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The Best Episodes of The Muppet Show

Every episode of The Muppet Show ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Muppet Show!

Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.
Genres:KidsComedyFamily
Network:ITV1

Best Episodes Summary

"Peter Sellers" is the best rated episode of "The Muppet Show". It scored 8.5/10 based on 275 votes. Directed by Peter Harris and written by Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey, it aired on 1/1/1978. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Christopher Reeve".

  • Peter Sellers
    8.5/10275 votes
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    #1 - Peter Sellers

    Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/1/1978

    Sketches/Songs: "A Gypsy's Violin", "When", "Down Memory Lane", Masseur sketch, "It's Not Easy Bein' Green", "Muppet Labs", "Cigarettes & Whiskey"

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • Christopher Reeve
    8.5/10341 votes
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    #2 - Christopher Reeve

    Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 2/15/1980

    Everyone has a superhero bug, donning costumes and trying acts to impress the star of Superman: The Movie.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Danny Kaye
    8.4/10270 votes
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    #3 - Danny Kaye

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 12/25/1978

    Sketches/Songs: "Aquarius," "Lunchtime," "Cheek to Cheek," "Jogging," "Swedish Chef," "The Flying Zucchini Brothers," "The Municipal Vermin Abatement Code," "Inchworm"

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson

  • Sylvester Stallone
    8.4/10231 votes
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    #4 - Sylvester Stallone

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 2/9/1979

    Sketches/Songs: ""Hawaiian War Chant"", ""Let's Call the Whole Thing Off"", ""Lady Be Good"", ""The William Tell Overture"", ""Veterinarian's Hospital"", Fozzie's Act, ""Bird in a Gilded Cage""

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson

  • Hal Linden
    8.4/10167 votes
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    #5 - Hal Linden

    Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 1/11/1981

    Statler and Waldorf get their chance to do a better show than Kermit--they play host, while Kermit and Fozzie heckle from the balcony. Unfortunately, Statler and Waldorf's acts don't turn out exactly as they plan. The Berlin National Opera Company cancels and are replaced by the Salzburg Sauerkraut Singers. Hal's Fourth of July number is invaded by Gonzo on a sleigh singing Christmas songs. Finally, Statler and Waldorf admit that the show is harder to put together than it looks and happily go back to complaining from the balcony.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Juliet Prowse
    8.3/10336 votes
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    #6 - Juliet Prowse

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 1/16/1977

    Muppy, the favorite pet of The Muppet Theatre owner J. P. Grosse, becomes a prima donna when Kermit reluctantly allows him to do a musical number with Scooter. Muppy even gets his own dressing room and star billing, but Kermit draws the line when the dog asks to change the show's title to The Muppy Show. When Muppy locks himself in his dressing room and refuses to perform, Scooter does the number with Fozzie instead.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Marc London, Jack Burns, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson

  • Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
    8.3/10185 votes
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    #7 - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans

    Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 2/23/1979

    Sketches/Songs: ""Blue Skies"", ""Skyball Paint"", ""Muppet Sports"", ""Deep in the Heart of Texas"", ""A Four Legged Friend"", ""Bear on Patrol"", Cowboy and Skyball sketch, ""Medley""

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson

  • Don Knotts
    8.2/10218 votes
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    #8 - Don Knotts

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 2/5/1978

    Sketches/Songs: "Cuento Le Gusta", "Train Back Home", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Veterinarian's Hospital", "Wotcher (Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Road)", "I Won't Dance", "World's Most Powerful Explosive", "Medley"

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • James Coco
    8.2/10192 votes
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    #9 - James Coco

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 12/8/1978

    Sketches/Songs: ""Octopus's Garden"", ""The Medium"", ""Eight Little Notes"", ""Swedish Chef"", ""Catch a Falling Star"", ""Veterinarian's Hospital"", ""Short People""

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson

  • Mark Hamill
    8.2/10150 votes
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    #10 - Mark Hamill

    Season 4 Episode 19 - Aired 2/29/1980

    The regularly-scheduled guest (a terrible singer) is bumped when four stars of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope suddenly appear in the theater. It's a natural for the Pigs in Space.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Roger Moore
    8.2/10170 votes
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    #11 - Roger Moore

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 10/5/1980

    Kermit calls the Secret Service to hire real spies for Roger's closing number. (They're listed in the Yellow Pages.) However, Roger wants to do a cute, cuddly version of "Talk to the Animals". The spies, anxious for a chance to rub out James Bond, pose as fluffy animals to infiltrate the number.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Ruth Buzzi
    8.1/10392 votes
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    #12 - Ruth Buzzi

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/3/1976

    Scooter's uncle sends a mechanical, wind-up TV show host, an exact duplicate of Kermit. The robot harasses Kermit and flirts with Miss Piggy.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Marc London, Jack Burns, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson

  • Bernadette Peters
    8.1/10261 votes
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    #13 - Bernadette Peters

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/1977

    Robin wants his own spot on the show, but his uncle Kermit doesn't even notice him with bigger costars like Thog, Sweetums, and Timmy stomping around. The little frog even tries to run away but just ends up locked in his own suitcase. When Bernadette Peters notices him and tries to cheer him up, however, Robin finds out that all the Muppets believe in him. He becomes so confident that he demands to sing "They Call the Wind Maria," but Kermit settles on a cute, little song called "I'm Five" instead.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • Dom DeLuise
    8.1/10205 votes
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    #14 - Dom DeLuise

