# I have season one of The Muppet Show. Whoo hoo! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994 "2005-08-14T19:18:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/21 "2005-08-22T19:49:28Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Be advised that Sex & Violence is very strange. Pretty much the whole show is set backstage, which looks nothing like the backstage we’re used to. Take a good look at the backstage area each time a new scene opens in it- the sports team logo sticker on the bulletin board, the bust to the left of the bulletin board, the clocks on the wall, and the photograph next to the wise man change in each new scene. Although you can see that the Muppet folks were trying, on a whole, the pilot is not as good as the real _Muppet Show_ would eventually be. Perhaps the best parts are the birds with rather familiar-sounding calls, and the running gag involving Nigel setting up a pageant for the deadliest of the seven deadly sins. (“Do we have room in the pageant for an eighth deadly sin…wearing funny pants to a funeral?”) Take a good look during the end credits- Jim Henson (in Muppet form) is seen playing banjo with the Electric Mayhem, and there is a rather revealing camera pull-back while the credits roll. “I challenge ‘gribaziggy.’” ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/22 "2005-08-22T19:59:57Z")
Fiftieth anniversary? I could’ve sworn KtF hasn’t been around that long, but [this press release](http://muppets.go.com/press/index.html) confirms the big 5-0. I could’ve sworn he came into existence with Sesame Street in the late 60’s, but apparently I am wrong. Does anyone have any info of what KtF did before that? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/23 "2005-08-22T20:02:19Z")
You know I really should’ve [looked first](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_the_Frog) and asked questions later. Interesting. I had no idea of the existence of that early show. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/24 "2005-08-22T20:03:12Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > the birds with rather familiar-sounding calls Forgot about them. I think that bit was the longest one that wasn’t set backstage. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/25 "2005-08-22T20:04:38Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Fiftieth anniversary? I could’ve sworn KtF hasn’t been around that long, but [this press release](http://muppets.go.com/press/index.html) confirms the big 5-0. I could’ve sworn he came into existence with Sesame Street in the late 60’s, but apparently I am wrong. Does anyone have any info of what KtF did before that? Kermit started as a Green Lizard Like creature, but morph into a Frog before Sesame Street. From [http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Kermit\_the\_Frog](http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Kermit_the_Frog) > [@](#): > > An early version of Kermit appeared in 1955, in a five minute puppet show for WRC-TV Sam and Friends. The prototype Kermit was created of a green ladies’ coat and a couple of ping-pong balls for eyes. He and Rowlf, also created from scraps, were Henson’s first puppets. The early Kermit was a sort of lizard-like creature; Kermit’s first appearance as a frog was in the television special Hey Cinderella in 1969, and he’s been a frog ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/26 "2005-08-22T20:07:24Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Fiftieth anniversary? I could’ve sworn KtF hasn’t been around that long, but [this press release](http://muppets.go.com/press/index.html) confirms the big 5-0. I could’ve sworn he came into existence with Sesame Street in the late 60’s, but apparently I am wrong. Does anyone have any info of what KtF did before that? In addition to what the link says, I once found a claim in a book on Chicago that Kermit was used in the late 50’s/early 60’s in advertising for Krahm’s (sp?) Dairy. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/27 "2005-08-22T20:11:35Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > In addition to what the link says, I once found a claim in a book on Chicago that Kermit was used in the late 50’s/early 60’s in advertising for Krahm’s (sp?) Dairy. In the DVD pop-ups there was mention of the Muppet’s being used in many commercial campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/28 "2005-08-22T20:13:59Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Kermit started as a Green Lizard Like creature, but morph into a Frog before Sesame Street. Morphed? Or…Evolved? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/29 "2005-08-22T20:22:55Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Morphed? Or…Evolved? 😛 Actually Lizard to Amphibian. Isn’t that devolving? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/30 "2005-08-22T20:25:38Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Actually Lizard to Amphibian. Isn’t that devolving? 😉 Perhaps. But I’m glad he’s a frog. “Hi-ho, Kermit the abstract lizard-like creature here” just wouldn’t sound right. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/31 "2005-08-22T21:13:07Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > > [@Governor Quinn](#): > > > > In addition to what the link says, I once found a claim in a book on Chicago that Kermit was used in the late 50’s/early 60’s in advertising for Krahm’s (sp?) Dairy. > > In the DVD pop-ups there was mention of the Muppet’s being used in many commercial campaigns. I know Kermit starred in commercials for Wilkins Instant Coffee in 1957. I’ve seen clips of them. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/32 "2005-08-22T21:21:04Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I know Kermit starred in commercials for Wilkins Instant Coffee in 1957. I’ve seen clips of them. I seem to recall Muppets advertising that brand of coffee, but to the best of my memory, they were named [Wilkins and Wonkins](http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:orJwMFGIj9YJ:www.toughpigs.com/anthmadison01.htm) . ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/33 "2005-08-22T21:30:13Z")
I just looked up their names, and it seems that [Wilkins](http://kidshow.dcmemories.com/sam5.html) looks a little like Kermit. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/34 "2005-08-23T01:42:00Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > I just looked up their names, and it seems that [Wilkins](http://kidshow.dcmemories.com/sam5.html) looks a little like Kermit. Sounds like him, too. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/35 "2005-08-23T03:40:58Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Kermit started as a Green Lizard Like creature, but morph into a Frog before Sesame Street. > From [http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Kermit\_the\_Frog](http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Kermit_the_Frog) While I’m delighted to learn about the little green guy’s background, what the heck is this info doing on [http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com](http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com) ? Does cartoonnetwork have a link to the life story of Samuel Gompers or George Meany? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/36 "2005-08-23T04:06:54Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > One more thing I forgot to add: other than Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, and a few others, the entire cast of _The Muppet Show_ was created specifically for this show, so it’s interesting to see how this now-famous comedy troupe, like most characters, evolved. Miss Piggy looks a little different (but still has her personality), and poor Bunsen Honeydew has to test his inventions on himself! (Beaker wouldn’t come along until the next season.) I was old enough to watch the show when it first came out, and I remember that there was some concern about having all-new muppets for the show. That was (IIRC - and it’s been a l-o-n-g time) the primary reason for restoring Kermit as the host; he would be the ‘link’ between the new muppets on The Muppet Show and the familiar muppets of Sesame Street. That’s undoubtably also why Bert & Ernie appear in a sketch in one of the early shows. It’s funny in retrospect, considering how iconic all the characters have become in our culture. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/37 "2005-08-23T14:10:19Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > While I’m delighted to learn about the little green guy’s background, what the heck is this info doing on [http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com](http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com) ? Does cartoonnetwork have a link to the life story of Samuel Gompers or George Meany? 🙂 They’re copying [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_the_frog). ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994/38 "2005-08-23T14:23:46Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Does cartoonnetwork have a link to the life story of Samuel Gompers or George Meany? 🙂 Wait, you mean I am not suppose to look up information on the causes of WWII on [wisconsinfarmreport.com](http://wisconsinfarmreport.com)? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-season-one-of-the-muppet-show-whoo-hoo/316994.md?page=1)