Trivia for
The Muppet Movie (1979) More at IMDbPro »

• Jim Henson spent an entire day in a 50-gallon steel drum submerged in a pond for the opening scene of Kermit in the swamp.
  
  
• The film was an analogy for Jim Henson's rise to fame.
  
  
• Cameo: [Big Bird] (voice by Caroll Spinney) from Henson's famous TV show, "Sesame Street" (1969). Big Bird tells Kermit that he's going to New York to break into public television - an obvious reference to Henson's Sesame Street.
  
  
• Cameo: [Steve Martin] the waiter in the small-town restaurant where Kermit and Piggy eat their first dinner.
  
  
• Orson Welles plays a studio executive named Lew Lord who draws up a standard rich-and-famous contract for The Muppets - a reference to real-life producer Sir Lew Grade (later Lord Grade). When Jim Henson was trying to find a producer to make "The Muppet Show" (1976) happen, no American network understood or was interested in the concept, Grade recognized Henson's vision and made the show possible.
  
  
• When the credits are completed (after Animal tells the audience to go home) a black screen appears with the words, "This film is dedicated to the memory and magic of Edgar Bergen."
  
  
• Edgar Bergen died shortly after his scene was shot in 1978.
  
  
• Professor Max Krassman, played by 'Mel Brooks (I)', has "Prof" written on the back of his coat. This is a nod to the Brooks character Governor William J. Lepetomane in Blazing Saddles (1974), who has "Gov" written on the back of his coat.
  
  
• In a 2004 interview, John Landis revealed that he was the puppeteer for Grover during the final sequence, as Frank Oz was busy operating Miss Piggy. Landis also noted that Tim Burton was also among the many puppeteers in the finale.
  
  
• A sign outside the church (where the band Electric Mayhem is playing) has the wording "Lost? Have you tried the Reverend Harry Krishna?", a reference to some dialogue between Kermit the Frog and Bernie (Dom DeLuise) early in the movie.
  
  
• This was the last movie to feature famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his wooden sidekick, Charlie McCarthy. It held particular meaning for Jim Henson, who cited, on many occasions, how Bergen and McCarthy were the major reasons he took an interest in puppetry.
  
  
• Austin Pendleton originally turned down the role of Max. James Frawley had the role expanded because he really wanted Pendleton for the role.
  
  
• The character of Doc Hopper is a parody of Harland Sanders, the founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (now "KFC") restaurant chain who was known for his attire of a white suit and black western string tie.
  
  
• One of James Frawley's rare ventures into film directing. He more often directs for television.
  
  
• The first Muppet project to take place in the real world.
  
  
• Kermit playing the banjo while sitting on a log took five days to shoot.
  
  
• Shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Lake Sherwood, California.
  
  
• When Kermit and Fozzie set off for Hollywood, they start out in a Studebaker and arrive in a bus. Because of all the extra passengers they pick up along the way.
  
  

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