The charm, the zaniness, the corny jokes, the showbiz cliches--every element of The Muppet Show holds up 30 years after Jim Henson's legendary variety series' debut season. Well, perhaps not everything: Today's younger viewers might have a hard time placing some of The Muppet Show's then-guest stars, such as Florence Henderson or Ruth Buzzi. But then, the Show's real celebrities are perennial icons Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the... whatever, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and the rest of the Muppets' harried, well-meaning family of entertainers. Season One finds the show pretty much in the basic shape longtime fans will remember: A musical introduction followed by backstage chaos, another musical number, a sketch, a scene with the guest star, and so on. A half-hour episode can fly by pretty quickly, but it's interesting to note that the series hadn't quite found its familiar tone through much of the first year. A reliance on too many disposable verbal jokes and redundant, so-so material for sketch fodder ultimately gives way to more creative premises and the development of key relationships between characters.

Cast and Characters

The Puppeteers
• Jim Henson
• Frank Oz
• Richard Hunt
• Dave Goelz
• Jerry Nelson
• Erin Ozker (1976-1977)
• Lousie Gold (1979-1981)
• Kathryn Miller (1980-1981)
• Steve Whitmire (1980-1981)
  The Muppets
• Kermit the Frog
• Miss Piggy
• Gonzo the Great
• Fozzie Bear
• Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem
• Rowlf
• Animal
• Beaker
• Rizzo
• Sam Eagle
• Zoot
• Sweetums
• The Swedish Chef
• Floyd
• Captain Link Hearthrob
• Dr. Strangepork
• Wayne and Wanda
• Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
• Scooter
• Beauregard
• Pops
• Lew Zealand
• Janice
• Stadler and Waldolf

Broadcast History, Episode Guide & TV Schedule

First Telecast: September 5, 1976
Last Telecast: June 1, 1981
Number of Seasons: 5
Number of Episodes: 120
Original Network: CBS

• DATES HERE

Theme Song Lyrics and Intro

It's the Muppet Show with our Very Special Guest Star, ... It's time to play the music It's time to light the lights t's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight. It's time to put on makeup It's time to dress up right It's time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight. Why do we always come here I guess we'll never know It's like a kind of torture To have to watch the show And now let's get things started Why don't you get things started It's time to get things started On the most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational This is what we call the Muppet Show!

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