Die Muppet Show

Die Muppet Show is the German dub of The Muppet Show. The series aired on German network ZDF from 1977 until 1982.
The dub was recorded in Munich, Germany, at dubbing studio Beta-Technik.
==Localization==
As part of the partnership between ZDF and Henson/ATV, the original syndication package was not only dubbed but also contained a few specific alterations tailored to the German market, in some ways foreshadowing the international versions of Fraggle Rock. A new opening sequence was prepared, identical to the English language version but with a Die Muppet Show sign, and occasional new footage of Kermit was filmed to better match the German dialog. The show also used the full version of the first season closing (from the Juliet Prowse and Connie Stevens episodes) at the end of every episode (including the episodes with the alternate closings), instead of using the updated closings for later seasons.
The series also included one new guest star, singer Mary Roos, who performed a German version of "Lean on Me" with Rowlf the Dog, Animal, and others, in place of the "In My Life" number in episode 121. This was also one of the few episodes to feature a guest star's singing dubbed completely in German, with Twiggy's "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own" translated. Another guest star's number that was dubbed is Zero Mostel's "What Do the Simple Folk Do?" The Muppets' solo numbers were mostly dubbed (often with different singing voices rather than the usual speaking voices). However, as is common with Muppet Show translations, the guest star's musical sequences were mostly in English, as were many additional spoken dialog contributions within the song from the Muppets.
All new footage for Die Muppet Show was taped in London and later redubbed. Eberhard Storeck, who also supplied character voices, was the dialogue director and translator. His contributions included changing the nationality of The Swedish Chef, becoming "The Danish Cook," and replacing his sing-song opening with a chant of "Smørrebrød, Smørrebrød røm, pøm, pøm, pøm," in reference to Danish butter bread.
The variety show Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten promoted the show two days prior to its premiere in 1977 by stopping by the original UK set and taping special footage.
For the 2014 film Muppets Most Wanted, the show's title sequence (for their world tour stop in Berlin, Germany) was recreated using the German co-production's original title, complete with the German article.
Image:Title.diemuppetshow-NEW.jpg|Die Muppet Show title card from season 1
Image:Dms2.jpg|Die Muppet Show title card from season 2 on
Image:DieMuppetShow-Season2-02.jpg|Die Muppet Show title card as it appears at the end of the opening credits from season 2 on
Image:Dms_zoot_end_card.jpg|Zoot ending shot with a ZDF credit shown over a black screen.
==Title inconsistency==
Despite the custom German logo clearly reading "Die Muppet Show," the show's title has regularly been misquoted from the beginning in articles, most TV guide listings, and even on tie-in merchandise as either "Die Muppet-Show" (hyphenated) or "Die Muppets Show" (with a plural "s").
Besides obvious neglect on the part of the press to assure the correct citation of a title, the hyphenation is explained by the fact that, while German words can be joined without any kind of punctuation mark, foreign words would indeed need a hyphen.
The most likely source for the latter misquotation, as can be seen , is the show's own custom German end credits roll, which was inexplicably never corrected throughout the show's entire five season run.
==Notes==
*At the end of the credits, the typical Zoot ending shot was replaced with a ZDF network credit. 
==Video releases==
:For a complete list of video releases, see Die Muppet Show Videography.
The first official home video release of Die Muppet Show was announced in 2005. After a five year waiting period during which the "unusually complex legal situation"Official Disney statement on the release struggles concerning the show concerning the German dub was decided, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Germany finally released Die Muppet Show: Season One on DVD on December 2, 2010. The second season box set was released on March 24, 2011. The third season box set was released on May 19, 2011.
