List of The Muppet Show episodes
This is a complete listing of episodes of the live-action/puppet television series The Muppet Show, created by Jim Henson and produced by Henson Associates on September 5, 1976 and ended on May 23, 1981.
The 120 episodes were produced in the UK between 1976 and 1980; two pilot episodes were also produced, one in 1974 and the other in 1975. The UK broadcasts featured extra scenes that were not seen on US TV.[1] There is no set broadcast order for the episodes, as they were shown in varying order in different regions.[1] For the Season One DVD box set that was released in 2005, Buena Vista Home Entertainment placed the episodes in the order in which they were produced, rather than aired, for this reason.[1] Due to the sequence in which the episodes are organized on DVD disc 1, Scooter is part of the backstage staff before his first appearance (Jim Nabors episode).[2] The set also includes the longer UK versions of each of the episodes,[1] though six song sequences were cut from the set because of licensing issues. It is common for television executives to insist on an edit of video release rather than pay money to the owners of the copyright of songs. Examples include the Vincent Price episode, the closing number of which, "You've Got a Friend", is cut on The Muppet Show: Season One DVD; it is available uncut and in English on the German DVD.
The tables below list episodes based on their initial airing dates, for the United Kingdom, except for the two pilots. Thus they may not necessarily be the order in which episodes were shown in all regions.
The series The Muppet Show was to be available starting on February 19, 2021 on streaming Disney+.[3]
Episodes
Pilots (1974–1975)
The first pilot opens with a character called Wally and develops as he types the script on his typewriter. In the second pilot, a new character called Nigel acts as the backstage boss. Statler and Waldorf grumble from a living room while watching the show on television (This setting for Statler and Waldorf would be revisited in the first series of Muppets Tonight). In both pilot episodes, Kermit the Frog only plays a supporting role.
No. | Title | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|
0.01 | "The Muppets Valentine Show" | 30 January 1974 | |
The first Muppet Show pilot, starring Mia Farrow. The hosting duties are attended to by a character called Wally. Other characters include George the Janitor, Mildred Huxtetter, Droop, Brewster, and "Crazy Donald" (called Crazy Harry in later episodes). Kermit the Frog has a supporting role. Most of the remaining characters appearing were from previous Jim Henson productions. | |||
0.02 | "The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence" | 3 March 1975 | |
A second pilot episode for The Muppet Show. Viewers got glimpses of several of the future Muppet stars. Although Kermit does appear briefly, the backstage boss of this variety show is Nigel, the show's future band leader. Miss Piggy makes a brief appearance in a parody of Planet of the Apes and the Twilight Zone episode "Eye of the Beholder". Meanwhile, personifications of a variety of sins romp around backstage, waiting for auditions for The Seven Deadly Sins Pageant. Debuting are Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, The Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, and Statler and Waldorf, grumbling from a living room instead of a theatre box. |
Season 1 (1976–1977)
Kermit the Frog becomes the host for the show from the start of the first season, while former host Nigel gets a part as the orchestra leader. Statler and Waldorf now watch the show from a balcony. Other characters from the pilots, including Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Sam Eagle, The Swedish Chef, George the Janitor, Mildred Huxtetter, Crazy Harry, Brewster, and Droop continue to make appearances. Characters from previous Jim Henson productions also make appearances, including Rowlf the Dog, Sweetums and Robin the Frog (from The Frog Prince), Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, and Thog (from The Great Santa Claus Switch). New characters include Fozzie Bear, The Muppet Newsman, Scooter, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, wardrobe lady Hilda, Uncle Deadly, Marvin Suggs and his Muppaphones, Trumpet Girl, and the singing duet of Wayne and Wanda. Recurring sketches include "Veterinarian's Hospital", "At the Dance", "Talking Houses", "Panel Disscussions", "Fozzie's Monologue", "Talk Spot", "Muppet Labs" and "Gonzo's Act".
