The Muppets (TV)
The Muppets are a beloved ensemble of puppet characters created by Jim Henson, who began his career in puppetry during the 1950s. Combining elements of marionettes and hand puppets, the Muppets are known for their expressive movements and charming personalities. Henson gained prominence through his work on "Sesame Street," where he introduced iconic characters like Kermit the Frog and Big Bird to engage children with educational content. In 1976, Henson launched "The Muppet Show," a variety program that featured celebrity guests and vaudevillian sketches, appealing to audiences of all ages. The show's humorous characters, such as Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear, often included social and cultural satire, promoting themes of acceptance and diversity. Over its run, "The Muppet Show" produced 120 episodes, paving the way for the Muppets' ventures into film, beginning with "The Muppet Movie" in 1979. Jim Henson's innovative contributions to puppeteering and children's television have left a lasting impact, making the Muppets enduring symbols of creativity and humor in American culture.
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The Muppets (TV)
Identification Puppets that starred in a variety of television shows and films
Jim Henson’s lifelike puppets—showcased in television, films, and cartoons—became some of the most lovable characters in American popular culture during the decade.
Key Figures
Jim Henson (1936-1990), muppet creator
The Muppets were the creations of Jim Henson, who worked as a puppeteer in college and had his own show in the Washington, D.C., area during the 1950’s. His Muppets were a cross between marionettes and hand puppets: Their mouths were usually worked by hand and their arms and legs often moved by strings. The puppeteer was usually situated below the Muppet. Henson even built special stages so that there was room for the puppeteers to move, which added to the illusion that the Muppets were real.
Though certain Muppet characters had appeared on a variety of shows throughout the 1960’s, Henson’s creations became widely known once he joined the production staff of Sesame Street. Creating Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Kermit the Frog, and a host of others to mix with the live cast members of the show, Henson used the Muppet characters to help deliver the educational content of the show. Muppets also were “guests” on a variety of shows and even had a segment on Saturday Night Live.
Henson wanted the Muppets to have their own show that would appeal to the whole family and not just to children. In 1976, The Muppet Show, produced in Great Britain, hit American airwaves. The Muppets, led by Kermit the Frog, hosted a live guest star each week who performed in vaudevillian type sketches with the Muppets. Other popular characters included Miss Piggy, performed by Frank Oz, who also acted as Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, the Swedish Chef, and a variety of others. An array of celebrities, including Bob Hope, Elton John, Christopher Reeve, and Brooke Shields, appeared on the show. The Muppets Show became successful with adults and children by incorporating the funny characters with social and cultural satire; for instance, in one skit, singing woodland animals had to dodge zealous hunters. Since Muppets came in all sizes, shapes, and colors, acceptance was another theme that Henson and the writers tried to emphasize through the show. Henson made 120 episodes before ending production in 1980. By then, the Muppets had already become film stars with the debut of The Muppet Movie in 1979.
Impact
Jim Henson is second only to Walt Disney in the creation of popular lovable characters that have had an enduring impression on American culture, as well as in making a lasting impact on children’s television and puppeteering.
Bibliography
Aaseng, Nathan. Jim Henson, Muppet Master. Minneapolis: Lerner, 1988.
St. Pierre, Stephanie. The Story of Jim Henson, Creator of the Muppets. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens, 1997.