5 September 1976 – 23 May 1981
The Muppet Show is a sketch comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring the Muppets. The series originated as two pilot episodes produced by Henson for ABC in 1974 and 1975, respectively. While neither episode was moved forward as a series and other networks in the United States rejected Henson's proposals, British producer Lew Grade expressed enthusiasm for the project and agreed to co-produce The Muppet Show for the British channel ATV. Five seasons, totalling 120 episodes, were broadcast on ATV and other ITV franchises in the United Kingdom and in later first-run syndication through CBS in the US from 1976 to 1981. The programme was produced and recorded at Elstree Studios, England.
The Muppet Show is presented as a variety show, featuring recurring sketches and musical numbers interspersed with plotlines taking place backstage and in other areas of the venue. Within its context, Kermit the Frog acts as showrunner and host, who tries to maintain control of the overwhelming antics of the other Muppet characters, as well as appease the rotating slate of guest stars. The Muppet Show is also known for its uniquely designed characters, burlesque nature, physical slapstick, sometimes absurdist and surreal humour, and parodies. As The Muppet Show became popular, many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in subsequent films.
The cast of performers over the course of the series consisted of Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Eren Özker, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, Brian Muehl, Bob Payne, and John Lovelady. Many of the performers also worked on Sesame Street, whose characters made sporadic appearances on The Muppet Show. Jack Burns served as the head writer for the first season, before Jerry Juhl became the head writer from the second season. The music was performed by Jack Parnell and his orchestra.
The Muppet Show was produced by ITC Entertainment and Henson Associates on September 5, 1976 and ended on May 23, 1981. The rights to the series are currently owned by The Muppets Studio (a division of The Walt Disney Company), having been acquired from The Jim Henson Company in February 17, 2004.
Storyline[]
Also See[]
- Muppet Time
- The Muppet Movie (1979)
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
- A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
- Muppets Tonight
- Muppets from Space (1999)
- Kermit's Swamp Years (2002)
- It's A Very, Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
- The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
- A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (2008)
- The Muppets (2011)
- Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
- The Muppets (2015 TV Series)
- Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
TV Show Intro[]
Original Theme Song - The Muppet Show - Disney+
Sound Effects Used[]
- Audio Fidelity, Bedlam In A Cuckoo Clock Shop/Hollywoodedge, Cuckoo Clocks En Mass EE111401 (Heard in "Chris Langham".)
- Audio Fidelity, "Boings"/Sound Ideas, COMEDY, ACCENT - SPROINGS
- Audio Fidelity, Car Crash, Screaming Tires/Sound Ideas, AUTO, CRASH - SKIDS AND CRASHES 01 (Heard once in "Dizzy Gillespie" in one of the scenes featuring Floyd and Zoot.)
- Audio Fidelity, Three Electronic Effects
- BBC Records, Clocks - Domestic - Westminster Chimes (Chiming & Striking) (Heard once in "Charles Aznavour".)
- BBC Records, Crashes - Glass Crash/Gateway Records, Glass & Metal Crash
- BBC Records, Crashes, Glass - Distant
- BBC Records, Gunfire - With Ricochets
- BBC Records, Horse & Pony - Pony Whinnies (Heard twice in "Roger Moore" at the end of "Talk to the Animals".)
- BBC Records, Toys - Pop Gun/Sound Ideas, Cartoon, Cork Pops: Comedy - Single cork pop and heavy guzzling - 1967 (7C, reprocessed)
- Elektra Records, Blizzard/Sound Ideas, WIND - SIBERIAN WIND, WEATHER
- Elektra Records, Ethereal Space Sounds / Sound Ideas, SCI FI - SPACE OSCILLATIONS / SCI FI - SPOOKY ELECTRONIC EFFECTS
- Elektra Records, Steam Train Approaches, Stops (Heard once in "Loretta Lynn".)
- Elektra Records, Telephone Rings Five Times
- Gopher Whistle (Heard in "Carol Channing", when "Carol Burnett's whistle every time" at "Whistling Cecilia".)
- H-B SCI FI - ROCKET BY, NOISY (Heard once in "Loretta Lynn".)
- SKYWALKER, BEEP - ARTOO'S BEEPING SOUNDS (Heard in "The Stars of Star Wars".)
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, HORSE - HORSE NEIGH 01 (Heard once in "Madeline Kahn".)
- Sound Ideas, ARCHERY - SHOOTING ARROW FROM A LONG BOW, HITTING TARGET (Heard once in the Jim Henson Productions logo.)
- Sound Ideas, BELL, FIRE - ELECTRIC FIRE BELL RINGS
- Sound Ideas, Cartoon, Eating: Comedy - Masticating apple - 1967 (7C, reprocessed) (Heard every time a monster is seen eating.)
- Sound Ideas, Cartoon, Impact Rhythms: Comedy - Sounding like twangs on a metal ruler - 1967 (7F, reprocessed)
- Sound Ideas, Cartoon, Whooshes: Comedy - One whoosh, two whooshes 1, 1 - 1967 (7D, reprocessed) (Used for Gonzo when he rushes in.)
- Sound Ideas, CRASH, AUTO - SKID AND LARGE AUTO CRASH, CARTOON (Crash heard once in "Steve Martin".)
- Sound Ideas, GUN, RICOCHET - SINGLE RICOCHET, BULLET 01/Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - SLICK RICCO 01
- Sound Ideas, PLUCK, CARTOON - SINGLE BLURP (Heard once in the Jim Henson Productions logo.)
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 05
- Sound Ideas, WAHEEP, CARTOON - WAHEEP (Heard once in the Jim Henson Productions logo.)
- Valentino Steam Locomotive Leaving Trainyard - Slow (Heard once in "Loretta Lynn", whistle only.)
- Valentino Steam Locomotive Start - Click of Wheels (Heard in "Loretta Lynn".)
- Valentino Train Distant Diesel Horn, Train Approach and Pass (Heard in "Loretta Lynn".)