Since toddlerhood, I’ve been a Sesame Street girl. According to both my mother and my own memories, I loved watching Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Mr. Hooper, Gordon, Maria and all the rest. (Grover remains my dad’s favorite, while Jeremiah has a soft spot for Cookie Monster.) We watched lots of Sesame Street at my house, and we still watch parts of the Christmas Eve special every year.
But I never watched The Muppet Show, which went off the air the year I was born, and wasn’t really a kids’ show, anyway. However, this fall, J and I have been checking out the DVDs from the library and howling with laughter over the antics of Kermit and friends. Kermit has always been my favorite, and it’s such fun to watch him trying to keep everything together (we have that in common) while his wacky friends seem intent, at times, on spoiling or at least sending the show careening wildly off-balance.
Apparently there’s a new Muppet movie in the works (we love the movies too, especially The Muppet Christmas Carol). But for now, we’re having fun watching Kermit dodging Miss Piggy and Fozzie telling terrible jokes and Statler and Waldorf heckling him, and Gonzo performing death-defying acts of, well, we’re not exactly sure what. We love Animal’s mad drumming and the Swedish Chef’s attempts at cooking and Beaker’s mishaps in Muppet Labs, and Rowlf’s piano solos and his jokes on Veterinarian’s Hospital.
This is vintage stuff, so I’m sure we’ve missed a few cultural references, and some of the guest stars are unknown to us – but it’s pure, happy hilarity from the time the curtain goes up till Zoot blows the last note on the saxophone. And after a long day or a hectic week, or just after a cozy dinner at home, it’s often exactly what we need.
Won’t you join us for the Muppet Show tonight?
cakes, tea and dreams 
The Muppet Show is great. Scooter was my favorite and I’ll always have a soft spot for Ms. Moi herself, Miss Pissy. The newer characters like Pepe are hilarious too. They really have kept up with the times.
And oh yeah, Sesame is awesome. but Christmas Eve? Am I missing something?
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Once again, you’ve captured so much of my favourite parts. My sisters were born when I was in high school, so I had great, unembarrassing, unironic access to all the best kids’ shows. At the time, The Muppet Show was the top of the list.
PIGS IN SPACE.
We still watch Muppet Christmas Carol every year – Michael Caine is fabulous – and Kristina still loves Muppet Treasure Island.
Another favourite: Muppet Family Christmas brings together all the main characters from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and Fraggle Rock.
Fraggle Rock is pure gold – brilliant, funny, tender. You might want to add that to your list. And then I want to know which one of the main characters you are most like. 😉
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