Cher (series)

, , Cher, and Kermit. — Waldorf, Mildred Huxtetter, Cher, Sam the Eagle and Kermit.

, and with Cher and . — Sweetums, Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog with Cher and Ray Charles.

Cher was a television variety series hosted by Cher in the wake of the popular Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.

Appearances[]

The Muppets made guest appearances in two episodes of the series in 1975.

September 7, 1975[]

The season premiere, which features guests Tom and Dick Smothers, and Bill Cosby.

In a recording studio, Cher attempts to record a cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Cosby appears as the producer, and Brewster makes a minor appearance as the studio technician. Richard Hunt notably performs Janice in the sketch, years prior to taking on the character full time.

Rufus participates in Tom Smothers' cover of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in a barroom setting. The dog is repulsed as he samples a cigarette and a shot.

Cher sings The Beatles' song "Something," accompanied by Sweetums (performed by Jim Henson). Sweetums appears soon after in a sketch (now performed by Richard Hunt), getting a check up from a doctor (Bill Cosby). Sweetums also appears in the final framing musical number in the series of fitness-related sketches.

Jim and Sweetums appear with everybody to close out the show.

November 16, 1975[]

Kermit the Frog presents a "Bicentennial Frog Minute," informing Cher of various events in American history, but they have an amphibian twist to them. The broadcast also included some outtakes of Kermit and Cher, recorded as the pair stood in for lightning and directorial cues.^[1] A clip from these outtakes was used in The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years.

Cher sings "That Old Black Magic" with Sweetums, followed by guest star Ray Charles singing "Bein' Green" with Kermit.

In a sketch, Cher plays the host of a PBS-like pledge drive, joined by Kermit, Sam the Eagle (in a tie and vest), Mildred Huxtetter, and Waldorf (performed by Jerry Nelson). The group initially doesn't know the phone number to call to make a pledge. Later, when Sam accuses frogs of being notoriously cheap, Kermit saves the station with a mere five dollar donation.

Kermit later has an unscripted chat and staring contest with Chaz Bono.

At the close of the show, Jim Henson (with Kermit on his arm) and Sweetums join the cast to say goodbye.

The November 16th episode was released on Time-Life's The Best of Cher DVD collection in 2020, with "Bein' Green" having been cut from the episode, along with a brief lyric from "On the Sunny Side of the Street" during the pledge drive sketch following Sam's remark to "Grab your hat!" On May 20, 2023, the episode was released uncut on YouTube (minus some commercial fades) in commemoration of Cher's 77th birthday.