Mahna Mahna Videos

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"Mahna Mahna!"

Just about everyone who has ever watched "The Muppet Show" knows how to sing the "Mahna Mahna" song. Like some kind of beatnik "knock-knock" joke, hearing this infectious musical number will often bring a smile to the faces of people of all ages and languages. If you want to break the ice with someone that you don't know yet--or if they have never heard this song before, make them think that you have completely lost your mind--just try saying the lyrics "Mahna Mahna!" to them and see whether or not they reply to you with the correct musical response: "Doo doo doo doo doo!"

Muppet "Mahna Mahna" Videos 

The versions of "Mahna Mahna" shown below demonstrate how both the song and the characters who have performed it have changed over the years.

Sesame Street - Mahna Mahna (version one, 1969) 0 points

The Muppets - Mahna Mahna (version two, 1969) 0 points

The Muppet Show - Mahna Mahna (version three, 1976) 0 points

phenomenon 0 points

Bandanana 0 points

A Brief Timeline of The Muppets Performances of the "Mahna Mahna" Sketch 

(The primary source of this information is The Muppet Wiki, especially the web pages referenced below. Please visit them for additional details about these events.)
  1. November 27, 1969: A character who would later come to be named Bip Bippadotta--and who himself went on to perform several other musical numbers on "Sesame Street" and to further evolve to look very much like Mahna Mahna (but to maintain his identity as a separate character)--performs "Ma Nah Ma Nah" with backing vocals by two female Anything Muppets (as shown in the version #1 video above).
  2. November 30, 1969: The Mahna Mahna character (as we currently recognize him, both voiced and puppeteered by Jim Henson), appears on "The Ed Sullivan Show", performing the "Mahna Mahna" song backed by two pink, female cow/goat-like creatures and singers called the Snowths (performed by Frank Oz), who were also making their debut appearances. (This performance is shown in the version #2 video above.)
  3. 1971: Mahna Mahna and the Snowths perform the "Mahna Mahna" song on "The Dick Cavett Show" and on "This Is Tom Jones".
  4. April 25, 1977: The "Mahna Mahna" sketch with Mahna and the two Snowths is restaged on the U.S. airing of the first episode of "The Muppet Show" (as shown in the version #3 video above).
  5. June 23, 1996: Kermit the Frog and movie actress Sandra Bullock appear in a sketch called "The Psychiatrist's Office" on Episode 107 of "The Muppets Tonight". The Snowths appear and sing their "doo doo doo doo doo" musical parts each time that Kermit or Ms. Bullock say the word "phenomena" (as shown in the video above).
  6. December 9, 2001: Mahna Mahna and the Snowths perform the "Mahna Mahna" song during a stage show called "The Muppet Show Live" at the MuppetFest convention in Santa Monica, California with the character of Mahna Mahna being performed by the recorded voice of the late Jim Henson and with puppeteer Bill Barretta providing his movements. This is also included additional recorded video footage of Mahna Mahna riding around Hollywood, California in a limousine.
  7. September 2, 2002: Kermit the Frog and the Snowths perform "Manah Mahna" on the "Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon".
  8. 2005: A commercial featuring the latest incarnation of the Manah Manah character(as voiced and puppeteered by Bill Barretta) and the Snowths airs. The commercial is for CanTeen, a New Zealand-based support group organization for teenage cancer patients. In this version of the song (as shown in the video above), Manah Manah says "Bandannana" instead of his most famous line because the commercial supports CanTeen's annual Bandanna Week, which includes the sales and wearing of bandanna scarves for this charity.

"Mahna Mahna" on the "Muppets Magic From the Ed Sullivan Show!" DVD 

Muppets Magic From the Ed Sullivan Show!

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This rare, out-of-print DVD features the first appearance of the Snowths and of Mahna Mahna as we currently recognize him today (from the "Ed Sullivan Show" performance on November 30, 1969). This is the version #2 of "Mahna Mahna"--the one with the blue background--featured above. (This DVD also features a 1971 appearance of Mahna Mahna from a sketch called "The Wild String Quartet".)

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"Mahna Mahna" on "The Muppet Show" (Season One DVD) 

The Muppet Show - Season One (Special Edition)

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Version #3 of "Mahna Mahna" (pictured in the videos above) occurred on the very first episode of "The Muppet Show" (with guest host Juliet Prowse), which first aired in the United States on April 25, 1977.

