stuffed animal: Muppet Vision 3D: Gonzo

In 1955, Jim Henson created a group of puppets for a children's show called "Sam and Friends." Henson referred to the puppets as "Muppets," because they combined techniques of puppets and marionettes. Twenty-years later, Henson created more adult-focused Muppets for the first season of "Saturday Night Live." The skits seemed to borrow early television song and dance variety shows. Henson's involvement with "Saturday Night Live" only lasted one season and he began production of "The Muppet Show," which premiered in 1976. The series ran on CBS from 1976 to 1981 and provided Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Animal with enough of a fan base that the Muppets headed to the big screen. Through the decades, the Muppets have appeared in international lines of films, books, video games, and toys.