Muppet Theatre Audience

thumb|300px|A wide shot of the audience applauding, used in some episodes of the last three seasons of The Muppet Show
For the duration of The Muppet Show, shots of the audience in the auditorium of the Muppet Theatre, comprised of background Muppets, were prepared for stock use in multiple episodes. 
Reaction shots of the audience (applauding, booing, or singing along) filmed for seasons 1 and 2 are set against a black background, with floating exit signs and spotlights. The audience included several motionless Muppets; a fact that was partially referenced in episode 122, where Fozzie's cousin addresses one stoic Whatnot with "Wanna leave a wake-up call?" The shots are staged in a similar manner as three Sesame Street sketches from the early 1970s, in which Ernie and Bert are seated in a movie theater.
Jim Henson: The Biography gives some insight into the production process:
It wasn't until episode 208 that more elaborate set pieces were used to represent the Muppet Theater Auditorium, including the first appearance of the balcony. Another series of stock audience reaction shots, showing a full view of the auditorium from the stage, were filmed and used from season 3 on. The most notable use is the opening theme sequence, when the audience asks "Why don't you get things started!" These audience shots are actually composite shots, with up to seven filmed elements matted together, achieving one whole image of a theatre populated with Muppets.The Muppet Show Fan Club Newsletter volume 1, number 3, page 3
==Appearances==
MuppetAudience103.jpg|Episode 103 
MuppetAudience6.gif|Episode 106
MonsterAudience.jpg|Episode 119
Monster112.gif|Episode 112
audience122.gif|Episode 122
22 audience.jpg|Episode 122
MuppetAudience2.gif|Episode 207
MuppetAudience1.gif|Episode 208
MuppetAudience3.gif|Episode 209
MuppetAudience.gif|Episode 204
MuppetAudience4.gif|Episodes 204 and 207
Muppet_theatre_balcony.jpg|Episode 216
MuppetAudience5.gif|Episode 301
LeoSayerAudience.jpg|Episode 302
KennyRogersAudience.jpg|Episode 410
Audience TMS520.jpg|Episode 520
==Recycled Shots==
===Season 1===
Seen in episodes 103, etc.
:Audience members: Mahna Mahna, Zelda Rose, Mary Louise, Wally, Pig, Miss Kitty, Blue Frackle, Beautiful Day Monster, Sam the Eagle, Green Frackle, various Whatnots
===Season 2===
Seen in episodes 214, etc.
:Audience members: Miss Mousey, Brewster, Baskerville the Hound, Zelda Rose, Shakey Sanchez, Svengali's Assistant, Beautiful Day Monster, various Whatnots
===Seasons 3-5===
Seen in episodes 320, etc.
:Audience members: Beautiful Day Monster, Zelda Rose, Brewster, Gramps, Afghan Hound
==Unique Appearances==
*Episode 119: An audience made up entirely of cackling Muppet monsters are briefly seen during the talk spot, reacting to Vincent Price's fangs.
*Episode 122: The audience is prominently seen as the bane of Fozzie Bear's comedy act. Fozzie's cousin starts to steal his thunder, and he's heckled relentlessly by Leo. Fozzie turns around and challenges real Fozzie Bear fans to stay in the audience. Everyone, even his cousin, walks out on him. This audience was also used in UK airings of Episode 101: Juliet Prowse, once it had been reedited from the pilot.
*Episodes 204 and 207: An audience of T.R. and chickens is seen following chicken acts.
*Episode 410: Kenny Rogers: The audience sings "Love Lifted Me."
==Sources==
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