"The Muppet Show" (1976) TV series 1976-1981

Writers:

Jim Henson (1976-1981)
Joseph A. Bailey (1977-1981)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

29 January 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Music

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Frog | Variety | Theater | Guest Star | Pig

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Kermit the Frog	...	Himself - Host / ... (119 episodes, 1976-1980)
Frank Oz	...	Fozzie Bear / ... (118 episodes, 1976-1981)
Richard Hunt	...	Statler / ... (118 episodes, 1976-1980)
Jim Henson	...	Kermit the Frog / ... (118 episodes, 1976-1981)
Dave Goelz	...	Gonzo / ... (117 episodes, 1976-1981)
Jerry Nelson	...	Floyd Pepper / ... (111 episodes, 1976-1981)
Louise Gold	...	Additional Muppets / ... (81 episodes, 1977-1980)
Steve Whitmire	...	Additional Muppets / ... (64 episodes, 1978-1981)
Kathryn Mullen	...	Additional Muppets / ... (53 episodes, 1978-1981)

Series Directed by
Peter Harris		(51 episodes, 1976-1980)
Philip Casson		(23 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Writing credits
Don Hinkley		(96 episodes, 1977-1981)
Jim Henson		(75 episodes, 1976-1981)
Jerry Juhl		(75 episodes, 1976-1981)
Joseph A. Bailey		(32 episodes, 1977-1981)
Chris Langham		(26 episodes, 1976-1981)
Jack Burns		(24 episodes, 1976)
Marc London		(22 episodes, 1976-1981)
David Odell		(3 episodes, 1976-1981)
James Thurman		(unknown episodes, 1976-1981)

Series Produced by
Jim Henson	....	producer / executive producer (73 episodes, 1976-1981)
David Lazer	....	executive producer / executive producer: Henson Associates (53 episodes, 1976-1980)
Jack Burns	....	producer (24 episodes, 1976)
Lew Grade	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Lynsey De Paul		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Mike Whitcutt		(1 episode, 1977)

Series Film Editing by
John Hawkins		(4 episodes, 1976-1980)
Tim Waddell		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Production Design by
David Chandler		(1 episode, 1977)

Series Art Direction by
David Chandler		(4 episodes, 1976-1979)
Bryan Holgate		(unknown episodes)
Richard Lake		(unknown episodes)
Malcolm Stone		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
James Dark		(2 episodes, 1977-1980)
Calista Hendrickson		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Mary Southgate	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1977-1980)
Marion Phillips	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1977)
Sandy Staples	....	makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Colin Harris	....	production buyer (120 episodes, 1976-1980)
Terry Royce	....	stand-by props (5 episodes, 1976)
John Stevenson	....	character designer / storyboard artist (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Sal Denaro	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Sound Department
Ted Scott	....	sound / audio (6 episodes, 1976-1980)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Eddy Burns	....	lighting technician (119 episodes, 1976-1980)
Brian Grant	....	camera operator (24 episodes, 1976)
Phil Hawkes	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1977-1980)
John Crane	....	video engineer / digital video engineer (3 episodes, 1977-1980)
Roy Simper	....	senior camera operator (3 episodes, 1977-1980)
John Willment	....	video engineer (2 episodes, 1976-1979)
John Rook	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jim Reeves	....	video engineer / vision engineer (2 episodes, 1977)
Steve Jolley	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Tony Swain	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Calista Hendrickson	....	muppet costumes (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
James Dark	....	costumes / wardrobe (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Editorial Department
Moyra Bird	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1977-1980)
Carole Legg	....	vision mixer (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mary Forrest	....	vision mixer (2 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Music Department
Jack Parnell	....	conductor: orchestra (7 episodes, 1976-1980)
Sam Pottle	....	composer: theme music (7 episodes, 1976-1980)
Derek Scott	....	musical associate (7 episodes, 1976-1980)
Larry Grossman	....	music consultant / musical consultant (4 episodes, 1977-1979)
Ray Charles	....	music consultant (2 episodes, 1980)
Jim Henson	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Richard Holloway	....	senior floor manager / floor manager (7 episodes, 1976-1980)
Don Sahlin	....	muppet designer / special muppets / ... (7 episodes, 1976-1980)
Michael K. Frith	....	muppet creative consultant / muppet design consultant (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Dave Goelz	....	muppet designer / puppets (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Mari Kaestle	....	muppet designer / puppets (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Frank Oz	....	creative consultant / muppet creative consultant (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Caroly Wilcox	....	muppet designer / puppets (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Caryl Cruickshank	....	stage manager (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Faz Fazakas	....	muppet designer / puppets (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Larry Jameson	....	muppet designer / puppets (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Amy Van Gilder	....	muppet designer / muppet workshop supervisor (5 episodes, 1977-1980)
Martin G. Baker	....	floor manager (4 episodes, 1976-1979)
Rollin Krewson	....	muppet designer / puppets (3 episodes, 1976-1980)
Bonnie Erickson	....	muppet designer / puppets (3 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Lovelady	....	muppet designer / puppets (3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Sara Paul	....	stage manager / muppet workshop supervisor (3 episodes, 1977-1980)
Sue Taylor	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (3 episodes, 1977)
Tim Miller	....	muppet designer (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jan Rosenthal	....	muppet designer (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Joan Chaplow	....	assistant to producer / assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1976-1979)
Calista Hendrickson	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1977)
Edward G. Christie	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1980)
Barbara S. Davis	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1980)
Nomi Frederick	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1980)
Jane Gootnick	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1980)
Cheryl Henson	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1980)
Robert McCormack	....	muppet workshop supervisor (2 episodes, 1980)
Susan Paul	....	assistant to producer (2 episodes, 1980)
Bob Payne	....	muppet designer (2 episodes, 1980)
Leslee Asch	....	muppet designer (unknown episodes)
Marianne Harms	....	muppet designer (unknown episodes)
Nigel Lythgoe	....	choreographer / floor director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Associated Television (ATV)
• HIT Entertainment
• Henson Associates (HA)
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Jim Henson Company, The

Distributors

• Buena Vista International Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV) (1976-1981) (UK) (TV)
• Katholieke Radio Omroep (KRO) (1977-1982) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (1981) (Japan) (TV)
• Time-Life Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Entertainment (2005) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (1977-1981) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• Arista Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (120 episodes)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:G | Argentina:Atp | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Associated Television (ATV)

Trivia:

Jim Henson wanted the show to end during the peak of its popularity and creativity - and it did. The final year featured the highest Nielsen ratings of its existence.

Quotes:

Waldorf:Pay up! They made it through another one
Statler:Double or nothing next week's show?
Waldorf:You're on!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "No 73: Episode #1.4" (1982)

Soundtrack:

Swedish Chef's Theme

Somebody MUST syndicate this masterpiece

If for no other reason than to remind us who our stars were in the mid-late 70s, the Muppet Show must be returned to syndication.

This was a brilliantly-written adult puppet show, with enough obvious laughs to satisfy the larvae and plenty of innuendo and hidden punch lines to absolutely mystify most adults.

Fantastic. We MUST have this series back.