Rowlf's First Appearance on The Jimmy Dean Show

Rowlf the Dog makes his debut on The Jimmy Dean Show on September 26th, 1963.
Rowlf was not originally intended to be a regular character on the show, but his debut appearance was such a hit that he was asked back the next week and wound up appearing on the show until it went off the air in 1966.

[@goldpet66]

Just brilliant. Amazing to think this was their first performance together. Jimmy Dean and Jim Henson, Long may their memories live

[@Moodymongul]

Jimmy Dean and Jim Henson here, what a wonderful thing to behold.
And Jim's abilitiy to breath life into Rowlf, to make you feel he's really there.
That was such a precious gift to all of us. And changed puppeteering forever.

[@fishshedboys8898]

Absolutely brilliant... it's like when he mentioned his wife, he could say anything and the laughter between the pair begun for years to come

[@megelizabeth9492]

Jimmy Dean and Jim actually remained friends. They would even go on family vacations together. Jimmy Dean would even tell this fun little story where when he and Jim were waterskiing together, he couldn't help but see him as "Jesus on waterskis"

[@hectorsmommy1717]

I vaguely remember Rowlf on Jimmy Dean. I was maybe 6 or 7 and watched with my parents. Loved him and he made enough of an impression I helped my team win at bar trivia last night because I knew that he made his TV debut long before Piggy and Beaker.

[@tysargent9647]

Vaguely remember Rowlf? He was in 85 of the 86 episodes that aired.

[@hectorsmommy1717]

@@tysargent9647 Yeah, but I was 6 years old. Everything I remember from that time is vague these days.

[@WalkerRileyMC]

This right here is what propelled the Muppets to the national stage. It started with Kermit, but Rowlf is the one who made it happen.

[@Spectahman2.0]

I mean Kermit didn't actually debut until Sesame Street, which was a few years after this.

[@yosefdemby8792]

@@Spectahman2.0 Wrong. Kermit debuted on Sam and Friends in 1955.

[@megelizabeth9492]

And he actually shows up in other Henson productions before Sesame Street as well.

[@JAKECOT_CENTER]

@@Spectahman2.0 no Kermit didn’t debut as a *FROG* until Sesame Street. He’s been a character since Sam and Friends

[@ethanshepherd4963]

Just so you know Rowlf, I'm a "dog person" at heart

[@dealpianolucy]

This is a fantastic video of Rowlf and Jimmy Dean. Thank you

[@kylelindsey100]

Awsome Rowlf!!!

[@ethanshepherd4963]

He certainly is; he's my favorite Muppet

[@JJJBRICE]

Jim Henson and Jimmy Dean , the sausage king , started in old DC . They both perform the Bert Williams signature song ' Nobody ' .

[@claireschweizer4765]

This is magical

[@patrickfairchild2330]

Wonderful bit

[@katierose3262]

Thank you so much for posting this!! I'm enjoying this so much and it's so peaceful and relaxing and humorous ❤️🥰🥰💕🙏🙏🙏 thank you

[@Lars5218]

I recently learned Jim Henson got his start on the Jimmy Dean Show. Additional surprise doing Bert Williams' signature song

[@tysargent9647]

Well, he got his start in Washington, D.C. on a local, 5-minute show called "Sam and Friends", but The Jimmy Dean Show was Henson's first exposure on national television, the first time a Muppet regularly interacted with a human star, and the first time he got to develop an original character over an extended period of time.

[@user-tl9xh5rw1w]

Rest in peace jim henson

[@echoecho3108]

Thanx again, KC, for sharing these treaures!
Rowlf forever!
(edit bc I was just reminded of something)
KC, when Jimmy said Al Hirt, I remembered the Muppet routine to Java, by Al Hirt. It's a hoot!
Do you, by chance, have a clip of that?
Thanx for sharing all of your wonderful collections.

[@KermiClown]

Muppets on Fanfare with Al Hirt - Java (1965)
ruclips.net/video/lrPlt9NfaYA/видео.html

[@jrockthingalt]

Suppose you have the November 19, 1964 Jimmy Dean Show with Rowlf parodying Peyton Place? From the pictures I've seen, It looks pretty interesting.

[@KermiClown]

ruclips.net/video/CX7BRz0Age4/видео.html

[@haplessasshole9615]

@@KermiClown Thank you for posting the link, and thank you @PuppetVerse for asking about it! That was great stuff.
Hello, Rodney.

[@megelizabeth9492]

Does anyone happen to have the Rowlf Birthday sketch?

[@user-tl9xh5rw1w]

I like kermit but love rowlf the dog and sesame street ernie the best henson voiced characters. I wish jim henson would had a movie where rowlf was the main character and wish jim henson would made rowlf a sesame street regular

[@trevortuominen8233]

Rowlf did appear in the Sesame Street pitch reel and one of the "Song of" films, so there's that.

[@user-tl9xh5rw1w]

Yes I knew he appeared sesame street I just wish jim henson could had him as regular with kermit and ernie

[@55twintv39]

I was confused about the song?

[@rawlegoshortvideos4919]

Complicated name there... Rowlf 😐