Before prequels were a thing , Jim Henson ’s Muppet Babiesimagined a humans in which the feel - covered character of Henson’sMuppetsfranchise — Kermit , Miss Piggy , Animal , and Fozzie Bear among them — converge up as children in a nursery . leave to their own equipment , the animize casting led a deep fancy life while in napkin . For more on this 1984 - 1991 show , including why it ’s so gruelling to determine anywhere except YouTube , keep reading .
1. Frank Oz didn’t really wantMuppet Babies.
The idea to infantilize the Muppets do from Michael Frith , a longtime collaborator of Jim Henson ’s , in the early 1980s . Frithbelievedthat regress the character reference could allow them to impart moral or educational messages to children already familiar with them . But Frank Oz , a Muppets performing artist ( Miss Piggy ) and film director , argued that the Muppets need to maintain their subversive bound . It was Henson who found a via media , suggesting that younger interpretation of the character look in a dream episode for 1984 ’s feature filmThe Muppets Take Manhattan . The response to the scene was overwhelmingly positive , and Henson soonteamedwith Marvel Productions and CBS for an animated serial that began airing in September 1984 .
2. Skeeter was the result of a gender imbalance onMuppet Babies.
Most of the principalMuppet Babiescast was made up of recognizable reference , include Kermit , Miss Piggy , Fozzie Bear , Rowlf , Gonzo , Animal , Bunsen , and Scooter . But Frith , Henson , and producers Bob Richardson and Hank Saroyan decided that the babies were skewing a piffling too male . Aside from Piggy and their caretaker , Nanny , there were no female characters . To balance the scale , theyintroducedSkeeter , Scooter ’s twin sister , a brilliant job - solver .
Skeeter has made only fugitive and sporadic appearances in the Muppet enfranchisement since , leading to speculation she might be caught up in right publication between CBS and the Jim Henson Company , which was purchase by Disney in 2004 . Fortunately , the somewhat muddy site seem to be at least partially resolved : It was recently reported Skeeter will resurface in the fresh electronic computer - animated iteration ofMuppet Babies , which is currentlyairingits second time of year on Disney Junior and has been renewed for a third time of year .
3. One of the major creative forces behindMuppet Babieswas Moe Howard’s grandson.
In 1985,Muppet Babieswriter Jeffrey Scottreceiveda Humanitas Prize from the Human Family Educational and Cultural Institute for an episode of the series which the Institute declare did the best occupation of any kid ’s show that year to “ enrich the viewing populace . ” The episode centered on the group reverence one of them might be sent away . The fertile Scott really wrote all 13 sequence of the first season . His father , Norman Maurer , worked at Hanna - Barbera Productions and got Scott ’s foot in the door . His grandfather was Moe Howard , founder and head Stooge ofThe Three Stoogesfame .
4. TheMuppet Babieslive-action segments were a result of budgetary constraints.
A hallmark ofMuppet Babiesis when the hurl finds themselves push up into scenes from famous films , a Walter Mitty - esque second of fantasy fulfillment that blends live - action sequence with life . According to Frith , devoting a portion of each sequence to clips was n’t entirely a creative choice . Byinsertingclips , producers could spare money on animation . It was also soft for Henson tosecurethe rights to pop celluloid likeStar WarsorRaiders of the Lost Arkbecause he was friends with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg . While some conceive those clips are the grounds the show is n’t available to stream — sieve through the legal entanglement of reairing the segment might prove costly — that ’s never been confirmed .
5.Muppet Babiesnever explained what the Muppets were doing in that nursery.
hand prison term to reflect , it seems queer that the Muppet hurl would find themselves in a baby’s room without being supervise by their own parent . talk with theDetroit Free Pressin 1987 , Michael Frithsaidthat the state of affairs was intentionally left vague . “ I really prize the fact that they do n’t [ ask ] , ” Frith sound out of his kid viewers . “ Is this a Clarence Day care center ? Is this a surrogate tiddler home ? The more we speak about it , the more we mat it should just exist . The kids accept it . ”
6. The voice recording sessions ofMuppet Babiesincluded copious farting.
Speaking with CNN in 2011 , role player Dave Coulier ( Full House ) recalled that record sessions forMuppet Babiessometimes tortuous flatulence . Coulier , who depict Animal and Bunsen , among others , saidthat “ plenty of fart humor ” punctuate the transcription studio . “ In one scene , Fozzie [ play by Greg Berg ] and Animal had to go up a ladder , ” he said . “ As Animal was pushing Fozzie up the ladder , they were making [ grunting ] sounds . In mid - conniption , Greg Berg farted . I depend at [ actor ] Frank Welker and we could n’t contain ourselves . Uncontrollable laughter ensued . I was literally on the flooring of the studio laughing . ”
7. There was an offshoot ofMuppet BabiescalledMuppet Monsters—and it never aired in full.
8.Muppet Babieswas turned into a live stage show.
To further incite their juvenile hearing and monetize their popularity , theMuppet Babiesfranchise eventually wound up live and on stage . Muppet Babies Live!debutedin 1986 and have performers in oversized costumes dancing and play to a prerecorded trail . In one skit , the cast appeared in a Snow White homage . In another , Rowlf became Rowlfgang Amagodus Mozart and play the piano . The arena show toured the body politic . Hank Saroyan , one of the animated show ’s producers , write the microscope stage show . The performing artist for Baby Piggy , Elizabeth Figols , alsoappearedin a live production ofDirty Dancing . The showranthrough 1990 .
