Danny Blankenship
Being born in 1978 and growing up as a small child in the late 70's and early 1980's I was a big watcher of "The Muppet Show" it kind of set my path and influenced me with memories! As seeing those cute and lovable little puppet Muppet characters on screen just was a treat and delight for my little eyes. I was so involved with the Muppet genre that I collected the Muppet toys and had figures even having a plush "Kermit the Frog"! And I love the show for the fact that it had a little green frog named Kermit who was so enjoyable to watch because he was smart and did things so right from singing and dancing to telling funny little one liner jokes and doing parody so well by acting out little skits! Plus the other characters were so cute and memorable for the sight of a child to see and remember and it ranged from Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear, The Brown Dog, Gonzo, Animal, and the Rat, and the talking pigs and the laughing old men from the balcony. Each episode was done like a play like theater style, plus an audience was always present that the Muppets filmed in front of because the laughter was always heard. Any many many big name stars and entertainers made guest appearances on the show ranging from people like Rita Moreno, Candice Bergen, Phyllis Diller, Vincent Price, Rich Little, Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Elton John, Bob Hope, Roy Clark, Alice Cooper, Raquel Welch, Liberace, Sly Stallone, Cheryl Ladd and Brooke Shields now talk about a menu of famous folks! Overall great series for kids that was fun and a delight with joy and it was educational it brought lasting memories for me as "The Muppet Show" was the best!
Benjamin Black
I don't think I have to say I love this show! I am a huge fan of Jim Henson's Muppets (in my mind, Disney will never own Jim Henson's creations - THINK OF ME AS YOU WILL!), and, therefore, I should really love this! It's a great, fantastic variety show! So, what makes a show like this work? Well, let's look:The first is obviously the Muppets themselves! Whenever you first watch a Muppet production, the first thing you see are puppets. But after a while, you unconsciously become invested, not just into the production (whether it's a TV show, TV special, movie, etc.), but you also get invested into the characters. They're not just puppets anymore. They're not just pieces of fabric or cloth sown onto Styrofoam; no, these are legit people! We all know someone like Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Miss Piggy, Rowlf the Dog, Scooter, Robin the Frog, Statler and Waldorf, and so many of the other characters! They come from a real place, and we're able to relate to them and love them because of it. Also, their interactions with each other is just hilarious! Because these are people, you are always entertained when you see two different characters paired up with someone else in a scene. Watch a scene with Fozzie and Rowlf, or with Dr. Teeth and Sam the Eagle! They're hilarious! Some of my personal favorites are Statler and Waldorf! While Kermit is my favorite Muppet, I have to say that I'll laugh anything these two are doing! They define the humor of irony! My favorite kind of humor comes from an ironic situation, and these two master that well! Take this exchange of lines for example:WALDORF: Well, as they say in France, adiós! STATLER: Uh, that's Spanish! WALDORF: I know. I don't speak French.CAN YOU SPELL AWESOME?!?Another reason this show works is because it's not always trying to force humor down your throat. Oh, it's a funny show, but it's not always trying to be funny. There are many moments where we see another side of the characters, or when we see, dare I say it, something serious and beautiful. There are plenty of those moments. The episode with Harry Belafonte ends with his song "Turn the World Around," a song about all people being one. There's a scene in Season 2 with Rowlf singing "What a Wonderful World" to a puppy. Not only is the show crazy, insane, and hilarious, but it can also be heartfelt and beautiful."The Muppet Show" also isn't trying to conform with what's popular. Yes, they sing well known songs, but their form of entertainment is very unique. The jokes, the situations, the characters, the interactions - it's all unique and original. It's not trying to be something else, it's trying to be its own show. That is bold and courageous!The puppetry in this show is great! They really push the envelope when showing all that puppets are capable of, especially in film! They dance, they fight, they fly - there's nothing they can't do!I'd be lying if I said this show is totally timeless. It's timeless in the sense you'll laugh with it and appreciate it no matter when you watch it. At the same time, though, there are 2 things stopping it from being totally timeless: the celebrities and the songs (this is something I should have mentioned in my "Sesame Street" review). Both of these elements gave into what was popular at the time. Whenever a piece of dramatic art has a popular song or a celebrity, it's dating itself because these things won't be famous for long. Not everyone knows who Ben Vereen, Bob Hope, or Madeline Kahn are today, sadly. They all should, but they don't. But, with that, maybe this show can play the role of teacher. Maybe by having your friends and/or children watch this show, they'll be led to look up these people and learn why they're famous.I cannot talk about this show without paying homage to the late and the great Jim Henson! Jim Henson, I'm just going to put it out there, is one of the small number of celebrities I actually aspire to be like, and you can see why through this show! He is the reason the show is so great! He allowed the other puppeteers to be creative and inventive, and he banked off of their creativity and ideas; he pushed puppetry forward; he became a great actor by making "simple pieces of foam and fabric" real people and characters; he never went for the gut-wrenching jokes, but he took entertainment seriously; he took a form of entertainment that many would call childish and made it appeal to everyone of every age! He accomplished so much in this show and in his entire body of work! I am so upset he passed away before I was born, ensuring I'd never get to meet him here on Earth. I pray I see him in Heaven so I can thank him, not just for a great TV show, but also for a great legacy, and for proving that there's no such thing as impossibility. Through this show, Jim Henson told us we and our dreams and visions will go as far as we're willing to take them. Thank you, Jim Henson. BOOYIKA!
abrafocus
I haven't seen all 120 episodes; I've seen maybe 1 season's worth. But not an entire season.One guest star is Peter Sellers, who is known for his role as Inspetor Jacques Clouseu. He imitates Groucho Marx in one number, and is dressed as a preacher of some kind in another one.Right now, I'd say my favorite episode is the one with Christopher Reeve. He's not my favorite actor; and I never was a huge fan of Superman. But he acted a lot like Superman on that show, and I really like it.Many of the episodes I've seen are pretty boring, too, so wouldn't watch any that you're too unfamiliar with. Though don't take only my word for it.I like this show, and I plan to get all five seasons when they all come out.
movieman_kev
Kermit the frog, Fronzie bear, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the Muppet's take part in this musical variety show despite constant heckling from two audience members from the balcony. This show didn't exactly hit the ground running and had trouble getting guest star in the beginning, so Season 1 turns out to be a mixed bag indeed. In fact the only real lasting big stars are Vincent Price (to pour salt in the wound, his "You've Got A Friend", was cut.from the DVD), Ben Vereen, and Florence Henderson. Juliet Prowse? Come on now. Ruth Buzzi??!!? get outta here. The first season isn't a total loss some skits are very good & seeing the original pilot on the DVD set is a trip and a half. It's just the show could and WOULD get better starting with the second season even.My Season 1 grade: C+ Season 1 DVD Extras: Muppet Morsels (Pop-up Trivia Track; Original pitch reel; Promo gag reel; the original Pilot; Teaser for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", and Trailers for "Valiant", "the Muppets Wizard of Oz", "Kermit's 50th Anniversary", "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", "Old Yeller: Special Addition", "Aliens of the Deep", and "According to Jim"
