Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual song competition between the countries of the European Broadcasting Union (and Australia). It has been running annually since 1956. The contest is known for being fairly campy and over-the-top.
The Last Video, which featured puppets from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, was shown as an interval act during the 2004 semi-final.
"Sing Sang Song" (Germany's entry from 1976) and "Disco Tango" (Denmark's entry from 1979) have both been performed in Muppet productions.
==References==
* The Sesamstrasse song "Bert, oh Bert" is a spoof of "Satellite," Lena Meyer-Landrut's Eurovision-winning song for Germany from 2010. Meyer-Landrut appeared on the show to perform it.
* The 2015 Sesamstrassen Song Contest, which showcased songs from various international productions of Sesame Street, was a spoof of the contest itself. It was held on the Sesamstrasse website and on YouTube, to coincide with the actual event held that year in Vienna, Austria. The following countries/regions and their respective representatives were featured:
*The Netherlands - (Ieniemienie from Sesamstraat)
*Latin America - (rapper Rigo from Plaza Sésamo)
*South Africa - (Takalani Sesame Stars with singer Letoya Mangezi from Takalani Sesame)
*Bangladesh - (Tuktuki from Sisimpur)
*Palestine - (Haneen from Shara'a Simsim)	
*The United States of America - "Guess the Seasons Song" (fairy Abby Cadabby with Zoe and Rosita from Sesame Street)
*Northern Ireland - (Potto and Hilda from Sesame Tree)
*Israel - (Abigail and her friends from Rechov Sumsum)
*Germany - (Finchen from Sesamstrasse)
*Indonesia - (Putri & caterpillar Belang from Jalan Sesama)
* On May 10, 2023, Radio Times uploaded an interview with Floyd Pepper and Animal where they discuss their favorite Eurovision songs, as that year's Eurovision Song Contest coincided with the release week of The Muppets Mayhem. The mentioned songs are "Waterloo" by ABBA (Sweden 1974), "Believe in Me" by Bonnie Tyler (United Kingdom, 2013), "Tattoo" by Loreen (Sweden, 2023), and "I Wrote a Song" by Mae Muller (United Kingdom, 2023).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuRtjBn8V8Q Additionally, Floyd and Animal wished Muller good luck on Disney UK's social media platforms before the contest.https://x.com/Disney_UK/status/1657422198636683266https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsMM0IxKud6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
* On March 1, 2024, Paul Haenen uploaded a video to his YouTube channel "Betty Asfalt TV" sharing his thoughts on that year's Dutch entry, "Europapa" by Joost Klein. At the video's end, he brings out the Living Puppets versions of Bert and Super Grover and briefly performs the song in their respective voices.
==Muppet Mentions==
*"Swedish Smorgasbord," an interval act from the 2013 contest, briefly mentions The Swedish Chef (with a picture of him in the background).
*During the grand final in 2017, British commentator Graham Norton noted that executive supervisor Jon Ola Sand and co-host Timur Mirushnychenko sounded "like the Muppets with accents."
*During the grand final in 2024, the character of EBU spokesperson Lynda Woodruff, unable to pronounce the name of the previous year's entrant from Finland, Käärijä, calls him "the Kermit," as a picture of Kermit the Frog appears onscreen.
==Connections== 
*ABBA won for Sweden in 1974.
*Malin Åkerman co-hosted the contest in 2024.
*Willeke Alberti represented the Netherlands in 1994.
*Anggun represented France in 2012.
*Basim represented Denmark in 2014.
*Vicki Benckert was a backing singer for Sweden in 1986 and 1989.
*Roger Cicero (Ernie & Bert Songs guest) represented Germany in 2007.
*Nathan Dattner represented Israel in 1987 alongside Avi Kushnir.
*Jan Delay performed in the grand finale of the 2011 contest.
*Celine Dion won for Switzerland in 1988.
*Anders Ekdahl conducted the Swedish entry in 1983.
*Michael Elo was a backing vocalist for Denmark in 1979.
*Anke Engelke co-hosted the contest in 2011.
*Lara Fabian represented Luxembourg in 1988.
*Helene Fischer presented the German votes in 2014.
*Gidi Gov represented Israel as a member of Kaveret in 1974.
*Hind represented the Netherlands in 2008.
*Jan Hofer provided commentary for Germany between 1992 and 1994.
*Elton John made a guest appearance at the 2003 contest.
*Ulrika Jonsson co-hosted the 1998 contest.
*Udo Jürgens represented Austria in three consecutive contests from 1964 to 1966, winning on his third try.
*Hape Kerkeling presented the German votes in 2010.
*Khriusha the Pig co-presented the Russian votes at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
*Lill Lindfors co-represented Sweden in 1966 and hosted the contest in 1985.
*Jessica Mauboy participated as an interval act in 2014 and as a representative of Australia in 2018.
*Lena Meyer-Landrut won for Germany in 2010 and returned in 2011.
*Maria Menounos co-hosted the 2006 contest in Athens, Greece.
*Nena presented the German votes in 1998.
*Olivia Newton-John represented the United Kingdom in 1974.
*Trijntje Oosterhuis represented the Netherlands in 2015.
*Rita Ora performed as an interval act in 2023.
*Stefan Raab represented Germany in 2000, wrote the German entries from 1998 and 2004, and co-hosted the contest in 2011.
*Yoni Rechter (Rechov Sumsum songwriter/composer) conducted the Israeli entry in 1974.
*Flo Rida co-represented San Marino in 2021.
*Edsilia Rombley represented the Netherlands in the 1998 and 2007 contests and co-hosted the 2021 contest.
*Mary Roos represented Germany in 1972 and 1984.
*Rasmus Seebach is the son of Tommy Seebach, who represented Denmark at three contests (1979, 1981, and 1993).
*Svante Thuresson co-represented Sweden in 1966.
*Justin Timberlake performed during an interval act of the 2016 grand final.
*Sarai Tzuriel represented Israel in 1986.
*Bill van Dijk represented the Netherlands in 1982.
*Danijela Večerinović was a backing vocalist for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2007.
*Laura Vlasblom represented the Netherlands as a member of Frizzle Sizzle in 1986.
*Terry Wogan provided commentary for the United Kingdom in 1973, 1978, and 1980-2008, and co-hosted in 1998.
==Sources==
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Category:TV References
Category:TV Mentions