No. | Guest star | Original air date | Prod. code |
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1.01 (5) | Joel Grey | 5 September 1976[4][5] | 003 |
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1.02 (1) | Rita Moreno | 12 September 1976[6] | 006 |
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1.03 (3) | Sandy Duncan | 19 September 1976[7] | 014 |
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1.04 (2) | Jim Nabors | 26 September 1976[8] | 007 |
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1.05 (4) | Ruth Buzzi | 3 October 1976[9] | 004 |
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1.06 | Paul Williams | 10 October 1976[10] | 009 |
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1.07 (9) | Florence Henderson | 17 October 1976 | 008 |
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1.08 (8) | Peter Ustinov | 24 October 1976 | 012 |
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1.09 (7) | Lena Horne | 31 October 1976[11] | 011 |
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1.10 (13) | Harvey Korman | 7 November 1976 | 005 |
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1.11 (11) | Candice Bergen | 14 November 1976 | 015 |
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1.12 (15) | Ben Vereen | 21 November 1976 | 017 |
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1.13 (14) | Charles Aznavour | 28 November 1976[12] | 010 |
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1.14 (18) | Phyllis Diller | 5 December 1976[13] | 018 |
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1.15 | Avery Schreiber | 12 December 1976[14] | 016 |
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1.16 (17) | Twiggy | 19 December 1976[15] | 021 |
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1.17 (10) | Valerie Harper | 2 January 1977[16] | 020 |
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1.18 (24) | Mummenschanz | 9 January 1977[17] | 024 |
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1.19 (22) | Juliet Prowse | 16 January 1977[18] | 002 |
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1.20 (23) | Kaye Ballard | 23 January 1977[19] | 023 |
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1.21 (12) | Bruce Forsyth | 30 January 1977[20] | 013 |
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1.22 (19) | Ethel Merman and Richard Bradshaw | 5 February 1977[21] | 022 |
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1.23 (20) | Connie Stevens and Sesame Street characters Ernie and Bert | 12 February 1977[22] | 001 |
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1.24 (16) | Vincent Price | 19 February 1977[23] | 019 |
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Season 2 (1977–1978)
Several changes were made for the second season. Each week, Scooter would now greet the guest star in his or her dressing room before the opening theme song by announcing the time until curtain call. The opening theme sequence was replaced with one involving the cast in arches. Sketches such as "At the Dance", "Talk Spot", "Panel Discussions", "Talking Houses", and "Fozzie's Monologue" either made fewer appearances or were dropped altogether. Several characters were rebuilt, with noticeable changes in Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, and Janice. Characters like George the Janitor, Hilda, Mildred, and Wayne and Wanda were dropped from the series (although Mildred would still make rare sporadic appearances). Robin is identified as Kermit's nephew. New sketches include "Pigs in Space" and "An Editorial by Sam the Eagle". New characters include Bunsen Honeydew's assistant Beaker, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Doglion, and Annie Sue. Muppet performers Eren Ozker and John Lovelady departed from The Muppet Show after the first season. In early episodes of the second season, female puppeteers were auditioned to replace Ozker. Louise Gold was eventually hired as Ozker's replacement. Richard Hunt replaced Ozker as Janice's performer while Jerry Nelson took over the roles of Crazy Harry and The Announcer from John Lovelady. Jack Burns quit his role as writer after the first season.
No. | Guest star | Original air date | Prod. code |
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2.10 (25) | George Burns | 16 September 1977[24] | 034 |
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2.04 (26) | Rich Little | 23 September 1977[25] | |
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2.09 (27) | Madeline Kahn | 30 September 1977[26] | |
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2.07 (28) | Edgar Bergen | 7 October 1977[27] | |
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2.11 (29) | Dom DeLuise | 14 October 1977[28] | |
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2.23 (36) | John Cleese | 21 October 1977[29] | |
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2.06 (44) | Nancy Walker | 28 October 1977[30] | |
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2.12 (32) | Bernadette Peters | 4 November 1977[31] | |
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2.03 (33) | Milton Berle | 11 November 1977[32] | |
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2.22 (34) | Teresa Brewer | 2 December 1977[33] | |
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2.08 (31) | Steve Martin | 9 December 1977[34] | |
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2.15 (45) | Lou Rawls | 16 December 1977[35] | |
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2.17 (41) | Julie Andrews | 25 December 1977[36] | |
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2.19 (42) | Peter Sellers | 1 January 1978[37] | |
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2.14 (39) | Elton John | 8 January 1978[38] | |
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2.16 (47) | Cleo Laine and Bruce Schwartz | 15 January 1978[39] | |
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2.13 (30) | Rudolf Nureyev | 22 January 1978[40] | |
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2.05 (38) | Judy Collins | 29 January 1978 | |
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2.01 (35) | Don Knotts | 5 February 1978 | |
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2.24 (48) | Cloris Leachman | 12 February 1978 | |
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2.21 (40) | Bob Hope | 19 February 1978[41] | |
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2.18 (43) | Jaye P. Morgan | 26 February 1978 | |
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2.02 (37) | Zero Mostel | 5 March 1978 | |
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2.20 (46) | Petula Clark | 12 March 1978[42] | |
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Season 3 (1978–1979)
The third season began promptly after the second season in the Spring of 1978, then took a summer and autumn break resuming in November 1978. All of the characters and sketches from the previous season remained. New characters included dimwitted stagehand Beauregard, boomerang fish thrower Lew Zealand, cafeteria lady Gladys, Bobby Benson and His Baby Band, and sports commentator Louis Kazagger. New segments included "Muppet Sports" and "Bear on Patrol". Two new puppeteers, Steve Whitmire and Kathryn Mullen, joined the troupe of Muppeteers during this season.
