| The Muppet Show | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Jim Henson |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring |
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| Theme music composer |
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| Opening theme | "The Muppet Show Theme" |
| Ending theme | "The Muppet Show Theme" (instrumental) |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 120(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Production locations | ATV Elstree,Borehamwood, England, UK |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 22–26 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | 5 September 1976 (1976-09-05)[1] – 15 March 1981 (1981-03-15) |
| Related | |
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The Muppet Show is avarietysketch comedyfamily television series created byJim Henson and starringthe Muppets. It is presented as a variety show, featuring recurring sketches and musical numbers interspersed with ongoing plot-lines with running gags taking place backstage and in other areas of the venue.
The Muppet Show is known for its uniquely designed characters,burlesque nature,slapstick, sometimesabsurdist andsurreal humour, andparodies.[2] Within its context,Kermit the Frog (performed by Henson) acts asshowrunner and host, who tries to maintain control of the overwhelming antics of the other Muppet characters as well as appease the rotating slate ofguest stars.[3] AsThe Muppet Show became popular, many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in subsequent films.
Henson produced twopilot episodes forABC in 1974 and 1975, but neither went forward as a series. While other networks in the United States rejected Henson's proposals, British producerLew Grade expressed enthusiasm for the project and agreed to co-produceThe Muppet Show forATV, part of the UKITV network.The Muppet Show was produced byITC Entertainment andHenson Associates with programmes produced and recorded at theATV Elstree Studios inBorehamwood,Hertfordshire.
The series was premiered in the UK on 5 September 1976 and ended on 23 May 1981. Five seasons, totalling 120 episodes, were broadcast on ATV and other ITV franchises in the UK and infirst-run syndication in the United States from 1976 to 1981.
The cast of performers over the course of the series included Henson,Frank Oz (credited as featured performer as well ascreative consultant),Jerry Nelson,Richard Hunt,Dave Goelz,Steve Whitmire,Fran Brill,Eren Özker,Louise Gold,Kathryn Mullen,Karen Prell,Brian Muehl,Bob Payne,John Lovelady,Jane Henson,Peter Friedman, Betsy Baytos, and dancer Graham Fletcher. Many of the performers also worked onSesame Street, whose characters made sporadic appearances onThe Muppet Show.Jack Burns served as the head writer for the first season, beforeJerry Juhl became the head writer from the second season. The music was performed by ATV's musical directorJack Parnell and his orchestra.
The rights to the series have been owned bythe Muppets Studio (a division of the Walt Disney Company) since they were acquired fromthe Jim Henson Company in 2004.
Since its debut in 1969,Sesame Street had given Jim Henson's Muppet characters exposure. However, he began to perceive that he was becoming typecast as a children's entertainer. Subsequently, he began to conceive a programme for a more adult audience. Twotelevision specials,The Muppets Valentine Show (1974) andThe Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (1975), were produced forABC and are considered pilots forThe Muppet Show. Neither of them were ordered to series. However, theprime-time access rule was recently enacted, moving the 7:30 to 8 pmET slot from the networks to their affiliates.CBS became interested in Henson's series proposals and expressed intent to broadcast it weekly on itsowned and operated stations. According to Henson's pitch reel,George Schlatter was originally involved.