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/25/1977

    Miss Piggy hires Scooter to pay off the audience to go wild for her. She also has him send her dozens of bouquets and write her piles of fan mail, all part of an attempt to get Kermit to notice her more. Piggy and Scooter stage a conversation for Kermit to overhear, in which she pretends to have an offer from another show, but Kermit isn't fooled. After finding out from Scooter what's really going on, he tells Piggy he's heard about her offer and has decided to let her go. When she breaks down in tears, sobbing that she can't leave him, Kermit agrees to take her back, but at a lower salary. After all, if she can afford to have Scooter pay off the audience for her... Miss Piggy gets hysterical and depressed, but is refreshed by Dom DeLuise.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • Rudolf Nureyev
    8.1/10219 votes
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    #15 - Rudolf Nureyev

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 1/22/1978

    Sketches/Songs: The Electric Mayhem, A Wagner opera performed, "Swine Lake", "Something's Missing", "Veterinarian's Hospital", "It's Cold Outside", "Clair De Lune", "Top Hat"

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • Mac Davis
    8.1/10136 votes
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    #16 - Mac Davis

    Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 3/8/1981

    Beaker tests Muppet Labs' new copier machine, ultimately falling into it and making seven copies of himself. The multiple Beakers gang up on Bunsen, and the doctor is forced to wear a disguise and hide from his assistants.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Shirley Bassey
    8.1/10147 votes
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    #17 - Shirley Bassey

    Season 5 Episode 24 - Aired 3/15/1981

    Kermit borrows fifty million dollars worth of gold for Shirley's closing number, "Goldfinger". Security guard Bruno is suspicious that Kermit wants to steal the gold, but keeping an eye on the frog makes him overlook a band of pig thieves, who steal all the gold as Shirley sings.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Milton Berle
    8.0/10212 votes
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    #18 - Milton Berle

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/14/1977

    Fozzie Bear is so intimidated by the thought of meeting Milton Berle, "the King of Comics," that he spends the whole show hiding from the guest star. His flimsy disguises don't fool Kermit or Scooter, but when Fozzie finally overhears Milton saying that he'd like to do a song-and-dance with him, Fozzie springs out of hiding, and the pair performs "Top Banana" together in baggy pants and big shoes.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • Steve Martin
    8.0/10196 votes
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    #19 - Steve Martin

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 12/9/1977

    Kermit cancels the show in order to audition new acts. Guest star Steve is angry at first, but he goes on to perform for the cast. Fozzie worries that Kermit plans to hire replacements, especially after the audition of a canine comedian, Baskerville the Hound. Kermit tells Fozzie that he should appreciate seeing another artist's work -- until Lenny the Lizard auditions as a new emcee. A young singing girl, called Mary/Terry/Carrie Louise, is systematically removed off, when she makes an attempt of audition with her croaking partner.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • Lou Rawls
    8.0/10194 votes
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    #20 - Lou Rawls

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 12/16/1977

    Fozzie Bear has a new rollerskating act, but since he doesn't know how to skate, he spends the entire episode careening around backstage. He eventually manages to roll out onto the stage to tell his jokes, but when he gets too ambitious and tries to skate backwards on one leg, he falls off the stage.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, Joseph A. Bailey

  • Dudley Moore
    8.0/10165 votes
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    #21 - Dudley Moore

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 10/24/1979

    Dudley has a surprise for Kermit, a robot that can do the work of the entire band and of course the Electric Mayhem feel threatened by this fact.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Melissa Manchester
    8.0/10123 votes
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    #22 - Melissa Manchester

    Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/1980

    Kermit is plagued by a night of backstage crises. A group of skiers get hurt during the opening number, and after Kermit says that the theater will cover their medical costs, Scooter forgets to cash the check. The Teeterini Family are angry that their teeter board won't fit on the stage. The Swedish Chef prepares spring chicken, and the bouncing chicken drives Kermit crazy. And let's not even talk about the blindfolded, hang-gliding yodelers.

    Director: Peter Harris

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Joan Baez
    8.0/10142 votes
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    #23 - Joan Baez

    Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 12/14/1980

    Rizzo and the other rats bother Kermit for a spot on the show, so Kermit asks Beauregard to "take care of them." Of course, Bo takes that literally, and treats them as guests. The rats make Beau their president, and manipulate him into giving them food. The rats eventually become so bold that they decide to take over the show. Kermit says Beau has to kick them out, or he goes with them. Beau chooses to stick with his new rat friends, until Miss Piggy enlightens him.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Debbie Harry
    8.0/10122 votes
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    #24 - Debbie Harry

    Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 1/25/1981

    Robin's Frog Scout troop visits the show, getting in everyone's way backstage. They ask Debbie for help earning their punk merit badges, and she teaches them how to do the pogo. When Gonzo cancels his act, the Frog Scouts get their chance to do a performance of close-order drills.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell

  • Chris Langham
    8.0/10122 votes
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    #25 - Chris Langham

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 3/1/1981

    A messenger brings a message from the scheduled guest star -- Benny Brillstein, the Yiddish yodeler. Benny refuses to be on the show, so Kermit asks Chris, the messenger boy, to be the guest. Chris knows a joke, so Kermit introduces him as a comedian.

    Director: Philip Casson

    Writer: Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell