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Reflecting on 'The Muppet Show,' 50 years later

WBUR
Published October 14, 2026 at 11:07 AM CDT

Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speaks with Bonnie Erickson, the creator of the Miss Piggy puppet, and Dave Goelz, the only human who has played Gonzo.

Both Muppets were central to the success of “The Muppet Show,” which burst onto primetime television 50 years ago.

Bonnie Erickson (right) works on Muppet pigs during the making of the second "Muppet Show" pilot, “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence." (Courtesy of the Jim Henson Company)
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Bonnie Erickson (right) works on Muppet pigs during the making of the second "Muppet Show" pilot, “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence." (Courtesy of the Jim Henson Company)

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

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