RIP Muppet Show Writer Jack Burns

Published: January 28, 2020
Categories: News

We’re saddened to learn that comedian and writer Jack Burns has passed away at the age of 86.  No joke, we owe a lot to Jack Burns.

His biggest contribution to the world of the Muppets is in their purest and most famous production, The Muppet Show.  Burns served as the show’s first head writer, which means that he’s likely the man most responsible (after Jim Henson and the Muppet performers, of course) for the tone of the franchise.  He oversaw the first season of the show, and later returned to co-write the other most famous production, The Muppet Movie with Jerry Juhl.

In addition to his incredibly valuable Muppet work, Burns worked with Jim Henson once again as a cast member in the pilot for Puppetman, which also starred Richard Hunt, but was unfortunately not picked up for series.

Jack Burns was comedy partners with Muppet Show guest star Avery Schreiber, and one of their routines directly influenced the speech patterns of Biff (of Sesame Street‘s “Biff and Sully” fame).  Later, he briefly replaced another Muppet Show guest star – Don Knotts – as the deputy to Sheriff Andy on The Andy Griffith Show.

As you can tell, the Muppets would not be who they are today without the influence and comedy stylings of Jack Burns, and we are extremely grateful for his work and legacy.

Click here to help us remember Jack Burns on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

Tagged:RIP

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Written by Joe Hennes

Co-owner and Editor-in-Chief.
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