I know what you’re thinking: “How can ‘The Muppet Show’ be included in a website dedicated to the genres of ‘science fiction’ and ‘telefantasy’?”. Well, any series that features a talking frog, a pig with delusions of grandeur, a bear that tells jokes, a beaky-nosed alien-thingie, the inhabitants of the planet Koozebane, the cast of ‘Pigs in Space’, and a whole host of bizarre animals, monsters and strangeness, all of whom with their own brand of humour, surrealism and eccentricities, easily gets my vote for inclusion in the category of ‘out-of-the-ordinary’!

Created by puppeteering genius Jim Henson, the Muppets made their first network television appearance on ‘The Steve Allen Show’ on 11th October 1956. In 1963, Henson created his own production company together with master puppet builder Don Sahlin and Frank Oz, and the Muppets soon featured on ‘The Today Show’. However, it was their regular guest appearances on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ that sent the Muppets’ popularity rocketing sky-high. On 11th November 11 1969, ‘Sesame Street’, a production of the Children's Television Workshop, premiered on PBS; an educational show featuring the Muppets, the programme was years ahead of its time, and is still going strong today.

The success of the ‘Sesame Street’ led to the creation of ‘The Muppet Show’, a weekly-dose of Muppet mayhem in the form of a televised variety stage show. Recorded in England at the ATV Studios in Borehamwood, the show premiered on September 26, 1976 and was a massive hit, ensuring that Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and the gang quickly became household names and cultural icons. The show won its first Emmy award in 1978, lasted for five seasons, and spawned two spin-off series, ‘Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies’ and ‘Muppets Tonight’, as well as dozens of specials and movies and other puppet shows such as ‘Fraggle Rock’, ‘The Storyteller’ and ‘The Secret Life of Toys’.

Jim Henson passed away on 16th May, 1990, but his son Brian took over the role of president of Jim Henson Productions in 1991. The Muppets continue to go from strength to strength, with more movies and specials, a stage show, record, books, videogames and even action figures being released. The show achieved its ultimate accolade on 15th November 2002, when Kermit the Frog was honoured with the 2,208th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In March 2002, an announcement was made stating that Jim Henson Television has partnered with producers Team Todd and Fox Broadcasting Co. to work on a new Muppet television series; some preliminary work was done, but the sale of the Henson company held things up... Then, in 2005, a made-for-TV movie called 'The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz', based on the original book not the 1939 theatrical movie, was transmitted.

Now, after a pilot episode was successfully submitted to Disney, the go-ahead has been given for production of six episodes of a new Muppet Series! Called ‘America’s Next Muppet’, the show will be a reality-TV spoof, in which Kermit and his friends set up a talent contest to find the newest member of the legendary Muppet troupe; the producers promise “all kinds of new wacky Muppet characters and wild new Muppet acts will audition for the panel of judges (such as Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo) who will be the reviewing the performances.” Tentatively set to transmit on ABC in spring or summer of 2006, these episodes will be used as by The Muppet Holding Company and ABC to see if the Muppets can survive in today’s television market; if ‘America’s Next Muppet’ attracts good viewing figures, then the Muppets may be looking at another entirely new, full-time TV-show in the near future. Not only that, but Christmas 2005 also promises a new Muppet album of songs and sketches, plus a television special entitled 'Kermit’s Christmas Capers'! It looks like our felt favourites are going to be very busy in the coming months...


The Muppet Show - Season 1-5
Jim Henson's Muppet Babies - Season 1-7
Muppets Tonight! - Season 1-2
The Muppet Specials
The Muppet Movies

Back to the Databanks Main Page -
where you'll find guides to some of the best cult and classic science fiction and telefantasy programmes ever transmitted!


Credit Where It's Due Dept.: A big 'Thank You' to my good mate Nick Kirk, who tracked down the info on the various Muppet specials!

Legal Bit: 'Muppet' is a registered trademark of The Jim Henson Company. The 'Muppet' logos and all images from the television series and movies are copyright The Jim Henson Company unless otherwise stated; music is copyright the original composers and producers; no copyright infringement is intended. All specially created images and text are copyright © Clive Banks 2003 – 2010; please do not use these without my permission. All rights reserved. No profit is made from this website, and any revenue made from using the banner-links featured goes straight back into the costs of maintaining it, which comes out of my own pocket in the first place. No profit advertising is accepted. This website was created purely to entertain and amuse, and any references to persons living, dead, comatose, in suspended animation, not born yet, made of felt, or a figment of someone's imagination is purely coincidental. All opinions expressed are my own, so there...

You can buy DVDs, VHSs, books, toys and much more on the Muppets and other classic shows at:

Search Now:

and

Search Now:

[Homepage] [About Me] [C.V.] [Gallery] [What's New] [Nothing] [FAQ] [Contact Me]