It's Time to Meet the Muppets...

The Muppet Show took place at the Muppet Theater, and featured both on-stage acts and frantic backstage activity.

Kermit the Frog served as host of The Muppet Show, and was also the director, assisted by Scooter. The show's orchestra was conducted by Nigel, and musical acts ranged from solo musicians such as Rowlf the Dog, the always enjoyable Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.


Because it was a puppet show, The Muppet Show had the advantage of being able to include an endless array of characters with only a small number of performers. Recurring figures included Sam the Eagle; Camilla the Chicken; Robin the Frog, (aka Kermit's nephew); and Link Hogthrob, the captain of The Swinetrek, among with hundreds of others, for example:

Beauregard
The lovable janitor at the Muppet Theater (who took over for George the Janitor). Although he tries to be helpful, his efforts result in disaster more often than not. Beauregard's appeared in The Great Muppet Caper as a taxi driver and brought Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo to the Happiness Hotel.

Janice
The lead guitar player in the Electric Mayhem, Janice also portrays Nurse Janice in Veterinarian's Hospital, and appears in various other sketches. In Michael Frith's original sketch of the character Janice was intended to be a male character, a takeoff on Mick Jagger's emaciated frame. Her name is probably a reference to Janis Joplin.

Jim
The banjo player for the Country Trio, which performed in variety show appearances in the mid 70s and occasionally on The Muppet Show, Jim is based on Jim Henson. His band mates (Frank and Jerry) are likewise based on muppet performers.

Sweetums
A grotesque, hairy ogre, Sweetums who towers above his human and Muppet co-stars. His bulldog-like lower jaw, thick eyebrows, shabby brown shirt, and threatening expression belie his more or less genial nature. Sweetums first appeared on the television special The Frog Prince in 1971. In 1976, Sweetums joined the cast of The Muppet Show and had a featured part in The Muppet Movie. Sweetums' performer uses his right arm to either operate the mouth or the right arm: when the right arm moves, the mouth can't move on its own, and vice versa. The eyes and eyebrows move by remote control.

For all thing Muppet, be sure to visit the Muppet Wikipedia