Forgotten TV: The Muppets' Valentine Special (1974)

 In 1974, Jim Henson was commissioned by ABC to produce a pilot featuring The Muppets, as ABC was looking at a possible primetime series.

As we all know, The Muppet Show arrived 2 1/2 years later in syndication for a 5 year run. Part of the reason for that was because ABC didn't seem pleased with the first pilot, "The Muppets' Valentine's Day Special", which aired two weeks before Valentine's Day, with Mia Farrow (ex-Peyton Place) in a rare return to network TV. The only familiar faces here are Kermit, Bert & Ernie (crossing over from Sesame Street, like Kermit), and a prototype for Gonzo, only shaped like an aardvark here. I think that mad bomber character made it to The Muppet Show, too, but I don't recall.

Mia performs two musical numbers, including "Those Endearing Young Charms".

A 2nd pilot was shot and aired in 1975, but we already know the rest of the story. ABC wouldn't give the Muppets a primetime berth until Muppets Tonight, more than 20 years later.

No rating. Just a public service.