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Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian era partnership of librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado are among the best known.

Gilbert, who wrote the words, created fanciful "topsy-turvy" worlds for these operas, where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion—fairies rub elbows with British lords, flirting is a capital offence, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates turn out to be noblemen who have gone wrong. Sullivan, six years Gilbert's junior, composed the music, contributing memorable melodies that could convey both humour and pathos.

The Muppet ShowEdit

Songs from The Pirates of Penzance have been performed several times by the Muppets, including a memorable Pirates medley performed on The Muppet Show by Gilda Radner and a Seven-foot-tall Talking Carrot.

Scooter also performed a version of "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" in episode 412, singing a fast-patter list of all of the guest stars who had appeared on the show.

Rowlf the Dog and Sam the Eagle sang "Tit Willow" from The Mikado in episode 120.

Sesame StreetEdit

On Sesame Street, a 1974 segment presented the "Numerical Correspondence Song", with five Anything Muppets singing a Gilbert and Sullivan-style operetta song about adding numbers.

One of the five "Numerical Correspondence" Muppets, a Fat Blue character in a Pirates-inspired costume, returned to the show years later as "Sullivan", paired with another Muppet named "Gilbert".

Gilbert and Sullivan were recurring cast members in the 1980s, occasionally visiting Oscar the Grouch to sing him a song about the topic of the day, aided by the human cast.

Gilbert was performed by Richard Hunt, and Sullivan by Marty Robinson.

Their songs include:

• "The Letter B" (EKA: Episode 1845)
• "At Your Library" (EKA: Episode 2342)
• A song about listening (EKA: Episode 2636)
• "Before and After"
• "Important"
• "What To Eat"

OtherEdit

In The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson, the Muppets perform a "H.M.S. Pinafore" finale for the show.