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The Best Episodes of The Muppet Show Season 4

Every episode of The Muppet Show Season 4 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Muppet Show Season 4!

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

Season 4 Ratings Summary

"Dudley Moore" is the best rated episode of "The Muppet Show" season 4. It scored 8/10 based on 165 votes. Directed by Philip Casson and written by Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, David Odell, it aired on 10/24/1979. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Crystal Gayle".

  • Dudley Moore
    8.0/10165 votes

    #1 - 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

  • Crystal Gayle
    7.5/10124 votes

    #2 - Crystal Gayle

    Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 11/2/1979

    The Prairie Dog Glee Club sings very well, but Scooter says they have "pack rat blood in 'em -- they keep stealing everything!" The prairie dogs go wild, taking everything Kermit has -- including his collar, which leaves him naked on stage.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Victor Borge
    7.4/10131 votes

    #3 - Victor Borge

    Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 11/9/1979

    When Bobby Benson has to talk to a police officer someone has to take care of his babies. Unfortunately, the babies go wild without their daddy around and beat up people they don't like.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Beverly Sills
    7.4/10126 votes

    #4 - Beverly Sills

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 11/16/1979

    The pigs are excited that guest star Beverly Sills plans to perform the opera "Pigoletto" as the closing number.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Shields & Yarnell
    7.7/10136 votes

    #5 - Shields & Yarnell

    Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 11/23/1979

    Inspired by mimes Shields & Yarnell, Fozzie Bear works on a mime act, including "Bear walking against the wind". Kermit suggests that Fozzie find a more original act, so Fozzie tries out "Bear feeding spaghetti to an elephant" and "Bear going to a drive-in movie with a porcupine".

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Kenny Rogers
    7.4/10126 votes

    #6 - Kenny Rogers

    Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 11/30/1979

    During a sketch Kermit hurts himself and keeps getting frightened by jungle animals in his hospital room or injured further by some crazy inconvenience.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Linda Lavin
    7.8/10155 votes

    #7 - Linda Lavin

    Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 12/7/1979

    Miss Piggy announces that this show is Kermit's birthday, and before he can react, she launches into the tribute she's organized. They've planned a This Is Your Life-style show with birthday greetings, including one from Mr. Dawson, Kermit's old acting coach from Leland, Mississippi. Wayne and Wanda, the singing duo from the first season, show up and give Kermit such a guilt trip that he rehires them. When they sing, Kermit remembers why he fired them in the first place.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • John Denver
    7.3/10121 votes

    #8 - John Denver

    Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 12/14/1979

    John and Kermit have a surprise for the cast; they're all going to Kermits' home the swamp! But even Gonzo, even with his love of the nasty and strange, thinks it's a bad idea and no one is willing to take him up on the offer even when Kermit offers them to go.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Arlo Guthrie
    7.6/10128 votes

    #9 - Arlo Guthrie

    Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 12/21/1979

    For guest star Arlo Guthrie, the stage is turned into a farmhouse. The Swedish Chef plans a home-cooked meal, but the turkey refuses to be skewered, the pig busts him in the face, and the "beef" stampedes over him.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Liza Minnelli
    7.8/10140 votes

    #10 - Liza Minnelli

    Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 12/28/1979

    The Muppets present a murder mystery. Kermit is a private eye hired by Liza O'Shaugnessy, an actress whose production is being terrorized by a killer. The director, Fritz (Strangepork), is shot. The police assign Patrolbear Fozzie to the case, and he interrogates the cast: "All right, which one of you killed the director?" The suspects are themselves killed one by one, until Kermit and Liza team up to unmask the true killers.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Dizzy Gillespie
    7.7/10125 votes

    #11 - Dizzy Gillespie

    Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/1980

    Statler is sick (of the show), so Waldorf brings his wife Astoria to the show. Meanwhile, Inspector LaBrea of the County Environmental Department arrives backstage to monitor the noise level of the show. LaBrea tells Kermit that to keep the noise down, he has to cut the trumpets for the show. Kermit tries to keep LaBrea busy while Dizzy performs.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Phyllis George
    7.6/10121 votes

