Jim Henson Timeline: 1980s

== 1980 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* January 4 - "Here Come the Puppets!" PBS special.
* October 4 - The Muppet Show's fifth and final season airs on CBS.
* October 5 - The Muppet Show's fifth and final season airs on ITV in the UK.
* November 9 - "The Muppet Show's 5th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 6th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch's 6th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Muppets Go Hollywood's 2th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC.
* November 24 - "Sesame Street" Season 12 airs on PBS.
* December 9 - "The Great Santa Claus Switch's 11th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC.
=== International Television ===
* "Barrio Sésamo" end its first run in Spain.
=== Live Appearances ===
* Big Bird at Sesame Place, opening day.
=== Events ===
* Muppet Stuff retail store opens in New York City.
=== Magazine Appearances ===
* August - Miss Piggy and Kermit are featured on the cover of Life magazine.
=== Merchandise ===
* The Miss Piggy Calendar 1980
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" premieres with "A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis".
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features a Sesame Street float (2nd Version) and Kermit the Frog balloon.
=== Locations ===
* Sesame Place amusement park opens in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
== 1981 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* March - "The Muppet Show" ends its fifth season, begins series of syndicated repeats; United Kingdom completes series.
* May 20 - "The Muppets Go to the Movies" airs on ABC.
* June 26 - "The Great Muppet Caper" is released.
* November 9 - "The Muppet Show's 6th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 7th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Land of Gorch's 7th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC.
* November 23 - "Sesame Street" Season 13 airs on PBS.
* December 9 - "The Great Santa Claus Switch's 12th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC.
* "Of Muppets and Men: The Making of The Muppet Show" in syndication.
=== International Television ===
* October 13 - "Svenska Sesam" begins airing on SVT2 in Sweden.
=== Books/Magazines/In Print ===
* Miss Piggy's Guide to Life
* Of Muppets and Men: The Making of The Muppet Show
* September "Jim Henson's Muppets" by Guy Gilchrist and Brad Gilchrist, begins running in newspapers.
=== Stages Shows ===
* "Big Bird's Super Spectacular Totally Amateur Show" debuts.
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features a Sesame Street float (2nd Version) and Kermit the Frog balloon.
== 1982 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* March 6 - Recording begins for Fraggle Rock.
* September 17 - "The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show" airs on ABC.
* November 9 - "The Muppets Go to the Movies's 2th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch's 8th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 8th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Muppet Show's 7th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC.
* November 22 - "Sesame Street" Season 14 airs on PBS.
* December 17 - "The Dark Crystal" is released.
=== International Television ===
* April 11 - "Svenska Sesam" end production in Sweden.
* June - "Rechov Sumsum" begins airing on ETV in Israel.
* June 2 - "1, Rue Sésame" ends production in France.
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" show "Sesame Jamboree" debuts.
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features a Sesame Street float (2nd Version) and Kermit the Frog balloon.
== 1983 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* January 9 - "The World of the Dark Crystal" airs on PBS.
* January 10 - "Fraggle Rock" Season 1 begins on HBO.
* May 12 - "Rocky Mountain Holiday" airs on ABC.
* May 29 - "Big Bird in China" airs on NBC.
* November 9 - "The Muppet Show's 8th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 9th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch's 9th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Muppets Go to the Movies's 3th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC and "Fraggle Rock's 1th Anniversary Celebration" airs on HBO.
* November 16 - "Don't Eat the Pictures" airs on PBS.
* November 21 - "Sesame Street" Season 15 airs on PBS.
* November 24 - "Sesame Street" Episode 1839 (Mr. Hooper's Death) airs on PBS.
=== International Television ===
* November - The French co-production of "Fraggle Rock" begins airing in France on FR3.
* November 12 - "Die Fraggles" (Fraggle Rock) begins airing in Germany on ZDF.
* "Sesame!" begins airing in the Philippines.
* "Barrio Sésamo" begins its second run in Spain.
* Germany's "Sesamstrasse" celebrates 10th Anniversary.
=== Albums ===
* Rocky Mountain Holiday
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" show "Around the World" debuts.
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features a Fraggle Rock float and Kermit the Frog balloon.
== 1984 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* January 2 - "Fraggle Rock" Season 2 airs on HBO.
* July 13 - "The Muppets Take Manhattan" is released.
* September 15 - "Muppet Babies" Season 1 begins on CBS.
* November 9 - "The Muppet Show's 9th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 10th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch's 10th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Muppets Go Hollywood's 6th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC and "Fraggle Rock's 2th Anniversary Celebration" airs on HBO.
* November 19 - "Sesame Street" Season 16 airs on PBS.
* December 24 - "The Bells of Fraggle Rock" airs on HBO.
=== International Television ===
* January 7 - The UK co-production of "Fraggle Rock" begins.
=== Stage Shows ===
* "The Muppet Show: On Tour!" debuts.
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features Sesame Street cars, Kermit the Frog balloon and a Fraggle Rock float.
