The Muppets, the iconic puppet group first appearing in 1955, have recently been struggling as a franchise to stay up top into new audiences. While still receiving a cult following from many on the internet, it has suffered the closing of their attractions in the Disney parks, and a declining effort from Disney to revive the brand after the 2014 Muppets Most Wanted. The brand has been considered to be stalling, with many of its recognition coming from its iconic older films from the 1980s to 1990.
As a result, it was a great surprise to learn about the new revival of “The Muppets Show,” being produced by Seth Rogen, someone not only with strong connections to the industry but also with a recent win strike for performing and directing “The Studio”. Alongside his involvement and small cameo, Sabrina Carpenter is the main guest both musically and in skits, being the best-fitting artist as her comedy timing and look is perfect for a show so full of silliness.
“The Muppet Show” follows the same structure as the original version, which is similar to shows like SNL, with skits and celebrities showing up to star in them, with the original one filming 5 seasons and having guests such as Julie Andrews, Elton John, Diana Ross and even Mark Hamill reprising his role in the Star Wars films. The absurdist humor and slapstick jokes have not been changed, and it seems as a complete continuation of the characters we grew up loving, with my favorite part being the small segment of Gonzo attempting to roller-skate while naming every Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress.
When starting the episode, you could definitely feel the pressure to be greenlit by Disney, with many sarcastic and non-sarcastic jokes about it being their only shot and the deciding factor if we will see them again. There is a lot of nostalgia, but more strongly a heart-warming feeling from the Muppets that can only be seen in such iconic characters, even if it’s Miss Piggy threatening Sabrina on suing her for stealing her look.
In a world where everything is taken so seriously, going back to seeing Muppets sing and dance felt especially charming, and many audiences felt the same way with a strong support online from critics and fans. The status of the future of the show has not been decided as of the start of March, but I will believe and hope that we will be able to see many more episodes and seasons in the near future.
“The Muppet Show” is now available on Disney+ and I strongly recommend it to anyone reading.
