The Muppet Show was a
television programA television program , television programme , or television show is a segment of content broadcast on television...
featuring a cast of
MuppetsThe Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson. Individually, a Muppet is one of the puppets made by Jim Henson or his company's workshop...
, which was produced by
Jim HensonJames Maury "Jim" Henson , was one of the most widely known puppeteers in American history. He was the creator of The Muppets...
and his team from
Sesame StreetSesame Street is an American educational children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. Sesame Street is well known for its Muppets characters created by Jim Henson. It premiered on November 10, 1969, and...
. The show stars
Kermit the FrogKermit the Frog is one of puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creations, first introduced in 1955. Kermit was performed by Henson until his death in 1990. Since then he has been performed by Steve Whitmire. He was voiced by Frank Welker in Muppet Babies and occasionally in animation...
as a showrunner who tries to keep control of the antics of the other Muppet characters (and his temper), as well as keep the human guest stars happy and secure. The television show depicts a
vaudevilleVaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
- or
music hallMusic hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
-style song-and-dance
variety showA variety show or variety entertainment is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and comedy skits, and normally introduced by a compère or host. The variety format made its way from Victorian era stage to radio to television...
, as well as the behind-the-scenes aspects of such a show.
The show was known for outrageous physical (
slapstickSlapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence or activities which exceed the boundaries of common sense and sometimes includes ironic situations, such as a character being hit in the face with a heavy frying pan or running into a brick wall, or going mad while searching for...
), sometimes
absurdistAbsurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe ultimately fail , because no such meaning exists, at least in relation to the individual...
comedy, and particularly for using its puppet characters to create humorous
parodiesA parody , in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
. Each show also featured a human guest star; after the show became popular, many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in film. By the end of its run,
over one hundred guest stars had appeared on
The Muppet Show.
Muppet performers over the course of the show include Henson,
Frank OzFrank Oz is a British-born American film director, actor and puppeteer.-Early life:Oz was born in Hereford, England, the son of Frances and Isidore Oznowicz, both of whom were puppeteers. His parents were refugees from the Holocaust who moved to England after fighting the Nazis with the Dutch...
,
Jerry NelsonJerry Nelson is a Muppet puppeteer who was raised in Washington, D.C., known for his wide range of characters, singing abilities, and his frequent partnership with Richard Hunt.-Early years:...
,
Richard HuntRichard Hunt was an American puppeteer.-Career:Born in the Bronx, New York City, Hunt grew up in Closter, New Jersey. He was best known for his association with The Muppets. He was frequently partnered with Jerry Nelson. His Muppet characters included Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Statler, Wayne, and...
,
Dave GoelzDave Goelz is a puppeteer best-known for his association with The Muppets, and in particular with the Muppet character Gonzo....
,
Steve WhitmireSteve Whitmire is a puppeteer with The Jim Henson Company and Sesame Workshop. He has been the performer of two signature Muppets - Kermit the Frog and Sesame Street's Ernie - since the passing of their creator, Jim Henson, in 1990. Characters original to Whitmire include Rizzo the Rat, Lips...
,
Louise GoldLouise Gold is a British singer, actress and puppeteer.She was a puppeteer for The Muppet Show, Sesame Street and various other Muppet films and specials, and for the satiric television show Spitting Image from 1984...
, Kathy Mullen,
Eren OzkerEren Ozker was an American Puppeteer. She was one of the original performers during the first season of Jim Henson's popular television series, The Muppet Show....
, and
John LoveladyJohn Lovelady is a right-handed puppeteer who worked with the Muppets, including on Sesame Street. He stopped working with the Muppets when The Muppet Show Season 1 ended but later joined the syndicated children's series The Great Space Coaster and also performed in a serialisation of Alice's...
.
Jerry JuhlJerry Juhl was a television and movie writer best known for his work with Jim Henson's Muppets. He was born in St...
and
Jack BurnsJack Burns is an American comedian and voice actor.-Biography:In 1959, he began his career as a comedy team with George Carlin when both were working for radio station KXOL in Fort Worth, Texas...
were two of the show writers.
History
Since
1969The year 1969 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1969.For the American TV schedule, see: 1969-70 American network television schedule.-Events:...
,
Sesame StreetSesame Street is an American educational children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. Sesame Street is well known for its Muppets characters created by Jim Henson. It premiered on November 10, 1969, and...
had given Jim Henson's creations exposure; however, Henson began to perceive that he was pigeonholed as a children's entertainer. He sought to create a program that could be enjoyed by young and old. Two specials were produced and aired that are considered pilots for
The Muppet Show. Neither led to the sale of a prime-time network series. However, the prime-time access rule had just been enacted, which took the 7:30 to 8pm
ETThe Eastern Time Zone of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America. Its time offset is −5 hrs GMT or UTC−5 during standard time and UTC−4 during daylight saving time...
slot from the networks and turned it over to their affiliates.
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
suggested it would be interested in Henson's proposal as a syndicated series it could purchase for its owned-and-operated stations, to run one night a week in that time slot.
Lew GradeLew Grade, Baron Grade , born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Ukraine-born English impresario and media mogul.-Early years:...
, head of the British commercial station
ATVAssociated TeleVision, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licenses to broadcast on the ITV network from September 24, 1955 until December 31, 1981.-Formation:...
, offered a deal to Henson that would see his show produced at the ATV studios in
ElstreeHistorically, the name "Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England....
, England. ATV would network the show to other
ITVITV is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK...
stations in the United Kingdom, and its distribution arm,
ITC EntertainmentThe Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution...
, would sell the show in the United States and around the world. Henson put aside his misgivings about syndication and accepted.
