The Muppet Show is a variety sketch comedy family television series. It is presented as a variety show, featuring recurring sketches and musical numbers interspersed with ongoing plot-lines. Jim Henson produced two pilot episodes for ABC in 1974 and 1975, but neither went forward as a series. Five seasons, totalling 120 episodes, were broadcast on ATV and other ITV franchises in the UK and in first-run syndication in the United States from 1976 to 1981. The rights to the series have been owned by The Muppets Studio since 2004.
