Series synopsis
The Muppet Show is a British comedy family television series that premiered on ITV1 on September 5, 1976. It ended on March 15, 1981. It was created by Jim Henson. It stars Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson and Dave Goelz.
Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.
Premise
Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.
Premise: It's time to raise the curtain on The Muppet Show!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice)
- Frank Oz as Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Sam Eagle / Marvin Suggs / George the Janitor (voice)
- Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Pops, Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand, Louis Kazagger, Chicken, Crazy Harry (voice)
- Dave Goelz as Gonzo / Zoot / Beauregard / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew (voice)
- Richard Hunt as Statler, Scooter / Janice / Beaker / Wayne / Sweetums (voice)
- Eren Ozker as Hilda / Wanda / Janice (voice)
- Louise Gold as Annie Sue Pig / Additional Muppets (voice)
- Karen Prell as Additional Muppets (voice)
Supporting cast
- Brian Muehl as Additional Muppets (voice)
- Kathryn Mullen as Additional Muppets (voice)
- Steve Whitmire as Additional Muppets (voice)
- Bob Payne as Additional Muppets (voice)
- Bruce Schwartz as Guest Puppeteer
- Bernadette Peters as Self - Special Guest Star
- Nancy Walker as Self - Special Guest Star
- Dom DeLuise as Self - Special Guest Star
- Rich Little as Self - Special Guest Star
- Milton Berle as Self - Special Guest Star
- Don Knotts as Self - Special Guest Star
- Madeline Kahn as Self - Special Guest Star
Guest cast
- Bernadette Peters as Self - Special Guest Star
- Nancy Walker as Self - Special Guest Star
- Dom DeLuise as Self - Special Guest Star
- Rich Little as Self - Special Guest Star
- Milton Berle as Self - Special Guest Star
- Don Knotts as Self - Special Guest Star
- Madeline Kahn as Self - Special Guest Star
- Edgar Bergen as Self - Special Guest Star
- Teresa Brewer as Self - Special Guest Star
- John Cleese as Self - Special Guest Star
- Cloris Leachman as Self - Special Guest Star
- Zero Mostel as Self - Special Guest Star
Episodes
This series spans 6 seasons with 154 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 34 | January 30, 1974 | February 4, 2026 |
| Season 1 | 24 | September 5, 1976 | April 23, 1977 |
| Season 2 | 30 | September 30, 1977 | April 23, 1978 |
| Season 3 | 18 | November 17, 1978 | July 5, 1979 |
| Season 4 | 24 | October 24, 1979 | April 4, 1980 |
| Season 5 | 24 | October 5, 1980 | March 15, 1981 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Muppets Valentine Show The Muppets Valentine Show was a variety special that aired on ABC. Internally, Jim Henson regarded this as a pilot for what would eventually become the The Muppet Show in syndication. Although a later special, The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence, would more closely resemble The Muppet Show in cast and content, The Muppet Valentine Show would introduce several characters who would become regulars on that series, as well as the concept of having one human guest (Mia Farrow), and a tone aimed toward both adults and children. |
January 30, 1974 |
| 2 |
The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence In this half-hour variety special, the Muppets parody the proliferation of sex and violence on television. Nigel, Sam the Eagle, and hippie guitarist Floyd prepare for a Pageant based on the Seven Deadly Sins. |
March 19, 1975 |
| 3 |
The Original Muppet Pitch Reel The Pitch Reel Jim Henson used to pitch The Muppet Show to TV executives. |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Joel Grey Fozzie works on a new act -- jokes on any subject -- and drives everyone crazy. Finally, he gets on stage and asks for any word. Statler and Waldorf call his bluff by yelling out: "Amoeba!" |
September 5, 1976 |
| 2 |
Rita Moreno Fozzie Bear becomes embroiled in a running gag involving the backstage phone. Throughout the episode, Rita parodies her combative image. She battles with several Muppets, including Miss Piggy, a Full-Bodied Muppet, and Animal, who's backing her on drums in her closing number, "Fever." |
September 12, 1976 |
| 3 |
Sandy Duncan Fozzie performs Gags Beasley's famous "banana sketch," which everyone has heard of except Kermit. When Kermit asks Sandy and Fozzie to tell him what it is, they laugh too hard to explain it. |
September 19, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
George Burns Kermit is hassled by Daily Scandal reporter Fleet Scribbler, who blackmails his way backstage at The Muppet Show and is determined to spin everything he hears in a negative light. He even offers Miss Piggy a picture spread if she'll give him the real dirt on the Muppets. Soon, even the Swedish Chef is talking to Fleet, who answers in mock-Swedish. |
September 30, 1977 |
| 2 |
Madeline Kahn Madeline tells Gonzo she thinks he's terrific on the show, and the ego-starved Gonzo instantly falls in love with her. He drops in to Miss Piggy's dressing room to tell her he no longer has a crush on her, which pleases her until she finds out that he likes someone else. Gonzo's obsession takes him to the brink of marrying her until hearing her comments to Kermit of his going off the deep end breaks his fragile heart. |
October 7, 1977 |
| 3 |
Milton Berle Fozzie Bear is so intimidated by the thought of meeting Milton Berle, "the King of Comics," that he spends the whole show hiding from the guest star. His flimsy disguises don't fool Kermit or Scooter, but when Fozzie finally overhears Milton saying that he'd like to do a song-and-dance with him, Fozzie springs out of hiding, and the pair performs "Top Banana" together in baggy pants and big shoes. |
October 14, 1977 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Raquel Welch Gladys and the Swedish Chef provide service at the canteen as Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge guest star. |
November 17, 1978 |
| 2 |
Alice Cooper Miss Piggy becomes increasingly jealous as Kermit appears to give a young pig performer attention. |
November 24, 1978 |
| 3 |
Helen Reddy Sketches/Songs: ""Staying Alive"", ""How Can You Be"", Fozzie's dance number, ""Muppet Newsflash"", ""Beethoven's Sonata No.8, Opus 13"", ""You and Me Against the World"", ""Veterinarian's Hospital"", ""Tie Me Kangaroo Down"", ""We'll Sing in the Sunshine"" |
December 1, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Dudley Moore Dudley has a surprise for Kermit, a robot that can do the work of the entire band and of course the Electric Mayhem feel threatened by this fact. |
October 24, 1979 |
| 2 |
Crystal Gayle The Prairie Dog Glee Club sings very well, but Scooter says they have "pack rat blood in 'em -- they keep stealing everything!" The prairie dogs go wild, taking everything Kermit has -- including his collar, which leaves him naked on stage. |
November 2, 1979 |
| 3 |
Victor Borge When Bobby Benson has to talk to a police officer someone has to take care of his babies. Unfortunately, the babies go wild without their daddy around and beat up people they don't like. |
November 9, 1979 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Roger Moore Kermit calls the Secret Service to hire real spies for Roger's closing number. (They're listed in the Yellow Pages.) However, Roger wants to do a cute, cuddly version of "Talk to the Animals". The spies, anxious for a chance to rub out James Bond, pose as fluffy animals to infiltrate the number. |
October 5, 1980 |
| 2 |
Loretta Swit How well can Loretta fit into Miss Piggy's roles? It all comes to a dramatic climax with the ""Pigs in Space"" installment. |
October 12, 1980 |
| 3 |
James Coburn Animal hits it off with tough guy James Coburn -- but James decides that Animal isn't centered enough, and introduces him to meditation and Zen. Animal doesn't take well to Zen. |
October 19, 1980 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 5, 1976 |
| Last aired | March 15, 1981 |
| Runtime | 26 minutes |
| Status | ended |