1979



 JIM HENSON  note d in his  journal that 1 9 7 9 was “ A VERY MAJOR BIG YEAR ”.

Television & Movie s

 *  The Muppet s Go Holly wood  on C B S , May 1 6
 *  The Muppet Movie  release d June 22
 *  The Muppet Show  Season 4 begin s in syndication, September ; Unite d King dom  airing s begin in October on  I T V  due to the union strike.
 *  SESAME STREET  Sea son 11  begin s air in g on  P B S , November 2 6
 *  John Denver &amp; the Muppet s : A Christ mas Together  on A B C , December 5

International Television & Movie s

 *  T he Muppet Movie  (  Mupparna  ) release d in Sweden , September 2 9
 *  Die Muppet s i n Holly wood  (  The Muppet s Go Holly wood  ) premiere s in Germany  on Z D F, November 9
 *  Barrio  SÉSAMO  premiere s in Spain
 *  Iftah Ya Simsim  premiere s in Kuwait
 * Production of  The Muppet Show  was brought to a halt for 11  week s ( between August & October ) due to a strike affecting the technician s of  I T V  ( of which  Associate d TeleVision , the company that made  The Muppet Show  , was 1 of the affected companies )

Appearance s

 *  6 0 Minute s  feature s a report on  The Muppet Show , March 1 7
 *  KERMIT THE FROG  guest - host s  T he Tonight Show , April 2
 *  BIG BIRD  is feature d in Bob Hope  ' s special  The Road to China  on  N B C , September 1 5
 * The Muppet s  visit  The Mike Douglas Show  to promote  The Muppet Show , December
 * The failed pilot for  The Orson Welles Show  features the Muppet s  & an interview with  JIM HENSON  &  FRANK OZ 

Live appearance s

 *  KERMIT THE FROG ,  Sweetums  ,  Gonzo the Great  &  Miss Piggy  at the Black pool Illumination s  , August 3 1

Book s

 *  A la Découverte de la Rue  SÉSAME 
 *  The   Amazing   Mumford  Forget s the Magic Word s ! 
 *  BIG   BIRD  ’ s Rhyming Book 
 *  Cookie   Monster  ’ s Book of Cookie Shapes 
 *  Cookie   Monster  ’ s Story book 
 *  Ernie  ’ s Work of Art 
 *  The Four Sea son s 
 *  L ear n at Home t he  SESAME   STREET  Way 
 *  The Many Face s of  Ernie 
 *  T h e Up &amp; Down Book 
 *  t he  SESAME   STREET  Library  ( Volume s 1 3 - 1 5 )

Album s

 *  T he Muppet Movie   sound t rack 
 *  A Christ mas Together 
 *  Muppet Show Music Album  in U K

 SESAME STREET  -
 *  At Home wit h  Ernie  &amp;  Bert 
 *  Ever y Body ' s Re cord 
 *  Welcome ! 
 *  Anne Murray Sing s f or t he  SESAME   STREET  Generation 
 *  The Star s Come Out o n  SESAME   STREET 
 *  SESAME  D i s c o ! 
 *  Di nah ! I ' ve Got a Song 

Magazine Appearance s

 *  Miss Piggy  on the cover of  SuperMag Vol . 4, No . 1 

Merchandise

 * Muppet Vale n tin e s from Hall mark
 * Sigma Chris t mas ornament s
 * Picco watches
 * Muppet sneaker s from Ked s
 * Muppet sheet s ( Martex )
 * Storm in ' Norman disco jacket s
 * 1 9 7 9  SESAME   STREET  Calendar

Mile stone s

 * "  T he Muppet Movie  sound t rack  " reaches number 3 2 o n  Bill b oar d  ' s o Top L P ' s & T ape s chart, & was certified Gold by the R I AA.
 * " The  R A I N B O W  Connection  " o reaches # 2 5 o n  B ill b oar d  ' s " Hot 1 00 Single s " chart.
 *  KEVIN CLASH  perform s with the Muppet s  for the first time, performing  Cookie Monster  at the  Thanks giving Day   Parade.

Muppet Character  Debut s

 *  SESAME STREET  - Osvaldo, el Gruñón  ,  Telly Monster  ,  Elmo  ( as a minor  character  )
 *  The Muppet Show  - Foo - Foo , various back g round  Muppet s
 *  Barrio  SÉSAMO  - Caponata ,  Perezgil
 *  Iftah Ya Simsim  - Nu ' Man ,  Malsun  ,  Yaqut 

Attraction s

 *  The Art of the Muppet s  exhibit debut s at Lincoln Center in New York City

Parade s

 *  Macy ' s   Thanks giving Day   Parade  feature s  Miss Piggy  in a Roll s Royce, followed by the rest of the Muppet s  in the  Electric Mayhem   Bus