At first, signing guests was a challenge and producers had to call on their personal contacts. The breakthrough was the appearance of the
balletBallet is a formalized type of performance dance, which originated in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century French courts, and which was further developed in England, Italy, and Russia as a concert dance form...
dancer,
Rudolf NureyevRudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Tatar dancer from the Soviet Union, primarily known for his work in ballet. He defected despite KGB efforts...
. His appearance on such an unusual show generated such positive publicity that the series became one of the sought-after productions to appear in.
The Muppet Show premiered in
1976The year 1976 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1976.-Global television events:*The Olympics, broadcast from Montreal, Canada, draw an estimated one billion viewers worldwide....
and finally, after five years and 120 episodes, it went off the air in
1981The year 1981 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1981.For the American TV schedule, see: 1981-82 American network television schedule.-Events:...
because of Henson's desire to move on to other projects and changes in the structure of ATV and ITC Entertainment.
List of Muppet Show characters
- Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is one of puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creations, first introduced in 1955. Kermit was performed by Henson until his death in 1990. Since then he has been performed by Steve Whitmire. He was voiced by Frank Welker in Muppet Babies and occasionally in animation...
, director and host of the Muppet Show. Performed by Jim Henson.
- Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing her, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
, a glamorous diva pig in dual pursuit of stardom and Kermit. In the first season, her puppeteering duties were shared between Frank Oz and Richard Hunt. Starting with the second season, Oz took over the character full-time.
- Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear is a Muppet, originally created by Jim Henson. He is an orange, particularly fuzzy bear who tells jokes and has a catch phrase, "Wocka Wocka Wocka". Shortly after telling the joke, he is constantly the target of rotten tomatoes and ridicule, especially from hecklers Statler and...
, a dubiously talented but irrepressible stand-up comic bear, and Kermit's unofficial second-in-command. Performed by Frank Oz.
- Scooter
Scooter is a bespectacled character from The Muppet Show who was the troupe's backstage "gofer". He was originally performed by Richard Hunt.-Characteristics:...
, the goferA gofer or go-fer is an employee who is often sent on errands.The term originated in North America, with the phrase dogsbody being a similar British term, and dog robber an American military one...
whose uncle owns the theatre. Performed by Richard Hunt.
- Gonzo, also known as The Great Gonzo or Gonzo the Great, stuntman, daredevil, performance artist and "The Muppet Show's Resident Weird Person". Performed by Dave Goelz. His species is unknown, but appears to be some kind of bird. He usually refers to himself as a "whatever". Miss Piggy calls him a "Blue weirdo".
- In the intro, he would usually try open the show by:
- In season 1, Gonzo would try to smash a drumstick into the "O" in "The Muppet Show". It would not end well.
- In season 2 on, Gonzo would end up in the "O" and try to play a bugle, but that wouldn't work either.
- The Swedish Chef
The Swedish Chef is a Muppet that appeared on The Muppet Show. He was operated by Jim Henson and Frank Oz simultaneously and is now puppeteered by Bill Barretta.-Character:...
, a cook with peculiar culinary habits who speaks a Scandinavian-sounding gibberishGibberish is a generic term in English for talking that sounds like speech, but carries no actual meaning. This meaning has also been extended to meaningless text or gobbledygook. The common theme in gibberish statements is a lack of literal sense, which can be described as a presence of nonsense...
called "mock Swedish". Performed by Jim Henson with the hands of Frank Oz.
- Rowlf the Dog
Rowlf the Dog is a Muppet character, a scruffy brown dog of indeterminate breed with a rounded black nose and long floppy ears. He was created by Jim Henson....
, the show's resident wisecracking piano player. Performed by Jim Henson.
- Dr Bunsen Honeydew, head of Muppet Labs, a scientist and inventor. Performed by Dave Goelz.
- Beaker
Beaker is a Muppet character from The Muppet Show. He is the shy long-suffering assistant of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, and is likewise named for a piece of laboratory equipment. Before the second season of The Muppet Show, Bunsen Honeydew worked alone on The Muppet Show. In the second season and beyond,...
, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's hapless guinea pig / assistant. Performed by Richard Hunt.
- Camilla
Camilla is the female chicken that is Gonzo's love interest on The Muppet Show. This chicken with hay fever is performed by veteran Muppet performer, Jerry Nelson, and is seen frequently on The Muppet Show, but also makes appearances on the various full-length Muppet movies such as The Muppets Take...
, a chicken and GonzoGonzo is a puppet character, one of Jim Henson's Muppets. He was developed and performed by Dave Goelz. The character made his first appearance in a 1970 Christmas special entitled "The Great Santa Claus Switch". Known as a "Whatever" , he is considered one of The Frackles...
's true love. Usually performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Sam the (American Bald) Eagle
Sam “Samuel” the Eagle is a character from the syndicated television show The Muppet Show, performed by Frank Oz. The name "Sam" is probably derived from Uncle Sam. The Bald Eagle is the official symbol of the United States, and Sam's patriotic spirit differentiates himself from the rest of the...
, American super-patriot and self-appointed censor of the Muppet Show. Performed by Frank Oz.
- Dr. Teeth, ultra-hip band leader, and keyboard player for Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem was the name of the Muppet rock band and house band of the The Muppet Show. Following The Muppet Show, they appeared in various Muppet movies and television specials, and have also recorded album tracks. Dr. Teeth was designed by Jim Henson, while the rest of the...
. Performed by Jim Henson.
- Sgt. Floyd Pepper, bass guitarist and all around hip person of Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem was the name of the Muppet rock band and house band of the The Muppet Show. Following The Muppet Show, they appeared in various Muppet movies and television specials, and have also recorded album tracks. Dr. Teeth was designed by Jim Henson, while the rest of the...
. Performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Janice, the Band's hippie-chick lead guitarist (and Floyd's main squeeze). Performed by Eren Ozker in the first season and Richard Hunt for the remainder of the run.
