Your favorite TMS opening

[minor muppetz]

Out of the five opening themes from The Muppet Show, which one is your favorite?

I like the last season theme the best, followed by the fourth season theme, the first season theme, the second season theme, and the third season opening (which isn't too different from the second season opening theme).

 

[Gonzo14]

I didn't know they changed it between seasons (well I knew they changed it after season 1, but I thought that was it)

 

[minor muppetz]

I didn't know they changed it between seasons (well I knew they changed it after season 1, but I thought that was it)

Here are the differences between the openings after season two:
Season 3: the shot of Zoot and Rowlf is different, after the cast says "it's time to get things started!", the audience says, "why don't you get things started?", and different music plays when statler and waldorf appear (and in some episodes from the third and foruth seasons, statler and waldorfs spot is replaced by a brief backstage or orchestra scene).

Season 4: the opening is shorter. After the monsters appear, we see two rows of arches appearing at the same time and the males and females appear at once, singing, "it's time to play the music. it's time to light the lights! it's time to get things started!", and then the audience says their line and it continues from how the third season closing ended.

Season 5: this one is longer (i am not sure whether this opening is longer than the first season opening). The shot of Rowlf and Zoot changes again, the shots of women and men are both changed (but they both appear seperately again), the line from the men once again ends with "it's time to raise the curtains on the muppet show tonigth" (which was used in the original opening). Then Statler and Waldorf sing a verse of the show (so their spot in the opening is the same for every last season episode), then Animal plays a brief drum solo, then Lips and the trombone lady play their instruments (a trumpet and a trombone), then we see two (or possibly three, I can't remember) stacks of arches with muppets saying "but now let's get things started", the audinece sings "why don't you get things started", and then it ends the way it did in the last four seasons (starting with kermit singing a verse and the screen widening to reveal all of the characters in arches).

I hope this helps.

 

[Daffyfan4ever]

Thanks for clarifying the differences, especially between season 2 and season 3 openings. I have noticed there was an extra "Why don't you get things started" that season and sometimes the Statler and Waldorf gags were replaced but I haven't noticed a difference in the shot of Rowlf and Zoot. I also haven't noticed the different music.

I'd have to say the best was season 5, since that one includes Waldorf's and Statler's verse in the theme and it seems to be the most common opening known today.

Since I now have the DVD and have a chance to see the first season openings, I'd have to call that a close second. It seems like there's so much more to the theme here than in later seasons.

I thought the season 4 opening was kind of dull, since they only sang one verse in the theme and it was so short. I liked the openings for seasons two and three though.

 

[minor muppetz]

Thanks for clarifying the differences, especially between season 2 and season 3 openings. I have noticed there was an extra "Why don't you get things started" that season and sometimes the Statler and Waldorf gags were replaced but I haven't noticed a difference in the shot of Rowlf and Zoot. I also haven't noticed the different music.

In season two, the shot of Rowlf and Zoot had Rowlf playing the piano while the camera moved back and Zoot blew his sax. In seasons three and four, Zoot was kind of popping up into frame before he made his blow. And in the last season, Zoot was watching Rowlf play the piano before he took a blow on cue.

I thought the season 4 opening was kind of dull, since they only sang one verse in the theme and it was so short. I liked the openings for seasons two and three though.

I wonder if the episodes were gettin longer and therefore the opening had to be shortened. Maybe after that the episodes started getting shorter and the last opening had to be longer again. Just a thought.

 

[minor muppetz]

I also haven't noticed the different music.

The music used for Statler and waldorfs spot in the secodn season openign basically sounded like an instrumental version of the "why don't you get things started" line. In the thirs and fourth seasons, the music in this scene sounded a bit different. I can't really describe this music.

 

[Frogster]

I like Season Five... they reworded Kermit's lines from the first season for Statler and Waldorf...very cool! Plus, all the characters are "updated." Which means, the Muppets were given fresher looks.

 

[Daffyfan4ever]

The music used for Statler and waldorfs spot in the secodn season openign basically sounded like an instrumental version of the "why don't you get things started" line. In the thirs and fourth seasons, the music in this scene sounded a bit different. I can't really describe this music.

That's alright. I'll listen for that next time I watch a third season ep from Timelife. Thanks.