A KARATE-CHOPPING PIG, a singing frog, and two hypercritical old men, all in one TV cast?

No this isn’t an infomercial, it is this year’s Muppet Show 2 Agora Days class taught by freshman Erick Dietz, which showcased the best episodes from the second season (May to December 1977) of television’s greatest nonhuman, nonanimated stars.

Just in case you don’t know, Muppets are creatures that combine aspects of both marionettes and puppets. They are often paired alongside human co-stars to provide high quality, (mostly) family-friendly entertainment.

As becomes clear early on during Agora Week, the organization of the class is relatively simple. After a few technical difficulties we watch an episode, and Dietz tells us some interesting facts — e.g., how there was an extra scene in every British episode because they’re subject to fewer commercials there.

I really like the Muppets. Something about the unrealistic-looking little furry people just makes me inexplicably happy. And the running gags. Those are great.

The incomprehensible Swedish chef with Chinese subtitles, or the eccentric Gonzo and his interestingly shaped nose — this is what I live for.

Season two has more of an emphasis on celebrity guests than the first, which is a bit of a letdown. Although they hadn’t been famous for very long, you would think that the Muppets, the inspiration for distant relatives “Sesame Street” and “Fraggle Rock,” would get a little bit more screen time.

We do get to watch Elton John from the ’70s though. That’s weird.

What can make or break any Agora Days class is the overall atmosphere in the classroom. In Muppet Show 2, the room is literally divided. The projector cart requires an aisle in between the desks. On the right side of the room we have four sophomores, two juniors (later reduced to one junior), and a handful of freshmen. The left side of the room is entirely subbies.

The room is an odd mix of unrelated discussion and the reactions of those paying serious attention to the plot of the show.

The subbies chatter among themselves. Junior Hannah Leskosky winces and mutters something vaguely violent toward them. Sophomore Daniel Wilson tries to shush a disorderly sophomore girl sitting in the back trying to take in information for her Agora Days article.

The Swedish Chef interrupts the “Pigs in Space” skit by chasing an errant chicken that had refused to be eaten a couple sketches ago.

The subbies resume their chatter. I throw a wad of paper at them. One of them thinks it’s a note and picks it up, uncrumples it, and starts reading it. I realize that that paper actually contains some personal information and contemplate whether or not I should ask for it back.

The insane number of pigs they kept around “The Muppet Show” during the early seasons have taken over and locked all the other characters in a brick room. Except for, of course, the celebrity guest star. Pigs aren’t very good at determining who’s really taking their airtime.

Maybe that’s why all but one of them wind up getting axed somewhere in between season two and 1979’s “The Muppet Movie.”

On Friday we watch “The Muppets Take Manhattan” and appreciate the two-hour format. After years of being well known, each Muppet’s character has been developed much more extensively, replete with catch phrases. I find it odd that the same thing that made the Muppets better turned out to ruin the Simpsons, but that’s another topic entirely.

The subbies display an affinity for dancing. I slam my hands on my desk.

“Quieeettt,” I screech in my best homicidal maniac/whiny 4-year-old voice. “I’m tryinaa hear Kermittttt.”

This has even less effect than when I stood up and threatened to throw my desk at them. These subbies sure are pretty contrary when it comes to the chit-chatting. Which is fine, during regular classes and all, but I’m actually trying to learn something here.

Back to the movie. Unfortunately, the human actors paired alongside the Muppets have still managed to mess things up a bit.

We laugh at how the actress who plays an aspiring fashion designer never wears anything but flannel shirts or incredibly high-waisted pants. I’m guessing that her character’s aspirations didn’t quite work out the way she had hoped.

Stupid human sidekicks aside, the Muppets still bring comedic genius to the screen, and I would highly recommend checking them out if you missed the show due to your crazy, overbearing, “television isn’t as good for you as reading or being outside,” type-A Uni parents.

This Agora Days class provided a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere, perfect for students tired from an athletic activity or other type of rigorous class from the previous hour. If there’s a similar class offered next year, you’ll most likely find me there.