- Animal
Animal is a fictional character from The Muppet Show, one of the Muppets originally created by Michael K. Frith.-Character:He is the crazed drummer of Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem...
, the Band's savage, frenzied drummer. Performed by Frank Oz. Drumming performed by Ronnie VerrellRonald 'Ronnie' Thomas Verrell was an English jazz drummer. He played two of England's most famous big bands, The Ted Heath Orchestra and The Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Verrell also worked extensively in television and film, among other as a drummer in Jack Parnell's ATV Orchestra and Sunday Night at...
.
- Zoot, the sleepy saxophone player in the Electric Mayhem and the Muppet Show's orchestra. Performed by Dave Goelz.
- Lips, trumpet player for the "Mayhem" added in the fifth season. Performed by Steve Whitmire.
- Lew Zealand
Lew Zealand is a Muppet character, performed by Jerry Nelson, that has an obsession for throwing fish. His thrown fish are unique in that they return to him once thrown. In the 1984 movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan, he appears at Scooter's job at a theater in Cleavland, OH...
, boomerang fish thrower and generally fish-obsessed performer. Performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Statler & Waldorf
Statler and Waldorf are a pair of Muppet characters. They are two ornery, disagreeable old men who first appeared in the television series The Muppet Show heckling the rest of the cast from their balcony seats. They appeared in every episode of the show...
, two old men who occupy the box seat at every show and heckleA heckler is a person who shouts a disparaging comment at a performance or event, or interrupting set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting, with intent to disturb its performers or participants.-Origin:...
the performances. They love to give Fozzie BearFozzie Bear is a Muppet, originally created by Jim Henson. He is an orange, particularly fuzzy bear who tells jokes and has a catch phrase, "Wocka Wocka Wocka". Shortly after telling the joke, he is constantly the target of rotten tomatoes and ridicule, especially from hecklers Statler and...
a particularly bad time. A running gag had them giving - or suffering - the last joke at the end of the closing credits. Statler was performed by Richard Hunt, Waldorf by Jim Henson.
- Rizzo the Rat
Rizzo the Rat is a Muppet, performed by Steve Whitmire. Rizzo first appeared in episode 418 of The Muppet Show, as one of a group of rats following Christopher Reeve around backstage. He can be seen mugging and reacting to practically every line of dialogue. He remained a scene-stealing background...
, a sarcastic inner-city rodent. A fairly major character in the fourth and fifth season. Performed by Steve Whitmire.
- Annie Sue
Annie Sue Pig is a puppet character on The Muppet Show. Annie Sue first appeared in the background during the second season, where she appeared in a group of hip Muppets. At the time, she had a pink wig instead of the yellow curls that she later wore...
, a young pig, Miss Piggy's innocent rival. Performed by Louise Gold.
- The Muppet Newsman
The Newsman is the weary, bespectacled Muppet News Flash anchor on The Muppet Show, debuting in the second episode. The Newsman always tried to deliver the news with accuracy, but was visibly perplexed on camera by the day's latest bizarre story or interview...
, an energetic reporter that always had bad luck. Performed by Jim Henson.
- Foo-Foo
For other uses, see Foo-foo.Foo-Foo is a fictional dog in The Muppet Show. He is a white poodle owned by Muppet diva Miss Piggy. She is very tender towards him, even to the point of sickly saccharine baby talk. In the first episode of Muppets Tonight, Piggy gets jealous of Michelle Pfeiffer and...
, Miss Piggy's dog. Usually performed by Steve Whitmire or a real dog.
- Sweetums
Sweetums is a large, hairy Muppet. His bulldog-like lower jaw, thick eyebrows, shabby brown shirt, and threatening expression belie his genial nature....
, a 7-foot-tall monster. Performed by Richard Hunt.
- Link Hogthrob
Link Hogthrob was a fictional character, a Muppet pig on The Muppet Show. The character was that of a stereotypical leading man, with wavy blond hair, a manly cleft chin, and a high opinion of himself, but not much between the ears...
, a hunky but dim-witted pig, star of "Pigs in Space", Captain of the USS Swinetrek. Also stars in "Bear On Patrol". Performed by Jim Henson.
- Dr. Julius Strangepork
Dr. Julius Strangepork was a character on The Muppet Show. He was a Muppet pig, who most often appeared with Miss Piggy and Link Hogthrob in the recurring Pigs in Space skit, in which he was the science officer on the USS Swinetrek. He wore wire-rim glasses and sported wide, bushy grey...
, the science officer in "Pigs in Space". Performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Beauregard
Beauregard is a Muppet from The Muppet Show. He is a back-stage janitor. He tries to be helpful, but his dimwitted efforts frequently result in disaster. He first appeared in Episode 310 of The Muppet Show. His slow wit is often preyed upon by other characters who use him to their own purposes...
, the dimwitted janitor and stagehand. Performed by Dave Goelz.
- Crazy Harry
Crazy Harry was a Muppet with an explosives fixation, who appeared in The Muppet Show and was performed by Jerry Nelson. He had scruffy hair, an uncombed beard and huge baggy eyes. Early in season one, he played triangle with the pit band. He usually carried a plunger box which would activate a...
, a pyrotechnician and bomb expert who enjoys blowing things up far too much. Performed in the first season by John LoveladyJohn Lovelady is a right-handed puppeteer who worked with the Muppets, including on Sesame Street. He stopped working with the Muppets when The Muppet Show Season 1 ended but later joined the syndicated children's series The Great Space Coaster and also performed in a serialisation of Alice's...
, then taken over by Jerry Nelson.
- Robin, Kermit's small nephew. Performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Uncle Deadly
Uncle Deadly is a blue, dragon-like monster also known as the Phantom of The Muppet Show.Although he made his first appearance alongside Vincent Price on episode 119 of The Muppet Show, Uncle Deadly did not receive his proper introduction until episode 121...