Lew Grade, the proprietor of the British commercial station ATV, was familiar with puppet television programmes, having underwritten the various works ofGerry Anderson, while also producing two specials with Henson:Julie on Sesame Street and a special onHerb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. Grade offered Henson a deal that resulted in the latter's programme being produced at theATV Elstree Studios. ATV, as part of theITV network, would broadcast the programme to other ITV stations in the United Kingdom, and its distribution arm,ITC Entertainment, would handle international broadcasts. Henson set aside his misgivings aboutsyndication and accepted.[4]
Meanwhile, Henson's Muppets were featured inThe Land of Gorch skits during the first (1975–76) season of the American comedy television programmeSaturday Night Live. Although they lasted for only that one season onSaturday Night Live because of conflicts with that show's writers and producers, Henson and his team learned a great deal from being involved with the production. They gained institutional knowledge about adapting and quickly creating a television programme within a seven-day period. Henson also gained valuable friendships with multiple celebrities through his work onSaturday Night Live. Henson and his team were later able to use these skills and relationships onThe Muppet Show.[5]
The Muppet Show was first aired in September 1976 in the UK and by December the series had around 14 million viewers tuning in on Sunday evenings. In January 1977, over 100 countries had either acquired the series or were making offers, which had resulted in over £6 million in overseas sales and by its third season in 1978 it had a weekly worldwide audience of 235 million.[6][7]
"The Muppet Show Theme" (written by Henson andSam Pottle in 1976[8]) is the show's theme song. While the opening sequence changed from season to season, the overall concept remained the same. Each episode began with "The Muppet Show" logo on a title card. The centre of the "O" then opened to reveal host Kermit the Frog, who announced, "It'sThe Muppet Show, with our very special guest star, [name of guest star]!" usually cheering afterwards.
During the first season, the theme song contained a joke fromFozzie Bear and featured Kermit introducing the guest star ("To introduce our guest star, that's what I'm here to do, so it really makes me happy to introduce to you..."). At the song's end,Gonzo the Great appeared in front of the "Muppet Show" banner, attempting to play the "O" in "Show" like a gong, with various comical results.
From the second to fourth seasons, the joke and Kermit's introduction were replaced by a short quip fromStatler and Waldorf, then a shot of the audience singing "Why don't they get things started?" The fifth season version had an extra verse from the hecklers ("Why do we always come here? I guess we'll never know. It's like a kind of torture to have to watch the show!"). At the end of the song, Gonzo appeared inside the "O" in "Show" to play the final note on a trumpet; again, with various comical results.
Each episode ended with an extended instrumental performance of "The Muppet Show Theme" by the Muppet orchestra beforeStatler and Waldorf gave the last laugh of the night, followed byZoot playing an off-key final note on his saxophone. Some last-laugh sequences had other Muppets on the balcony. For example, in one episode, the Muppets ofSesame Street appeared behind Statler and Waldorf, who told them, "How should we know how to get toSesame Street? We don't even know how to get out of this stupid theatre box!"
Every season, the TV version of the song was presented with re-worked lyrics. While the opening sequence evolved visually over the show's five seasons, the musical composition remained essentially the same. Over the years, the song has become a staple of the Muppets franchise as a whole.
The Muppet Theater is the setting forThe Muppet Show, a grand oldvaudeville house that has seen better days. In episode 106, Kermit identifies the name of the theatre as The Benny Vandergast Memorial Theater, although other episodes merely identify it as "the Muppet Theater". It is also identified as simply "Muppet Theater" inIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. It is then that the theatre becomes registered as a historical landmark, and it cannot be shut down. In the film, the theatre is shown to be in New York City.
According toThe Phantom of the Muppet Theater,[9] the theatre was built by a stage actor named John Stone in 1802. At some point, a production ofHamlet ran in the theatre, with Stone playing the title role. An alternative exterior is also shown in the book.
Locations seen in the Muppet Theater includebackstage right (which includes Kermit's desk), the dressing rooms, the attic (seen in four compilation videos released in 1985), the canteen, the prop room, the stage, Statler and Waldorf's box, the auditorium, reception, the recording studio, the stage door lobby, the boiler room and the back alley. Some of these sets were later re-used as the Happiness Hotel inThe Great Muppet Caper. A replica of the theatre is used as the setting for theMuppet*Vision 3D attraction atDisney's Hollywood Studios.
Scooter's uncle J.P. Grosse owns the theatre and rents it to the Muppets. In a deleted scene fromIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Kermit reveals that J.P. has died and left the theatre to the Muppets in his will. This would have taken place some time after 1996, as J.P. can be seen (and referred to as such by the head of the KMUP network) in episode 107 ofMuppets Tonight, the 1990s reworking ofThe Muppet Show.[10]
In the filmThe Muppets, a badly deteriorated version of the Muppet Theater is located next to Muppet Studios in Los Angeles. The Muppets reunite in hopes of raising enough money to buy the theatre from the oil magnate Tex Richman before he can demolish it and start drilling for oil on the site.
