We’re saddened to learn that legendary British television presenter Michael Parkinson has passed away at the age of 88.
After appearing as a reporter on the BBC news magazine “Twenty-Four Hours” in the late 1960’s, Parkinson eventually transitioned to talk shows, leading to his eponymous show “Parkinson,” which ran on the BBC from 1971 to 1982 with a revival spanning from 1998 to 2004, before moving to ITV where it continued until 2007.
By his own account, Parkinson once claimed that he had interviewed over two thousand celebrities, and naturally, among those stars included Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and the Muppets. They all appeared in a November 1978 episode of “Parkinson,” which contains some of the funniest moments the Muppets have ever done on a talk show. Over the course of the show, Fozzie Bear asked the host if he was wearing a toupee, while Kermit the Frog discussed flirting with guests. Of course, Parkinson would need that advice just moments later as he admitted he had a massive crush on Miss Piggy, who returned the affection. But knowing his wife was in the audience, she kept her appearance chaste, though she did get a major thrill at seeing his exposed calves, calling them “exquisite.” You can watch a segment of the episode below:
Parkinson also appeared as himself in a number of other productions, including the 1992 television movie Ghostwatch and the 2003 film Love Actually. Though the show is the only time Parkinson and the Muppets’ paths met, it was certainly a memorable one.
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by Matthew Soberman – matthew@toughpigs.com
