Non-scripted TV Mentions

References to Muppets, Sesame Street, and other related projects on reality series, game shows, talk shows, and other formats that aren't primarily scripted or fictional. For more formal documentary examples (sometimes in scripted narration), see Minor Documentary Mentions. Please read guidelines before adding.

The $100,000 Pyramid[]

In the July 16, 2023 episode, one of the categories in the Winner's Circle round is "What Bert and Ernie Might Say."
In the August 6, 2023 episode, one of the categories in the Winner's Circle round is "What Miss Piggy Might Say." A contestant gives the clue, "I'm dating Kermit the Frog."
In the August 27, 2023 episode, a contestant gives "Elmo's fur" as a clue in the Winner's Circle category "Things That are Red."
In the October 4, 2023 episode, one of the things listed in the category "Wakanda Nonsense is This?" (naming things you'd be surprised to see in Wakanda) is Elmo.
In the October 18, 2023 episode, one of the names in the "Jim Membership" category (naming famous people named Jim or Jimmy) is "Henson."
In the November 1, 2023 episode, one of the names in the "Im-peck-able Characters" category (naming famous fictional birds from television and animation) is Big Bird.

America Says[]

In the episode "Café Workers vs. Seafood Lovers," one of the questions is "When people think of Elmo, the first thing that comes to their mind is ____". The answers were "Sesame Street," "Red," and "Tickling."

American Pickers[]

In the 2021 episode "Pickers, Pumps and Prints," Mike Wolfe compares "Jersey Jon" Szalay's aesthetic to Oscar the Grouch.

Celebrity Name Game[]

Game show (2014-2017) pairing teams of two with a celebrity. Each member is given clues to a different celebrity, and has to guess the celebrity's name.

On the episode of October 24th, 2014, the headline was "Cookie Monster ate all my cookies!" The subject was "Guest Stars on Sesame Street."

The Chase[]

In the January 7, 2021 episode, one of the trivia questions is "On Sesame Street, what is The Count's last name?"
In the January 14, 2021 episode, one of the trivia questions is "Robin is the nephew of what famous Muppet?"
In the February 11, 2021 episode, one of the trivia questions is "What Sesame Street character's first tweet was the word tweet?" The correct answer was Big Bird.
In the February 25, 2021 episode, one of the trivia questions is "In a 2004 episode of Sesame Street, Cookie Monster revealed his real name is what, Lance, Rory, or Sid?"
In the episode "This Isn't Something We See Often", one of the trivia questions is "Moishe Oofnik is the Israeli equivalent of what American TV character, Homer Simpson, Oscar the Grouch, or Kramer?"
In the episode "Let's See If This Beauty Can Handle This Beast", one of the trivia questions is "What French pronoun does Miss Piggy use to refer to herself?" Also, a contestant named Micheal says he watched Rechov Sumsum as a kid.

Connections

Ken Jennings is one of the chasers

Funny You Should Ask[]

One episode opens with a question asking what relationship Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear share in The Great Muppet Caper. Panelist Jon Lovitz responds, "Puppets with benefits" before giving the incorrect answer of "father and son."

Connections

Regular panelists include

The Hustler[]

In the premiere episode, one of the trivia questions is "What Muppet Show character fell madly in love with Camilla the Chicken?" The options were Fozzie Bear, Rowlf the Dog, Beaker, and Gonzo. Big Jim Henson fan Tena helped the team guess the correct answer: Gonzo.

Connections

Craig Ferguson is the host

The Illegal Eater[]

Singer Steven Page, formerly of The Barenaked Ladies, tours North America for food at unlicensed restaurants. In the episode "Super Underground & Cobra" (Nov. 5, 2013), Page visits the Ottawa club Cobra and after dinner is served pieces of a cake shaped like Elmo. His eyes are blurred out.

The Late Late Toy Show[]

Christmas-themed variation of the RTE Irish talk show The Late Late Show, airing once a year annually.

Host Pat Kenny showed a Bear toy in the 2000 broadcast. (YouTube)
November 28, 2008: Pat Kenny opens a package containing an Elmo Live toy and shows it. (YouTube)
November 25, 2022: Host Ryan Tubridy introduces a pair of kids by naming famous best friends, including Bert and Ernie. (YouTube)

Mastermind[]

A BBC quiz show in which players answer a series of rapid fire questions pertaining to their own chosen topics, as well as general knowledge.

In the fourteenth episode of the 2013 season, a player choses Muppet films as their chosen subject.

MLB on Fox[]

Fox's broadcast of Major League Baseball games.

During the pregame show of Game 2 of the 2023 World Series, studio analyst and former player David Ortiz referred to the Texas Rangers' shortstop Corey Seager as "Cookie Monster", producing a plush of the character and imitating his gravelly laugh.

Connections

Derek Jeter is a studio analyst on the pregame and postgame broadcasts.

