One of the running gags on The Muppet Show were absurd fake newscasts provided by a myopic commentator (he later got thick black horn-rimmed glasses) in a loud checked sportcoat. He would race in from stage right--on occasion tripping and falling on his face--and exclaim urgently, "This is a Muppet news flash!" Sometimes he would add something simple as "There is no news tonight," and exit again, stage right. Other times he would deliver the news, which was often ridiculous tripe about people being eaten by monsters or hit by localized tidal waves, and then snidely comment on how ridiculous it was. Whatever it was would then happen to him.

Movie appearances

The Muppet newscaster also appeared in several Muppet movies in scenes where a news flash was required by the script. In contrast to the Muppet Show gags, which were typically isolated gags, the Muppet newscaster was part of a larger joke in the movies. For example, from the movie The Great Muppet Caper, Fozzie has just spilled the news that Kermit will go on a date with the supposed Lady Holliday:

Kermit: "Don't worry, it won't go outside this room."

Muppet newscaster: "This is a Muppet news flash! Kermit the Frog to date Lady Holliday! Details at 11."