==Voices==
English Name 	German Name 	German Voice Actor
Kermit the Frog 	Kermit der Frosch 	Horst Gentzen
Miss Piggy 	Miss Piggy 	Marianne Wischmann
Fozzie Bear 	Fozzie Bär 	Bruno W. Pantel
Gonzo 	Der große Gonzo/Gonzo der Große 	Werner Abrolat
Rowlf the Dog 	Rowlf der Hund 	Michael Rüth
Sam the Eagle 	Sam der amerikanische Adler 	Wolf Ackva
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew 	Dr. Honigtau Bunsenbrenner 	Kurt Zips
Vendaface 	Vendaface 	Kurt Zips
Dr. Teeth (speaking)(singing) 	Dr. Goldzahn (speaking)(singing) 	Dietrich Thoms, Paul Friedrichs, Heini Göbel
Dr. Teeth (speaking)(singing) 	Dr. Goldzahn (speaking)(singing) 	Manfred Lichtenfeld
Statler 	Statler 	Manfred Lichtenfeld
Waldorf 	Waldorf 	Walter Reichelt
Scooter (speaking)(singing) 	Scooter (speaking)(singing) 	Christina Hoeltel
Scooter (speaking)(singing) 	Scooter (speaking)(singing) 	Eberhard Storeck
The Swedish Chef 	Der dänische Koch 	Eberhard Storeck
Robin 	Robin der Frosch 	Eberhard Storeck
Crazy Harry 	Crazy Donald (first two seasons)Crazy Harry (thereafter) 	Eberhard Storeck
Beaker 	Beaker 	Eberhard Storeck
Uncle Deadly(first season)(from third season on)	Der tödliche Onkel/Onkel Tödlich(first season)(from third season on)	Eberhard Storeck
Uncle Deadly(first season)(from third season on)	Der tödliche Onkel/Onkel Tödlich(first season)(from third season on)	Peter Capell
Uncle Deadly(first season)(from third season on)	Der tödliche Onkel/Onkel Tödlich(first season)(from third season on)	Donald Arthur
Beauregard 	Beauregard 	Donald Arthur
Pops 	Pops 	Peter Capell
Floyd Pepper 	Floyd Pepper 	Paul Lasner
Janice 	Janice 	Helen von Münchhofen
Zoot 	Zoot 	Harald Baerow
Wayne 	Wayne 	Harald Baerow
Wanda 	Wanda 	Monika Greving
Animal 	Das Tier 	Harald Baerow (early episodes)Eberhard Storeck (later episodes)
Link Hogthrob 	Kapitän Link Ringelschwanz 	Harald Baerow (early episodes)Eberhard Storeck (later episodes)
The Country Trio 	The Country Trio 	Manfred Lichtenfeld (Jim)Eberhard Storeck (Frank)Gunther Beth (Jerry)
Dr. Julius Strangepork 	Dr. Julius Speckschwarte 	Mogens von Gadow (first episodes)Paul Bürks (later episodes)
The Newsman 	Der Nachrichtensprecher/Reporter 	Franz Rudnick
The Announcer 	Der Ansager 	Franz Rudnick
Annie Sue 	Annie Sue 	Uschi Wolff
Lew Zealand 	Lew Zealand 	Michael Habeck
Sweetums 	Sweetums 	Herbert Weicker
J. P. Grosse 	J. P. Grosse 	Herbert Weicker
Louis Kazagger 	Louis Kazagger 	Reinhard Glemnitz
Marvin Suggs 	Marvin Suggs 	Panos Papadopulos
Mildred Huxtetter 	Mildred Huxtetter 	Inge Schulz
George the Janitor 	George der Hausmeister 	Walter Ofiera, Paul Friedrichs
Hilda 	Hilda 	Tilli Breidenbach
Gladys 	Gladys 	Mady Rahl
Talking Houses 	Sprechende Häuser 	Fee von Reichlin (House #2, #3)
==Broadcast Order==
The dub aired on ZDF from December 3, 1977 to June 5, 1982, omitting only one episode from the broadcast: Episode 207 featuring guest star Edgar Bergen. It was omitted again by the network when it reran other episodes of the show during the summer of 1981. The episode eventually aired on October 19, 1991, over twelve years after its original slot in the show's lineup, when TV network Pro7 had obtained the rights and reran the show in its entirety.
The episode order of the first two seasons was rearranged considerably for the dub, and even released on home video accordingly. The following list provides original episode numbers in parentheses, whenever differing.
===Season 1===
German Episode Number	Guest Star(s) 	Additional Voices 	Notes 	German Airdate
Folge 101(orig. 105) 	Rita Moreno 	 	 	December 3, 1977
Folge 102(orig. 104) 	Ruth Buzzi 	 	 	December 10, 1977
Folge 103 	Joel Grey 	Berno von Cramm(Joel Grey)Eberhard Storeck(Pachalafaka Singer)German album credits. Jim Henson's Redbook, December 2012.
