The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years and The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show

Here are two rarely seen hourlong specials starring Jim Henson's Muppets, from 1986 and 1982. PAL (European) DVD format.

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years has never been issued on DVD. This version has been painstakingly restored to DVD quality by the editor of The Thief and the Cobbler: Recobbled Cut. A German-dubbed PAL master was used for most of the video, with audio, original commercial breaks, some picture elements and some scenes restored from a commercially-sold PAL VHS (which was in fairly bad shape). Additional scenes and audio were restored from an NTSC VHS tape, recorded when the special aired. All video errors on the VHS material were painted out carefully.

Great care was taken to ensure that the special is uncut and of a high quality standard.

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show is included from a rare Portuguese DVD.

----

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years aired on CBS on January 21, 1986.

This one-hour special celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Muppets, who hold a formal banquet to present a retrospective of their television and film appearances.

Hosted by Fozzie Bear and featuring guest of honor Kermit the Frog, the program provides an overview of the Muppets' history and musical highlights beginning with early appearances in the fifties. Then, Fozzie introduces a selection of clips from The Muppet Show, before Rowlf the Dog introduces clips with Miss Piggy. Kermit and Miss Piggy then introduce a montage of clips from the movies.

Dr. Teeth introduces a sequence featuring still images of various Muppet book covers, record covers, and magazine covers featuring appearances by the Muppets. Sweetums introduces clips featuring monsters, characters eating other characters, and explosions. Ernie and Bert introduce clips from Sesame Street, and then Big Bird introduces clips from other children's shows from the Muppets.

The talking food introduces a clip of the Galley-oh-hoop-hoop, Uncle Traveling Matt introduces clips involving imagination, Floyd Pepper and Janice introduce Muppet music clips, and Scooter introduces clips with guest stars. When Robin asks Kermit what his favorite thing about the Muppets are, Kermit says that his favorite scenes are the times when the Muppets don't try to be funny, leading to some of the Muppets more serious moments. Gonzo then introduces some of the Muppets more cultural moments.

Afterwards, the other Muppets decide to pay tribute to Kermit, showing a clip of Linda Ronstadt singing "When I Grow Too Old to Dream", reedited to feature a number of clips with Kermit. At the conclusion, the entire cast sings "The Rainbow Connection".

Jim Henson appears briefly at the conclusion of the program, being given a bill for his food by Grover.

In closing, Kermit says, "It's been a great 30 years. Our next 30 years start tomorrow, so there will be a rehearsal at 9AM sharp."

"Happy Feet" plays during the end credits (sequence with multiple Kermit images cut).

Executive Producer: Diana Birkenfield

Producer: Andrew Solt

Director: Peter Harris

Writer: Jerry Juhl

Historians: Jane Henson and Bob Payne

Muppet Performers: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Caroll Spinney. Terry Angus, Kevin Clash, Michael Earl, Jonathan Paine

----

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show is a one-hour television special starring the glamorous Miss Piggy, which aired on ABC on September 17, 1982. Miss Piggy hosts her own variety show, with special guests John Ritter, George Hamilton, and Andy Kaufman (as "Tony Clifton"). The special was filmed in Toronto between August 9 and 24 1982.

Under the direction of Kermit the Frog, the Muppets work in the studio control room and, amidst chaos, manage to keep the show on the air. Throughout the show, a romantic triangle develops among Miss Piggy, Ritter (who is smitten with the pig) and Hamilton (who is deeply uncomfortable with the star's romantic inclinations).

Highlights include:

Miss Piggy demonstrates her aerobic "Snackcercise routine".

Hamilton and Miss Piggy appear as King and Queen of The Luau at a Polynesian-style ceremony.

Ritter assists consumer advocate Miss Piggy in the segment "Don't Take It Lying Down Sucker".

Vegas-style entertainer Clifton sings a medley of pop songs and show tunes.

Kermit becomes jealous when Miss Piggy performs a love scene with Hamilton as Cary Grant.

Miss Piggy sings a solo rendition of "You Light Up My Life" and leads a musical salute to the year.

Hamilton sings "Three Times a Lady" to her, and joins her for a medley of standards and love songs.

As the program concludes, Miss Piggy throws a tantrum and walks off the show after arguing with the network vice president about whether her show is a special or the pilot for a series. She laments, "I'm too delicate for show business."

Guest Stars: George Hamilton, John Ritter, Tony Clifton

Producer/Director: Jim Henson

Co-Producer: Diana Birkenfield

Writers: Buz Kohan and Henry Beard

Associate Producer: Martin Baker

Music Arranged and Conducted by: Joe Raposo

Cast: Tom Harvey as Pretend Network V.P.

Muppet Performers: Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, Steve Whitmire, Terry Angus

Choreographer: Anita Mann

Lighting Designer: John Rook

Costume Designer: Ann Hollowood

Miss Piggy's Stunning Gowns: Calista Hendrickson

Assistant Choreographer: Jeffrey Hornaday

Dance Music: Lenny La Croix

Miss Piggy's Staff: Polly Smith, Rollin Krewson, Mimi Kingsley

Program Assistant: Ritamarie Peruggi