THE MUPPETS HAVE a long history of popping up on our covers, starting with their first appearance on the December 12, 1970, issue featuring a look at their Ed Sullivan–narrated Christmas musical special, The Great Santa Claus Switch. Fozzie and Kermit pulled the curtain back on the August 6, 1977, story “Behind Every Great Muppet…Stands Jim Henson,” while Piggy hammed it up for our August 1, 1981, cover about her “Life at Le Top.” The November 17, 1990, issue paid tribute to the late Henson, and Billy Crystal joined Kermie, Animal and Gonzo for the March 16, 1996, Kids’ TV preview heralding their return in Muppets Tonight. “I’ve had the luck to work with a lot of great actors,” Crystal said. “But these performers can improvise with the best of…
