when were the muppets created

The Muppets were created in 1955 by puppeteer Jim Henson, debuting as a group of characters on the local TV show Sam and Friends in Washington, D.C.

They began as short, experimental puppet sketches for adults rather than a children’s show, and one of the earliest characters was Kermit (who would later become Kermit the Frog), already appearing among Henson’s first Muppet creations. Over time, these 1955 creations evolved into the broader Muppet ensemble that went on to star in Sesame Street and then The Muppet Show , cementing 1955 as the year “the Muppets” were first created and introduced.