The Muppet Show (1976–1981)

Kermit the Frog and his friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.

Stars:

Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Jim Henson

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 wins & 25 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Frank Oz	...	Fozzie Bear (118 episodes, 1976-1980)
Richard Hunt	...	Statler (118 episodes, 1976-1980)
Jim Henson	...	Kermit the Frog (118 episodes, 1976-1980)
Dave Goelz	...	Gonzo (117 episodes, 1976-1980)
Jerry Nelson	...	Floyd Pepper (110 episodes, 1976-1980)
Louise Gold	...	Additional Muppets (68 episodes, 1977-1980)
Steve Whitmire	...	Additional Muppets (63 episodes, 1978-1980)
Kathryn Mullen	...	Additional Muppets (53 episodes, 1978-1980)

Storyline

Kermit the Frog is the manager of a cabaret-style theatre house, which invariably has more drama behind the stage than on it. He has to contend with wannabe-comedian bears, the smothering advances of Miss Piggy, crabby regular theatre patrons, homicidal chefs, livestock, not to mention making the weekly guest star feel welcome.

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Plot Keywords:

frog | variety | theater | guest star | pig | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Music

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Official Sites:

Henson.com Muppets.com

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

El show de los muppets

Filming Locations:

BBC Elstree Centre/ATV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated Television (ATV), HIT Entertainment, Henson Associates (HA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (120 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Peter Sellers was chosen to guest star on an episode, he requested that a skit known as "The Wall" not be done with him. In this skit, Kermit interviews the guest for a short period just as themselves, and Sellers' stated that he couldn't be himself. "I can be Queen Victoria, but I cannot be myself," he said. The writers replaced "The Wall" with a skit where Sellers played Queen Victoria.

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Quotes

Miss Piggy: But I love him.
Rowlf: How could you love him? You're a nurse.
Miss Piggy: That may be true, but I am a woman first.
Rowlf: No, you're not. You're a pig first. Nurse second. I don't think woman made the top 10.

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Crazy Credits

Statler and Waldorf's gags in the end credits vary.

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Connections

Featured in I Love Muppets (2002)

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Soundtracks

"The Muppet Show Theme"
Music by Sam Pottle
Lyrics by Jim Henson
Performed by The Muppets

User Reviews

One of the funniest shows around

In this t.v. show Kermit the Frog has to run a variety show, that has many "interesting" acts, like german sauerkraut singers, and many regular performers like Gonzo the Great, the only what-ever-he-is to catch a cannon ball with his hand; Fozzie the Bear, a stand up comic who can't get a laugh; and Miss Piggy, the wanna-be movie star who is, unfortunately, hopelessly in love with the frog. Kermit also has handle things like over-hand bowling and alligator wrestling backstage and food attacking the swedish chef onstage. All the while trying to keep the guest star happy, and putting up with the antics of Statler and Waldorf, two mean old hecklers who have a box seat at the show. The music for this show is also superb, it is played by three groups; the muppet show band, the electric mayhem (Zoot, Floyd Pepper, Janis, Animal, and the man himself, Dr. Teeth), and Rolf who is an excellent pianist, for a dog. I know this all sounds really weird, but it's really hilarious and unique, I mean where else can you see Viking pigs sing "In the Navy", or a pig judo chop superman? I give this show two flippers up.