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The Muppets' "Mahna Mahna" on CD 

If you are looking for an MP3 file of the Muppets' version of "Mahna Mahna", you might consider buying this CD and copying this and many of the other great songs on it to your MP3 player or iPod.

The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More! - The 25th Anniversary Collection

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This low-priced CD features 27 of the best Muppets songs, including "Mahna Mahna", "The Muppet Show Theme", "Bein' Green", "Rainbow Connection", "Movin' Right Along", "Can You Picture That?" and many others.

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Awesome Fan-Created "Mahna Mahna" Videos! 

These are other very entertaining versions of "Mahna Mahna" that you may also enjoy.

Star Wars Mahna Mahna 1 point

Mahna Mahna Live! 0 points

"Mahna Mahna" (2007) 0 points

Hillary Obama "Mahna Mahna" 0 points

Listen to CAKE's cover of "Mahna Mahna"! 

This funky rock version of "Mahna Mahna" by California rock band CAKE was used in the "Star Wars Mahna Mahna" video shown above.

Great Mahna Mahna-related Websites 

Mahna Mahna (character) - Muppet Wiki
Contains a "biography" of the Muppets' Mahna Mahna character (as originally voiced and puppetered by Muppets creator Jim Henson and much later by puppeteer Bill Barretta); including a listing of his many televison, movie, commercial and book appearances.
Mahna Mahna (song) - Muppet Wiki
As described above, this page describes the history of the Muppets' many performances of the "Mahna Mahna" song.
"Mahna Mahna" ("Mah Nà Mah Nà ") on Wikipedia
Provides a history of the song "Mahna Mahna" (also known as "Mah Nà Mah Nà"), not only by the Muppets, but also by other performers, both before and much later than the song's first Muppet appearance on "Sesame Street" in 1969.
Mahna Mahna Through the Years - Muppet Wiki
This page provides a brief timeline of the history of Mahna Mahna ("The Muppet Show" and other performances) and Bip Bippadotta ("Sesame Street")--two characters who share the same Muppet DNA.
The Snowths - Muppet Wiki
Contains a history of the two pink, singing cowlike Muppets (created by Frank Oz) called the Snowths, who have served as backup singers on the "Mahna Mahna" song to muppets Mahna Mahna, Kermit the Frog and even to actress Sandra Bullock.
Red Heads Have More Fun!: 10,000 hits for "Mahna Mahna"!
The makers of the "Mahna Mahna (2007)" video (shown above) achieved 10,000 hits on YouTube in March 2008. Congratulations, you all! Hopefully this page is giving you many more! It's a very cute and well-made video!
Hotel Zero: Mahna Mahna and the Snowths Costumes
One family's homemade Mahna Mahna and the Snowths Halloween costumes. (For more costume ideas, see the fan-created "Mahna Mahna" videos above and the homemade costume suggestions beneath this section.)

Do you need a creative group costume idea?

How about dressing up as Mahna Mahna and the Snowths for Halloween or for your next costume party? (See the suggestions below for some ideas.)

Mahna Mahna Costume Ideas 

If you and some friends would like to dress up as Mahna Mahna and the Snowths for Halloween, a costume party, a school talent show or to make your own "Mahna Mahna" video for YouTube, here are some costume suggestions that you may find helpful. (The specific products listed below are available at Amazon.com, but you may want or need to find the individual components for making your costume in a variety of different places.)

Discount Curly Clown

An orange clown wig (or a long, orange party/punk rock wig from a costume or party supply store) would be a good start for re-creating Mahna Mahna's wild hair.

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Jerome Russell B-wild Color Spray Tiger Orange

Alternatively, you could style your (or your friend's) own hair wildly and then put (washable) orange-colored hairspray from a costume, party or beauty supply store in it.

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Gold Rock and Roll Sunglasses

Next, you will need some roundish, funky, yellow or gold sunglasses.

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Bozo Clown Foam Nose

A pink foam nose would be ideal (perhaps created from a small, soft foam ball), but in a pinch, you could use a clown nose (which you might be able to paint pink).

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Halloween Purple Cream Make Up

Purple stage or clown makeup from a costume or party supply store will give your (or your friend's) face the same color as Mahna Mahna's.

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Mahna Mahna Costume Ideas (continued) 

16" Full Beard

Don't forget that Mahna Mahna has a light brown (and sometimes orange), scraggly beard! Although the beard pictured here is quite expensive, you could always re-color a white costume beard, create one from fake brown fur from a cloth or craft store, or use washable, colored hair spray on your (or your friend's) own beard (if you/he have/has one). (Be careful to try to use something that you/he will not be allergic to and that you/he won't get into your/his mouth!)