Never Mind the Buzzcocks[]

Long-running comedy panel game show focused on music that ran on BBC Two from 1996 to 2015.

In series 24, episode 12 (aired January 3, 2011), regular team captain Noel Fielding comments to comparatively tame guest panelist Michelle Williams, "It is cool hanging out with you, it's like being in an episode of Fraggle Rock," before saying in a high-pitched Muppety voice, "Hey, Noel, put down the crackpipe, life's great, everyone!"

Connections

Bill Bailey was a regular team captain from 2002 to 2008.

Nick News[]

The July 26, 2023 episode featured a visit to The Smithsonian Institution's storage room. Puppets of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and The Swedish Chef are shown and a clip of "The Muppet Show Theme" from the Florence Henderson episode is played.

People Puzzler[]

In season 3, episode 26 of the People magazine themed game show, one of the answers was Kermit the Frog.

Press Your Luck[]

On the June 12, 2019 episode of the game show reboot, host Elizabeth Banks asked the question, "According to rapper Waka Flocka Flame, his name was inspired by which Muppet character's catchphrase?" The choices were Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, or Miss Piggy.

Connections

Sandy Fox appeared three times as a contestant on the 2003 reboot Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck

Supernanny[]

Reality series (2004-2011), no relation to the character Super Nanny.

In the sixth episode of the first season "The Bailey Family" (February 28, 2005), father Bill Bailey and his 2-year-old son Billy Bailey read an Elmo's World book about food during bedtime.

Tooned In[]

In the June 3, 2021 episode, after a contestant named Bailey gives "Frogs" as the correct answer to a question, Nicky says "It ain't easy being right".

Unfiltered[]

In the episode "As Seen On Burrito", the first mystery celebrity shows an image of Cookie Monster as a clue for who she is.
In the episode "Rollin' with the Fun Guy!", after Telci Huynh covers her face with feathers, Lex Lumpkin calls her Big Bird.

Connections

Jimmie Allen appeared in "Why Did the Bear Cross the Road?"
Tyra Banks appeared in "Super Cats & Fierce Ice Cream!"
Wayne Brady appeared in "Fan the Flames!"
Ally Brooke appeared in "Honey Bears Chew Gumballs!"
Miles Brown appeared in "Kickin' Carrots and Bubbly Tea!"
Candace Cameron Bure appeared in "Zombies Eat Unicorns!"
Anna Cathcart appeared in "Wrestling Slimy Snails!"
Terry Crews appeared in "I'm Kind of a Big Dill"
Darci Lynne Farmer is a regular panelist
Tiffany Haddish appeared in "Hot Dog Dance Party!"
Tony Hawk appeared in "Porcupines Rock High Tops!"
Taraji P. Henson appeared in "As Seen On Burrito"
H.E.R. appeared in "Let's Eat Electric Cake!"
Padma Lakshmi appeared in "Gettin' Groovy With A Smoothie!"
Mario Lopez appeared in "Wordy Worms and Legal Eagles!"
Joel McHale appeared in "Why Did the Bear Cross the Road?"
Bobby Moynihan appeared in "Wrestling Slimy Snails!"
Yvette Nicole Brown appeared in "As Seen On Burrito"
Ninja appeared in "Donut vs. The Volcano"
Bill Nye appeared in "Happy Slime-o-ween!"
Keke Palmer appeared in "Honey Bears Chew Gumballs!"
Jay Pharoah is the host
Chance the Rapper appeared in "Robots Love Cereal!"
Craig Robinson appeared in "This DJ is Bananas!"
Rico Rodriguez appeared in "Super Cats & Fierce Ice Cream!"
Lindsey Vonn appeared in "Calling All Funflowers!"
Shaun White appeared in "It's Raining Penguins!"
Ne-Yo appeared in "Porcupines Rock High Tops!"

Unleashed[]

In the November 19, 2020 episode, Gabriel Iglesias asks the judges to say who they thought the best act was. Preacher Lawson says "Miss Piggy".

Connections

Utkarsh Ambudkar is a judge

Weakest Link[]

In the July 10, 2023 episode, one of the questions was "Rap artist Waka Flocka Flame's name was inspired by what Muppet and his catchphrase?" Later in the episode, another question was "Kermit or Grover: Which Muppet shares a name with a U.S. president?"

Connections

Jane Lynch hosts the 2020- revival series

Wipeout[]

Competitive show (2008-2014) involving aquatic obstacles.

In the first episode of the fifth season, "Deck The Balls" (a Christmas-themed episode, aired December 8, 2011), one of the contestants imitated Elmo throughout her runs, earning her the nickname "Tickle Me." Earlier in the episode, new co-host Vanessa Lachey indicated that she thought host John Henson's father "invented the Muppets, right?" (Henson, unrelated to Jim Henson and not to be confused with his actual son John Henson, replied "Uh, no.")

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