Muppets Tonight (1996–1998)

Kermit the Frog, Clifford and friends struggle to put on a weekly TV variety show.

Stars:

Dave Goelz, Kevin Clash, Jerry Nelson

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Dave Goelz	...	Waldorf (22 episodes, 1996-1998)
Kevin Clash	...	Clifford (22 episodes, 1996-1998)
Jerry Nelson	...	Statler (22 episodes, 1996-1998)
Bill Barretta	...	Bobo the Bear (22 episodes, 1996-1998)
Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit the Frog (22 episodes, 1996-1998)
Brian Henson	...	Nigel (21 episodes, 1996-1998)
Leslie Carrara	...	Additional Muppets (21 episodes, 1996-1998)
Len Levitt	...	Additional Muppets (19 episodes, 1996-1998)
Drew Massey	...	Additional Muppets (19 episodes, 1996-1998)
Joe Selph	...	Additional Muppets (18 episodes, 1996-1998)
Frank Oz	...	Miss Piggy (15 episodes, 1996-1998)
Allan Trautman	...	Additional Muppets (14 episodes, 1996-1998)
Bruce Lanoil	...	Additional Muppets (12 episodes, 1996-1997)
Thom Fountain	...	Additional Muppets (9 episodes, 1996-1998)

Storyline

Kermit the Frog is still running a variety show, only this time, it's in the 90s! Features many of the very familiar Muppet characters, including Miss Piggy, 'The Great Gonzo' , Animal, Rowlf, Beaker, and more.

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Plot Keywords:

variety | frog | bird | the muppets | dog | 

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Taglines:

The Muppets are back with wild new friends and superstar guests!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Henson.com

Country:

France USA

Language:

French English

Release Date:

8 March 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Muppets Live!

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jim Henson Company, The, Jim Henson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The director of Muppets Tonight is named Nigel. This is a reference to a Muppet of the same name who was the host of one of the original Muppet Show pilot episodes [The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence], and who later became the orchestra conductor on the show itself.

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Quotes

Carl: [eating Bunsen's experimental Nice/Evil Biscotti/Chimichengas] I like this biscotti.
[eats a chimichenga]
Carl: But I hate this chimichangas!
[eats a biscotti]
Carl: And I love this biscotti.
[eats a chimichenga]
Carl: And I hate these chimichengas!
[eats a nearby lamp]
Carl: I love this lamp.
[eats an alarm clock]
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.38 (2012)

User Reviews

2nd Short life of Muppets on Television

The Muppets Tonight was 1st serious attempt to make a dedicated television show for the Muppets. It was different, and it had potential. The guest stars of amazing quality, and new spin on how original Muppet Show was done.

However, it had to deal with changed world. After 2 brief seasons, Oklahoma City bombing accrued. Which rattled America, and it was key factors of the cancellation of the this young and potential show. The episode which was to be are, if memory services right few weeks after the bombing, introduced an old character. Crazy Harry, one of the Muppet show's original characters, a mad bomber. Television executives made the decision that this was too much and too soon after the Oklahoma bombing, so the squashed the episode.

Later entire show was squashed. America changed, it became hyper sensitive about its viewing content on Television. Thus, Muppet Tonight one of its very first victims. Disney owned show transferred the show to its Disney Channel and it quietly shown in reruns for short while and died. Creative of the Muppets had been lost with the passing of Henson, thus no new motivations to push keep the new show going and being original as "Show" was. This is a private view, but I believe is the correct one. As of that date of this review. No new original Muppet oriented material has come out since Muppets Tonight. Only re-has, redo, television movies and Direct to video material.