Harald Baerow(Gorgon Heap)	As with existing The Muppet Show edits of this episode, two Muppet News Flash segments and the balcony segment after "Razzle Dazzle" never made it into the German version of this episode. 	December 17, 1977
Folge 104(orig. 113) 	Bruce Forsyth 	 	 	December 31, 1977
Folge 105(orig. 108) 	Paul Williams 	Michael Habeck(Paul Williams)Beate Granzow(Mary Louise) 	The complete backstage scene before Paul Williams' first number is cut, and the following "telephone pole joke" backstage scene appears in a later spot. During the talk spot, citing famous short people, Kermit mentions Mickey Mouse. In the English version, it was Mickey Rooney. 	January 7, 1978
Folge 106 	Jim Nabors 	Fred Maire(Jim Nabors) 	 	January 14, 1978
Folge 107(orig. 109) 	Charles Aznavour 	Erich Ebert(Charles Aznavour) 	 	January 21, 1978
Folge 108(orig. 107) 	Florence Henderson	 	This is one of the few German episodes to retain the audio of original background sound effects (the crash of the Bouncing Borsalino pyramid) during the beginning of the closing theme. 	January 28, 1978
Folge 109(orig. 110) 	Harvey Korman 	Thomas Braut(Harvey Korman)Christina Hoeltel(Whatnot Panelist) 	 	February 4, 1978
Folge 110(orig. 115) 	Candice Bergen 	Kerstin de Ahna(Candice Bergen) 	 	February 11, 1978
Folge 111(orig. 114) 	Sandy Duncan 	 	 	February 18, 1978
Folge 112(orig. 116) 	Avery Schreiber 	Wolfgang Hess(Avery Schreiber)Donald Arthur(Gorgon Heap) 	 	February 25, 1978
Folge 113(orig. 117) 	Ben Vereen 	Fred Klaus(Ben Vereen) 	 	March 4, 1978
Folge 114(orig. 118) 	Phyllis Diller 	Carola Höhn(Phyllis Diller)Gogalala Jubilee Jugband: Harry Friedauer, Manfred Ball, Michael Rüth	 	March 11, 1978
Folge 115(orig. 119) 	Vincent Price 	Christian Marschall(Vincent Price) 	 	March 18, 1978
Folge 116(orig. 116) 	Valerie Harper 	Maddalena Kerrh(Valerie Harper) 	 	March 25, 1978
Folge 117(orig. 117) 	Ethel Merman 	 	 	April 1, 1978
Folge 118(orig. 121) 	Twiggy &Mary Roos 	Gernot Duda(König)Inge Schulz(Königin) 	Substituting for the "In My Life" number: Gonzo introduces Mary Roos, who joins Rowlf for "Lean on Me." As with the German Kermit intros, this footage was taped at ITV studios with Roos. It was performed by the usual puppeteers with mouths approximating the German dialog, and then dubbed.	April 8, 1978
Folge 119(orig. 123) 	Kaye Ballard 	 	Since the episode uses the standard closing theme, Statler and Waldorf's closing comment is re-used from episode 103. 	April 15, 1978
Folge 120(orig. 101) 	Juliet Prowse 	 	 	April 22, 1978
Folge 121(orig. 102) 	Connie Stevens 	Eberhard Storeck(Bert)Leon Rainer(Ernie) 	In his introduction, Kermit mentions Ernie and Bert as coming from Sesamstrasse. 	April 29, 1978
Folge 122(orig. 124) 	Mummenschanz 	 	 	May 6, 1978
Folge 123(orig. 111) 	Lena Horne 	 	This episode uses a slightly different take of the opening "Die Muppet Show" title card, compared to the one used for the rest of the episodes. 	May 13, 1978
Folge 124(orig. 112) 	Peter Ustinov 	Günter Sauer(Peter Ustinov) 	Oddly, Miss Piggy and Fozzie are dubbed by different voice artists during "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song." 	May 20, 1978
