×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Sunday
17
May 2026
weather symbol
Athens 23°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Culture

How a 1980 episode of “The Muppet Show” nearly spoiled “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”

That was close...

Newsroom April 23 03:57

Δείτε περισσότερα άρθρα μας στα αποτελέσματα αναζήτησης

Add Protothema.gr on Google

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a bunch of Muppets showed up on television screens across America and enchanted an entire generation of kids (and adults, and kids who are now adults). Then, the original 1978 show all but disappeared from public view.

But as of Feb. 19, “The Muppet Show” is back on screens across the country — as long as you’ve got a Disney+ subscription.

In its heyday, “The Muppet Show” was broadcast in more than 100 countries, according to the Television Academy Foundation. It’s hard to imagine another platform so powerful that it could convince a 67-year-old Gene Kelly to recreate his iconic “Singin’ in the Rain” dance, let alone with puppets.

But there’s one episode that stands out, not just because it combined two of the most popular cultural phenomena into one super phenomenon, but because it managed to unknowingly showcase spoilers for one of the biggest film releases of the century.

I am, of course, talking about the “Star Wars” episode.

In season four of “The Muppet Show,” there’s a February 1980 episode that opens on a puppet named Angus McGonagle, the Scottish “argyle gargoyle,” who is hosting the show. Out of nowhere, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO and R2-D2 burst through the wall. “They’d make much better hosts than McGonagle!” Scooter says, pushing McGonagle out the dressing room door.

“It seems we’ve landed on some sort of comedy variety show planet,” says Skywalker, on a quest to rescue a kidnapped Chewbacca. “Help,” the SOS telegram from the Wookiee reads. “I am being held prisoner by a bunch of weird turkeys”.

See Also:

EU blasts Turkey about provocations against Greece and Cyprus in report

FBI “aware” of pilot UFO sighting in New Mexico, however, FAA shoots it down (audio)

“It does rather sound like your show,” C-3PO says.

“Yeah, it does,” Kermit responds.

>Related articles

Fire caused by a drone attack at the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi

“Go and take it”: The Trump administration reportedly urged the United Arab Emirates to “put boots on the ground” on Lavan Island

An international criminal network was selling fake medicines to seriously ill patients in Greece as well: turnover reached €240 million – Arrests and investigations in six countries

Luke’s busy searching for Chewie, so he can’t host the episode, but offers up his “cousin” Mark Hamill to handle the hosting duties. What follows is what official Disney fan club D23 calls “comedic chaos,” boasting “some of the only new Star Wars material created between the first movie in 1977 and the release of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ on May 21, 1980”.

“The Empire Strikes Back,” of course, features the first appearance of Yoda, who is himself a Henson Company puppet. Jim Henson and George Lucas were friends — Lucas actually offered the role of Yoda to Henson, who was too busy working on “The Great Muppet Caper,” and passed the offer along to Frank Oz, who voiced many of the original Muppets like Miss Piggy. But beyond that, timing and circumstance made the crossover possible.

Read more: sfgate

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#art#cinema#culture#Disney#film#movies#muppet show#spoiler#Star Wars#TV#world
> More Culture

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Mitsotakis: Elections in 2027, only through a third New Democracy government term does the sure path to Greece 2030 pass (updated)

May 17, 2026

“Go and take it”: The Trump administration reportedly urged the United Arab Emirates to “put boots on the ground” on Lavan Island

May 17, 2026

More than 100 drones on standby for wildfire season across Greece

May 17, 2026

Upper secondary school promotion and graduation exams begin tomorrow

May 17, 2026

Kyriakos Mitsotakis sets out the election dilemmas at the New Democracy congress: Strong mandate and self-reliance to avoid backsliding

May 17, 2026

Eurovision Song Contest 2026 was won by Bulgaria with 516 points after a thriller finish against Israel – Akylas finished 10th for Greece

May 17, 2026

The message from New Democracy’s top figures: The “platforms” of Pierrakakis and Dendias, the Hatzidakis–Adonis “dialogue,” and Marinakis’ torch

May 16, 2026

An international criminal network was selling fake medicines to seriously ill patients in Greece as well: turnover reached €240 million – Arrests and investigations in six countries

May 16, 2026
All News

> Greece

In reverence, the emotional deposition in Jerusalem, see photos & video

The Holy Temple of the Resurrection opened after many days due to the war between Israel and Iran

April 10, 2026

In the final stretch for the accreditation of joint master’s degrees: Aiming for their launch in the coming academic year

April 10, 2026

Schedule for Epitaph Procession today (10/4)

April 10, 2026

Perfect weather for Easter excursions, according to Tsatrafyllia’s forecast

April 10, 2026

Easter in Greece: The customs that continue in Greek tradition – From Nafpaktos to Corfu

April 10, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα