Claim: Jim Henson founded an entertainment company.

The Muppets are an ensemble cast of puppet characters known for their self-aware , burlesque , and meta-referential style of variety-sketch comedy . Created by Jim Henson in 1955 , they are the namesake for the Disney media franchise that encompasses feature films , television series , music recordings , theme park attractions , print publications , merchandising , and other media works associated with the characters .   The Muppets debuted on the television program Sam and Friends , which aired from 1955 to 1961 . After appearing on skits in several late night talk shows and advertising commercials during the 1960s , the Muppets began appearing on Sesame Street in 1969 . The Muppets attained celebrity status and international recognition through their breakout roles in The Muppet Show -LRB- 1976 -- 1981 -RRB- , a primetime television series that garnered four Primetime Emmy Award wins and twenty-one nominations during its five-year run . In the late 1970s and into the 1980s , the Muppets diversified into theatrical feature films , including The Muppet Movie -LRB- 1979 -RRB- , The Great Muppet Caper -LRB- 1981 -RRB- , and The Muppets Take Manhattan -LRB- 1984 -RRB- . The Walt Disney Company began involvement with the Muppets in the late 1980s , seeking to acquire the characters from the Jim Henson Company . The Muppets continued their presence in television and film in the 1990s with The Jim Henson Hour -LRB- 1989 -RRB- , Muppets Tonight -LRB- 1996 -- 98 -RRB- -- a series continuation of The Muppet Show -- and three films , The Muppet Christmas Carol -LRB- 1992 -RRB- , Muppet Treasure Island -LRB- 1996 -RRB- , and Muppets from Space -LRB- 1999 -RRB- . Disney acquired the rights to the Muppets in 2004 , allowing the characters to gain broader public exposure than in previous years . Under Disney 's control , the Muppets enjoyed revitalized success , starring in two films -- The Muppets -LRB- 2011 -RRB- and Muppets Most Wanted -LRB- 2014 -RRB- -- as well as a short-lived primetime television series on ABC .   Throughout their six decades of existence , the Muppets have been regarded as a staple of the entertainment industry and popular culture in the United States , receiving recognition from various cultural institutions and organizations , such as the American Film Institute , Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences , Library of Congress , and the Hollywood Walk of Fame .