The Muppet Show Is Back When We Need It Most [Review]

The Muppet Show special event featuring Sabrina Carpenter is set to debut on Disney+ and ABC this week. The 30-minute special is being released in honor of the original show’s 50th anniversary. While The Muppet Show is only officially returning with this one episode, it’s obvious that Disney is testing the waters. The special feels more like a revival pilot than a one-time celebration. In fact, Kermit says in the special that the series “may be starting again, depending on how tonight goes.”

Directed by Alex Timbers, The Muppet Show is executive produced by Carptener, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and more. The special event is filled with laughter, nostalgia, and the promising hope of new beginnings. The Muppets have been a major source of joy for 70 years, and the new special brings Jim Henson’s creations back when we need them the most.

The Disney Journey

The Walt Disney Company acquired the Muppets from The Jim Henson Company in 2004, and they’ve made some interesting choices for the characters over the last 20+ years. The franchise had a big revival in 2011 when The Muppets was released in theaters. The movie was a critical and box office success. It won the Academy Award for Best Song and sparked a 2014 theatrical sequel titled Muppets Most Wanted. Since then, Disney has been trying to find ways to recapture the magic of the original series, which ran for five seasons between 1976 and 1981.

A mockumentary-style sitcom titled The Muppets. debuted on ABC in 2015, and despite being one of the funniest entries to the Muppet catalog, it was cancelled after one season. After Disney+ debuted, the streamer attempted to combine The Muppets’ sketch comedy roots with a more modern format in Muppets Now. Social media-style routines weren’t a good fit for the Muppets, and the series only lasted one season. Disney then attempted to showcase The Electric Mayhem in the show Muppets Mayhem, which was a narrative look at the iconic band. While that proved to be a fun experiment, it was clear that separating the Muppets wasn’t the way to go.

Now, with the return of The Muppet Show, it seems Disney finally understands that an original sketch format is how the Muppets thrive on TV. Instead of trying to modernize the Muppets, they’re Muppet-izing the modern.

The Old With the New

In its original run, The Muppet Show always featured a celebrity guest. Kicking off a new era with Sabrina Carpenter is exactly how to get younger audiences into the Muppets. Kids aren’t necessarily streaming the classic episodes on Disney+, which are filled with famous faces that they won’t recognize. It’s wishful thinking to hope Gen Alpha knows names like Ruth Buzzi and Dom DeLuise. The new Muppet Show proves that the shenanigans the Muppets got up to with those icons can continue with present-day celebrities.

If Carpenter is a draw for the younger crowd, the Muppets are enough to bring in everyone else. Any fan of the original series, even those not too familiar with Carpenter, will be delighted by the new entry. All of your favorite Muppets are back with their silly schticks and catchy musical numbers. The new special has the same spirit and chaotic energy as the original show.

However, there are some notable differences. Dave Goelz is the only main Muppet performer left from the original series, which means some voices can take a little adjusting to. Matt Vogel has been voicing Kermit for a decade, but it’s still hard to let go of how the character sounded before. Even still, you’re guaranteed to get emotional when Kermit starts singing.

The Muppet Show special isn’t perfect. It’s a bit more overstuffed than an original episode, and not all the jokes land. It wouldn’t rank among the best episodes, but it’s delightful enough to prove the Muppets still got it.

Why We Want More

From its nostalgic sketches and pop culture bits to celebrity cameos and sweet song choices, the new Muppet Show special is a joyous event, but it left us wanting more. The Muppets are still finding their footing with the old format, so it would be a shame to stop here. Throughout the event, Kermit is stressed about fitting everyone into the half-hour time slot. This is clearly a hint that the Muppets have more to give. In a time when reboots and revivals are the norm, why not bring back The Muppet Show? It’s charming, wholesome, and brings people together.

With a 70-year history, there’s truly nothing like the Muppets in the world of entertainment. Times are tough, and the warmth these characters provide is exactly what we all need. The Muppets are timeless, and younger generations deserve to have their moment with them. If you’re among the lovers and dreamers, you don’t want to miss Disney+’s Muppet Show event. With any luck, it will be successful and lead to a revival.

The Muppet Show special event will drop on Disney+ at 12:00 AM ET on February 4th and air on ABC at 9:00 PM ET later that day. Make sure to follow That Hashtag Show for more reviews and movie news.

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