The Muppets

Cute and quirky with songs to match, Jim Henson's Muppets have been responsible for decades of entertainment that isn't just for kids. Alongside Sesame Street, aimed at younger children, the Muppets had a more sophisticated, wittier look and sense of humor. Artist/puppeteer Henson, with assistance from original puppeteers and voices Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, and Dave Goelz, began The Muppet Show in 1976. Two years later, a Muppet Show soundtrack arrived, featuring classic Muppets songs like "Mah Nah Mah Nah," "Bein' Green," and the show's theme. The film soundtracks The Muppet Movie (1979), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), and The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) also featured songs rivaling the quality of many musicals of the time, including the wonderful "Rainbow Connection." After some inactivity, the gang returned to the silver screen in the 2010s with The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted, plus a TV series from 2015 to 2016.