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

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Writers:

Joseph A. Bailey (writer) (1977-1981)
Jim Henson (writer) (1976-1981)
(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 | Theater | Variety | Heckler | Guest Star

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Frank Oz	...	Fozzie Bear / ... (117 episodes, 1976-1981)
Richard Hunt	...	Statler / ... (117 episodes, 1976-1980)
Jim Henson	...	Kermit the Frog / ... (117 episodes, 1976-1981)
Dave Goelz	...	Gonzo / ... (116 episodes, 1976-1981)
Jerry Nelson	...	Floyd Pepper / ... (110 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)

(more)

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		(74 episodes, 1976-1981)
Jerry Juhl		(74 episodes, 1976-1981)
Joseph A. Bailey		(32 episodes, 1977-1981)
Chris Langham		(25 episodes, 1976-1981)
Jack Burns		(24 episodes, 1976)
Marc London		(22 episodes, 1976-1981)
David Odell		(2 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 (52 episodes, 1976-1980)
Jack Burns	....	producer (24 episodes, 1976)
Lew Grade	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Lynsey De Paul		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
John Hawkins		(3 episodes, 1976-1980)
Tim Waddell		(2 episodes, 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)
Sandy Staples	....	makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Terry Royce	....	stand-by props (5 episodes, 1976)
John Stevenson	....	character designer / storyboard artist (4 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Sound Department
Ted Scott	....	sound / audio (5 episodes, 1976-1980)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Hawkes	....	lighting director (4 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)
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)

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

Series Music Department
Jack Parnell	....	conductor: orchestra (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Sam Pottle	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Derek Scott	....	musical associate (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Larry Grossman	....	music consultant / musical consultant (3 episodes, 1977-1979)
Ray Charles	....	music consultant (2 episodes, 1980)
Jim Henson	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Michael K. Frith	....	muppet creative consultant / muppet design consultant (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Richard Holloway	....	senior floor manager (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Frank Oz	....	creative consultant / muppet creative consultant (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Don Sahlin	....	muppet designer / special muppets / ... (6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Caryl Cruickshank	....	stage manager (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Faz Fazakas	....	muppet designer / puppets (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Dave Goelz	....	muppet designer / puppets (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Larry Jameson	....	muppet designer / puppets (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Mari Kaestle	....	muppet designer / puppets (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Caroly Wilcox	....	muppet designer / puppets (5 episodes, 1976-1980)
Martin G. Baker	....	floor manager (4 episodes, 1976-1979)
Amy Van Gilder	....	muppet designer / muppet workshop supervisor (4 episodes, 1977-1980)
Rollin Krewson	....	muppet designer / puppets (3 episodes, 1976-1980)
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)
Bonnie Erickson	....	muppet designer / puppets (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Lovelady	....	muppet designer / puppets (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Sara Paul	....	muppet workshop supervisor / stage manager (2 episodes, 1977-1980)
Sue Taylor	....	assistant to producer (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)
• 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)

Runtime:

30 min (120 episodes)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Associated Television (ATV)

Trivia:

As of February 2003, Disney purchased The Jim Henson Workshop. The deal includes characters such as Fozzie Bear and Gonzo, as well as the Bear in the Big Blue House franchise. Sesame Street characters such as Big Bird and Elmo are not included in the acquisition, as they are owned separately by the Sesame Workshop

Quotes:

Fozzie: Hey, did you hear the one about the kangaroo that comes into a store, and a hippopotamus comes out and he says to the kanga
[curtains close]
Fozzie: HEY I WASN'T FINISHED!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: A Fish Out of Water (#3.10)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Swedish Chef's Theme

I grew up with this show

When I was a little girl, I watched this show every week. I was so excited when Time Life announced that they were releasing a video set with the best episodes, of course I bought them, and they have reminded me of my childhood. I have always been a fan of The Muppets, and still am. One of the best puppet shows ever. I love Miss Piggy, Gonzo and Kermit.