Rizzo the Rat "Midnight Cowboy". Steve Whitmire created the character, based on rats he had previously made out of bottles. Rizzo first appeared in episode 418 of "The Muppet Show", as one of many rats following Christopher Reeve backstage. He can be seen mugging and reacting to practically every line of dialogue. He remained a scene-stealing background figure through the final season, occasionally performing with Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem. By the time of "The Muppets Christmas Carol", Whitmire had been performing Rizzo for around 12 years. After the series, he appeared in "The Great Muppet Caper" as a bellboy in a
The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series) NBC aired "The Richard Boone Show" at the same 9 p.m. Tuesday slot. The series was canceled after one season. The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series) The Greatest Show on Earth is an American drama series starring Jack Palance about the American circus, which aired on ABC from September 17, 1963, to April 28, 1964. It was produced by Desilu, the production company founded by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Sr.. Palance portrayed Johnny Slate, the circus manager, who became involved in the personal lives of the circus performers. "The Greatest Show on Earth" faced competition from two comedy