The Muppet Show

The Muppet Show is a comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring The Muppets. The series originated as two pilot episodes produced by Henson for ABC in 1974 and 1975, respectively. While neither episode was moved forward as a series and other networks in the United States rejected Henson's proposals, British producer Lew Grade expressed interest in the project and agreed to co-produce The Muppet Show for ATV. Five seasons, totalling 120 episodes, were broadcast on ATV and other ITV franchises in the United Kingdom and in first-run syndication through CBS in the US from 1976 to 1981. The programme was filmed at Elstree Studios, England.
The Muppet Show is presented as a variety show, featuring recurring sketches and musical numbers interspersed with plotlines taking place backstage and in other areas of the venue. Within its context, Kermit the Frog acts as showrunner and host, who tries to maintain control of the overwhelming antics of the other Muppet characters, as well as appease the rotating slate of guest stars.^[3] The Muppet Show is also known for its uniquely designed characters, burlesque nature, physical slapstick, sometimes absurdist humor, and parodies.^[4] As The Muppet Show became popular, many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in film.
The cast of performers over the course of the series consisted of Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Fran Brill, Eren Özker, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, Brian Muehl, Bob Payne, and John Lovelady. Many of the performers also worked on Sesame Street, whose characters made sporadic appearances on The Muppet Show. Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns were two of the head writers. The music was performed by Jack Parnell and his orchestra.

This is a video from the Muppet Show  where Milton Berle the best comedian the television knew failed to compete with the well known Statler & Waldorf, very funny.

The Muppet Show is finally on Disney Plus... with a CONTENT WARNING?! Yes, the classic 1970s family series is problematic current year. Be sure to buy the things you love on physical media, because you can't trust streamers like Disney Plus to not censor, alter or remove "vintage" content.

the Classiic Statler and Waldorf Compilation Awesome
40 minutes of clips of the muppet shows greatest critics.

They are two disagreeable old men who first appeared in the television series The Muppet Show and heckled the rest of the cast from their balcony seats. They appeared in all but one episode of the show. In one episode, Waldorf appeared alone at the beginning, explaining that Statler was sick (of the show), and that Waldorf's wife would substitute. Her name turned out to be Astoria and she looked remarkably like Statler wearing a dress.

In The Muppet Show, the two were always trashing Fozzie Bear's humor, except for one occasion where Fozzie, with help from Bruce Forsyth, heckled them back. In contrast, they found themselves vastly entertaining and inevitably burst into mutual laughter at their own witticisms (though, they would, on several occasions, heckle each other, too). It is later revealed in the A Muppet Family Christmas special that the two hecklers were friends with Fozzie's mother, Emily Bear. Despite constantly complaining about the show and how terrible some acts were, they would always be back the following week in the best seats in the house. As to why, the original version of The Muppet Show theme song had Statler admitting, "I guess we'll never know."

They later appeared in Muppets Tonight watching on television from a retirement home.

They also had a penchant for breaking the fourth wall. At the end of one episode, they looked at the camera and asked "Why do you watch it?", and in another one, Statler stated that he didn't care for puppets much, not finding them believable.[1] Waldorf responded with "I don't believe you!"

Statler and Waldorf are named after two New York City hotels, the Statler Hilton and the Waldorf-Astoria.

The Swedish Chef shoots a hole through an English muffin to make a doughnut.
The Muppet Show. Season 1, Episode 14.

Ethel Merman comforts Fozzie, who has just bombed as a comic, with a ballad version of "There's No Business Like Show Business."