Muppets

The Muppets were created by Jim Henson in 1955 for a short-format television show called Sam and Friends. From the kindhearted Kermit to the affable Fozzie Bear, the wacky, smart, and flamboyant characters were a hit. In 1969, the Muppets appeared on the wildly successful children’s program Sesame Street, and by 1976, the popularity of the colorful cast led to a half-hour of prime time called The Muppet Show. In its five-year run, the show won four Emmy Awards and was nominated for another 21. Even as the showrunners took home their awards, the Muppets were just getting started. In 1979, they starred in the first of several movies, The Muppet Movie. The 1980s and '90s brought a number of spinoffs, including Muppet Babies, Muppets Tonight, and The Jim Henson Hour. The characters have also appeared on late-night TV talk shows, and made cameo appearances on everything from The Simpsons to The West Wing. After six decades in the spotlight, the Muppets continue to shine. Their message of friendship, love, and laughter is as relevant today as it has ever been. Here, we’ve collected 10 of our favorite quotes from the Muppets, but before we open up the floor, we’ll leave you with a quote from their uniquely talented creator, who passed away in 1990: “If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn't anything you can't do if you want to.” yeremiah@aol.com Yeremiah Hardt