, also called "the Phantom of the Muppet Show", a sinister character who lurks around the theatre and appears occasionally on the show. Performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Pops
Pops is an elderly doorkeeper at the Muppet Theater. He would greet the week's guest star in every episode of Season 5 of The Muppet Show. He also had a major part as the innkeeper of the Happiness Hotel in The Great Muppet Caper. Since then, he has only made a couple of cameo appearances.Pops is...
, the elderly doorman. Performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Marvin Suggs
Marvin Suggs is a puppet musician in the world of Jim Henson's The Muppets, voiced by Frank Oz.Marvin Suggs is a blue "whatnot" Muppet that wears a frilly, multicolored shirt...
, the sadistic, crazed and flamboyant Muppaphonist. Performed by Frank Oz.
- George the Janitor
George the Janitor is a crusty old custodian who would clean up after the Muppets on The Muppet Show. He seems to have no affection for anyone or anything except his trusty mop....
, the crotchety old janitor, seen primarily in the first season and performed by Frank Oz.
- Mildred Huxtetter
Mildred Huxtetter is a character from The Muppet Show and is a purple, beak-nosed woman who carries herself with a haughty, aristocratic air. She is very educated, as evidenced by her many appellations, which include BA, MA, PhD, OBE, and RSVP....
, George's dancing partner, seen primarily in the first season. Usually performed by Frank Oz or Richard Hunt.
Recurring skits
- At the Dance – The sketch was a regular during the first season but was used less frequently from the second season onward. Muppet characters circulated on a semi-formal
In Western clothing, Semi-formal is a grouping of dress codes, indicating the sort of clothes worn to events with a level of formality between informal and formal...
dance floor offering rapid fire one-liner jokeA one-liner is a joke that is delivered in a single line. Many comedians and actors have adopted this comedic method in their act. Some, including Rodney Dangerfield, Bruce Campbell, Steven Wright, Emo Philips, Henny Youngman, Mitch Hedberg, Dan Mintz, Zach Galifianakis, Demetri Martin, Jimmy Carr...
s and come-backs as the couples passed in front of the camerathumb |right|Cameras from Large to Small, Film to Digital A camera is a device that records images, either as a still photograph or as moving images known as videos or movies...
.
- Bear on Patrol – Fozzie is an unlucky police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force. Police officers are generally responsible for apprehending criminals, maintaining public order, and preventing and detecting crimes...
and Link Hogthrob is his incompetent superior who always get into the silliest situations with the criminals brought in. The voice of the announcer was performed by Jerry Nelson.
- Fozzie's Act – Fozzie Bear gets on stage and performs his infamously bad jokes. Statler and Waldorf heckle him, in a perpetual rivalry. The sketches became less frequent as Fozzie's off-stage presence became more prevalent. In one first season episode however, Fozzie turned the tables on his rivals with help from Bruce Forsyth
Bruce Joseph Forsyth Johnson CBE is a British showman and entertainer. He became well-known through the series Sunday Night at the London Palladium, and became a household name in the UK, going on to present television series such as The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right...
, and they waved the white flag in surrender.
- Muppet Labs – Segments featuring the latest invention from Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, with his assistant, Beaker, getting the worst of its inevitable malfunction. The character of Beaker was introduced in the second season; during the first season Bunsen hosted Muppet Labs by himself, but the writers soon realized that another character was necessary to show Bunsen's failings.
- Muppet News Flash – A news announcer (a variation of the Guy Smiley
Guy Smiley was a character on Sesame Street who was dubbed "America's Favorite Game Show Host." His skits are among those on the show that parody commercial media. This nattily attired character is easily excitable and is perpetually shouting, and resembles host Jim Perry...
puppet) gives a newsbrief only to have some disaster befall him (typically the same disaster he was just describing), or another strange scenario (such as the time that he ran on, stated "There is no news tonight.", and ran off). In the first season, the Muppet News Man read out news items that occasionally featured the guest star for that week playing a character that was somehow involved in the item. Muppet News Flashes often used absurdist humor; in one sketch, the announcer stated that the Atlantic Ocean had been kidnapped. Another example is this statement: Reports are coming in from all over the world that Television News Reporters are blowing up. These unlikely rumors are... KA-BOOM! A third example, a cross-over with the Swedish Chef, has the Swedish Chef open and cause a wine bottle "explosion" (if a bottle is shook too much before opening it for the first time, fizz will shoot up and out of the bottle) and flies through the air, classified as a UFO by the news reporter. As the scene goes, he was reported directly above the Muppet News Room and he landed on and crushed the news reporter.
- Pigs in Space – Parody of science fiction shows like Star Trek
Star Trek is a science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that aired from September 8, 1966 to September 2, 1969. Though the original series was titled simply Star Trek, it has acquired the retronym Star Trek: The Original Series to distinguish it from the spinoffs that...
, but also old '30s sci-fiScience fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically-established or scientifically-postulated laws of nature...
serials. The spacecraft is called USS Swinetrek and the title voice-overVoice-over is a production technique where a non-diegetic voice is broadcast live or pre-recorded in radio, television, film, theatre and/or presentation....
is a parody of main Star Trek competitor Lost in SpaceLost in Space is a science fiction television program created and produced by Irwin Allen, produced by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between 1965 and March 6, 1968. The first season was shot with black and white film, the...
. It featured Captain Link Hogthrob, Miss Piggy as first mate, and Dr. Julius Strangepork (the name a takeoff on "Dr. Strangelove"). Usually, the sketches would involve the long-suffering Piggy putting up with the wacko Strangepork and the brain dead Link treating her as an inferior because she is a woman. The sketches also usually featured odd descriptions for all the characters when the sketch was introduced, such as calling Link the flappable captain, Miss Piggy the flirtatious first mate and among other things, referring to Dr. Strangepork as 'describable.' Strangepork usually got the most unusual description out of the three during these introductions, as he was the oddest member of the group. This portion of the introduction was dropped during the third season, and the announcer would simply claim it was 'time for...Piiiiiigs...iiiin...spaaaaaaace!'