===Season 2===
German Episode Number	Guest Star(s) 	Additional Voices 	Notes 	German Airdate
Folge 201(orig. 219) 	Peter Sellers 	Christian Marschall(Peter Sellers) 	 	November 11, 1978
Folge 202(orig. 217) 	Julie Andrews 	 	The cow's moo at the end of the episode uses the regular "bum note" saxophone sound instead. 	November 18, 1978
Folge 203(orig. 213) 	Rudolf Nurejew 	Michael Schwarzmeier(Rudolf Nureyev) 	 	November 25, 1978
Folge 204(orig. 221) 	Bob Hope 	Holger Hagen(Bob Hope) 	Hagen also dubbed Bob Hope as the ice cream vendor in the German dub of The Muppet Movie. 	December 2, 1978
Folge 205(orig. 214) 	Elton John 	Jürgen Clausen(Elton John) 	 	December 9, 1978
Folge 206(orig. 220) 	Petula Clark 	Gernot Duda(Mickey Moose) 	Mickey Moose says his name is "Buttermilch" (buttermilk). 	December 16, 1978
Folge 207(orig. 211) 	Dom DeLuise 	Mogens von Gadow(Dom DeLuise) 	Similar to Folge 204, von Gadow also voiced DeLuise in the German dub of The Muppet Movie. 	December 30, 1978
Folge 208(orig. 216) 	Cleo Laine 	 	 	January 6, 1979
Folge 209(orig. 215) 	Lou Rawls 	Wolfgang Hess(Lou Rawls) 	 	January 13, 1979
Folge 210(orig. 206) 	Nancy Walker 	Tilly Lauenstein(Nancy Walker)Erich Ebert(Cannoneer Leader)	 	January 20, 1979
Folge 211(orig. 210) 	George Burns 	Franz Otto Krüger(George Burns)Erich Ebert(Talking Machine)	 	January 27, 1979
Folge 212(orig. 209) 	Madeline Kahn 	 	 	February 3, 1979
Folge 213(orig. 203) 	Milton Berle 	Horst Sommer(Milton Berle) 	 	February 17, 1979
Folge 214(orig. 208) 	Steve Martin 	Manfred Seipold(Steve Martin) 	Steve Martin's banjo solo of the closing theme is retained and heard over the beginning of the ending credits (whereas other foreign editions of the episode use the original closing theme audio). 	March 3, 1979
Folge 215(orig. 207) 	Edgar Bergen 	Alf Marholm(Edgar Bergen) 	This is the only episode to not air during the show's original run, but over twelve years later on a different network. 	October 19, 1991(on Pro7)
Folge 216(orig. 222) 	Teresa Brewer 	 	 	March 10, 1979
Folge 217(orig. 202) 	Zero Mostel 	Donald Arthur(Zero Mostel) 	 	March 17, 1979
Folge 218(orig. 205) 	Judy Collins 	 	 	March 24, 1979
Folge 219(orig. 204) 	Rich Little 	 	In the opening gag, when Little does his impersonation of W. C. Fields, Scooter instead identifies the personage as Bill Ramsey, an American-born singer who had been popular in Germany since the late 1950s.	March 31, 1979
Folge 220(orig. 224) 	Cloris Leachman 	 	 	April 7, 1979
Folge 221(orig. 221) 	Bernadette Peters	 	In the opening, Bernadette Peters refers to the Swedish Chef's complimentary chicken sandwich as actually coming from the Swedish Chef, not "the Danish Chef," as was common in the German version. 	April 14, 1979
Folge 222(orig. 201) 	Don Knotts 	Erik Schumann(Don Knotts)Harald Baerow(Gorgon Heap) 	 	April 21, 1979
Folge 223(orig. 218) 	Jaye P. Morgan 	 	 	April 28, 1979
Folge 224(orig. 223) 	John Cleese 	Reiner Schöne(John Cleese) 	 	October 27, 1979
===Season 3===
This is the first German season to use the original American broadcast order.
