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The Muppet Show (1974): 15 SHOCKING Facts You Didn't Know!

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The Muppet Show (1974): 15 SHOCKING Facts You Didn't Know includes Jim Henson’s homemade Kermit, the failed Saturday Night Live experiment, and Miss Piggy’s surprising rise from background character to global icon. These 15 shocking facts reveal how Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and the classic Muppet cast created television history.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:18 - #1: Kermit’s mysterious identity before becoming a frog
03:11 - #2: The Saturday Night Live experiment nobody wanted
05:10 - #3: The controversial pilot that changed everything
06:59 - #4: How a background pig took over the show
08:52 - #5: The unexpected origin of “Mahna Mahna”
10:37 - #6: The laugh track Jim Henson tried to avoid
12:20 - #7: Gonzo’s strange identity before becoming a “Whatever”
13:52 - #8: The hidden physical cost of puppeteering
15:44 - #9: The luxury connection behind Statler and Waldorf
17:18 - #10: Why the Muppets favor one hand
19:00 - #11: The invented meaning behind “Muppet”
20:29 - #12: Why Jim Henson ended a global hit
22:48 - #13: The secret behind the Swedish Chef’s hands
24:07 - #14: The Muppet celebrities wanted as a co-star
25:53 - #15: The comeback that finally found the original formula

🍿 WATCH MORE 70s TV FACTS: 1970s TV Shows

19 Comments

@BackBeforeHQ Creator 1 month ago Pinned

OK, we want to know... what was the funniest backstage disaster on The Muppet Show? Was it exploding props, Animal causing chaos, Gonzo's latest stunt, or something else entirely? Subscribe for more retro TV deep dives, and share this with the friend who always rooted for Kermit to somehow hold it all together. Then keep the nostalgia going with our full playlist below!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXu5WXHi8-Q6SU3P7SyDtYlY2yi7L2oZO&si=7cZxdHq33biVlrqY

@GoldenReels-w2l 1 month ago

I had no idea so much happened behind the scenes of The Muppet Show. This completely changed the way I look at the series. Great video!

@aprilskutt974 1 month ago

The Muppet Show was a big part of my childhood.

@FitMommyMakeover 1 month ago

The muppets was such a major part of childhood in the 80s. We watched the show, the cartoons, the movies, and anything else Muppets they created 😂. My favorite character was Miss Piggy! I still say “moi” regularly! 😂

@jimbear62 1 month ago

One more fact:
All the guest stars were one time only.. there were no repeat guest stars

@elineff2791 1 month ago

when I was little and not so little I had Muppets bed sheets cause Animal was my favorite

@GrtflDtrOfGod 1 month ago

I think the balcony guys would be paired up great with Siskel and Ebert😂😂😂

@bluetarantulaproductions6179 1 month ago

Disney needs to bring The Muppet Show back into full swing with new episodes and season's.

@bluebehir 1 month ago

Bunsen and Beaker were my favourites.

@MichaelN-j8q 1 month ago

I ❤ Muppets!

@JulieCastillo-i9i 11 days ago

I actually like and subscribe at the same time

@tyreekanimations 1 month ago (edited)

The thumbnail makes it look like nobody noticed Kermit,
Btw thanks for not being a misinformation video, some people believe Kermit was Wilkins for some reason

@chrismulwee4911 1 month ago

I have ALWAYS thought that the Gene Kellly episode was the last one. That explains the end of the world premise; it was the end of THAT world.

@DonnieProwell 1 month ago

Pepe "I AM NOT A SHRIMP I AM A KING PRAWN"

@jgkidd82 1 month ago

Loved the original Muppet Show. The Anniversary show was just okay for me.

@Bender-is-Great 1 month ago

I was very disappointed when I found out the 50th special was a one time thing .... I honestly thought they brought back the series.

@BryanSturgeon-f7l 1 month ago

Fun fact Jordan Peterson is the voice of Kermit the frog 🐸

@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety 1 month ago

A couple years ago a guy came up to me in a store to comment on my Muppet shirt. He laughed and said the word "muppet" in the UK is a slur meaning stupid. I dunno if what he said was true, or if he was just calling me stupid.