Steve Allen
From Muppet Wiki
Steve Allen (1921-2000) was a musician, comedian and writer, who was instrumental in inventing the concept of the television talk show. He was the host of Tonight! from 1953 to 1957, and he also hosted The Steve Allen Show from 1956 to 1960.
In 1955, Sam and Friends was scheduled twice a day on the local Washington, DC network, at 6:25 and 11:25pm. The 6:25 show led into the national Huntley-Brinkley Show broadcast at 6:30, and the 11:25 show came before Tonight!’s start at 11:30. Jane Henson credits this scheduling as key to the early success of Sam and Friends: "We were handed the best possible audiences," she remembered in Jim Henson: The Works. "Everyone followed Huntley-Brinkley, and Steve Allen was extremely popular as well. It was an incredible break, and I never did know who was responsible for it."
Jim and Jane Henson got their first national exposure as guests on The Steve Allen Show in 1956.
Allen also appeared in the 1979 special The Muppets Go Hollywood, as a guest at the Muppets' party.
