The Muppet Show

Kermit the Frog fronts a chaotic backstage operation that delivers a weekly variety show, where the onstage numbers are only half the fun. Each episode alternates between rehearsed sketches and musical performances and the mayhem that unfolds behind the curtains, as eccentric Muppets, temperamental stars, and questionable set pieces collide. The tone flips from broad physical comedy to clever sight gags and witty asides, and the producers scramble to keep the broadcast together amid pratfalls, last-minute rewrites, and oversized egos. The format keeps plots light, focusing on character interactions and gag setups rather than long story arcs, so every episode feels fresh and unpredictable.

Created by Jim Henson and first aired in 1976, the series was produced for international syndication and showcased Henson's puppetry to audiences around the world, turning television variety into a playground for inventive puppet performance.

The show earned Emmy nominations and other television honors that acknowledged its technical craft, musical staging, and innovative puppetry, helping legitimize puppet work in mainstream prime time programming.

Over decades Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest migrated into broader pop culture, appearing in parodies, merchandising, and later films and specials. The Muppet Show helped define how puppet characters could carry adult-friendly jokes while remaining family accessible, and its backstage sketch framework has been referenced and imitated by comedy programs since.

Audiences and critics responded well to the show’s unpredictable mix of slapstick and clever satire, praising performances by Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and the ensemble puppeteers. On TheMovieDB the series holds a vote average of 8.003/10 from 336 votes. Recurring themes include the nuts and bolts of show business, loyalty among misfit friends, and the joy of making something messy and entertaining together.