    #12 - Phyllis George

    Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 1/11/1980

    Phyllis hosts the 1st annual Muppet Awards, recognizing the greatest Muppet Show performers. Kermit, who hates awards shows, sits out the show, but Miss Piggy is absolutely determined to win.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Lola Falana
    7.5/10132 votes

    #13 - Lola Falana

    Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 1/18/1980

    After years of failure Gonzo is actually appriciated for the actor he is and decides to quit the Muppet Show and move on to movies. Piggy, more jealous than sad, asks Gonzo to refer her to the director. This is one of the episodes that teeters on the edge of being very sad.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Dyan Cannon
    7.8/10159 votes

    #14 - Dyan Cannon

    Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 1/25/1980

    As Miss Piggy prepares for her act, she leaves her dog Foo-Foo in the care of Floyd. Piggy tells Floyd he has to spoon-feed and floss the pampered Foo-Foo, so Floyd locks the dog in a drawer. Frantic, Piggy searches everywhere for Foo-Foo.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Anne Murray
    7.2/10124 votes

    #15 - Anne Murray

    Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 2/1/1980

    Scooter bugs everyone by leaving his skateboard lying around. Kermit trips on it and smashes a set. Later, Anne performs while the Muppets all dance on skateboards.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Jonathan Winters
    7.4/10138 votes

    #16 - Jonathan Winters

    Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 2/8/1980

    Jonathan is convinced that a gypsy has put a curse on the show, and while Kermit scoffs at the idea, he does notice that everything is going wrong. A few acts have to be canceled, but Kermit refuses to believe there's a curse until a meteorite falls on his flipper. In the final stage of the curse, everyone begins to speak in mock Swedish.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Christopher Reeve
    8.5/10343 votes

    #17 - 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

  • Lynda Carter
    7.7/10183 votes

    #18 - Lynda Carter

    Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 2/22/1980

    In honor of "Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter, Scooter buys a mail-order course on how to be a superhero. Soon, a crowd of Muppets are wearing silly costumes and reading Invincibility Made Easy. Meanwhile, Miss Piggy appears as "Wonder Pig", and battles a giant chicken.

    Director: Peter Harris

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

  • Mark Hamill
    8.1/10150 votes

    #19 - 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

  • Alan Arkin
    7.1/10137 votes

    #20 - Alan Arkin

    Season 4 Episode 20 - Aired 3/7/1980

    Alan accidentally drinks Bunsen Honeydew's Jekyll-and-Hyde potion, and turns into a rampaging monster. He runs amuck, as the ultra-cute Bun-Bun Brothers sing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." When Kermit catches Alan in a net, he turns back into himself. Soon, Kermit takes a sip of the potion himself.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Doug Henning
    7.3/10119 votes

    #21 - Doug Henning

    Season 4 Episode 21 - Aired 3/14/1980

    Fozzie Bear tries out a magic act, pulling a rabbit from a hat. Instead, he gets a rabbi, and then a robot. He taps the hat too hard, and gets dozens of rabbits, who follow him around and call him "Daddy."

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Andy Williams
    7.8/10131 votes

    #22 - Andy Williams

    Season 4 Episode 22 - Aired 3/21/1980

    Miss Piggy asks Andy to sing "Love Story" for her and Kermit, who have just become engaged. Unfortunately, Kermit hasn't heard about the engagement yet. The rumor slips out, and soon everyone thinks Kermit and Piggy are getting married.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Carol Channing
    7.5/10122 votes

    #23 - Carol Channing

    Season 4 Episode 23 - Aired 3/28/1980

    Miss Piggy buys a cute new pair of shoes, but they're too small, and she can't walk in them. She wants to take them back, but Kermit compliments them, so she has to keep wearing them. She complains to Carol, who says she should have them stretched, and gives them to the gigantic Timmy Monster, who runs around the block in them.

    Director: Philip Casson

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

  • Diana Ross
    7.9/10131 votes

    #24 - Diana Ross

    Season 4 Episode 24 - Aired 4/4/1980

    The show's audience members are getting horrified at everyone on stage except Diana Ross.

    Director: Philip Casson

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