The program also featured comedy and a variety of popular music artists, and Dean's sketches with one of Jim Henson's Muppets, Rowlf the Dog.

Though Kermit the Frog is often credited as the icon of Henson's Muppets, Rowlf was actually the first true Muppet " star " as a recurring character on The Jimmy Dean Show, first appearing in a show telecast on September 19, 1963.

Equally likely to be found cracking dry jokes as tickling the ivories, Rowlf is one of the few Muppets rarely flustered by the mayhem so prevalent around The Muppet Show.

Afterwards Rowlf leaves the bar and joins Kermit and the other Muppets on their trip to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune.

In 1984, Baby Rowlf debuted playing a toy piano during a musical number in The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Rowlf uttered his first word since Henson's death in the second episode of Muppets Tonight.

Although he's only briefly seen, Rowlf had a more prominent role in the behind the scenes making-of special that accompanied it, Weezer and the Muppets Go Fishin.

Additionally, Bill Barretta recorded the vocals as Rowlf singing " The Christmas Party Sing-Along " for the 2006 The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas album.

Rowlf was featured on the # 7 Sirius Dodge of Casey Atwood in the 2002 Tropicana 400 in an advertising campaign in which he and his fellow Muppets were featured on a select few race cars.

One of the company's first characters to be seen regularly on national television was Rowlf the Dog, who was initially created for Purina Dog Chow commercials and soon became famous when he became a regular character on The Jimmy Dean Show from 1963 – 66.

The show included Dean's duets with Rowlf the Dog, a piano-playing Muppet, one of the first national television appearances by a creation of puppeteer Jim Henson.

At the end of the pitch reel, Rowlf is depicted as being eager to join the Sesame Street cast, while Kermit seems reluctant to do so ; ironically, it was Kermit who became a Sesame star, while Rowlf appeared only in one filmed segment and was never a part of the show's regular cast.

Rowlf and Kermit appeared at the 2011 Disney D23 Expo to honor Jim Henson winning a Disney Legends award, singing a duet of The Rainbow Connection in front of a live audience, being Jim Henson's first two Muppet characters.

Interestingly enough, Dr. Teeth and Rowlf are remarkably similar in voice, with Rowlf's being less gravelly, but still recognizable as being very similar to Dr. Teeth.

Fozzie was also frequently teamed up with Rowlf the Dog.

Frank Oz was going to take some time off from puppeteering, so Nelson was hired to perform Rowlf the Dog's right hand in his stead.

Rowlf was built in 1962 for Purina Dog Chow commercials, in which he appeared with Baskerville the Hound.

Jim Henson designed Rowlf, and Don Sahlin built him ; it was Sahlin's first muppet construction.

Jim Henson's last public performance as Rowlf before his death was as guest on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1990.

For several years afterward, the character was retired out of deference to Henson's memory as he was both the first Muppet to achieve popularity and, according to some sources, the character closest to Jim Henson's personality, with his son Brian saying in the introduction to episode 117 of The Muppet Show " Kermit was my father's best known character, but a lot of people think he was more like Rowlf in real life except he couldn't play the piano as well.

A solo album titled Ol ' Brown Ears is Back was released by BMG in 1993 and featured 14 songs recorded by Jim Henson as Rowlf.

* In 1970, Richard Corben wrote and illustrated a fantasy story entitled " Rowlf " ( aka " The Story of Rowlf ") that was published in Voice of Comicdom issues 16 & 17.

* Country Music with the Muppets-Hosted by Rowlf at a barnyard radio station, with guest stars Mac Davis, John Denver, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Roy Clark, Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans.

* Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets-Hosted by Rowlf, with guest stars Marisa Berenson, Peter Sellers, George Burns, and Steve Martin.

* The faux film noir " Dog City ", narrated by Muppet Rowlf the Dog

Since 1996, Rowlf has been portrayed by puppeteer Bill Barretta.

* Rowlf the Dog ( performed by Bill Barretta )-He made some appearances playing pianos in some acts.

The Mills Brothers sing to a sketch featuring Rowlf the Dog and Billy and Sue ( performed by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl ).

* Rowlf the Dog ( performed by Jim Henson )-He is the narrator of the TV movie.

* YouTube: Performance by Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog at Disney's D23 Expo

The series stars Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Scooter, Skeeter, Rowlf the Dog, and Gonzo as the main muppets.

In 1968, Rowlf appeared with Kermit the Frog on the pitch reel for Sesame Street.

In the scene, Rowlf and Kermit sing the duet " I Hope That Somethin ' Better Comes Along!

Rowlf had several lines of dialogue in The Muppet Show Live in 2001 and also spoke two lines of dialogue (" Hey, Kermit!

* Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, Waldorf, Ernie, Guy Smiley, The Muppet Newsman and a Penguin

* The home movie featuring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and Scooter as babies singing " Santa Claus Is Coming to Town " with baby Rowlf playing a toy piano.

Fozzie Bear and Rowlf the Dog perform " English Country Garden " on episode 2. 18 of The Muppet Show

* Singer, actor, and sausage entrepreneur Jimmy Dean, known for his sketches with Jim Henson's Muppet Rowlf the Dog.

Fozzie Bear and Rowlf the Dog perform " English Country Garden " on Episode 218 of The Muppet Show

" The young incarnations of Fozzie and Rowlf are also frequently paired together on Muppet Babies.

* The comic book series Muppet Sherlock Holmes features Rowlf the Dog as Mycroft Holmes.

Rowlf the Dog is a Muppet character, a scruffy brown dog of indeterminate breed with a rounded black nose and long floppy ears.

Rowlf is the Muppet Theatre's resident pianist ( as well as one of many vocalists ).

In 1976, Rowlf joined the recurring cast of The Muppet Show as the show's pianist.

Rowlf achieved movie stardom with his appearance in The Muppet Movie ( 1979 ).

* Muppet Babies ( 1984 – 1990 ) ... as Baby Rowlf

de: Muppet Show # Rowlf

Dr. Teeth only sings lead vocals on the second Muppet pilot and during the first season and these songs were only written before Rowlf had become firmly established as the regular Muppet pianist.

Rowlf and the Two-Headed Muppet Monster play over the credits.

" Rowlf the Dog, Beautiful Day Monster, Two-Headed Muppet Monster, and Yorick play over the credits.