The Muppets have released the first new episode of Pigs in Space in 20 years. This series brings back the crew of the Swinetrek with First Mate Piggy, Captain Link Hogthrob, and Dr. Julius Strangepork as they come face to face with an unexpected stowaway. Watch Pigs in Space – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner here:
Pigs in Space was a reoccurring sketch on the original Muppet Show. It first appeared in the second season of the show. While Pigs in Space was a parody of Star Trek, it didn’t just stick to that area of sci fi. It reached out into the world of Star Wars and Luke Skywalker, C-3P0, and R2-D2 appeared in the sketch.
Following the end of The Muppet Show, Pigs in Space continued on. It was featured in 1978 on the second Muppet Show cast album. Their sketch from episode 205 was re-recorded by the performers for the album. Shortly after the adventures of episode 209 appeared in The Muppet Show Book.
In 1981, the crew of the Swinetrek were utilized by Nasa to wake up the crew of the Columbia who were orbiting high above the Earth two mornings in a row. Each morning a comedy routine woke the crew of the shuttle Columbia to start a new day. Pigs in Space was also animated and appeared on Little Muppet Monsters.
When Muppets Tonight came along, Pigs in Space was revived. This time however, the sketch reflected newer Star Trek television shows The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. This time the sketch was called Pigs in Space: Deep Dish Nine.
The series also was utilized in The Muppet Show Comic Book.
According to Steve Whitmire at the D23 Expo in 2015, four or five episodes of Pigs in Space were filmed at YouTube Space LA last year. Next week The Muppets will release The Gravity of the Situation which will parody the movie Gravity.