=== Videos ===
* December 3 - "The Muppet Show's 9th Anniversary Celebration", "The Muppets Go Hollywood's 6th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Land of Gorch's 10th Anniversary Celebration" is released on VHS by CBS Fox Video under the Jim Henson Productions label and "Fraggle Rock's 2nd Anniversary Celebration" is released on VHS by HBO Video under the Henson Associates label.
== 1985 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* January 7 "Fraggle Rock" Season 3 airs on HBO.
* August 2 - "Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird" is released.
* September 14 - "Muppet Babies" Season 2 airs on CBS.
* September 14-28 - "Little Muppet Monsters" airs on CBS.
* November 9 - "The Muppet Show's 10th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 11th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Land of Gorch's 11th Anniversary Celebration" airs on ABC and "Fraggle Rock's 3th Anniversary Celebration" airs on HBO.
* November 18 - "Sesame Street" Season 17 airs on PBS.
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" presents "Save Our Street".
* "The Muppet Show on Tour: 2nd Edition" debuts.
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features Kermit the Frog balloon.
== 1986 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* January 6 - "Fraggle Rock" Season 4 airs on HBO.
* January 21 - "The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years" airs on CBS.
* February 18 - "Inside the Labyrinth" documentary released.
* March 26 - "The Tale of the Bunny Picnic" airs on HBO.
* June 27 - "Labyrinth" is released.
* September 13 - "Muppet Babies" Season 3 airs on CBS.
* November 9 - "Fraggle Rock's 4th Anniversary Celebration" airs on HBO and "The Muppet Show's 11th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 12th Anniversary Celebration" airs on FOX.
* November 17 - "Sesame Street" Season 18 airs on PBS.
* December 6 - "The Christmas Toy" airs on ABC.
=== International Television ===
* "Susam Sokağı" begins airing on TRT in Turkey.
=== Merchandise ===
* Shalom Sesame series (Shows 101-105)
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" presents "Big Bird Goes to Hollywood".
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features Kermit the Frog balloon.
== 1987 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* January 5 - "Fraggle Rock" Season 5 (final season) airs on HBO.
* January 21 - "The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years's 2th Anniversary Celebration" airs on CBS.
* January 31 - "The Storyteller" begins airing on NBC.
* July 3 - "Puppetman" pilot airs on CBS.
* July 13 - "Down at Fraggle Rock" documentary on HBO.
* September 12 - "Fraggle Rock (animated)" begins airing on NBC.
* September 19 - "Muppet Babies" Season 4 airs on CBS.
* November 9 - "The Muppets Take Manhattan's 4th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 13th Anniversary Celebration" airs on FOX and "Fraggle Rock's 5th Anniversary Celebration" airs on HBO.
* November 16 - "Sesame Street" Season 19 airs on PBS.
* December 16 - "A Muppet Family Christmas" airs on ABC.
=== International Television ===
* "Sesame Street Canada" increases Canadian content, with new characters Basil, Dodi, and Louis.
* "Barrio Sésamo" ends its second run in Spain.
=== Appearances ===
* November 6 - Kermit, Fozzie Bear, and Miss Piggy help host "Nightline".
* November 30 - Jim Henson inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
=== Behind the Scenes ===
* Henson Associates becomes Jim Henson Productions.
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" presents "Big Bird and the ABCs".
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features Kermit the Frog balloon.
== 1988 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* September 10 - "Muppet Babies" Season 5 airs on CBS.
* November 9 - "The Muppets Valentine Show's 18th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 14th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch's 14th Anniversary Celebration" and "The Muppets Go to the Movies's 8th Anniversary Celebration" airs on FOX and "Fraggle Rock's 6th Anniversary Celebration" airs on HBO.
* November 14 - "Sesame Street" Season 20 airs on PBS.
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" presents "Big Bird's Sesame Street Story".
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features Big Bird balloon.
== 1989 ==
=== Television & Movies ===
* January 16 - "Big Bird in Japan" debuts on PBS.
* April 7 - "Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting" on NBC.
* April 14 - July 30 - "The Jim Henson Hour" airs on NBC.
* September 11 - "The Ghost of Faffner Hall" begins on HBO.
* September 16 - "Muppet Babies" Season 6 airs on CBS.
* November 9 - "The Muppet Show's 13th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 15th Anniversary Celebration" and "Dog City's 1th Anniversary Celebration" on FOX and "Fraggle Rock's 7th Anniversary Celebration" airs on HBO.
* November 13 - "Sesame Street" Season 21 airs on PBS.
=== International Television ===
* November 6 - "Rua Sésamo" begins airing on RTP in Portugal.
=== Stage Shows ===
* "Sesame Street Live" presents "Silly Dancing".
=== Behind the Scenes ===
* August 28 - Jim Henson enters into serious negotiations with Michael Eisner to sell his company to Disney. Negotiations would fall through the following year upon Henson's death until February 17, 2004.
=== Videos ===
* December 3 - "The Muppet Show's 13th Anniversary Celebration", "The Land of Gorch at Disneyland California's 15th Anniversary Celebration", "Fraggle Rock's 7th Anniversary Celebration" and "Dog City's 1th Anniversary Celebration" on both on VHS is released by Jim Henson Productions label.
=== Parades ===
* Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features Big Bird balloon.
== See Also ==
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
Category:Timelines