The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show

Context & Trivia

This one-hour television special, which aired on ABC on September 17, 1982, capitalized on Miss Piggy's significant cultural moment in the early 1980s. The Muppet pig had already starred in a movie, published a book, and appeared on magazine covers. The program features musical numbers choreographed by Anita Mann, known for her work on "The Great Muppet Caper". A notable curiosity is the inclusion of Tony Clifton, Andy Kaufman's alter ego, whose performance was intentionally awkward and met with silence from the Muppets in the control room. The special also features a brief Ernie and Bert sketch from "Sesame Street" on one of the control room monitors. The main puppeteers included Frank Oz as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal; Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog; Dave Goelz as Gonzo the Great and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew; and Richard Hunt as Janice, Scooter, and Beaker. Additional Muppets were performed by Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, and Terry Angus. Steve Whitmire also had a cameo as one of the backup singers.