Coach is a sitcom that ran from 1989 to 1997. The series centered on Hayden Fox, head coach of a college football team, although in the last two seasons he and his staff transferred to a newly formed pro football team.

Muppet Mentions

• The second season episode "A Jerk at the Opera" shows Hayden, in disguise, hiding in an opera box for sitcom hijinks reasons. An announcer suddenly points out an elderly couple in the box are Kermit Grenouille (the French word for frog), who laid the cornerstone for the building. and his wife Peggy. When the spotlight reveals Hayden, he talks rapidly, claiming he wanted to be there for "Kermie." He repeats that it's Kermit's big night, and refers to his wife as "Miss Piggy."

• The third season episode "Is This Your First Time on the Riverboat, Miss Watkins?" has Hayden referring to his rival, the tall coach Judy Watkins, as "Big Bird."

• Hayden makes a similar remark in the fourth season episode "Rizzendough Revisited." Kelly tells Hayden that when the kids see Judy at the fair, their eyes light up at the sight of her. Hayden replies, "They think Big Bird's come to town."

Connections

• Pat Crawford Brown played Mrs. Thorkelson (1989-1994, 1997)
• Bill Fagerbakke played Michael "Dauber" Dybinski
• Gordon Hunt directed four episodes
• Michael McCarthy played a salesman in "Dauber's Vehicle" (1996)
• Thad Mumford wrote two episodes
• Alan Rafkin directed 86 episodes
• Nell Scovell wrote seven episodes