The Muppet Show

Did You Know?

• The series won the top Variety Prize in the Golden Rose of Montreux international Contest in May 1977.
• The Muppet Show was presented with a Peabody Award in 1978.
• On 17 September 2025, Disney announced an untitled event special for Disney+ to premiere on 4 February 2026, coinciding with the show's 50th anniversary.

History

Jim Henson began to perceive that he was becoming typecast as a children's entertainer after Sesame Street gave his Muppet characters exposure. He conceived a programme for a more adult audience, producing two television specials for ABC: The Muppets Valentine Show (1974) and The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (1975). Neither was ordered to series. The prime-time access rule had recently been enacted, moving the 7:30 to 8 pm ET slot from the networks to their affiliates. CBS became interested and expressed intent to broadcast it weekly on its owned and operated stations. Lew Grade, proprietor of the British commercial station ATV, was familiar with puppet television programmes and offered Henson a deal. The programme was produced at the ATV Elstree Studios, with ATV broadcasting it to other ITV stations in the United Kingdom and ITC Entertainment handling international broadcasts. Henson's Muppets were featured in The Land of Gorch skits during the first season of Saturday Night Live, providing institutional knowledge about adapting a television programme within a seven-day period. The Muppet Show first aired in September 1976 in the UK; by December the series had around 14 million viewers on Sunday evenings. By January 1977, over 100 countries had either acquired the series or were making offers, resulting in over £6 million in overseas sales. By its third season in 1978 it had a weekly worldwide audience of 235 million.

Overview

The Muppet Show Theme, written by Henson and Sam Pottle in 1976, is the show's theme song. Each episode began with the logo on a title card; the centre of the 'O' opened to reveal host Kermit the Frog, who announced the guest star. During the first season, the theme song contained a joke from Fozzie Bear and featured Kermit introducing the guest star. At the song's end, Gonzo the Great appeared in front of the banner, attempting to play the 'O' like a gong with various comical results. From the second to fourth seasons, the joke and Kermit's introduction were replaced by a quip from Statler and Waldorf, then a shot of the audience singing. The fifth season version had an extra verse from the hecklers. At the end of the song, Gonzo appeared inside the 'O' to play the final note on a trumpet. Each episode ended with an extended instrumental performance before Statler and Waldorf gave their last comment, followed by Zoot playing an off-key final note. Every season, the TV version of the song was presented with re-worked lyrics, while the musical composition remained essentially the same.

Recurring sketches

The Muppet Show featured several recurring sketches. "At the Dance" was a first-season regular where Muppets, including Whatnots, danced on a semi-formal floor and traded quick one-liners as couples passed the camera; it appeared less after season one. "Bear on Patrol" starred Fozzie Bear as the unlucky Patrol Bear and Link Hogthrob as the bumbling police chief, with Jerry Nelson voicing the announcer; it debuted in season three. "Blackouts" were vaudeville-style short gags with the guest star, ending when the lights cut or a curtain snapped shut; these only ran in season one. "Cold Openings" introduced the guest star each episode. In season one, Kermit did this during the theme, followed by a clip of the star with Muppets. From season two, Scooter visited the star’s dressing room, saying "Fifteen seconds to curtain," then a joke. In season five, the star entered the theatre and met Pops the Doorman, who asked "Who are you?" before a joke. "An Editorial by Sam the Eagle" featured Sam lecturing on a topic that then happened during the speech; it only appeared in season two. "The Electric Mayhem" offered varied musical numbers with Dr. Teeth and the band. "Fozzie Bear's Act" had Fozzie telling jokes while Statler and Waldorf heckled; it was most common in season one, though in one first-season episode, Fozzie and Bruce Forsyth made the hecklers wave a white flag. "Gonzo's Stunts" showed The Great Gonzo attempting stunts that typically went wrong.

Home media

In 1985, Playhouse Video released a collection of video compilations under the Jim Henson's Muppet Video banner. Ten videos were released, featuring original linking material in addition to clips from the show. The Muppet Revue was hosted by Kermit and Fozzie as they clean up the attic. The Kermit and Piggy Story was hosted by Kermit and Miss Piggy as they reminisce over their moments on the show. Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets was hosted by Scooter as he looks through a scrapbook of children's songs. Rock Music with the Muppets was hosted by Dr. Teeth with assistance by Beaker in a recording studio. Muppet Treasures was hosted by Kermit and Fozzie as they once again clean out the attic. Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff was hosted by Gonzo and Camilla at Gonzo's trailer home. Country Music with the Muppets was hosted by Rowlf at a barnyard radio station. Muppet Moments was once again hosted by Kermit and Fozzie as they clean the attic. Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets was hosted by Rowlf. Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook was hosted by Fozzie in the attic as he looks through a scrapbook of his material from the show.