freaked me out as a kid

Shame I can't wiggle my finger like zero does.

This is prophetic: Zero Mostel passed away on September 8, 1977. Episode 202 of the Muppet Show was recorded on June 2, 1977, approximately three months earlier. Its like Zero is stating that his biggest fear is the fear of death, which cannot be counted and dispelled but will count and dispel him, was because he actually knew he was going to die soon.

I bet this would scare the living crap out of Fear from Inside Out.

A real tour de force actor.

The Spellbinder! :D

Judging from his trim figure ,and grooming ,l would have to guess this clip is from mid 1977, shortly before his untimley death in Sept of that year. Although a point in his career whence he had become much less decerning as to the rolls he would accept , this turned out to be a peice we'll worth the effort,and still holds up as a classic example of his unique comic genius,even if only a childrens show,done most probably only for the money,somthing he was less prone to do in his earlier career

I just watched this episode and figured this was some obscure old poem. But apearently it was written for the show

Robert De Niro and the rest could not touch Zero, that man had real talent.

Butterfly at rest

It's actually not too difficult if you know how to control the flexibility of your finger enough. Like anything, it takes practice, but it isn't too terribly hard. :)

This is genius.

I know this sketch.

why does it run a second time with no volume?

Fears of maitre d's and rats?

Brilliant to play it again without the sound, so that one can see the emotive genius that he was. Not a beautiful man, he animated his features rapturously. I do not care for stories of his politics, he was a man wronged, but he did himself no favors either. He will always be a hero of my youth, and this appearance, albeit perhaps only for pay, cemented him in the eyes of millions of young Americans forever. Rest in peace, dear sir, you will always warm my heart.

Did zero mastel really go crazy before he died? Cause thats what I heard.

What happened to the audio!?

How does he do that finger thing?

Mostel looked better with that mop toupee.

Why did you repeat the sketch without sound