No. | Guest star | Original air date | |
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3.03 (50) | Roy Clark | 19 March 1978[43] | |
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3.02 (60) | Leo Sayer | 26 March 1978[44] | |
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3.04 (61) | Gilda Radner | 2 April 1978[45] | |
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3.05 (57) | Pearl Bailey | 9 April 1978[46] | |
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3.06 (51) | Jean Stapleton | 16 April 1978[47] | |
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3.08 (54) | Loretta Lynn | 23 April 1978[48] | |
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3.11 (59) | Raquel Welch | 17 November 1978[49] | |
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3.07 (55) | Alice Cooper | 24 November 1978[50] | |
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3.13 (49) | Helen Reddy | 1 December 1978 | |
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3.12 (52) | James Coco | 8 December 1978 | |
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3.10 (62) | Marisa Berenson | 15 December 1978 | |
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3.01 (58) | Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge | 22 December 1978[51] | |
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3.16 (65) | Danny Kaye | 25 December 1978[52] | |
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3.24 (56) | Cheryl Ladd | 29 December 1978 | |
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3.14 (67) | Harry Belafonte | 5 January 1979[53] | |
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3.15 (69) | Lesley Ann Warren | 12 January 1979 | |
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3.09 (53) | Liberace | 19 January 1979[54] | |
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3.18 (66) | Leslie Uggams with Big Bird | 26 January 1979[55] | |
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3.19 (64) | Elke Sommer | 2 February 1979 | |
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3.20 (68) | Sylvester Stallone | 9 February 1979 | |
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3.21 (70) | Roger Miller | 16 February 1979 | |
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3.22 (71) | Roy Rogers & Dale Evans | 23 February 1979 | |
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3.17 (63) | Spike Milligan | 2 March 1979[56] | |
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3.23 (72) | Lynn Redgrave | 9 March 1979[57] | |
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Season 4 (1979–1980)
Most of the characters and sketches from the previous season remained. Canteen worker Gladys however, was replaced by a new character, Winny. Rizzo the Rat also made his earliest appearances, first as "Super Rat" in the episode which featured Christopher Reeve as its guest star.
No. | Guest star | Original air date | |
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4.07 (78) | Dudley Moore | 24 October 1979 | |
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4.02 (76) | Crystal Gayle | 2 November 1979 | |
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4.05 (80) | Victor Borge | 9 November 1979 | |
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4.09 (81) | Beverly Sills | 16 November 1979 | |
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4.03 (75) | Shields and Yarnell | 23 November 1979 | |
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4.10 (77) | Kenny Rogers | 30 November 1979[58] | |
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4.06 (74) | Linda Lavin | 7 December 1979[59] | |
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4.01 (73) | John Denver | 14 December 1979 | |
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4.08 (79) | Arlo Guthrie | 21 December 1979 | |
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4.14 (82) | Liza Minnelli | 28 December 1979 | |
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4.13 (89) | Dizzy Gillespie | 4 January 1980[60] | |
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4.12 (84) | Phyllis George | 11 January 1980 | |
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4.11 (83) | Lola Falana | 18 January 1980 | |
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4.04 (85) | Dyan Cannon | 25 January 1980 | |
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4.15 (90) | Anne Murray | 1 February 1980 | |
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4.16 (91) | Jonathan Winters | 8 February 1980 | |
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4.18 (86) | Christopher Reeve | 15 February 1980 | |
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4.19 (87) | Lynda Carter | 22 February 1980 | |
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4.17 (88) | Cast of Star Wars (Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew, and Anthony Daniels) | 29 February 1980 | |
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4.22 (92) | Andy Williams | 7 March 1980 | |
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4.21 (93) | Doug Henning | 14 March 1980 | |
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4.20 (96) | Alan Arkin | 21 March 1980 | |
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4.23 (94) | Carol Channing | 28 March 1980 | |
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4.24 (95) | Diana Ross | 4 April 1980[61] | |
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Season 5 (1980–1981)
The cold open featuring Scooter visiting the guest star's dressing room was replaced by a new opening in which Pops, the doorman, would greet each guest as they entered the theatre. New characters included Pops, Lips, and Gaffer the Cat. Two new puppeteers, Brian Muehl and Karen Prell, joined the troupe of Muppeteers during this season, and Betsy Baytos auditioned to perform in eight episodes.
