Muppet Theatre Audience

A wide shot of the audience applauding, used in some episodes of the last three seasons of The Muppet Show

For the duration of The Muppet Show, shots of the audience in the auditorium of the Muppet Theatre, comprised of background Muppets, were prepared for stock use in multiple episodes.

Reaction shots of the audience (applauding, booing, or singing along) filmed for seasons 1 and 2 are set against a black background, with floating exit signs and spotlights. The audience included several motionless Muppets; a fact that was partially referenced in episode 122, where Fozzie's cousin addresses one stoic Whatnot with "Wanna leave a wake-up call?" The shots are staged in a similar manner as three Sesame Street sketches from the early 1970s, in which Ernie and Bert are seated in a movie theater.

Jim Henson: The Biography gives some insight into the production process:

“When filming large crowds of Muppets on television—such as the theatre audience of The Muppet Show—Jim [Henson] had usually peppered the set with a number of motionless puppet extras, propped up in the background on wire frames or stuffed with wadding, to fill the spaces while the puppeteers performed around them.”

It wasn't until episode 208 that more elaborate set pieces were used to represent the Muppet Theater Auditorium, including the first appearance of the balcony. Another series of stock audience reaction shots, showing a full view of the auditorium from the stage, were filmed and used from season 3 on. The most notable use is the opening theme sequence, when the audience asks "Why don't you get things started!" These audience shots are actually composite shots, with up to seven filmed elements matted together, achieving one whole image of a theatre populated with Muppets.

Appearances

Episode 103

Episode 106

Episode 119

Episode 112

Episode 122

Episode 122

Episode 207

Episode 208

Episode 209

Episode 204

Episodes 204 and 207

Episode 216

Episode 301

Episode 302

Episode 410

Episode 520

Recycled Shots

Season 1

Seen in episodes 103, etc.

Audience members: Mahna Mahna, Zelda Rose, Mary Louise, Wally, Pig, Miss Kitty, Blue Frackle, Beautiful Day Monster, Sam the Eagle, Green Frackle, various Whatnots

Season 2

Seen in episodes 214, etc.

Audience members: Miss Mousey, Brewster, Baskerville the Hound, Zelda Rose, Shakey Sanchez, Svengali's Assistant, Beautiful Day Monster, various Whatnots

Seasons 3-5

Seen in episodes 320, etc.

Audience members: Beautiful Day Monster, Zelda Rose, Brewster, Gramps, Afghan Hound

Unique Appearances

• Episode 119: An audience made up entirely of cackling Muppet monsters are briefly seen during the talk spot, reacting to Vincent Price's fangs.

• Episode 122: The audience is prominently seen as the bane of Fozzie Bear's comedy act. Fozzie's cousin starts to steal his thunder, and he's heckled relentlessly by Leo. Fozzie turns around and challenges real Fozzie Bear fans to stay in the audience. Everyone, even his cousin, walks out on him. This audience was also used in UK airings of Episode 101: Juliet Prowse, once it had been reedited from the pilot.

• Episodes 204 and 207: An audience of T.R. and chickens is seen following chicken acts.

• Episode 410: Kenny Rogers: The audience sings "Love Lifted Me."