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The Muppet Show season 1 slated for August 9 release

Here is everything you want to know about the long-awaited Muppet Show season 1 debut on DVD

By Greg James
June 1, 2005

Last November word reached us that The Muppet Show was coming to DVD in complete season sets, and in March we were able to get a hold of some of the early information on the upcoming project. Now, the details of the first season box set’s features and release are here.

Pre-order The Muppet Show Season 1 for 30% off the retail price. The Muppety box will have a felt-like furry touch.
“The Muppet Show: Season One (Special Edition)” DVD box set will be released on August 9, 2005. It was announced on the official Muppet website, Muppet.com, that the first season would be hitting stores the same day as “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” DVD and will boast a standard retail price of $39.99. On-line pre-orders are already available.

The four-disc collection will hold all 24 season one episodes along with a great collection of bonus features and other goodies that Muppet fans will love. The video is reportedly transferred from their original British (PAL) tapes. Aside from getting a beautiful transfer and mastering of the video like never seen before, the episodes are unedited and will contain the UK skits. It has been reported that Disney worked to secure the needed character and music rights needed to keep the episodes intact.

Aside from the 24-episodes, Disney’s Home Entertainment has stated that the set will hold the following bonus features; "Muppet Morsels"; the original Muppet pitch reel; original pilot; a Jim Henson retrospective; a season one promo gag reel; the world premiere interstitials; and much more!

One of the newly created features, “Muppet Morsels”, will expose all kinds of information about the show, the characters, the guests, the skits, and more (even the die-hard Muppet Show fans will learn something). The “Muppet Morsels” feature allows viewers to view optional “pop-up” trivia on each episode. The trivia was created and worked on by Michael Dixon (webmaster of Kermitage.com), Craig Shemin (Henson writer/historian), Jerry Juhl (Muppet writer) and Dave Goelz (Muppet performer). The trivia found in the “Muppet Morsels” are specific to each episode, and was created on the basis of a new "morsel" pop-up about every 30 seconds (giving viewers around 50 trivia facts per episode).

Another great addition to the set is the rare and hilarious short film that was originally sent to CBS executives to help sell the idea of "The Muppet Show". In a true Muppet fashion, Leo the announcer desperately tried to pitch the idea without being quite so subtle. This is the same pitch tape that was shown at Muppetfest in 2001. It not only is extremely entertaining but a nice historic piece that fans are ecstatic to see included.

If you continue to look at the list of features fans will notice the item of “original pilot”. As many Muppet fans will tell you, there were two pilot episodes produced for The Muppet Show (“The Muppets Valentine Show” and “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence”). Members of the DVD production team have said that they hope to include both pilots on the set, but depending on the disc space available they may only be able to fit one (exactly which one is unclear right now). If both pilots don’t make the cut for the season one set, the unreleased pilot may be included on the season 2 set. Fans will have to wait for Disney to release more information to know for sure if both pilots made the cut – but at least one pilot episode will be included (and maybe more).

Another feature created for the DVD set is a brand new retrospective. In the “Jim Henson Retrospective” viewers can hear from friends and co-workers as they take a look back at the man who started it all. This is a loving feature that showcases the legacy, the magic, and the creations of Muppet-creator Jim Henson. Many Henson performers, co-workers, family members, friends, and fans were interviewed on camera for such a feature; including Craig Shemin, Jerry Juhl, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Carroll Spinney, Michael Frith and many more.

The sets will also included other goodies for fans including the season one promo gag reel, the world premiere interstitials, sneak peeks and much more. Since this product is arriving the same day as “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” DVD, Disney is hoping to promote fans to pick up both items. There will not only be a trailer for “The Muppet’s Wizard of Oz” on the Muppet Show season one DVD, but it has been reported that consumers who buy both will be able to get a discount though a mail-in rebate.

At the moment Disney is working on features for similar sets for the other four seasons of The Muppet Show, and they hope to release all five seasons on equally impressive sets. But like all things, the success of season one will determine the amount of investment Disney gives to produce other season sets. Information on the release schedule, and set details is not available at this time.

For more information on the season one episodes check out our first season Muppet Show guide, that includes detailed descriptions, cast lists, photos and more.

The Muppet Show: Season One [Special Edition]
- All 24 season one episodes (with UK skits included)
- "Muppet Morsels" (all new pop-up trivia available on every episode)
- Original Muppet Pitch Reel (the presentation by Jim Henson that started it all)
- A Jim Henson Retrospective (an all new look back at Muppet creator Jim Henson)
- Original Pilot
- Season One Promo Gag Reel
- World Premiere Interstitials
- The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Sneak Peek
- ...and much more!

Release Specifications:
- $39.99 retail, pre-order for $27.99
- 4-disc DVD collection
- Release date: August 9, 2005

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   MORE MUPPET NEWS

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Jason Segel and the Muppets at the movie set

 
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Fan site Muppet Central created by Phillip Chapman. Multimedia design by James V. Carroll. Updates by Muppet Central Staff. All Muppets, Bear characters and photos are copyright of The Muppets Studio. Sesame Street characters and photos are copyright of Sesame Workshop. Fraggle Rock, Creature Shop and similar likenesses are copyright of The Jim Henson Company.