The Networks and The Muppet Show

[mikebennidict]

the 1st one. i 1st discovered The Muppet show in 1978 i believe wich was a year or 2 after it's debut. our CBS affiliate here in Chicago carried it Sat. nights at 6:30. though i do believe TMS was a syndicated series. if so i heard on aPBS special from the early 90s about Henson it was turned down by the 3 networks. now in away that sounds strange because even before Sesame Street, Henson was well known. durring the 60s he and his muppets made appearances on Ed Sullivan and other variety shows and i'm sure was liked by both kid and adult audiences. the only reason i can think of why the networks might of turned the show down is that towards the end of the 70s TV variety shows were beginning to disappear from the airwaves and seem for the most part to be completly gone. if not that is there any other reasons why the networks might of rejected the show?

[Phillip Chapman]

The major networks (CBS, ABC, NBC) knew the Muppets potential to reach children, but they didn't think a Muppet Show would reach adults. The US networks produced two pilots in 1974 (The Muppets Valentine Show) and 1975 (The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence) but they didn't want to take the gamble to produce an ongoing series, a move they would all later regret.

[mikebennidict]

why did they think that The Muppetswouldn't be just as enjoyable for adults considering the guest appearances they made on the variety shows durring the 60s? i figure they must of been appealing to both kids and adults otherwise people like Ed Sullivan wouldn't of had them on so many times.

[Super Scooter]

why did they think that The Muppetswouldn't be just as enjoyable for adults considering the guest appearances they made on the variety shows durring the 60s? i figure they must of been appealing to both kids and adults otherwise people like Ed Sullivan wouldn't of had them on so many times.
Well, one thing might be that Ed Sullivan always used to intoduce them as "something for the youngsters." Which is true, is you consider youngsters being anyone younger than Ed.

Besides, it was a good thing none of the US networks didn't pick them up, because Jim most likely wouldn't have had the freedom to do what he wanted with the show.