Parents' Guide to

The Muppet Show

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Classic Muppet series mixes stars and kid-friendly content.

TV Syndicated Comedy 1976
The Muppet Show Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 6+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Parent
December 22, 2021
age 6+

BAZINGA

danny800
danny800 Adult
April 5, 2019
age 7+

The Muppet Show was a amazing show

i think The Muppet Show was a very classic show and was very family freindly but its aimed at Adults jim henson didnt want to be thought of as a kids performer because of Sesame Street so he decided to make Adult puppetry with the muppet show and even called the pilot episode Sex and Vilonce to try to differ himself from sesame street but he had to keep it family freindly at the time so there was some innuendo and some more mature episodes but its mostly family freindly with that being said i think its okay for 7 and up and for the more mature episodes 13 and up and i dont recommend it for anyone under the age of 7
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Taking their cues from harried host Kermit the Frog (voiced by Jim Henson), Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and the rest of the Muppet gang put on a star-studded variety show in THE MUPPET SHOW, a family-friendly series that mixes puppetry with celebrity appearances and clever pop-culture parodies. The show premiered in 1976 and lasted for five seasons, winning four Emmy Awards and a slew of other honors.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (19):

Most kids would be entertained just by looking at the Muppets, even if they never spoke, so it goes without saying that this skit-driven-show Show still succeeds at serving up laughs for all ages. Though, some of the celebrity guest stars -- and their era-specific hairstyles -- are a little dated. (Singer Anne Murray and illusionist Doug Henning come to mind.)

There's just something about Muppet humor that's inherently timeless, whether it's the Swedish Chef's spirited "bort-bort-bort!" or Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's accident-prone experiments with Beaker in the Muppet Labs. But the series' real genius lies in its tip-of-the-hat to parents at home with clever parodies of pop-culture touchstones, including the Lost in Space-inspired sci-fi spoof "Pigs in Space." It kind of makes you wish The Muppet Show was still on the air ... can you imagine the fun they'd have now?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the cartoonish violence in The Muppet Show and the role it plays in creating comedy. Why do we laugh when a science experiment blows up in Beaker's face, for example? Does the fact that puppets are getting hurt -- rather than people -- make a difference?

  • Do you think The Muppet Show and Sesame Street -- both of which feature Muppets -- were designed for different audiences? How can you tell?

  • How does The Muppet Show compare with other family shows that are on television today? Kids: Do you like it, and do the Muppets make you laugh? Parents: Is the show as good as you remember?

  • How does The Muppet Show promote gratitude, integrity, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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