“Muppets Most Wanted,” out Friday, not only boasts such headliners as Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais and the Muppet gang, but it has an impressive list of cameos: Zach Galifianakis, Chloë Grace Moretz, Stanley Tucci, Céline Dion, Danny Trejo, Tom Hiddleston and many more pop up along the way. But Jim Henson’s felt creatures have always been popular with the A-listers: When “The Muppet Show” ran as a prime-time variety program from 1976 to 1981, it regularly snagged the biggest names in movies and music. Here are eight of our favorite guest hosts:
Peter Sellers
The “Pink Panther” and “Dr. Strangelove” comic had an appropriately weird appearance, revealing to Kermit that “I could never be myself . . . there is no me. There used to be a me, but I had it surgically removed.” Lest Sellers get too existential, he followed it up with a bit of Shakespeare’s “Richard III” accompanied by harmonizing chickens.
Elton John
The flamboyant rocker performed — what else? — “Crocodile Rock,” a rendition in which the toothy creatures ultimately take him down.
Johnny Cash
Country music’s biggest name regaled the Muppets with “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky” — this was likely his only performance of the tune during which the titular riders were literally sheet-clad ghosts, atop clumsy cows.
Brooke Shields
The Calvin Klein model and “Blue Lagoon” star played in an “Alice in Wonderland”-themed bit, but took the role further than Kermit bargained for, outgrowing the show’s set (Gonzo: “Too many mushrooms — it’ll do it every time!”).
Mark Hamill and friends
During his hosting stint, Hamill’s alter ego turns up on “Pigs in Space,” in which Miss Piggy dons Leia garb, Chewbacca makes a cameo and C-3P0 reveals a hidden talent for tap-dancing.
Milton Berle
Nobody was better suited to take on hecklers Statler and Waldorf than Uncle Miltie, who capably traded barbs with the balcony-dwelling duo.
Rudolf Nureyev
The world-famous dancer stopped in to perform, as Kermit describes it, “the classic ballet ‘Swine Lake,’ [in which] a beautiful princess has been turned into a pig by the wicked magician Trichinosis.”
Debbie Harry
Whom was Harry addressing in her stalky song “One Way or Another”? As she concludes her performance here, it’s a giant blue Muppet who gets a big Blondie hug.