Keep U.S. Beautiful

Keep U. S. Beautiful was a comedy-variety special with an anti-pollution/litter theme, which debuted over NBC on March 27, 1973. Hosted by Raymond Burr, the special was divided into a series of sketches, with celebrity performers.

The Muppets were featured in a musical number, a parody of the song "Hey, Look Me Over," in which garbage-based creatures sing about how litter will one day bury the earth. A quartet of three-foot tall beings, each with its own signature sound effect, the group consisted of Shoe (trombone), Can (cymbal), Bottle (drum), and Pot (whistle). Apart from their primary feature, the characters were further adorned with rags, sponges, fur, and even a stale bagel. Performers for the skit were Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, and John Lovelady. When asked if the characters would be used again, Henson said, "We'll recycle them."

Other performers and skits included Lena Horne (singing "Smoggy Weather"), Ruth Buzzi (as a secretary in a noise pollution sketch), Don Knotts (as a nervous lecturer), Flip Wilson, Sandy Duncan, and Carol Burnett.