Die Muppet Show videography

Home video releases of Die Muppet Show, the German dub and co-production of The Muppet Show.
==Season 1==
After years of pushing back release dates and "figuring out the unusually complex legal situation" concerning the German dub, which was "not as clear as necessary for publication,"Official Disney statement on the release struggles concerning the show Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment finally announced in July of 2010 that they would release the first season in time for Christmas of the same year. It was released on December 2, 2010 both as a paperboard box set with four individual slimcases, and a special edition flocked box set with a cardboard ring (to display the rating on the cover) and with a paperboard book that holds the four DVDs and unfolds.
This Region 2 DVD release follows the rearranged German broadcast order, and actually contains most scenes that were cut from the US-American release (the only differences being the Muppet News Flash and balcony edits from the Joel Grey episode, as well as the fade to black on the Connie Stevens episode). Additionally, the complete backstage scene before the guest star's first number on the Paul Williams episode is cut, and the next telephone pole backstage scene appears in a later spot. The release contains the original 1977 dub for the original German language episodes, including the never before released variant of the Twiggy episode featuring additional guest star Mary Roos. The original English language edit of the episode appears on the disc as an extra. All additional extras are identical on both sets (though with optional German subtitles). Mirroring the US-American release, Kermit's closing line was cut from "The Muppet Show Pitch Reel."
All episodes on disc one, and the Peter Ustinov episode on disc four contain the original English visuals ("The Muppet Show" logo, end credits, and the original Zoot ending shot with ITC logo), whereas all other episodes present the German broadcast version with the custom Die Muppet Show logo and German end credits. 
Most of the episodes contain the German broadcast version with the custom Die Muppet Show logo and German end credits. The exceptions include the episodes on disc one and the Peter Ustinov episode on disc four, which contain the original English visuals ("The Muppet Show" logo, end credits, and the original Zoot ending shot with ITC logo). (Reruns on the German Disney Channel retain the custom opening German logo for these episodes, but leave the English credits intact.) On disc three, the Vincent Price and Twiggy/Mary Roos episodes end with the orchestra shot with the ATV logo and a shot of Zoot and Crazy Harry from the opening sequence.
One last notable difference to the US-American release is the Kaye Ballard episode, which when watched in English, still ends with the regular end credits and a Statler and Waldorf comment (as used from the Joel Grey episode, although the subtitles erroneously transcribe Rowlf and Nigel's original conversation) in German, as the original English ending varied. It is still included on the disc as a hidden "Easter Egg."
DVD Releases 	DVD Releases	DVD Releases
Cover 	Content 	
December 2, 2010Walt Disney Studios Home EntertainmentWalt Disney Studios Home EntertainmentFlocked "Special Edition"(packaging differences only)Walt Disney Studios Home EntertainmentUnreleased mock-up, originally slated for a 2005 release	Die Muppet Show: Season One
Four disc DVD box set, containing the entire first season of the German dub and co-production including the altered Twiggy episode with special German guest star Mary Roos, as well as most scenes cut from the US-American release. The English language track is available on all episodes (excluding the end credits and final scene of the Kaye Ballard episode), as are optional German subtitles.
Each disc contains these bonus features:
*"Muppet-Modus" (Muppet Morsels pop-up trivia track on each episode)
*Dubbed, live-video menus featuring Statler and Waldorf
;Disc One
Folge 1: Rita Moreno
Folge 2: Ruth Buzzi
Folge 3: Joel Grey
Folge 4: Bruce Forsyth
Folge 5: Paul H. Williams
Folge 6: Jim Nabors
;Disc Two
Folge 7: Charles Aznavour
Folge 8: Florence Henderson
Folge 9: Harvey Korman
Folge 10: Candice Bergen
Folge 11: Sandy Duncan
Folge 12: Avery Schreiber
Folge 13: Ben Vereen
;Disc Three
Folge 14: Phyllis Diller
 Folge 15: Vincent Price
Folge 16: Valerie Harper
Folge 17: Ethel Merman
Folge 18: Twiggy / Mary Roos
Folge 19: Kaye Ballard
:Additional bonus feature:
:*Folge 18: Twiggy (original English version)
:Hidden Easter Egg:
:*Pressing "right" when the "Hauptmenü" button on the "Extras" menu is highlighted, plays the American release of Rowlf's ending to the Kaye Ballard episode.
;Disc Four
Folge 20: Juliet Prowse
Folge 21: Connie Stevens
Folge 22: Mummenschanz
Folge 23: Lena Horne
Folge 24: Peter Ustinov
:Additional bonus features:
:*The Muppet Show Pitch Reel
:*Original Pilot: The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
:*Season One Promo Gag Reel: Original Season 1 Promos	
==Season 2==
The Season 2 box set was first released on March 24, 2011, as a paperboard box set with four individual slimcases (donning Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal and Statler and Waldorf), and unlike the first season box set, not as an alternate flocked "special edition." This marked the first time that any of these episodes have officially been made commercially available in German.
This Region 2 DVD release follows the rearranged German broadcast order. All episodes present the German broadcast version with the custom "Die Muppet Show" logo and standard German end credits. Also, the cow's "moo" at the end of the Julie Andrews episode was not included, using Zoot's regular "bum note" instead. None of the bonus material has ever received a German dub, and remains in English only, with optional German subtitles. 
