TV Specials in the past

[Pug Lover]

I remember during the summer of 79,shortly after the release of The Muppet Movie,there was a tv special that aired one evening,in celebration of the movie.I can,t quite remember the whole thing,but it appeared to be a major event videotaped live somewhere.With a whole bunch of guest stars,sitting at dining tables.I remember Jean Stapleton being among them.Another thing I remember,it was either Statler or Woldorf who did some kind of trick on a waiter.The last thing I remember about the show,was a film clip shown from the movie,at Miss Piggy,s demand,of the romantic scene between Kermit and Piggy out in the field,with her solo song "Never Before" playing.Another tv special I remember a little bit better,aired one evening during the fall of 82,called The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show.Videotaped in front of a live audience with Miss Piggy as the host,and Kermit and the rest of the Muppet Show gang in the audio room.John Ritter guest starred.There was conflict between her and Kermit throughout the show.Miss Piggy wanted the show to be the start of her own series.Kermit insisted it was a special.I remember one number being Miss Piggy,s rendition of Gloria Gaynor,s hit song"I Will Survive".Which she dedicated to Kermit that night.The last thing I remember,the show somehow ended in chaos.With Miss Piggy angry at John Ritter,and in an attempt to give him one of her famous karate chops,she accidently chopped a tv camera in half.These two specials seem to have long since been forgotten.I wonder how many others remember them.

 

[Ryan]

The Muppet Movie special you are refeering to is The Muppets Go Hollywood. It was hosted by Dick Van Dike and Rita Moreno. Guests stars included Johnny Mathis, Paul Williams, and all of the guest stars who were on The Muppet Show up to 1979. The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show was not a live audience, BTW, it was a laugh track.