Many of the characters who appeared onThe Muppet Show have appeared in previous and subsequent Muppet productions.
No guest star ever appeared twice onThe Muppet Show, althoughJohn Denver appeared both on the show and in two specials (John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together andJohn Denver & the Muppets: Rocky Mountain Holiday), whileDudley Moore reappeared in the specialThe Muppets Go to the Movies. Additionally, several guest stars from the series had cameos in the first three Muppet theatrical films, and the season four guestAlan Arkin had a cameo inThe Muppets. Originally, the producers had to call on their personal contacts to appeal to them to appear, especially considering that doing so required an overseas trip to Britain. However, the situation changed when the ballet dancerRudolf Nureyev offered to appear; his performance on this unusual TV programme produced so much favourable publicity that the series became one of the most sought after for various celebrities to appear in.[11]
Many episodes featured actors, such asGilda Radner,Steve Martin,Harvey Korman,Sylvester Stallone,Julie Andrews,Carol Burnett,Liza Minnelli,Christopher Reeve,Raquel Welch,Joel Grey andDom DeLuise; some had veteran performers likeEthel Merman,Bob Hope,Danny Kaye,Don Knotts,Liberace,Peter Ustinov,James Coburn,Lena Horne,Zero Mostel andVincent Price, and others had well-known pop singers, includingElton John,Diana Ross,Harry Belafonte,Kenny Rogers,Linda Ronstadt,Alice Cooper,Paul Simon,Helen Reddy,Twiggy,Debbie Harry,Buddy Rich, andLeo Sayer. Sayer's show used his hit song "The Show Must Go On" with slightly changed lyrics in the second verse, from "I wish I could tear down the walls of this theatre" to "I wish I could tear down the walls of this Muppet Theatre". Some guest stars, such as theMonty Python starJohn Cleese, co-wrote much of their own episodes.[12] The second-to-last episode, in 1981, had the then-James Bond actorRoger Moore, while the final episode to be taped guest-starred the actor and dancerGene Kelly.Mark Hamill appeared in one episode as both himself andLuke Skywalker, his role in theStar Wars film series. Two of Henson's childhood idols,Edgar Bergen andMilton Berle, also guest-starred during the second season.
In 1977,Rita Moreno won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for her appearance. The next year,Peter Sellers — who chose not to appear as himself, instead appearing in a variety of characters — andBernadette Peters earned nominations for the same award.[13] One episode had the staff writerChris Langham (who wrote some episodes of this show, starting in the third season) guest-starring whenRichard Pryor was unable to make the taping of the episode at the last minute.
An early tradition was to present the guest star with a Muppet likeness of themselves as a parting gift at the end of the show, but this only lasted for the first two episodes produced, withConnie Stevens andJuliet Prowse. The high cost and effort of creating these unique Muppets, scheduling conflicts, and potential legal issues contributed to the decline of this practice, although Muppet caricatures and parodies continued to appear. The practice did, however, take place for actorsMichael Caine andTim Curry, who were the lead performers inThe Muppet Christmas Carol andMuppet Treasure Island, respectively.