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Fruit of the Loom Cotton Blend Sweatshirt

Mahna Mahna wears a long, green, shaggy, sleeveless tunic. If you or someone that you know is skilled at sewing, you could create a flat-bottomed "caveman"or "Fred Flintstone"-like patterned tunic from a bolt of green, shag artificial fur like you can find at fabric and craft stores. An alternative would be to cut the arms off of an oversized green (or dyed-green) sweatshirt and to wear it inside out, so that the green fleece shows. (If you want to make Mahna Mahna a little less authentic--but more modern and funky (to be worn to a party or nightclub)--you could always create the tunic out of a more flashy shimmering or sparkly green fabric.)

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NEW Hanes Beefy-T - 100% Cotton Long Sleeve T-Shirt Purple-XL

A long-sleeved purple t-shirt beneath the long, green "tunic" can be worn to represent Mahna Mahna's torso and arms. Mahna Mahna is presumably only wearing the green tunic, so you use purple sweatpants, pants (or purple tights or leggings, since a third woman could potentially choose to dress as Mahna Mahna) to represent Mahna Mahna's legs. You can also decide whether or not your Mahna Mahna will wear wear purple gloves, socks and/or and shoes, since Mahna Mahna has been portrayed as being barefoot.

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Ideas for Creating the Snowths' Costumes 

The Snowths are essentially pink, furry female cow-looking creatures. With a little creativity, you can re-create their look.

PINK ANGORA STRETCH BEANIE SKULL CAP HAT

A pink beanie or skull cap (the kind that is worn in winter), can be used to create the top of the Snowth's head.

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Deluxe Ping Pong Balls Box of 6 1-Star (SET)

To create the Snowth's eyes, you could use ping pong (table tennis) balls and felt. These could be attached to the hat or to a pink headband. You could then glue craft felt to the ping pong balls to create the Snowths' pink eyelids, purple eyelashes and black pupils.

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Baby Phat 2014 Pink Sunglasses w/ Rhinestones: 100% Authentic

(Optional) For a "funkier"/hip look, your Snowths could wear pink sunglasses, perhaps with rose-colored lenses and rhinestones.

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Violet Night Glam Eyelashes

If your Snowths would rather use their own eyes (rather than ping pong balls on top of their heads), they could always wear purple false eyelashes or purple (sparkly?) mascara.

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Ideas for Creating the Snowths' Costumes (continued) 

La Femme Cream Lipstick, Yellow

If your Snowths would rather not wear a "snout", they could potentially wear yellow lipstick and pink makeup to suggest the Snowths' pink faces.

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Fruit of the Loom - Ladies' Just for Her Relaxed-Fit Sweatshirt (L1630)

As with the Mahna Mahna costume (as described above), each Snowth's body could be constructed from an oversized pink sweatshirt (turned inside out so that the fleece shows) with matching pink leggings, tights, sweatpants (or other pants) and pink socks and shoes. If you (or someone that you know) is skilled at sewing and wishes to create a more "authentic" costume, there is also the option of creating a sleeveless pink tunic (like the Mahna Mahna tunic) out of a bolt of pink fake fur from a cloth or craft store and wearing a long-sleeved pink t-shirt (and other things) beneath it. Other kinds of matching pink dresses are another alternative. As with the Mahna Mahna costume, you could make the Snowths' costumes more "funky" (for a party or nightclub) by using a shimmering, sparkly, sequined or other shiny fabric in place of a fuzzy or furry fabric.

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A Mahna Mahna "Mini Muppets" Toy 

These collectible figures (and those below) were released by Palisades Toys beginning in 2003.

Muppets Mini PVC Figures- Sam the Eagle, Mahna Mahna & Thog

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This is the only Mahna Mahna toy that I have found. Sam the Eagle and Thog are also included in this set.

The Snowths' "Mini Muppets" Toy 

Muppets Mini PVC Figures- Miss Piggy, Gonzo & Snowths

Amazon Price: $46.95 (as of 12/25/2009)Buy Now

Mahna Mahna's backup singers the Snowths appear in a separate set. The good news however, is that you also get Miss Piggy and Gonzo.

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Mahna Mahna Collectibles Currently on eBay 

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The Question Is, What Is a Mahna Mahna? 

Beats sitting at home watching television . . .

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by JasonE

Hello, I'm JasonE! If this song isn't already stuck in your head, it will be by the time you finish watching these videos! Have a good time! (more)

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