Frank Oz
Fozzie Bear
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Cast
Episode Guide
- 1. Valentine Special Jan 30, 1974
- Mia Farroww.
- 2. Sex and Violence Mar 19, 1975
- Kermit, Miss Piggy and other Muppets welcome guest stars.
- 3. S1 E3 Sep 20, 1976
- Guest Rita Moreno.
Nov 22, 2011 · The Muppet Show Theme (Full) Lyrics: Female Chorus: / It's time to play the music / It's time to light the lights / It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight / Male...
- Overview
- Openings
- Closings
- References
- Covers
- Notes
- See also
- Sources
"The Muppet Show Theme" was played at the beginning and end of every episode of The Muppet Show. Although it evolved visually over the course of the show's five seasons, the musical composition remained substantially the same.
Season One
Each Muppet Show theme starts with a shot of the title card, which in the first season was less ornate than the one that would replace it the following year. As the camera zoomed in, a spotlight immediately lit up the O, the center of which swings back to reveal Kermit, introducing the very special guest star. The title card then lifts to show the curtains and the Muppet orchestra is revealed, including close-ups of Crazy Harry on the triangle, Zoot on sax, an uncharacteristically calm Animal on the drums, and Rowlf at the piano. Trumpet Girl and conductor Nigel are also seen in the long shot. Two kicklines take turns crossing the stage: four chorus girls (a bewigged Janice, Miss Piggy, the Trumpet Girl, and a female Whatnot) and four chorus boys (a Whatnot monster, Blue Frackle, a pig, and Green Frackle). The curtains part for Fozzie Bear, who attempts a different joke each week, usually cut off. As the curtains closed on Fozzie, Kermit appeared in front of them to introduce the guest star who was usually shown among an assortment of Muppets he or she would appear with later in the episode. In the first season's earliest episodes, after the presentation verse by Kermit, the guest stars appeared in a position with Muppets from one of their upcoming sketches, as a tease of what's to come. Jim Nabors was the first guest star surrounded by casual Muppets in the opening theme, as will be usual in the next episodes of the season, with some exceptions. The last verse of the theme song is performed by Kermit and a chorus of Muppets, which also include Wayne, Wanda, and Snake Frackle. After the logo lowers into place, Gonzo finishes the theme each week by trying to hit the O like a gong, with a different result each week. Beginning in the 1980s, when episodes from Season One were played in syndication and on home video, the original opening was replaced with the Season Two opening, except for episodes 103, 106, 114 and TNT airings of 121, which were paired with the Season Five opening. The original openings were restored on The Muppet Show: Season One DVD set. This version is featured on most album releases of the song, including The Muppet Show, Favorite Songs From Jim Henson's Muppets, Muppet Hits, Best of the Muppets, and Music, Mayhem, And More.
Season Two
The opening is heavily revamped, with a new title card. The opening curtain reveals a series of arches. The shots of Animal and Crazy Harry are replaced with Rowlf playing a bit of music on the piano, then Zoot, who blows a note on his saxophone. Next, a group of full-bodied monsters (including Sweetums, Timmy Monster, Thog, and two Mutations) walked on-stage, followed by a group of females and then males each group singing its own verse. The characters for the women's line are from right to left, Miss Mousey, Chicken, Whatnot, Chicken, Janice, Whatnot, Mildred Huxtetter, and Lydia. The men characters include Dr. Julius Strangepork, The Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Whatnot, George the Janitor, Whatnot, Blue Frackle, Link Hogthrob, Green Frackle, and Jim. The male chorus verse is slightly shorter than in the previous season. Kermit is now seated in the arches with the rest of the cast. Gonzo now plays a trumpet note instead of the gong gag. The arch positions for the group are as follows: Row #1: Chicken, Baskerville the Hound, T.R., Duck-billed Woman, Mahna Mahna, Mel, Whatnot Row #2: Female Koozebanian Creature, Lydia, Mildred Huxtetter, Whatnot, Janice, Chicken, Female Dancer, Chicken, Miss Mousey Row #3: Chicken, The Newsman, Dr. Teeth, Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog (seated), Fozzie Bear, Scooter, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Chicken Row #4: Miss Kitty, Fleet Scribbler, Dr. Julius Strangepork, The Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Whatnot, George the Janitor, Blue Frackle, Whatnot, Link Hogthrob, Green Frackle, Jim, Lenny the Lizard Row #5: Whatnot, Jerry, Uncle Deadly, Droop, Chicken, Beautiful Day Monster, Gorgon Heap, Svengali's Assistant, Pig, Crazy Harry, Male Koozebanian Creature, Wanda, Wayne This version is featured on the albums of The Muppet Show 2 and Muppet Hits Take 2. This opening replaced the original first season opening during syndication until the season DVD sets were released.
