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The medley became a Benny Hill Show tradition for the rest of its run.Īlthough Umiliani used a very similar theme in 1966 for the soundtrack of the Italian film Duello nel mondo (international title: Ring Around The World), "Mah Nà Mah Nà" debuted as part of Umiliani's soundtrack for the Italian mondo film Svezia, inferno e paradiso ( Sweden: Heaven and Hell ) (1968), an exploitation documentary film about wild sexual activity and other behaviour in Sweden. Starting in 1971, The Benny Hill Show – in its second incarnation now at Thames Television where it launched in 1969 in colour – implemented "Mah Nà Mah Nà" as part of a comic background music medley that would run during their often filmed slapstick sketches.
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Seven years later the song was part of the premiere episode of The Muppet Show in 1976. The following Sunday, Henson and his Muppets performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show. It was first performed by Jim Henson ( Kermit the Frog, et al.), Frank Oz ( Miss Piggy, et al.) and Loretta Long (Susan) on the fourteenth episode of the show, broadcast on November 27, 1969. Sesame Street producer Joan Ganz Cooney heard the track on the radio and decided it would be a perfect addition to the show. "Mah Nà Mah Nà" first gained popularity in English-speaking countries from its use in the recurring cold open blackout sketch for the 1969–1970 season of The Red Skelton Show first airing in October 1969. and in Britain, but became better known internationally for its use by The Muppets and on The Benny Hill Show. It originally appeared in the Italian film Sweden: Heaven and Hell ( Svezia, inferno e paradiso). " Mah Nà Mah Nà" is a popular song by Italian composer Piero Umiliani. 1968 single by Piero Umiliani "Mah Nà Mah Nà/Manah Manah"įrom the album Svezia, inferno e paradiso