- Swedish Chef – Cooking show parody. It consists of the Swedish Chef
The Swedish Chef is a Muppet that appeared on The Muppet Show. He was operated by Jim Henson and Frank Oz simultaneously and is now puppeteered by Bill Barretta.-Character:...
, who speaks mock SwedishSwedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along the coast and on the Åland islands. It is to a considerable extent mutually intelligible with Norwegian and to a lesser extent with Danish...
, semi-comprehensible gibberishGibberish is a generic term in English for talking that sounds like speech, but carries no actual meaning. This meaning has also been extended to meaningless text or gobbledygook. The common theme in gibberish statements is a lack of literal sense, which can be described as a presence of nonsense...
which parodies the characteristic vowel sounds and intonation of Swedish. He attempts to cook a dish with great enthusiasm, until the punch line hits. A hallmark of these sketches was the improvisations between Jim Henson (who performed the Chef's head and voice) and Frank Oz (who was his hands). One would often make something up on the spot, making the other puppeteer comply with the action. Famous gags include "chickie in du baskie (two points!)", meatballs that bounce, chocolate "moose", attempting to cook Kermit's nephew and perhaps most famously, repeatedly adding pepper to a recipe.
- Vend-a-face – A vending machine that offers unique face-changing services – usually agonizing contortions of the Muppets who feed the machine. It was originally intended to be a one-time sketch. However, because the Vend-a-face puppet was so costly to make, it was used multiple times to justify its creation. One sketch that did not deal with mock face lifts was when it claimed to dispense psychological advice, and repeatedly asks Fozzie Bear to deposit another coin. After Fozzie does this several times, Vend-a-Face tells him, "Your problem is: you are too generous".
- Veterinarian's Hospital – Parody of the soap opera General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama and is currently credited by the Guiness Book of World Records as being the second longest-running soap opera in production and the second longest running drama in television in production. It premiered on the ABC television network on April...
and other medical dramas, consisting of Dr. Bob (Rowlf) cracking corny jokes in the operating room with Nurses Piggy and Janice, much to the perplexment of the hapless patient. Each installment ends with Dr. Bob and his nurses looking around in puzzlement as a disembodied narrator tells viewers to tune in next time to the "continuing stooory". On a number of occasions, the "Veterinarian's Hospital" sketch would crossover with the cast or set of another, such as "At the Dance" or "Pigs in Space." The voice of the announcer was usually performed by John Lovelady in the first season, but Jerry Nelson originally performed the role in the Harvey KormanHarvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
and Rita MorenoRita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the first and only Hispanic female and one of ten performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony and at the time the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award.-Early years:Moreno was born Rosita Dolores Alverío in...
episodes (the first two episodes in recording order that had the sketch) before taking over the role permanently from the Phyllis DillerPhyllis Diller is a Golden Globe-nominated American actress and comedienne, considered one of the pioneers of female stand-up comedy. She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically-dressed housewife who makes jokes about a fictional husband named "Fang" while smoking from a long...
episode. In the introduction, Dr. Bob went from "a former orthopedic surgeon" to "a quack" who's "gone to the dogs."
- Wayne and Wanda – Usually introduced by Sam the Eagle (as part of his idea of "good, wholesome entertainment"), Wayne and Wanda – a slapstick tribute to Nelson Eddy
Nelson Ackerman Eddy was an American singer and movie star who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs. A classically trained baritone, he is best remembered for the eight films in which he...
and Jeanette MacDonaldJeanette MacDonald was an American singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier and Nelson Eddy...
– are plagued by bad fortune, somewhat similar to the Newsman suffering through a literal meaning of everything he says. Every song attempted by this duo inevitably ends in disaster. It is considered an accomplishment for them to get to the chorus. After a recurring run in the first season, they disappeared after Wanda's puppeteer, Eren OzkerEren Ozker was an American Puppeteer. She was one of the original performers during the first season of Jim Henson's popular television series, The Muppet Show....
, quit the show. Wayne still appeared occasionally as a background character or as the hero in a series of Melodrama sketches co-starring Miss Piggy and Uncle Deadly, but soon vanished as well. It was eventually revealed that Kermit had fired them, but forgot why he did and decided to rehire them. Unfortunately, seconds after they started to sing, Kermit remembered why he fired them (because they were terrible) and instantly fired them again and forced them off the stage. Wayne and Wanda would reappear in The Muppets Take ManhattanThe Muppets Take Manhattan is the third of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson's Muppets, and the final film before Henson's death. This film was produced by Henson Associates and TriStar Pictures, and originally released in movie theatres in 1984...
as guests at the wedding of Piggy and Kermit, and Wanda was seen participating in a choir.
List of guest stars
No guest star ever appeared twice on
The Muppet Show, although
John DenverJohn Denver was an American country music/folk singer-songwriter and folk rock musician. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the 1970s in terms of record sales, recording and releasing around 300 songs, of which about 200 were composed by him. He was named Poet Laureate of Colorado...
appeared both on the show and in two specials (
John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together and
John Denver & the Muppets: Rocky Mountain Holiday). Additionally, several guest stars from the show had cameos in one of the first three Muppet theatrical films.
One unusual guest star was one of the series writers,
Chris LanghamChristopher Langham is a BAFTA award-winning British writer, actor and comedian. He is most famous for playing MP Hugh Abbot in BBC Four sitcom The Thick of It and as presenter Roy Mallard in People Like Us, first on BBC Radio 4 and later on its transfer to television on BBC Two, where Mallard is...
