Inner Tube Inner Tube ( originally titled " IN - TV " ) was a concept for a television series developed by Jim Henson in 1987 . The concept was later revisited with Henson ' s pitch for " Lead - Free TV " , which would itself evolve into what became the MuppeTelevision segments of " The Jim Henson Hour " . A pilot for the series was written by David Misch ; and Henson produced and directed a 10 - minute pitch reel for the show in January 1987 . Brian Jay Jones explained the concept for the show in " " : John Candy was originally scripted as the guest star for the pilot , but in the end no guest star appeared . Henson had some apprehensions about the original pilot script ; and creative consultant Larry Mirkin called it " consistently dark , victimized , and pessimistic " with feelings that it was also unfunny . Henson still thought the concept had potential and spent three days taping the pilot , which he edited down to a 10 - minute pitch reel . Originally the show was to focus on a brand - new set of Muppet characters ; and according to writer David Misch , the pilot was not meant to resemble " The Muppet Show " . However Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy were eventually given brief appearances in pitch reel in an attempt to better help Henson sell the series . Bernie Brillstein tried selling the show to NBC and other networks , but found no takers . Although the new puppet characters were made of foam latex ( similar in style to those of " The Ghost of Faffner Hall " and " Mother Goose Stories " ; and an indication that they may have been created by the Creature Shop ) , they were actually built by the New York Muppet Workshop . The new characters were performed by Dave Goelz , Steve Whitmire ( credited as Steve Whitmore ) , Richard Hunt , Kevin Clash , Camille Bonora , Kathryn Mullen , David Rudman , Rick Lyon and John Henson . Several of the puppets were later recycled in " The Jim Henson Hour " . In the pitch reel for " The Jim Henson Hour " , clips from the " Inner Tube " pilot are shown as a representation of " " Lead - Free TV " . Several scenes from the pilot can also be seen in the television special " The World of Jim Henson " . Characters . The Mechanics . " Inner Tube , " a fly - by - night cable network in the back of an electronics shop , is run by two harried , nutty mechanics : The Band . One of the channels Jake and Henry broadcast is the domain of an unnamed futuristic rock band : Channels . Aerobics Channel - hosted by Miss Piggy , who says that if you do your daily dozen with someone you love , exercise can be less boring . ( Reused footage from an unreleased " Aerobique " music video . Cuts off before Kermit arrives . ) Millionaire ' s Home Shopping Network - hosted by the Salesman ( played by Richard Hunt ) , the channel sells really expensive things , including Denmark , for $ 200 , 199 , 622 , 122 . 95 . All - Kitchen - Utensil Network - a channel that forward novels starring kitchenware . Credits . Directed by : Jim Henson Written by : David Misch Music and Lyrics : Phil Ramone , Bob Halligan and Phil Galdston Muppet Performers : Dave Goelz , Steve Whitmore , Richard Hunt , Kevin Clash , Camille Bonora , Kathryn Mullen , David Rudman , Rick Lyon and John Henson Character Design : Michael Frith , John Stevenson and Bob Taylor Muppet Design Group : Jane Gootnick , Ed Christie , Tim Miller , Jan Rosenthal , Norman Tempia , Joanne Green , Marian Keating , Jitka Exler , Colleen Henry and Rollie Krewson Costumes : Polly Smith , Julie Zobel and Connie Peterson Muppet Mechanical Design : Larry Jameson , Tom Newby and Fred Buchholz Workshop Supervisor : Will Morrison Backgrounds and Electronic Effects by : < br > CHARLEX Production Executives : Charles Levi and Ralph Horan Producers : Peter Mavromates and Ritamarie Peruggi Edited by : Bill Weber Paintbox Artist : Page Wood and Gordon DeWolf Art Direction : Malcom McNeil and Alex Weil Visual Futurist : David Gumpel Copyright Henson Associates Inc . 1987