"Long after " The Muppet Show"'s original 120-episode run ended in 1981, the legend and legacy of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and other creations concocted by puppeteer and TV producer Jim Henson have kept on growing. Thanks to the Muppets' film franchise and the wonders of YouTube, the wacky gang is still delighting, and expanding, its fan base. As a scholar of popular culture, I believe that the Muppets' reign, which began in the 1950s, has helped shape global culture, including educational television."
"Muppets, a portmanteau of marionette and puppet, first appeared on TV in the Washington, D.C., region in 1955, when Henson created a short sketch show called " Sam and Friends " with his future wife, Jane Nebel. Their motley cast of puppets, including a lizardlike character named Kermit, sang parody songs and performed comedy sketches. Henson's creations were soon popping up in segments on other TV shows, including "Today" and late-night programs."
The Muppets debuted as television puppets in the 1950s and gained mainstream fame through variety shows, notably a variety program that debuted fifty years ago featuring absurdist slapstick and characters made of foam and fleece. Jim Henson created Kermit and other figures on Sam and Friends in 1955, and ensemble characters appeared on national programs and commercials. Henson supplied characters to Sesame Street, waiving performance fees to retain character rights. The franchise expanded into film, international syndication, educational television influence, billions in revenue, and continued popularity via online platforms, sustaining global cultural impact.
Read at Fortune
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