| Out to Lunch | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Christopher Cerf Tom Dunsmuir Clark Gesner Bryan Joseph Norman Stiles Jim Thurman Tom Whedon |
| Directed by | Bill Davis |
| Starring | Rita Moreno Luis Avalos Hattie Winston Morgan Freeman Skip Hinnant Judy Graubart Jim Boyd Elliott Gould Barbara Eden Carol Burnett Bill Beutel Jim Henson's Muppets (performed by Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson and Richard Hunt) |
| Composer(s) | Joe Raposo |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | David Connell |
| Producer(s) | Norton W. Wright |
| Running time | 60 mins. |
| Production company(s) | Children's Television Workshop |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original airing | December 10, 1974 |
Out to Lunch, a prime-time special, was broadcast on December 10, 1974, on ABC, from 9 to 10pm ET. It mixed the Sesame Street Muppets and the cast of The Electric Company along with guest stars Elliott Gould, Barbara Eden and Carol Burnett.
In the program, ABC News anchor Bill Beutel and his stage manager wrapped up a newscast, and left the studio to take a lunch break. After they leave, the Muppets and the cast of The Electric Company take over the studio, to fill an hour of programming on ABC while the studio staff is on break.
A member of the Electric Company cast, Rita Moreno, received an Emmy nomination in 1975 for her participation in the show in the category of Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music.