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The Earth Day Special

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The Earth Day Special
Written byArmyan Bernstein
Richard Baskin
Various Writers
Directed byDwight Hemion
James Burrows
Gerry Cohen
Ted Haimes
Jim Henson
Terry Hughes
Terry Lennon
Jay Sandrich
Dick Schneider
Dave Wilson
StarringBette Midler
Danny DeVito
Rhea Perlman
Voices ofJeff Bergman
Opening theme"Somewhere," performed by Barbra Streisand
ComposerPatrick Williams
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersArmyan Bernstein
Richard Baskin
Paul Junger Witt
Lorne Michaels
Production locationsWarner Bros. Studios, Burbank, California, U.S.
Running time120 minutes
Production companyWarner Bros. Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseApril 22, 1990 (1990-04-22)

The Earth Day Special is a television special revolving around Earth Day that aired on ABC on April 22, 1990. Sponsored by Time Warner, the two-hour special featured an ensemble cast addressing concerns about pollution, deforestation, and other environmental ills.[1][2]

Several cutaways are made to famous fictional characters watching events unfold and discussing what can be done to save the planet.

This special was one of Jim Henson's final performances as Kermit the Frog prior to his death later that year,[3] as well as one of Jeff Bergman's first as Bugs Bunny following the death of Mel Blanc the year prior.

The Earth Day Special was nominated for two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video and Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic), in which it won for the latter.[4]

Plot

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The episodic narrative, consisting of several individual skits threaded together, focused on an ailing Mother Earth, who falls from the sky and faints, and is rushed to the hospital where she is attended to by Doogie Howser and two other doctors. This special is watched by a married couple named Vic and Paula, and features a host of contemporary celebrities and characters, including Bugs Bunny, The Muppets, Emmett "Doc" Brown, and E.T.[5][6]

Cast

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TV and film characters

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Back to the Future franchise

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Cheers

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The Cosby Show

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Doogie Howser, M.D.

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

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Ghostbusters franchise

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The Golden Girls

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Married... with Children

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Murphy Brown

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Saturday Night Live/SCTV Channel

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Appearing as themselves

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Muppet performers

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Voices

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References

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  1. ↑ The Earth Day Special 1990, 1990-04-02, retrieved 2026-06-09
  2. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Jason (2026-04-22). "When Ghostbusters Became "Wastebusters" on ABC's 1990 Earth Day Special". Ghostbusters News. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  3. ↑ Careri, Sabrina (2025-04-25). "The Muppets tried to warn us - but did we listen?". National Environmental Treasure. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  4. ↑ "Time Warner Presents: "The Earth Day Special" | Emmy Awards and Nominations". Television Academy. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  5. ↑ "The Muppets Celebrate Earth Day (in 1990)". Mental Floss. 2013-04-22. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  6. ↑ "30 Years Ago: Rewatching Time Warner's Super-Weird 1990 Earth Day Special » LIVING LIFE FEARLESS". LIVING LIFE FEARLESS. 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  7. ↑ "Simply Streep – The Meryl Streep Archives » The Earth Day Special (1990)". Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  8. ↑ A Matter of Time: The Unauthorized Back to the Future Lexicon Page 300
  9. ↑ YouTube clip of Wastebusters
  10. ↑ "The Earth Day Special (1990)". Barbra Archives. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
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