I believe that "The Muppet Show" was what they were showing on the stage of Muppet Theatre: the musical numbers, the comedy routines, the poetry recitations, the dance numbers. ... The *real* Muppet Show, which went un-named, was what we, the audience at home were watching: the behind-the-scenes version, in the wings, rafters, and dressing rooms, with all of the conflict and strife that come with any business, exacerbated by the larger-than-life personalities of performers ... but of course, this meta-show was also staged, complete with laugh track. Celebrities came on to the show to "guest star", but of course were really only playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Moreover, their well-known screen roles were incorporated into the farce: Mark Hamill was not Luke Skywalker, Christopher Reeves was not Superman, but these distinctions were blurred in the show.
It foresaw all the others that have come since; notably Larry Sanders.
The true creators of the show, even the cast, were never seen at all.
Henson was too brilliant not to have planned it this way.
I believe that "The Muppet Show" was what they were showing on the stage of Muppet Theatre: the musical numbers, the comedy routines, the poetry recitations, the dance numbers. ... The *real* Muppet Show, which went un-named, was what we, the audience at home were watching: the behind-the-scenes version, in the wings, rafters, and dressing rooms, with all of the conflict and strife that come with any business, exacerbated by the larger-than-life personalities of performers ... but of course, this meta-show was also staged, complete with laugh track. Celebrities came on to the show to "guest star", but of course were really only playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Moreover, their well-known screen roles were incorporated into the farce: Mark Hamill was not Luke Skywalker, Christopher Reeves was not Superman, but these distinctions were blurred in the show.
It foresaw all the others that have come since; notably Larry Sanders.
The true creators of the show, even the cast, were never seen at all.
Henson was too brilliant not to have planned it this way.
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And also: Zac!
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