The Muppet Show is a television program featuring a cast of Muppets which was produced by Jim Henson and his team from 1976 to 1981. The show stars Kermit the Frog, who was also a regular on Sesame Street. Whereas Kermit was a happy, perky and somewhat avuncular character on Sesame Street, here he is trying to keep control of the varied, outrageous, kinetic Muppet characters (and his temper), as well as keep the human guest stars happy and secure. The television show depicted a vaudeville- or music hall-style song-and-dance variety show, as well as the backstage antics involved in putting the show on.

The show was known for outrageous, physical (slapstick), sometimes absurdist comedy, and particularly for using its puppet characters to create humorous parodies. Each show also featured a human star; after the show became popular, many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in film. The guests included Diana Ross, Harry Belafonte, Elton John, Christopher Reeve, Johnny Cash, Twiggy, Sandy Duncan, Julie Andrews, Joan Baez, Steve Martin, Florence Henderson, Paul Williams, Rich Little, characters from Star Wars, Mummenschanz, Ethel Merman, Paul Simon, John Denver, John Cleese, Judy Collins, Gene Kelly, Alice Cooper, and exactly one-hundred others.

Muppet performers over the course of the show include Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathy Mullen, Eren Ozker, and John Lovelady. Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns were two of the show writers.

Kermit the Frog is the manager of a cabaret-style theatre house, which invariably has more drama behind the stage than on it. He has to contend with wannabe-comedian bears, the smothering advances of Miss Piggy, crabby regular theatre patrons, homicidal chefs, livestock, not to mention making the weekly guest star feel welcome. Written by Murray Chapman

Kermit the Frog tries to run a Variety show in the Muppet Theater. Working against him are Statler and Waldorf, the two heckler's who always were in the same balcony and Scooter's uncle who owned the theater. Miss Piggy, who was boosted to superstardom from this show, wanted to be a star and would do anything to get that, including karate-chopping anyone who got in her way. Some of the often used skits included "Muppet News Flash," "Pigs in Space," "Veterinarian's Hospital" and "At the Dance." Written by Ted Nesi