In fact, his offer to produce The Muppet Show had both fiscal and artistic benefits. ATV’s Elstree studios were sitting largely empty and unused in London, a red mark on ATV’s books. So with Jim committed to producing twenty-four episodes at Elstree—and with five CBS stations in the United States already obligated to pick up the series—The Muppet Show would ensure the lights stayed on at Elstree.
