The Muppet Show (Seasons 1–5)

The Muppet Show (1976) is Jim Henson's classic family variety series — watch all seasons online on iFILM. Five seasons, over a hundred episodes, produced jointly in the UK and US after American networks passed on it twice; Lew Grade and ATV gave it the green light, and it became one of the most-watched programs on the planet.

Every episode is a backstage disaster disguised as a polished variety show. Kermit the Frog holds it together through sheer panic. Miss Piggy stages takeovers, Fozzie Bear's jokes land nowhere near where he aims them, and Gonzo attempts something dangerous and absurd while the rest of the crew scrambles. Henson voiced Kermit and most of the core cast; Frank Oz handled Piggy and Fozzie.

The show operates on two frequencies at once: broad physical comedy for kids, and a fairly sharp industry satire for everyone else — the sketches are half parody of the guests' own public image. That split register is what kept it fresh across five seasons and still keeps it watchable. Stream The Muppet Show online on iFILM.