70 Years of Kermit the Frog: Honoring His First Appearance on Sam and Friends

Seventy years ago today, in a small and unassuming television station, a spark of creativity ignited that would eventually change the world of entertainment. On May 9, 1955, Sam and Friends made its debut on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. While it may have seemed like just another five-minute segment slotted in before the evening news, it marked the beginning of something extraordinary—the very first television show created by a young puppeteer named Jim Henson.

Even if Sam and Friends isn’t a household name today, its legacy is monumental. The series ran for approximately 1,000 episodes over six years, offering short bursts of surreal, clever humor that hinted at the genius to come. That small show laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Jim Henson Company, a creative powerhouse behind some of the most beloved characters and stories in television history.

Perhaps the most iconic figure to emerge from Sam and Friends was a simple green puppet with ping pong ball eyes—Kermit the Frog. Though he would later gain fame as the straight-talking host of The Muppet Show and a beloved figure on Sesame Street, Kermit’s very first appearance was on that modest local program. Which means, in a way, today marks Kermit the Frog’s 70th birthday!

Sam and Friends served as Henson’s creative laboratory, where he refined his techniques and introduced audiences to a character who would become a global icon: Kermit the Frog. Though not yet the fully realized character we know today, Kermit emerged as the breakout star of the series, embodying the charm, wit, and emotional depth that would define Henson’s later work.

When PBS sought a creative force to helm a new educational program for children, it was Sam and Friends that stood as Henson’s proof of concept. The show became his calling card, and Kermit his ticket to a much larger stage. That opportunity would blossom into Sesame Street, and later, The Muppet Show—solidifying Jim Henson’s legacy as a visionary who transformed puppetry from a niche novelty into a cherished staple of mainstream culture.

Jim Henson never intended for his creative work to be confined to children’s entertainment, despite being widely associated with it due to the massive success of Sesame Street. To break free from this perception and connect with a more adult audience, Henson contributed a series of puppet-based skits to the first season of Saturday Night Live. The segment, titled The Land of Gorch, revolved around a dysfunctional royal family inhabiting a bizarre and grotesque fantasy world. Unlike Henson’s more familiar creations, these puppets were deliberately designed to be repulsive and were involved in storylines laden with adult themes, including substance use, crude humor, and sexual innuendo.

Despite Henson’s ambition to reach a different demographic, The Land of Gorch was critically panned and is now often remembered as one of the least successful elements in SNL history. It also stands out as a rare misstep in Henson’s otherwise celebrated career. Fortunately, Henson would soon reclaim his creative footing and achieve broad, multigenerational appeal with The Muppet Show, which masterfully blended whimsical characters with sophisticated humor suitable for both children and adults.

Happy 70th to Sam and Friends, to Jim Henson’s incredible vision—and, of course, to Kermit the Frog.