, who took the place for
Richard PryorRichard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III was an American comedian, actor, and writer. Pryor was known for his unflinching examinations of racism and customs in modern life, and was renowned for his frequent use of colorful, vulgar, and profane language and racial epithets...
when the star was unable to attend taping. The last episode, in 1981, featured then-
James BondJames Bond 007 is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. The character has also been used in the longest running and most financially successful English language film franchise to date, starting in 1962 with Dr...
007 actor
Roger MooreSir Roger George Moore KBE is a English actor and film producer. He is perhaps best known for portraying two British action heroes, Simon Templar in the television series The Saint from 1962 to 1969, and James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
.
A lot of episodes featured people most English viewers had barely heard of at the time, such as
Linda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt is an American popular music vocalist and entertainer. Her many vocal styles in a variety of genres have resonated with the general public over the course of her four-decade career...
, some featured veteran performers like
Ethel MermanEthel Merman was an American actress and singer of the musical theatre. Known for her powerful voice, she was often referred to as "The Grande Dame of the Broadway stage".-Early life:...
and
Rita MorenoRita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the first and only Hispanic female and one of ten performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony and at the time the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award.-Early years:Moreno was born Rosita Dolores Alverío in...
, some featured well-known pop singers, including
Elton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.In his four-decade career, John has sold more than 200 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single, Candle in the Wind 1997, has sold over 37 million copies, becoming the...
and
Leo SayerLeo Sayer is an English-born singer-songwriter and musician whose singing career has spanned four decades. A distinctive singer-songwriter, Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
- the latter featured Leo Sayer singing his hit "The Show Must Go On" - he changed the lyrics in the second verse slightly, 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".
The Muppet Theater
The Muppet Theater is the setting for
The Muppet Show -- a grand old vaudeville house that has seen better days. In episode 106,
KermitKermit the Frog is one of puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creations, first introduced in 1955. Kermit was performed by Henson until his death in 1990. Since then he has been performed by Steve Whitmire. He was voiced by Frank Welker in Muppet Babies and occasionally in animation...
identifies the name of the theater as The Benny Vandergast Memorial Theater, although by the time of
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas MovieIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is an NBC television film produced by Jim Henson Television in 2002, starring Jim Henson's Muppets.- Plot :...
, it is simply called "The Muppet Theater." It is then that the theater becomes registered as a historical landmark.
According to
The Phantom of the Muppet Theater, the theater was built by a stage actor named John Stone in 1802. At some point a production of
HamletThe Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601. The play, set in Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father, the King, and then...
ran in the theater, with Stone playing the title role. An alternate exterior is also shown in the book.
Locations seen in the Muppet Theater include
backstage rightBackstage may refer to:* Backstage , by Cher* Backstage , an Australian drama* Back Stage , a silent film starring Oliver Hardy* Back Stage , a silent film starring Buster Keaton...
, the dressing rooms, the
atticAn attic is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building . As attics fill the space between the ceiling of the top floor of a building and the slanted roof, they are known for being awkwardly shaped spaces with exposed rafters and difficult-to-access corners...
, the canteen, the prop room, the stage, the house, the stage door lobby, and the back alley.
Scooter'sScooter is a bespectacled character from The Muppet Show who was the troupe's backstage "gofer". He was originally performed by Richard Hunt.-Characteristics:...
uncle J.P. Grosse owns the theater, and rents it to
the MuppetsThe Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson. Individually, a Muppet is one of the puppets made by Jim Henson or his company's workshop...
, as Scooter is only too happy to remind Kermit. In a deleted scene from
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Kermit reveals that J.P. has died and left the theater to the Muppets in his will. This would have taken place sometime after 1996, as J.P. can be seen (and referred to as such by the head of the KMUP network) in episode 107 of
Muppets TonightMuppets Tonight is a live-action/puppet television series created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring the Muppets. Much like the "MuppeTelevision" segment of The Jim Henson Hour, Muppets Tonight was a continuation of The Muppet Show, set in a television studio, rather than a theater.-Format:The...
, the 1990s reworking of
The Muppet Show.
Staff
- J.P. Grosse: Theater owner
- Kermit the Frog: Host, performer
- Pops: Doorman
- Scooter: Go-fer
- George the Janitor: Janitor
- Beauregard: Janitor and Stagehand
- Beaker: Assistant stagehand (in addition to being Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's lab assistant)
- Hilda: Wardrobe
- Gladys: Canteen staff
- The Swedish Chef: Canteen staff (in addition to his own cooking segments)
- Fozzie Bear: Stand-up comedian
- Gonzo: Stunt Performer
- Miss Piggy: Performer
- Lew Zealand: Performer
- Wayne and Wanda: Singers
- Doctor Teeth And The Electric Mayhem: House band
- Nigel: Conductor
- The Muppet Orchestra: Pit orchestra
- Security Guard: Security
Syndication
Reruns of
The Muppet Show aired in syndication for many years, eventually reruns aired on
TNTTNT is an American cable TV channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner which also owns Cartoon Network. However, despite the fact that it is a channel, it is seen all across the United States, much like a television...
for 1988 to 1992. From 1994 to 1997, reruns began airing on
NickelodeonNickelodeon is an American cable television channel owned by Viacom. Since the mid-1990s and early 2000s Nickelodoen as a brand has expanded into other territories including Europe, the Middle-East, Russia and Asia.It is often referred to by its shortened name, Nick, a practice that dates back to...
instead. In 1999 the reruns moved to
Odyssey NetworkThe Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. They specialize in re-broadcasting classic syndicated series and television movies that are appropriate for the whole family...
until 2001. Disney Channel UK picked up the series for 2005-2007. After Odyssey Network shut down Henson's half of the channel,
The Muppet Show has been off the air since 2001. Outside the US,
The Muppet Show and MuppeTelevison segments and
Muppets Tonight were all put into an umbrella syndication package called
The Jim Henson HourThe Jim Henson Hour was a short-lived television series that aired on NBC in 1989. It was developed as a showcase for The Jim Henson Company's various puppet creations, including the popular Muppet characters.- Format :...