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The Muppet Show ran for five seasons, with minor alterations taking place each season.
| Singles
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The Muppet Show was nominated for nineBAFTA Awards during its run, winning three.[17] It was nominated for 21Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four, including the 1978 award forOutstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series.[18] It was presented with aPeabody Award in 1978.[19] Also in 1978, the show received the Television Award of Merit from the Mary Washington Colonial Chapter of the National Society of theDaughters of the American Revolution.[20]
The series also won the top Variety Prize in the Golden Rose of Montreux international Contest in May 1977.[21]
| Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Episode | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Outstanding Comedy – Variety or Music Series | The Muppet Show | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Jim Henson,Jerry Juhl,Jack Burns, Marc London, | "Paul Williams" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music | Rita Moreno | "Rita Moreno" | Won | |
| 1978 | Outstanding Comedy – Variety or Music Series | The Muppet Show | Won | |
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Peter Harris | "Elton John" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Jim Henson,Jerry Juhl, Don Hinkley, & Joseph A. Bailey | "Dom DeLuise" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music | Peter Sellers | "Peter Sellers" | Nominated | |
| Bernadette Peters | "Bernadette Peters" | Nominated | ||
| 1979 | Outstanding Comedy – Variety or Music Series | The Muppet Show | Nominated | |
| 1980 | Outstanding Comedy – Variety or Music Series | The Muppet Show | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Peter Harris | "Liza Minnelli" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Jim Henson,Jerry Juhl, Don Hinkley, & David Odell | "Alan Arkin" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series | John Hawkins | "Liza Minnelli" | Won | |
| Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program | Malcolm Stone | "Beverly Sills" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Costume Design for a Series | Calista Hendrickson | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Individual Achievement – Creative Technical Crafts | Leslee Asch, Edward G. Christie, Barbara S. Davis, Faz Fazakas, Nomi Frederick, Michael K. Frith, Amy Van Gilder, Dave Goelz,Marianne Harms, Larry Jameson, Mari Kaestle, Rollin Krewson, Tim Miller, Bob Payne, Jan Rosenthal, Don Sahlin,Caroly Wilcox | "Alan Arkin" | Nominated | |
| Edward G. Christie, Barbara S. Davis, Faz Fazakas, Nomi Frederick, Michael K. Frith, Amy Van Gilder, Dave Goelz, Larry Jameson, Mari Kaestle, Rollin Krewson, Tim Miller, Bob Payne, Jan Rosenthal, Don Sahlin, Caroly Wilcox | "Kenny Rogers" | Nominated | ||
| 1981 | Outstanding Comedy – Variety or Music Series | The Muppet Show | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Jerry Juhl,David Odell,Chris Langham | "Carol Burnett" | Won | |
| Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series | John Hawkins | "Brooke Shields" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program | Malcolm Stone | Nominated |
| Year | Association | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA) | Best Light Entertainment Programme | The Muppet Show | Won |
| 'Harlequin (Drama/Light Entertainment) | The Muppet Show | Nominated | ||
| 1978 | Most Original Programme/Series | Jim Henson | Won | |
| Best Light Entertainment Programme/Series | Jim Henson | Nominated | ||
| Best VTR Editor | John Hawkins & Tim Waddell | Nominated | ||
| Best Design | David Chandler & Bryan Holgate | Nominated | ||
| 1979 | Best Light Entertainment Programme/Series | Jim Henson | Nominated | |
| Best VTR Editor | John Hawkins | Won | ||
| 1980 | Best Light Entertainment Programme/Series | Jim Henson | Nominated | |
| 1979 | Grammy Awards | Best Recording for Children | Jim Henson | Won |
| Peabody Awards | Henson Associates | Won | ||
| Golden Camera | Best Entertainment Show | Jim Henson | Won | |
| 1977 | Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival | Golden Rose | Won | |
| 1981 | Young Artist Awards | Best TV Series for Family Entertainment | Nominated |
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In 1985,Playhouse Video released a collection of video compilations under theJim Henson's Muppet Video banner. Ten videos were released, featuring original linking material in addition to clips from the show.
Videos included:
In 1993, Jim Henson Video released two compilations under theIt's the Muppets banner,Meet the Muppets andMore Muppets, Please! Later, three volumes ofThe Very Best of The Muppet Show were released on VHS and DVD in the UK (volume 3 was a release of full episodes as opposed to compilations). Unlike the Playhouse Video releases,It's the Muppets andThe Very Best of The Muppet Show did not include any original footage or guest star clips, but all compilation collections did include material cut from the original US broadcasts.
