Genres

Since 1969, Sesame Street had given Jim Hensons Muppet creations exposure however, Henson began to perceive that he was pigeonholed as a childrens entertainer. He sought to create a programme that could be enjoyed by young and old. Two specials were produced and aired that are considered pilots for The Muppet Show. Neither led to the sale of a prime-time network series. However, the prime-time access rule had just been enacted, which took the 730 to 8pm ET slot from the networks and turned it over to their affiliates. CBS suggested it would be interested in Hensons proposal as a syndicated series it could purchase for its owned-and-operated stations, to run one night a week in that time slot.