Muppets are a combination of marionettes and foam-rubber hand puppets that became famous on television and in motion pictures. Jim Henson, an American puppeteer, developed the Muppets, creating the name from a combination of the words marionette and puppet. The best-known Muppets include Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo. Henson was the manipulator and voice of several Muppets, including Kermit. Henson’s colleague Frank Oz was the voice of such characters as Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear.
Henson created the first Muppets in 1954. They made their first regular appearance in 1955 on a local Washington, D.C., television program called “Sam and Friends.” During the 1960’s, the Muppets appeared as guests on several national TV shows. The characters received their first sustained national exposure in 1969 on the educational public TV show “Sesame Street.” That series featured the Muppet figures Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Cookie Monster.
Henson believed that adults, as well as youngsters, would find the Muppets entertaining, but American TV network officials thought their appeal was limited to young audiences. English producer Lew Grade backed Henson and the Muppets on a syndicated adult TV series that was produced in the United Kingdom. “The Muppet Show” became popular throughout the world, eventually seen in more than 100 countries. The program took the form of a variety show with Kermit as host and famous entertainers and other celebrities as guest stars. “The Muppet Show” made the brash Miss Piggy a cult figure. The series ran from 1976 to 1981. By the late 1970’s, there were nearly 400 Muppet characters. The Muppets also starred in several feature motion pictures, beginning with The Muppet Movie (1979). From 2015 to 2016, the characters starred in another TV show, called “The Muppets.”