German Episode Number	Guest Star(s) 	Additional Voices 	Notes 	German Airdate
Folge 301 	Kris Kristofferson &Rita Coolidge	Maddalena Kerrh(Rita Coolidge) 	 	November 3, 1979
Folge 302 	Leo Sayer 	Peter Ehret(Leo Sayer) 	 	November 10, 1979
Folge 303 	Roy Clark 	 	 	November 17, 1979
Folge 304 	Gilda Radner 	 	 	November 24, 1979
Folge 305 	Pearl Bailey 	Mady Rahl(Pearl Bailey) 	 	December 1, 1979
Folge 306 	Jean Stapleton 	Edith Schneider(Jean Stapleton) 	 	December 8, 1979
Folge 307 	Alice Cooper 	Michael Schwarzmaier(Alice Cooper) 	 	December 15, 1979
Folge 308 	Loretta Lynn 	 	 	January 12, 1980
Folge 309 	Liberace 	Paul Bürks(Liberace) 	This is one of the few German episodes to retain the audio of original background chatter during the beginning of the closing theme.	January 19, 1980
Folge 310 	Marisa Berenson 	 	 	January 26, 1980
Folge 311 	Raquel Welch 	 	 	February 2, 1980
Folge 312 	James Coco 	Günter Sauer(James Coco) 	 	February 9, 1980
Folge 313 	Helen Reddy 	 	 	February 16, 1980
Folge 314 	Harry Belafonte 	Thomas Braut(Harry Belafonte) 	Since this episode uses the standard closing theme, a new Statler and Waldorf closing comment is used. 	February 23, 1980
Folge 315 	Lesley Ann Warren 	 	 	March 1, 1980
Folge 316 	Danny Kaye 	Gerd Vespermann(Danny Kaye) 	 	March 8, 1980
Folge 317 	Spike Milligan 	Horst Sommer(Spike Milligan) 	 	March 15, 1980
Folge 318 	Leslie Uggams 	Unknown female voice artist(Big Bird) 	In his introduction, Kermit mentions "Big Bird" (not "Bibo") as coming from Sesamstrasse. 	March 22, 1980
Folge 319 	Elke Sommer 	Elke Sommer(as herself)Inez Günther(Statlers Enkelkind)	 	March 29, 1980
Folge 320 	Sylvester Stallone 	Peter Thom(Sylvester Stallone)Erich Ebert(Albert Flan) 	 	April 5, 1980
Folge 321 	Roger Miller 	Hannes Gromball(Roger Miller) 	 	April 12, 1980
Folge 322 	Roy Rogers &Dale Evans 	Kurt E. Ludwig(Roy Rogers)Fee von Reichlin(Dale Evans) 	 	April 19, 1980
Folge 323 	Lynn Redgrave 	 	 	April 26, 1980
Folge 324 	Cheryl Ladd 	Dagmar Heller(Cheryl Ladd) 	 	May 3, 1980
===Season 4===
German Episode Number	Guest Star(s) 	Additional Voices 	Notes 	German Airdate
Folge 401 	John Denver 	Hannes Gromball(John Denver) 	 	September 27, 1980
Folge 402 	Crystal Gayle 	 	 	October 4, 1980
Folge 403 	Shields and Yarnell 	Ulf-Jürgen Wagner(Shields)Marion Hartmann(Yarnell) 	 	October 11, 1980
Folge 404 	Dyan Cannon 	Maddalena Kerrh(Dyan Cannon) 	 	October 18, 1980
Folge 405 	Victor Borge 	Heinz Engelmann(Victor Borge) 	 	October 25, 1980
Folge 406 	Linda Lavin 	Gernot Duda(Zuzu Fitzwaller) 	 	November 8, 1980
Folge 407 	Dudley Moore 	 	 	November 15, 1980
Folge 408 	Arlo Guthrie 	 	 	November 22, 1980
Folge 409 	Beverly Sills 	 	 	November 29, 1980
Folge 410 	Kenny Rogers 	Michael Cramer(Kenny Rogers) 	 	December 6, 1980
Folge 411 	Lola Falana 	Donald Arthur(Trevor der Grobe) 	 	December 13, 1980
Folge 412 	Phyllis George 	 	 	December 20, 1980
Folge 413 	Dizzy Gillespie 	Michael Gahr(Dizzy Gillespie) 	 	December 27, 1980
Folge 414 	Liza Minnelli 	 	 	January 3, 1981
