1996: 'Muppets Tonight' Joins the ABC Lineup
On this day in 1996, ABC brought Jim Henson's Muppets back to prime time with the short-lived variety show, Muppets Tonight.
While The Muppet Show followed the puppets' antics as they produced a live theater show, Muppets Tonight took place behind-the-scenes of a TV show. The series featured fan favorites — Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and Animal — as well as a few newer characters, such as Clifford, a Jamaican producer in charge of the show's show within a show. Celebrity guest stars included Garth Brooks, Billy Crystal, Sandra Bullock, Whoopi Goldberg and the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.
Reruns of the series ran for several years on cable's Disney Channel.