The Muppet Show (1976-1981) - Specials Episodes and Ratings

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.

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.

The Pitch Reel Jim Henson used to pitch The Muppet Show to TV executives.

This unaired pilot, produced by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, was shot in Atlanta in the summer of 1962. The pilot featured Kermit the Frog, Taminella Grinderfall and King Goshposh, characters who would all reappear a few years later in the Tales From Muppetland TV specials.

The Land of Tinkerdee was a pilot for a daily children's television program produced by Muppets, Inc. in 1964. Jim Henson's company had produced a previous pilot in 1962, "Tales of the Tinkerdee", a fast-paced puppet show with many sets and a complicated narrative. That show wasn't picked up, and the 1964 version was a much simpler and more conventional puppet show. Ten plot outlines were written, and Jerry Juhl wrote several full scripts. The pilot was taped on August 9, 1964.

The show, narrated by Ed Sullivan, begins at the North Pole with Santa Claus and his elves getting ready for another Christmas. However, Cosmo Scam has hatched a plan to kidnap Santa and take his place. As part of the plan, Cosmo plans to abduct Santa's elves (one at a time) and replace them with his evil henchmen.

Cinderella lives with her wicked stepmother (as everyone who ever read the fairy tale knows), but what part of the story is never told is how Cinderella's fairy godmother had help from monsters, a prince pretending to be a gardener, and none other than Kermit the Frog.

Enchanted by an evil witch, a beautiful princess is forced to speak only in nonsense phrases. One day, she finds a small frog who can understand what she says. The frog claims to really be a prince, also enchanted by an evil witch. Together they must try to break their spells.

Four mistreated farm animals seek refuge as a band of traveling musicians in this musical tale narrated by Kermit the Frog.

A poor otter family risks everything for the chance to win the cash prize of a talent contest for Christmas.

In this beloved holiday classic, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and all the Muppets join John Denver for a heart-warming Christmas celebration, with traditional carols as well as lesser-known holiday songs.

Jim Henson's classic Muppets put on a tribute to their creator, but also ponder the question: Who was he? To help them figure that out are some of Jim's human friends, as well as some rare clips from the Henson legacy.

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years is a 1986 one-hour special that aired on CBS starring Jim Henson's Muppets.

A special which aired as part of The Magical World of Disney, this show was designed to promote a planned merger between The Walt Disney Company and The Jim Henson Company that would ultimately fall through upon Henson's untimely death. In the show, Kermit and Robin take the Muppet gang to the Florida swamps for the annual Bug Fry and a frog family reunion. However, the other Muppets, unexcited by a stinking bog, become excited when they learn they can see the fireworks from nearby Walt Disney World. Kermit agrees to let the gang "take a short peek" and be right back. As the Muppets accidentally break into the park, security tries to round them all up as they visit the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, and Disney/MGM Studios. Finally, after being rounded up, Kermit meets Mickey Mouse, and the show ends with a huge musical number.

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show is a one-hour television special starring the glamorous Miss Piggy, which aired on ABC on September 17, 1982. Miss Piggy hosts her own variety show, with special guests John Ritter, George Hamilton, and Andy Kaufman (as "Tony Clifton"). Under the direction of Kermit the Frog, the Muppets work in the studio control room and, amidst chaos, manage to keep the show on the air. Throughout the show, a romantic triangle develops among Miss Piggy, Ritter (who is smitten with the pig) and Hamilton (who is deeply uncomfortable with the star's romantic inclinations).

The Muppets Go to the Movies aired on ABC on May 20, 1981 to help promote The Great Muppet Caper. The special was taped between March 9 and 17, 1981. In this one-hour special, Lily Tomlin and Dudley Moore join the Muppets in a tribute to film classics. Kermit the Frog hosts the program, which begins with an all-cast rendition of "Hey a Movie!" from The Great Muppet Caper.

When Kermit the Frog throws a glamorous party at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub to celebrate the premiere of the Muppets' first feature film, The Muppet Movie, hosts Dick van Dyke and Rita Moreno interview the wide array of celebrities and Muppets who attend the event.

John Denver takes the Muppets on a camping trip in the mountains of Colorado.