Season Three
The third season's opening was similar to the second season, the only differences being a slight change to the initial shots of Zoot and Rowlf and an additional shot in which the audience asked "Why don't you get things started?" Episode 308 from this season is the only episode with a completely different opening sequence, the theme lyrics slightly altered, the music played in a timetable, and the intro done at a train station.
Seasons One and Two
The instrumental theme version used for the closing is played by The Muppet Orchestra. From left to right, the members are Zoot, Floyd Pepper, Trumpet Girl, Crazy Harry (without his triangle), Nigel, Animal, and Rowlf. Comments by Statler and Waldorf (or closing gags) were followed by a wide shot of the orchestra and then a shot of Zoot blowing a final bum note out of his saxophone. The closing sequence remained the same for season 2, with the only difference being a replaced shot of the updated Floyd Pepper puppet. The entire sequence originally begun with a pan-out shot of the orchestra, as seen in the pilot episodes 101 and 102. The German dub of the series uses this version at the end of every episode, instead of using the closings for later seasons. This closing is also shown at the end of the It's the Muppets! video releases (with part of the third season's theme music playing during the pan-out shot), heard during the end credits for I Love Muppets, and released on the albums The Muppet Show 2, Muppet Hits, Muppet Hits Take 2, and Music, Mayhem, And More.
Seasons Three and Four
In season 3, the entire closing was re-shot, with wardrobe changes and the omission of Crazy Harry. The theme itself is now a slightly slower rendition, including a piano solo from Rowlf replacing Zoot's sax solo. Like the season 1 closing, there are solo shots of each member, with the exception of Trumpet Girl. Like the first season, the entire sequence opened up with a pan-out shot of the orchestra, as seen in episodes 319, 401, and 409. This version was heard during the closing credits for Of Muppets and Men, ending after Rowlf's solo. Along with being used in the end credits for Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets, Muppet Moments and Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook from Playhouse Video, it was released on The Muppet Show Music Album.
Season Five
The closing was re-shot again for the fifth season. This time, Lips is in the orchestra playing a prominent solo, and Trumpet Girl plays the trombone. In episode 507, the shot of Lips and the Trumpet Girl is re-used at the beginning of the closing credits. In episodes 508 and 511, Lips' trumpet solo is muted. The closing music plays over the credits of the Playhouse Video compilations The Muppet Revue, Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff and Rock Music with the Muppets.
As the first TV series that would establish The Muppets brand of characters, musical elements from the theme would be incorporated into the opening title theme for several other forays the Muppets have made into television.
•"Muppets Tonight Theme"
•The Muppets TV theme
•"The Muppets Theme"
•Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) sings, and plays on the piano, a rendition of the song while weeping uncontrollably in the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which featured puppets from Jim Henson's Creature Shop).
•Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff danced to the song on Dancing with the Stars in 2009. Ryan Lochte and Cheryl Burke did a similar routine seven years later.
•Jim Henson's original storyboards for the theme indicate the theme originally ended with Kermit and the Muppets singing the finale lyrics in a series of circles, which all appear within the "O" of the logo.
•WhoSampled.com notes the tune's similarity to a 1930s German song, "Ich Brauche Keine Millionen".
•Gonzo's Muppet Show Openings
•The Muppet Show alternate closings
•Zoot's Muppet Show endings
•The Muppets Theme
1.Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal, page 103
"The Muppet Show Theme" is a song originally written for The Muppet Show by Sam Pottle and Jim Henson. Although it evolved visually over the course of the show's five seasons, the musical composition remained substantially the same. Despite The Muppet Show being released even before Disney's...
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Next On Disney+ | April 2024. It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. It’s time to tell you that all five seasons of The Muppet Show are streaming February 19 on #DisneyPlus. Watch the original theme song to get yourself in the Muppet mood.