Folge 415 	Anne Murray 	 	 	January 10, 1981
Folge 416 	Jonathan Winters 	Herbert Weicker(Jonathan Winters) 	 	January 17, 1981
Folge 417 	The stars ofStar Wars	Pierre Franckh(Mark Hamill/Luke Skywalker)Ulf-Jürgen Wagner(C-3PO)Willy Friedrichs (Angus McGonagle)	Kermit announces his guests as the stars of Krieg der Sterne (the German title for Star Wars).	January 24, 1981
Folge 418 	Christopher Reeve 	 	 	January 31, 1981
Folge 419 	Lynda Carter 	 	 	February 7, 1981
Folge 420 	Alan Arkin 	Berno von Cramm(Alan Arkin) 	 	February 14, 1981
Folge 421 	Doug Henning 	Peter Ehret(Doug Henning) 	 	February 21, 1981
Folge 422 	Andy Williams 	 	 	February 28, 1981
Folge 423 	Carol Channing 	 	 	March 7, 1981
Folge 424 	Diana Ross 	 	 	March 14, 1981
===Season 5===
German Episode Number	Guest Star(s) 	Additional Voices 	Notes 	German Airdate
Folge 501 	Gene Kelly 	Horst Sachtleben(Gene Kelly) 	 	December 5, 1981
Folge 502 	Loretta Swit 	Ingrid Capelle(Loretta Swit) 	 	December 12, 1981
Folge 503 	Joan Baez 	 	 	January 2, 1982
Folge 504 	Shirley Bassey 	 	 	January 9, 1982
Folge 505 	James Coburn 	Michael Cramer(James Coburn) 	 	January 16, 1982
Folge 506 	Brooke Shields 	Irina Wanka(Brooke Shields) 	Wanka also dubbed Brooke Shields in Die Muppets erobern Manhattan (The Muppets Take Manhattan) 	January 23, 1982
Folge 507 	Glenda Jackson 	 	 	January 30, 1982
Folge 508 	Señor Wences 	Leo Bardischewski(Señor Wences) 	 	February 6, 1982
Folge 509 	Debbie Harry 	 	 	February 13, 1982
Folge 510 	Jean-Pierre Rampal	Imo Heite(Jean-Pierre Rampal) 	 	February 20, 1982
Folge 511 	Paul Simon 	Peter Ehret(Paul Simon) 	Like the Florence Henderson and Liberace episodes, this is one of the few German episodes to retain the audio of original background chatter during the beginning of the closing theme.	February 27, 1982
Folge 512 	Melissa Manchester	 	 	March 6, 1982
Folge 513 	Tony Randall 	Fred Maire(Tony Randall) 	 	March 13, 1982
Folge 514 	Mac Davis 	Ivar Combrinck(Mac Davis) 	 	March 20, 1982
Folge 515 	Carol Burnett 	 	 	March 27, 1982
Folge 516 	Gladys Knight 	 	 	April 3, 1982
Folge 517 	Hal Linden 	Reiner Schöne(Hal Linden) 	 	April 10, 1982
Folge 518 	Marty Feldman 	Christian Marschall(Marty Feldman, others)	 	April 17, 1982
Folge 519 	Chris Langham 	 	 	April 24, 1982
Folge 520 	Wally Boag 	Fred Klaus(Wally Boag) 	 	May 8, 1982
Folge 521 	Johnny Cash 	Gert Günther Hoffmann(Johnny Cash) 	 	May 15, 1982
Folge 522 	Buddy Rich 	Holger Hagen(Buddy Rich) 	 	May 22, 1982
Folge 523 	Linda Ronstadt 	 	 	May 29, 1982
Folge 524 	Roger Moore 	Karl-Walter Diess(Roger Moore) 	 	June 5, 1982
==See also==
*Die Muppet Show Videography
*Die Grosse Muppet Show (German translation of the 1978 book)
*Die Muppet Show (Band 1-5) (comic book series translations from 2011)
*Muppets (comic strip pocket book series translations from 1986-1987)
*Kermit (German magazine from 1989-1990)
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:International Muppet Show
Category:International TV Shows (Germany)