Home video releases of Die Muppet Show, the German dub and co-production of The Muppet Show.
Season 1[]
After years of pushing back release dates and "figuring out the unusually complex legal situation" concerning the German dub, which was "not as clear as necessary for publication,"[1] Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment finally announced in July of 2010 that they would release the first season in time for Christmas of the same year. It was released on December 2, 2010 both as a paperboard box set with four individual slimcases, and a special edition flocked box set with a cardboard ring (to display the rating on the cover) and with a paperboard book that holds the four DVDs and unfolds.
This Region 2 DVD release follows the rearranged German broadcast order, and actually contains most scenes that were cut from the US-American release (the only differences being the Muppet News Flash and balcony edits from the Joel Grey episode, as well as the fade to black on the Connie Stevens episode). Additionally, the complete backstage scene before the guest star's first number on the Paul Williams episode is cut, and the next telephone pole backstage scene appears in a later spot. The release contains the original 1977 dub for the original German language episodes, including the never before released variant of the Twiggy episode featuring additional guest star Mary Roos. The original English language edit of the episode appears on the disc as an extra. All additional extras are identical on both sets (though with optional German subtitles). Mirroring the US-American release, Kermit's closing line was cut from "The Muppet Show Pitch Reel."
All episodes on disc one, and the Peter Ustinov episode on disc four contain the original English visuals ("The Muppet Show" logo, end credits, and the original Zoot ending shot with ITC logo), whereas all other episodes present the German broadcast version with the custom Die Muppet Show logo and German end credits.
Most of the episodes contain the German broadcast version with the custom Die Muppet Show logo and German end credits. The exceptions include the episodes on disc one and the Peter Ustinov episode on disc four, which contain the original English visuals ("The Muppet Show" logo, end credits, and the original Zoot ending shot with ITC logo). (Reruns on the German Disney Channel retain the custom opening German logo for these episodes, but leave the English credits intact.) On disc three, the Vincent Price and Twiggy/Mary Roos episodes end with the orchestra shot with the ATV logo and a shot of Zoot and Crazy Harry from the opening sequence.
One last notable difference to the US-American release is the Kaye Ballard episode, which when watched in English, still ends with the regular end credits and a Statler and Waldorf comment (as used from the Joel Grey episode, although the subtitles erroneously transcribe Rowlf and Nigel's original conversation) in German, as the original English ending varied. It is still included on the disc as a hidden "Easter Egg."
DVD Releases | ||
| Cover | Content | |
|---|---|---|
December 2, 2010 Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment  Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Flocked "Special Edition" (packaging differences only)  Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Unreleased mock-up, originally slated for a 2005 release |
Die Muppet Show: Season One
Four disc DVD box set, containing the entire first season of the German dub and co-production including the altered Twiggy episode with special German guest star Mary Roos, as well as most scenes cut from the US-American release. The English language track is available on all episodes (excluding the end credits and final scene of the Kaye Ballard episode), as are optional German subtitles. Each disc contains these bonus features:
Folge 1: Rita Moreno
Folge 7: Charles Aznavour
Folge 14: Phyllis Diller
Folge 20: Juliet Prowse
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Season 2[]
The Season 2 box set was first released on March 24, 2011, as a paperboard box set with four individual slimcases (donning Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal and Statler and Waldorf), and unlike the first season box set, not as an alternate flocked "special edition." This marked the first time that any of these episodes have officially been made commercially available in German.
This Region 2 DVD release follows the rearranged German broadcast order. All episodes present the German broadcast version with the custom "Die Muppet Show" logo and standard German end credits. Also, the cow's "moo" at the end of the Julie Andrews episode was not included, using Zoot's regular "bum note" instead. None of the bonus material has ever received a German dub, and remains in English only, with optional German subtitles.
All discs contain the original German dub and picture, as well as the English language audio track. Only one of the original opening sequence variants was used throughout this German second season with the same Statler and Waldorf clip, with the result that the visual doesn't synchronize with the English audio track. The shot is of the pair hurrying into their seats, as used in episodes 201 and 214.
The packaging of select box sets also included a Kermit sticker, promoting a sample of the forthcoming German editions of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets (titled Die Muppet Show: Applaus, Applaus, Applaaauuus!), The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson (titled Die Muppet Show: Auf Schatzsuche) and Muppet Peter Pan.
Season 3[]
The Season 3 box set was first released on May 19, 2011, as a paperboard box set with four individual slimcases (donning Animal, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog), and unlike the first season box set, not as an alternate flocked "special edition." This marked the first time that any of these episodes have officially been made commercially available in German.
This Region 2 DVD release follows the original show's broadcast order. All episodes present the German broadcast version with the custom "Die Muppet Show" logo and standard German end credits on all episodes. Due to this, none of the four alternate closings from this season made it to the set. Instead all four episodes play the usual theme. Both the Loretta Lynn episode and the Roger Miller episode still have the original English Statler and Waldorf ending intact, while when viewed in English, the Harry Belafonte episode presents a whole new German Statler and Waldorf ending, and the Spike Milligan episode cuts to the clip of both of them singing in their German voices only.
None of the bonus material has ever received a German dub, and remains in English only, with optional German subtitles.
Contrary to the second season, the changing character bit during the opening credits was dubbed for season three, and is featured consistently on every episode.
The bonus feature "A Company of Players" is incorrectly labeled "Von Muppets und Menschen" (Of Muppets and Men), because even though the featurette includes several behind the scenes stills and clips from it, a German dub of the 1981 documentary is available under the same name. Further, Rowlf's name is misspelled "Rolf" for the Purina Dog Chow commercials, while German productions and products have traditionally used the original English spelling.
As with the second season release, the packaging of the box sets included a Kermit sticker, promoting a sample of the German editions of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets (titled Die Muppet Show: Applaus, Applaus, Applaaauuus!), The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson (titled Die Muppet Show: Auf Schatzsuche) and Muppet Peter Pan. The sample booklet was again included with disc 3.
Seasons 4 and 5[]
As with the English language full season releases, the German dubs of Season 4 and Season 5 of the show remain unreleased. Though, they notably have aired on the German Disney Channel several times since the release of the first three season sets on DVD.