The Muppet Show Returns: Review of Disney+ & ABC Revival

After nearly 50 years, “The Muppet Show” has returned, premiering today, February 4, on both ABC and Disney+. As Kermit the Frog puts it, the show is “back on the very stage where it all started and then ended and then is maybe starting again depending on how tonight goes.”

This revival, featuring pop singer Sabrina Carpenter as the guest star, is being billed as a potential pilot, though it’s described as both a possible start to a new series and the 121st episode of the original, which ran from 1976 to 1981. The return comes after several attempts by Disney to recapture the magic of the original series, following the success of the 2011 film, The Muppets. Previous efforts included the short-lived ABC mockumentary sitcom in 2016, The Muppets Now in 2020, and Muppets Mayhem in 2022, none of which achieved the same cultural impact as the original.

Producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have brought back the classic variety show format to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the original. The special clocks in at just half an hour, packing in a significant amount of content. The show maintains the original’s frantic pacing, performances, and blend of humor suitable for all ages.

The special features the core Muppet ensemble – Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, Fozzie Bear, and Rowlf the Dog – alongside supporting characters like Sam the Eagle, the various pig Muppets, and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Recurring bits from the original series are refreshed for a new generation, with callbacks woven throughout the episode.

The plot revolves around the show being overbooked, leading to backstage chaos and the potential cutting of acts. Seth Rogen himself appears with a joke about the inclusion of an “armadillo in a tutu,” questioning its canonicity. The episode also includes a musical number, “Blinding Lights,” performed by Rizzo and other rats, incorporating cinematic effects and music video tropes. A largely human audience, including Maya Rudolph, is also present.

Miss Piggy is, predictably, in full diva mode, soaking up praise from Carpenter and threatening legal action for perceived style theft. She demands extravagant props for her “Aphrodite” number, including a Trojan horse and hundreds of Spartans. Pepé the King Prawn is highlighted as a scene-stealer in “Pigs in Wigs,” a parody of “Bridgerton.” The episode also features a Muppet Labs sketch and a stunt gone awry with The Great Gonzo – a staple of “The Muppet Show.” Statler and Waldorf remain in their balcony box, delivering their signature heckling.

Sabrina Carpenter performs both her own song, “Manchild,” as a waitress in a Western roadhouse with Sam the Eagle behind the bar, and a duet of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream” with Kermit, before Miss Piggy inevitably attempts to steal the spotlight.

The episode culminates in a sentimental speech from Kermit and a feel-good ending set to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” While sentimentality isn’t traditionally a core element of “The Muppet Show,” it’s a welcome addition, and the producers have more than earned the opportunity to continue the series.

The return of “The Muppet Show” represents a significant moment for the franchise, which has seen various iterations since Jim Henson’s original creation. While Disney has attempted several small-screen adaptations in recent years, this latest effort appears to be the most successful in recapturing the spirit of the original. Whether this special will lead to an ongoing series remains to be seen, but the initial response suggests a strong appetite for more Muppet mayhem.