Debut of ‘Mah Na Mah Na’ on Sesame Street in 1969
In 1969, the infamous earworm entitled “Mah Na Mah Na” made its American television debut on the 14th episode of Sesame Street. A beatnik named Bip Bippadotta comes across two girls who want to sing a song. The bearded Bip could only say one word, but the girls just filled in the rest around him.
‘Mahna Mahna’ on The Ed Sullivan Show
When the song debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show, Bip became Mahna Mahna.
Mahna Mahna on The Muppet Show
The sketch was updated for the first episode of The Muppet Show, with Mahna Mahna being accompanied by The Snowths singing backup.
The ‘Mah Na Mah Na’ Song Was Originally From the 1968 Italian Mondo Film ‘Sweden, Heaven and Hell’
“Mah Na Mah Na” was written by Piero Umiliani for the Italian mondo film Sweden, Heaven and Hell (1968).
