The Muppet Show
Specials
TV-G
Kermit the Frog is the manager of a cabaret-style theatre house, which invariably has more drama behind the stage than on it. He has to contend with wannabe-comedian bears, the smothering advances of Miss Piggy, crabby regular theatre patrons, homicidal chefs, livestock, not to mention making the weekly guest star feel welcome.
Where to Watch Specials
20 Episodes
- Tales of the Tinkerdee
E1Tales of the TinkerdeeThis 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 Muppets on Puppets
E2The Muppets on PuppetsThe 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. - Hey, Cinderella!
E3Hey, Cinderella!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. - The Great Santa Claus SwitchE4
The Great Santa Claus SwitchThe 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. - Tales From Muppetland: The Frog Prince
E5Tales From Muppetland: The Frog PrinceEnchanted 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. - The Muppets Valentine Show
E7The Muppets Valentine ShowThe 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. - Of Muppets and MenE10
Of Muppets and MenThis 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 Muppets Go To the MoviesE11
The Muppets Go To the MoviesThe 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. - The Fantastic Miss Piggy ShowE12
The Fantastic Miss Piggy ShowThe 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 Tale of the Bunny PicnicE14
The Tale of the Bunny PicnicBean Bunny is too small to be useful (says his brother) to help prepare for the Bunny Picnic, so he wanders off and sees a legendary persecutor of all rabbits: the farmer's dog. But nobody believes him when he tries to tell them he's seen the dog, until the dog breaks up the picnic. And it's up to Bean to come up with a plan to defeat the farmer's dog and discover the one thing the dog fears. - A Muppet Family ChristmasE15
A Muppet Family ChristmasWhen 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. - The Muppets at Walt Disney WorldE16
The Muppets at Walt Disney WorldA 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.