All discs contain the original German dub and picture, as well as the English language audio track. Only one of the original opening sequence variants was used throughout this German second season with the same Statler and Waldorf clip, with the result that the visual doesn't synchronize with the English audio track. The shot is of the pair hurrying into their seats, as used in episodes 201 and 214.
The packaging of select box sets also included a Kermit sticker, promoting a sample of the forthcoming German editions of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets (titled Die Muppet Show: Applaus, Applaus, Applaaauuus!), The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson (titled Die Muppet Show: Auf Schatzsuche) and Muppet Peter Pan.
DVD Releases 	DVD Releases	DVD Releases
Cover 	Content 	
March 24, 2011Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment	Die Muppet Show: Season Two
Four disc DVD box set, containing the entire second season of the German dub and co-production. The English language track is available on all episodes, as are optional German subtitles.
The discs contain the following feature:
*Dubbed, live-video menus featuring Fozzie and Kermit (discs 1 & 3), as well as Animal and Rizzo (discs 2 & 4).
;Disc One
Folge 1: Peter Sellers
Folge 2: Julie Andrews
Folge 3: Rudolf Nurejew (German spelling)
Folge 4: Bob Hope
Folge 5: Elton John
Folge 6: Petula Clark
;Disc Two
Folge 7: Dom DeLuise
Folge 8: Cleo Laine
Folge 9: Lou Rawls
Folge 10: Nancy Walker
Folge 11: George Burns
Folge 12: Madeline Kahn
Folge 13: Milton Berle
;Disc Three
Folge 14: Steve Martin
 Folge 15: Edgar Bergen
Folge 16: Teresa Brewer
Folge 17: Zero Mostel
Folge 18: Judy Collins
Folge 19: Rich Little
;Disc Four
Folge 20: Cloris Leachman
Folge 21: Bernadette Peters
Folge 22: Don Knotts
Folge 23: Jaye P. Morgan
Folge 24: John Cleese
:Bonus features:
:*The Muppets Valentine Show: 1974 pilot
:*"The Muppets on Muppets": 13-minute featurette (interviews with the Muppet characters)
:*"Keep Fishin'": Weezer music video featuring the Muppets	
==Season 3==
The Season 3 box set was first released on May 19, 2011, as a paperboard box set with four individual slimcases (donning Animal, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog), and unlike the first season box set, not as an alternate flocked "special edition." This marked the first time that any of these episodes have officially been made commercially available in German.
This Region 2 DVD release follows the original show's broadcast order. All episodes present the German broadcast version with the custom "Die Muppet Show" logo and standard German end credits on all episodes. Due to this, none of the four alternate closings from this season made it to the set. Instead all four episodes play the usual theme. Both the Loretta Lynn episode and the Roger Miller episode still have the original English Statler and Waldorf ending intact, while when viewed in English, the Harry Belafonte episode presents a whole new German Statler and Waldorf ending, and the Spike Milligan episode cuts to the clip of both of them singing in their German voices only.
None of the bonus material has ever received a German dub, and remains in English only, with optional German subtitles.
Contrary to the second season, the changing character bit during the opening credits was dubbed for season three, and is featured consistently on every episode.
The bonus feature "A Company of Players" is incorrectly labeled "Von Muppets und Menschen" (Of Muppets and Men), because even though the featurette includes several behind the scenes stills and clips from it, a German dub of the 1981 documentary is available under the same name. Further, Rowlf's name is misspelled "Rolf" for the Purina Dog Chow commercials, while German productions and products have traditionally used the original English spelling.
As with the second season release, the packaging of the box sets included a Kermit sticker, promoting a sample of the German editions of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets (titled Die Muppet Show: Applaus, Applaus, Applaaauuus!), The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson (titled Die Muppet Show: Auf Schatzsuche) and Muppet Peter Pan. The sample booklet was again included with disc 3.
DVD Releases 	DVD Releases	DVD Releases
Cover 	Content 	
May 19, 2011Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment	Die Muppet Show: Season Three
Four disc DVD box set, containing the entire third season of the German dub and co-production. The English language track is available on all episodes, as are optional German subtitles.
The discs contains the following feature:
*Dubbed, live-video menus featuring Kermit and Miss Piggy.
;Disc One
Folge 1: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge
Folge 2: Leo Sayer
Folge 3: Roy Clark
Folge 4: Gilda Radner
Folge 5: Pearl Bailey
Folge 6: Jean Stapleton
;Disc Two
Folge 7: Alice Cooper
Folge 8: Loretta Lynn
Folge 9: Liberace
Folge 10: Marisa Berenson
Folge 11: Raquel Welch
Folge 12: James Coco
Folge 13: Helen Reddy
;Disc Three
Folge 14: Harry Belafonte
Folge 15: Lesley Ann Warren
Folge 16: Danny Kaye
Folge 17: Spike Milligan
Folge 18: Leslie Uggams
Folge 19: Elke Sommer
Folge 20: Sylvester Stallone
;Disc Four
Folge 21: Roger Miller
Folge 22: Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
Folge 23: Lynn Redgrave
Folge 24: Cheryl Ladd
:Bonus features:
:*"The Muppets on Puppets" - documentary
:*"A Company of Players" - featurette on the Muppeteers
:*"Muppet Commercials" - four Purina Dog Chow commercials	
==Seasons 4 and 5==
As with the English language full season releases, the German dubs of Season 4 and Season 5 of the show remain unreleased. Though, they notably have aired on the German Disney Channel several times since the release of the first three season sets on DVD.
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:International Muppet Video
Category:Videographies