Some kids are born actors. Others are better suited for the director’s chair, and that is where I often find myself. There have been three major inspirations for my interest in bossing other people around the boards, two of whom are my parents (both of whom are musicians and have excellent taste in the performing arts). The other spot goes to that masterful American classic, The Muppet Show and its long-suffering host of note, Kermit the Frog.
The Muppet Show (and be advised, I’m speaking specifically about the 1976–1981 run) was Jim Henson’s bid for a wider audience — and one that wasn’t solely under the age of six. He conceived the idea for a variety-type show that would involve both the Muppets and human guest stars, but he couldn’t get any TV stations to accept the premise. The scheme was eventually saved by the Brits, and the first episode aired in the U.K. in September 1976. It became, as they say, a smashing success, and its characters and bits are now iconic.
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