. In Odyssey Network's reruns, Brian Henson introduces the episodes of the show.
DVD Releases
Time-LifeTime Life is one of the world's creators and direct marketers of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales.Time-Life was founded in...
began marketing 'best of' volumes of
The Muppet Show for mail-order in 2001, with six initial volumes with 3 episodes on each DVD. Unique to each episode was an introduction by Jim Henson's son, Brian. Nine more volumes were added for 2002, the Muppet's 25th anniversary. The collection was available for retail in 2002 via Columbia Pictures Home Video by which time Time-Life had released its tenth volume.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a division of
The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company , often simply known as Disney, is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world, known for its family-friendly products...
, released the first season on
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
in Region 1 on August 9, 2005. The rights to the episodes and characters used in
The Muppet Show, and subsequent film outings, were bought in February 2004 by
The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company , often simply known as Disney, is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world, known for its family-friendly products...
.
Several songs were cut from the Season 1
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
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 Season 1 used "Never Smile at a Crocodile" from
Peter PanPeter Pan is a American animated feature produced by Walt Disney and based on the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie. It is the fourteenth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and was originally released on February 5, 1953 by RKO Pictures...
).
- "Stormy Weather" (Joel Grey
Joel Grey is an American stage and screen actor, singer, and dancer, best known for his role as the "Master of Ceremonies" in both the stage and film adaptation of the Kander & Ebb musical Cabaret...
episode) Sung by Wayne and Wanda;
- "Gone with the Wind" (Jim Nabors
James Thurston "Jim" Nabors is an American actor and singer. Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors moved to Southern California due to his asthma. While working at a Santa Monica nightclub, The Horn, he was discovered by Andy Griffith and consequently joined The Andy Griffith Show, playing...
episode) Sung by Jim Nabors;
- "The Danceros" (Jim Nabors
James Thurston "Jim" Nabors is an American actor and singer. Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors moved to Southern California due to his asthma. While working at a Santa Monica nightclub, The Horn, he was discovered by Andy Griffith and consequently joined The Andy Griffith Show, playing...
episode) Sung by The Danceros;
- "All Of Me" (Paul Williams
Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr. is an American musician, composer, songwriter and actor.-Musical career:Williams is responsible for a number of enduring pop hits from the 1970s, including a number of hits for Three Dog Night , Helen Reddy , and The...
episode) Sung by Two Monsters;
- "Old Fashioned Way" (Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the most well-known singers in the world...
episode) Sung by Charles Aznavour with Mildred;
- "You’ve Got A Friend" (Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price II was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:...
episode) Sung by Vincent Price, Uncle Deadly and a chorus of Muppet Monsters
| DVD Name |
Ep # |
Release Date |
Content |
| Season One |
24 |
August 9 2005 |
- Season 1 (1976–1977) episodes
- The original pilot, "Sax and Violence!"
- The original pitch reel of the show
- Muppet morsels viewing mode with pop-up facts
- Promo gag reel
|
| Season Two |
24 |
August 7 2007 |
Season 2 (1977–1978) episodes
The original pilot, "The Muppet Valentine Special"
The Muppets on the Muppets (interviews)
Weezer Weezer is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1992. Initially, the band consisted of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Matt Sharp , and Jason Cropper . Cropper was later replaced by Brian Bell...
& The Muppets (music video) |
| Season Three |
24 |
May 20 2008 |
Season 3 (1978–1979) episodes
"A Company of Players" (documentary)
"The Muppets on Puppets" (documentary)
Purina Dog Food commercials with Rowlf |
| Season Four |
24 |
TBA 2010 |
Spin-offs
The Muppet Show characters went on to star in
The Muppet MovieThe Muppet Movie is the first of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson's Muppets. Released in 1979, the film was produced by The Jim Henson Company under their second name and ITC Entertainment.-Plot:...
, which was the first film to feature puppets interacting with humans in real-world locations, and later films such as
The Great Muppet CaperThe Great Muppet Caper is a 1981 film directed by Jim Henson. It is the second of a series of live-action musical feature films, starring Jim Henson's Muppets. This film was produced by Henson Associates, ITC Entertainment and Universal Pictures, and premiered on 26 June 1981. The film was released...
, The Muppets Take ManhattanThe Muppets Take Manhattan is the third of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson's Muppets, and the final film before Henson's death. This film was produced by Henson Associates and TriStar Pictures, and originally released in movie theatres in 1984...
, The Muppet Christmas CarolThe Muppet Christmas Carol is the fourth feature film to star The Muppets, and the first produced after the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Released in 1992, it is one of many film adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The movie follows Ebenezer Scrooge who is a cruel and ruthless...
, Muppet Treasure IslandMuppet Treasure Island is the fifth feature film to star The Muppets. It was released in 1996 and directed by Jim Henson's son Brian Henson. It was one of many film adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island....
, Muppets from SpaceMuppets from Space is the sixth feature film to star The Muppets, and the first since the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson to have an original Muppet-focused plot...
, and
The Muppets' Wizard of OzThe Muppets' Wizard of Oz is a 2005 musical telefilm directed by Kirk Thatcher and starring Ashanti and The Muppets. The film was produced by Bill Barretta and written by Debra Frank, Steve L. Hayes, Tom Martin, & Adam F...
.
