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Before the Muppets became a family-oriented enterprise, Jim Henson’s weirdo creations served as a kid-friendly, but adult-oriented, alternative to Sesame Street. During its five-season run between 1976 and 1981, The Muppet Show featured so many celebrity guests, many musicians, who took part in some of the show’s absurdist comedy sketches. Popular music served as a staple for Muppet sketches, and many pop singers joined in on the wacky fun. Below you’ll find some of our favorite musical sketches. Did we miss yours? Sound off in the comments!
Jim Croce - "Time in a Bottle"
We’re not the only ones with Jim Croce on the brain, and this poignant clip featuring the ’70s folk crooner’s touching reflection on time and memory definitely popped back into our heads this week — giving us some nostalgia for The Muppet Show‘s tender and oddball musical mashups.
Harry Nilsson - "Coconut"
Nilsson’s daffy little number is a perfect fit for a Muppets musical number, especially given the original series tendency to go to weird and psychedelic places. By today’s standards, this musical sketch hits some problematic buttons, but it still speaks to the Muppets’ creative team’s super bizarre senses of humor.
The Village People - "In the Navy"
I wish I could have been at this pitch meeting. “Hey, how about we have a bunch of the pig puppets dressed up as vikings and sing a Village People song before raping and pillaging some small village, just like in history — except for the pigs and the Village People?” Again, its a clip that would never be aired in our more politically correct time, and thus remains a crazy example of a, say, slightly unsophisticated environment.
Kenny Rogers - "The Gambler"
“Human” Muppets are pretty creepy, but you have to admit: Kenny Rogers’ country-western ballad is perfect for a Muppets sketch, even if those terrifying old man Muppets and their talk-singing are requirements.
Loretta Lynn - "One's on the Way"
What’s creepier than the old man Muppets? MUPPET BABIES. (No, not the cute baby version of Kermit, Piggy, et al.) Loretta Lynn’s humorous tune about her own fertility turns into a pretty terrifying sketch that’s a rather convincing argument for birth control.
Buffalo Springfield - "For What It's Worth"
Buffalo Springfield’s famous protest song, inspired by an incident in which hippies and police clashed on the Sunset Strip in 1966, has always had a spooky quality to it considering its psychedelic sound and it’s moody lyrics. It makes a perfect fit for The Muppet Show, who made is extra unsettling by having woodland creatures sing it while fearing a band of hunters.
Elton John - "Bennie and the Jets"
Elton John kinda looked (and sounded) like a real-life Muppet in the ’70s, which made his piano-driven jam a perfect match for a Muppet sing-along in the host’s dressing room.
Alice Cooper - "Welcome to My Nightmare"
Like Elton John, Alice Cooper was a perfect match for the Muppets’ sometimes scary, often nutty sensibilities. This clip is also a really great reminder to all of us that both The Muppet Show and Alice Cooper were for adults, not little kids.
Harry Belafonte - "Turn the World Around"
For all its PC missteps, The Muppet Show did provide a platform for this marvelous sketch featuring Harry Belafonte, which offers a thoughtful and poetic musical number based around an African folk song, proving that the program wasn’t entirely devoted to weird, druggy humor and wackadoo bits.
Rita Moreno - "Fever"
I remember being a kid and legitimately howling at this clip of Rita Moreno getting frustrated with an overeager Animal and finally losing that sexy cool of hers. And today, nearly three decades later, I still think it’s probably one of the funniest things I’ve ever witnessed.
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