In 1994,Buena Vista Home Video under theJim Henson Video imprint releasedThe Muppet Show: Monster Laughs with Vincent Price, featuring the episodes with Vincent Price and Alice Cooper. Both episodes were edited. In addition to replacing the first series opening and the ending logos with Zoot, the Vincent Price episode was edited to remove the songs "I'm Looking Through You" and "You've Got a Friend" (the latter of which would be cut again when released on the first series DVD) as well as a sketch with the Talking Houses, while the Alice Cooper episode removedRobin the Frog's performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
Time-Life andJim Henson Home Entertainment began marketing "best of" volumes ofThe Muppet Show for mail-order in 2000, with six initial volumes with three episodes on each VHS and DVD. Unique to each episode was an introduction by Jim Henson's son, Brian. Nine more volumes were added for 2001, the series' 25th anniversary. The collection was available for retail in 2002 viaColumbia TriStar Home Entertainment and Jim Henson Home Entertainment by which time Time-Life had released its tenth volume.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment released the first three seasons on DVD between 2005 and 2008. The rights to the episodes and characters used inThe Muppet Show, and subsequent film outings, were bought in February 2004 byThe Walt Disney Company.
Several songs were cut from the series 1 DVD release due to music licensing issues. There have also been some cuts in the intro sequence, and backstage scenes leading up to these songs. However, episodes that used Disney music remained unaltered (for example, episode 14 of series 1 used "Never Smile at a Crocodile" fromPeter Pan).
The only uncut release of Season 1 on DVD so far is the German DVD release byBuena Vista Home Entertainment Germany in 2010 (which also contains English audio). However, the intro and end credit sequences on this release are in German. Also, thePaul Williams episode is missing a scene following "All of Me" wherein Fozzie and Scooter first discuss the "Old Telephone Pole bit". This scene does appear (albeit slightly abridged) in the international release. The German version also lacks the song "In My Life" performed byTwiggy, instead replacing it with a performance of "Lean on Me" by German singerMary Roos.[22]
| DVD name | Ep # | Release date | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season One (1976–1977) | 24 | 9 August 2005 |
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| Season Two (1977–1978) | 24 | 7 August 2007 |
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| Season Three (1978–1979) | 24 | 20 May 2008 |
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The Muppet Show was released for streaming onDisney+ on 19 February 2021.[23] However, two episodes featuring guestsBrooke Shields andChris Langham are omitted from the streaming service. In several European countries, the episode withJohn Denver is omitted as well.[24] Acontent advisory was attached to several episodes describing "negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures".[25]
During the 2001 MuppetFest celebration,The Muppet Show Live was staged at the Hollywood Palace inHollywood, Los Angeles on 9 December 2001. The performance featured Steve Whitmire, Brian Henson,Bill Barretta,Kevin Clash,John Kennedy,John Henson, andJulianne Buescher.
Additional puppeteers includingAllan Trautman,Bruce Lanoil,Drew Massey,Karen Prell andMike Quinn.
On 17 September 2025, Disney announced that an untitled "eventspecial" forThe Muppet Show was being produced forDisney+, to premiere in 2026 to coincide with the show's 50th anniversary. The special is described as "Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and the gang as they return to the Muppet Theatre to produce a variety show." The special will star Muppet performersBill Barretta,Dave Goelz,Eric Jacobson,Peter Linz,David Rudman andMatt Vogel performing the majority of the Muppet characters, alongside a supporting cast of additional performers; Goelz reprises the same character roles he originated during the show's original 1976–1981 run. The special will be directed byAlex Timbers and feature special guest starSabrina Carpenter, who is also credited as an executive producer alongsideSeth Rogen,Evan Goldberg, Vogel, Jacobson, David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter, Michael Steinbach, Albertina Rizzo, James Weaver and Alex McAtee.[26]
The special will be co-produced by20th Television,Disney Branded Television,The Muppets Studio, andPoint Grey Pictures.[27]