No. | Guest star | Original air date | |
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5.24 (110) | Roger Moore | 5 October 1980[62] | |
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5.05 (98) | James Coburn | 19 October 1980 | |
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5.06 (99) | Brooke Shields | 9 November 1980 | |
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5.13 (100) | Tony Randall | 2 November 1980 | |
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5.11 (101) | Paul Simon | 22 February 1981 | |
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5.03 (102) | Joan Baez | 14 December 1980 | |
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5.23 (103) | Linda Ronstadt | 26 October 1980 | |
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5.07 (104) | Glenda Jackson | 28 December 1980 | |
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5.02 (105) | Loretta Swit | 12 October 1980 | |
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5.17 (107) | Hal Linden | 11 January 1981 | |
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5.10 (108) | Jean-Pierre Rampal | 30 November 1980 | |
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5.15 (109) | Carol Burnett | 8 February 1981 | |
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5.21 (111) | Johnny Cash | 1 February 1981 | |
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5.12 (113) | Melissa Manchester | 16 November 1980 | |
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5.08 (114) | Señor Wences and Bruce Schwartz | 23 November 1980 | |
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5.09 (115) | Debbie Harry | 25 January 1981 | |
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5.01 (116) | Gene Kelly | 4 January 1981 | |
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5.16 (117) | Gladys Knight | 7 December 1980 | |
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5.20 (118) | Wally Boag | 18 January 1981 | |
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5.22 (119) | Buddy Rich | 15 February 1981 | |
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5.18 (120) | Marty Feldman with Cookie Monster, Ernie, Bert, Grover, Count von Count, and two Anything Muppets | 21 December 1980 | |
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5.19 (112) | Chris Langham | 1 March 1981[64] | |
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5.14 (106) | Mac Davis | 8 March 1981[65] | |
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5.04 (97) | Shirley Bassey | 15 March 1981[66] | |
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References
- Muppets: Season DVD Trivia Track
- The Muppet Show Season One: Special Edition (DVD). Region 1: Buena Vista. 2005. ISBN 0-7888-5949-8.CS1 maint: location (link)
- The Muppet Show coming on Disney Plus. Variety.
- The Observer (1901- 2003); London (UK) [London (UK)]5 Sep 1976
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- UK TV Times: Vol 84 No39 September 1976
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- The Observer (1901- 2003); London (UK) [London (UK)]28 Nov 1976: P40
- UK TV Times, 5 December 1976. P45
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tu5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=macMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5844%2C5490873 Note: This is a 3 day guide so don't get the dates mixed up.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- The Guardian (1959-2003); London (UK) [London (UK)]5 Feb 1977: P20.
- The Guardian (1959-2003); London (UK) [London (UK)]12 Feb 1977: P18
- The Guardian (1959-2003); London (UK) [London (UK)]19 Feb 1977: P18
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
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- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z-1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aacMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6040%2C3785424 your need to scroll over to page 2.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
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- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sO9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eKcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6318%2C2096278 scroll over to page 2
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NfM9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=7UgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5579%2C1613396
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UE5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iqcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5659%2C1146515
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fw1DAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kKcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5557%2C258016
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4RJBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mKcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5947%2C752704
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eMRAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F6YMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3800%2C877100
- "Get the Hook" Google Dictionary Definition
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dxs-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=jEoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4653%2C5040698
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Du5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g6cMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1790%2C4646499
- "Shirley fails to rile Miss Piggy". Evening Times. 14 March 1981. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2020.