The Jim Henson HourThe Jim Henson Hour was a short-lived television series that aired on NBC in 1989. It was developed as a showcase for The Jim Henson Company's various puppet creations, including the popular Muppet characters.- Format :...
featured many of the same characters, plus new and boldly different content. The Muppets appeared as toddlers in the long-running animated series
Muppet BabiesJim Henson's Muppet Babies was an American animated television series that aired from September 15, 1984 to December 29, 1990 on CBS. It was spun off from a dream sequence in The Muppets Take Manhattan, released two months earlier, where Miss Piggy imagined what it would be like if she and Kermit...
. The Muppet Show format was later revived as
Muppets TonightMuppets Tonight is a live-action/puppet television series created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring the Muppets. Much like the "MuppeTelevision" segment of The Jim Henson Hour, Muppets Tonight was a continuation of The Muppet Show, set in a television studio, rather than a theater.-Format:The...
in 1996. The first 10 episodes aired on
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
while the rest aired on The Disney Channel. Today, all three incarnations are syndicated together as a single package.
In 2005 the Muppets launched an award-winning webseries titled
Statler and Waldorf: From the BalconyStatler and Waldorf: From the Balcony is a multi-award winning webshow starring the Muppet characters Statler and Waldorf which ran biweekly on Movies.com from June 2005 until September 2006. The series spawned more than 35 episodes and featured many Muppet characters - both well-known classics and...
. The biweekly webshow created new episodes for 15 months on
movies.comMovies.com is a website in the Fandango family, operated by Comcast. It was acquired from Disney in June, 2008. It is the second-most visited movie-related website, second only to IMDb. The website has information about movies, upcoming movies, and theater information...
and starred Statler and Waldorf along with many other popular Muppet characters from their theater box from
The Muppet Show. Each episode featured the duo as they discuss upcoming films, watch movie trailers and share the week's "balconism".
There is talk of a new revival of the format, with FOX being the initial serious contender. Disney considered using the
America's Next MuppetAmerica's Next Muppet was a planned six-episode mini-series, which ABC announced in 2005 it was purchasing. The mini-series was going to be produced by The Jim Henson Company for Disney, and was going to be a direct parody of America's Next Top Model...
mini-series to test the viability of a full-fledged series.
The hit Broadway and West End Musical
Avenue QAvenue Q is a musical conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics, and directed by Jason Moore. The book is by Jeff Whitty. The show was produced by and opened at the Off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre in March 2003. The production transferred to Broadway in July 2003 and won...
is loosely based on The Muppets as well as Sesame Street but is required to provide disclaimers stating that it has nothing to do with the characters, particularly due to the musical's adult theme.
The Muppets were brought back in 2008 for a short on the
Disney ChannelDisney Channel is a cable television channel specializing in television programming for children through original series and movies as well as third party programming. It is marketed to mostly children; however, in recent years the diversity of viewers has increased with an older audience,...
called
Studio DC: Almost LiveStudio DC: Almost Live is a special for the Disney Channel. The special is a half-hour variety show that features both the Muppets and Disney Channel stars performing comedy sketches and musical numbers together. The style is similar to that of the original Muppet Show in that it features mayhem...
.
For the
muppets.com channel on Disney Xtreme Digital, over 100 new, web-exclusive sketches have been produced as of January 2009.
The Muppet Show Comic Book began publication in 2009 written and drawn by
Roger LangridgeRoger Langridge is a New Zealand-born comics writer/artist/letterer, currently living in Britain.-Biography:Langridge originally came to public prominence most notably with the Judge Dredd Megazine series The Straitjacket Fits , a surreal, hallucinatory, convention-bending strip set in an insane...
and published by
Boom! StudiosBOOM! Studios is an independent comic book company. It was founded in June 2005 with Zombie Tales #1. The company was named Wizard Magazine's Best New Publisher of 2005, only four months after their first book was published...
.
In France, in 2006, the first French private TV network
TF1TF1 is a private French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 25-35% makes it the most popular domestic network.TF1 is the largest European television channel by its audience...
produced with
Walt DisneyWalter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the twentieth century. As the co-founder Walter Elias...
a new version with originals Muppets and French guest stars. Low ratings killed the program after few months.
See also
- Adult puppeteering
Adult puppeteering is the use of puppets in contexts aimed at adult audiences. Serious theatrical pieces can use puppets either for aesthetic reasons or to achieve special effects that would not otherwise be possible with human actors...
- Le Bébête Show
Le Bébête Show was a satirical puppet show shown on French television. The show was introduced in Stéphane Collaro's Collaroshow on channel TF1, before becoming a daily broadcast. Major French political figures were designed by artists: Alain Duverne, Jacques Loup, Jean-Yves Grall.....
- List of television programs
- "Mah Nà Mah Nà
"Mah Nà Mah Nà" is a popular song written by Piero Umiliani. It originally appeared in the Italian film Sweden: Heaven and Hell, but is best known in English-speaking countries from its use in the first episode of The Muppet Show...
"
- Meet The Feebles
Meet The Feebles is a black comedy film by director Peter Jackson. It features Jim Henson-esque puppets in a perverse comic satire. Like Henson's Muppets, the Feebles are animal-figured puppets assembled together as members of a theatre troupe...
- Muppet Babies
Jim Henson's Muppet Babies was an American animated television series that aired from September 15, 1984 to December 29, 1990 on CBS. It was spun off from a dream sequence in The Muppets Take Manhattan, released two months earlier, where Miss Piggy imagined what it would be like if she and Kermit...
- Palisades Toys
Palisades Entertainment, LLC, better known as Palisades Toys, was a manufacturing and distributing toy company geared toward the adult collector market...
- Sam Pottle
Sam Pottle was an American composer, conductor, and musical director involved in many theatrical and television productions. He is perhaps best remembered for his work on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, having co-written the now-famous theme song for the latter...
- The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More
The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More is a Muppets soundtrack/compilation album released in 2002 by Rhino. Its released commemorates the 25th anniversary of The Muppet Show...
(audio CD)
External links