When Fozzie and the Muppet Show gang drop in unexpectedly on Fozzie's mother, she is forced to cancel her winter vacation plans and entertain them all. Soon the Sesame Street gang comes by as carolers, and then Kermit and his nephew Robin discover a Fraggle Rock hole in the basement. A snow storm blows in, stranding everyone at the house, except for Miss Piggy, who arrives just in time for all the Muppets to celebrate Christmas together.

Hosted by Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, and Miley Cyrus. With songs, dancing, and backstage antics, The Muppets and Disney Channel's biggest stars team up for another fun variety show.

Hosted by Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Sabrina Bryan. With songs, dancing, and backstage antics, The Muppets and Disney Channel's biggest stars team up for another fun variety show.

A holiday extravaganza features Lady Gaga singing tunes from her 2013 album, "ARTPOP," and performing with Kermit the Frog and other Muppet favorites. Also included are duets with Elton John, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and RuPaul; an appearance by Kristen Bell; and renditions of seasonal classics by the Swedish Chef, Beaker, and Animal.

The celebrity-laden special, directed by John Landis and hosted in part by Tony Danza, focused on the changes to Disneyland over the years, as stars recalled their favorite attractions. Miss Piggy and Gonzo are prominently featured in a story-sketch titled "Pigerella," written by Bill Prady. Piggy, recalling her first visit to Disneyland, longs to replace Cinderella (played by Debbie Carman) in the big parade. After much conniving, Piggy succeeds, after "fairy god-thing" Gonzo gets himself and the real Cinderella lost (though Gonzo seems to develop a fondness for Cinderella). Another sketch involved cast members from Cheers, including Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, Kelsey Grammer, and Bebe Neuwirth; Will Smith, Ernest P. Worrell, and C-3PO also made appearances.

The Muppets on Puppets aired on NET in 1968, as part of the Adventure in the Arts anthology series. In this one-hour special, Jim Henson -- with the help of Muppet character Rowlf the Dog -- explains the art of puppetry, from building to performance. Henson describes the various kinds of puppets; demonstrates how to operate a hand puppet; and provides a brief history of puppet development and performance throughout the world, beginning with the influence of the character Punch from the Punch and Judy shows of the 1800s. Jerry Juhl and Frank Oz demonstrate how other kinds of puppets work, such as the string puppet or marionette, the Javan rod puppet, the finger puppet, and the Sicilian puppet.

This made-for-TV documentary treats Muppet fans to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of their favorite program, The Muppet Show. Includes interviews with creators Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and the rest of the crew of the series, as both themselves and as their Muppet characters, who share their experiences from working on the set, as well as discuss the special efforts that went into bringing each episode to life.

The documentary includes previously unseen interviews with Martin Baker, Bill Barretta, Kevin Clash, Bonnie Erickson, Karen Falk, Michael K. Frith, Amy Van Gilder, Dave Goelz, Jane Gootnick, Jerry Juhl, Brian Henson, Kathryn Mullen, and Steve Whitmire. They talk about the cooperation between the puppeteers on The Muppet Show, and how a few of the core characters were developed.

When no people are around, the toys still play in the playroom. But since a toy will be frozen forever if a person catches it out of position, they have to be very careful. It's Christmas Eve, and Rugby the Tiger remembers how he was the Christmas Toy last year, and thinks he's going to be unwrapped again. And it's up to Apple the Doll, who Rugby supplanted as the favorite toy, to tell him what's in store. But Rugby won't believe her, and tries to get into the Christmas package and lets Meteora, Queen of the Asteroids, loose. Unfortunately, she doesn't know she's a toy and thinks she's landed among aliens. And it's up to Apple, Mew (the Cat's toy mouse), and the other toys to get Rugby out of the box and Meteora back in it before they're found and frozen.

The special begins with the song “The Perfect Tree,” which features both Mr. Willowby (Robert Downey Jr.) singing about his desire to find the perfect Christmas tree and, within Willowby’s house, a father mouse singing that he will go out to get a tree for his family (his two children, Beverly and Ned, decide to come with him). After the song is finished, Willowby asks his butler, Baxter (Leslie Nielsen), where his tree is.