Product Details

• Actors: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Eren Ozker
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Restored, Special Edition
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
• DVD Release Date: August 9, 2005
• Run Time: 604 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (324 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009ULBGS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,241 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "The Muppet Show: Season One" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The charm, the zaniness, the corny jokes, the showbiz cliches--every element of The Muppet Show holds up 30 years after Jim Henson's legendary variety series' debut season. Well, perhaps not everything: Today's younger viewers might have a hard time placing some of The Muppet Show's then-guest stars, such as Florence Henderson or Ruth Buzzi. But then, the Show's real celebrities are perennial icons Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the... whatever, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and the rest of the Muppets' harried, well-meaning family of entertainers. Season One finds the show pretty much in the basic shape longtime fans will remember: A musical introduction followed by backstage chaos, another musical number, a sketch, a scene with the guest star, and so on. A half-hour episode can fly by pretty quickly, but it's interesting to note that the series hadn't quite found its familiar tone through much of the first year. A reliance on too many disposable verbal jokes and redundant, so-so material for sketch fodder ultimately gives way to more creative premises and the development of key relationships between characters. By the final half-dozen episodes in the first season, The Muppet Show is truly cooking. Season highlights include Kermit's confession to guest Juliet Prowse that he always wanted to be a dancer, and Prowse's comparison of the little green superstar to Robert Redford. Joel Grey does a cabaret-style act for a roomful of Muppets and is later outraged when Kermit's introduction of the actor proves so thorough there is nothing left for the latter to say. Rita Moreno proves quite game in a funny piece, set in a French cafe, in which her dance with a man-size Muppet turns from romantic to table-smashing violent. Harvey Korman plays bumbling ringmaster Maurice the Magnificent, easily the worst animal trainer in history. Phyllis Diller bats out shameless one-liners ("I sang 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,' and it fell on me"), and Vincent Price toys with his own horror film image by playing a ghoul who turns into a maudlin orchestra conductor at midnight. --Tom Keogh

Stills from The Muppet Show (click for larger image)

The divine Miss Piggy	Kermit and Miss Piggy	Fozzie Bear and Kermit
Sing along!	Everyone's a critic

Product Description

It's time to raise the curtain on THE MUPPET SHOW! Join Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, the Swedish Chef and more, in the complete first season of this groundbreaking twist on the classic Variety Show. Included are all 24 episodes, completely restored and remastered, plus two never-before-seen episodes, bonus features, and something you were never meant to see: Jim Henson's original "pitch reel" that propelled the Muppets' blend of original songs, sketch comedy and guest stars into a primetime hit for all ages! Come discover for yourself the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational pleasures of THE MUPPET SHOW: SEASON ONE!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

292 of 296 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Caveat Emptor: These episodes are not complete September 27, 2005

By David Michael Cohen

Format:DVD

Like most children of the 70's, I grew up loving The Muppet Show. Sitting down to watch the Muppets was a weekly ritual the whole family enjoyed. Everyone could enjoy their humor and the music. More than that though, the Muppets could be inspiring and touching at times as well. There really is no way to adequately express how wonderful the Muppets can be.

So why am I only giving this collection 3 star? Because despite the claim on the box of being "restored and remastered," some of the episodes have been butchered. I saw the Vincent Price episode when it was originally shown, and it closed with Vincent and the Muppet monsters singing "You've Got a Friend." It was, for me, one of the most enjoyable scenes in the series. The sequence was included in the Columbia House "Best of the Muppets" series, but it is excluded from this set. Likewise, the Jim Neighbors episode originally opened with Jim singing, "You'll Never Walk Alone." Re-runs on Nickelodeon included this sequence, but the sequence is missing from this set. I can only guess what is missing from the other episodes in the set.

Mind you, these omissions do not keep one from enjoying the set, especially children who did not see the series when it originally aired and do not realize that they are missing. And, I must admit, the screwy antics of the Swedish Chef and the weekly face offs between Fozzie Bear and Stadler and Waldorf still make me smile. Still, it is frustrating to read that the episodes have been "restored" when they clearly have not.

184 of 190 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete But Pleasing August 10, 2005

By DVDisney

Format:DVD

I love this set but I think I should let everyone know that some of the episodes on this set have been edited. There are 6 songs & 2 news skits that are missing.

The missing songs are:

"Stormy Weather" (Joel Grey Episode)

Sung by Wayne and Wanda

"Gone With The Wind" (Jim Nabors Episode)

Sung by Jim Nabors

"The Danceros" (Jim Nabors Episode)

Sung by The Danceros; also cut backstage and intro

"All Of Me" (Paul Williams Episode)

Sung by Two Monsters; also cut intro

"Old Fashioned Way" (Charles Aznavour)

Sung by Charles Aznavour with Mildred; also cut intro

"You've Got A Friend" (Vincent Price Episode)

Sung by Vincent Price, Uncle Deadly and a chorus of Muppet Monsters; also cut intro

Also, the original pitch reel is missing it's final scene w/Kermit. In the final scene missing from this set Kermit is standing infront of a CBS logo. He looks out and says " What the hell was that ? "

The pilot episode on this set is not the original pilot as advertised. There were 2 pilot episodes. The original pilot was called " The Muppet Valentine Show " which aired in 1974. The pilot on this DVD set is the second pilot called " The Muppet Show: Sex And Violence " which aired a year later in 1975.

It's too bad this is not a complete season set but for now, it'll still do nicely.

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars US version is NOT complete February 4, 2009

By Mr. D. P. Spencer

Format:DVD

Due to Disney's aquisition of the Muppets franchise these episodes are missing key elements originally broadcast. Song licensing problems from Disney has meant that many classic moments have been cut.

The Cuts Include-

"You've Got A Friend" Sung by Vincent Price
"Old Fashioned Way" Sung by Charles Aznavour
"All Of Me" (Paul Williams Episode) Sung by Two Monsters
"The Danceros" (Jim Nabors Episode) Sung by The Danceros
"Gone with the Wind" Sung by Jim Nabors
"Stormy Weather" Sung by Wayne and Wanda

There are also cuts in the intro sequences and backstage chit chat preceding the songs. Also two Muppet News sketches and a balcony scene featuring Statler and Waldorf are missing.

If you want the FULL UNCUT episodes I sugest buying the UK Region 2 version instead of this butchered so called "Special Edition"