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brightknightie) wrote2026-02-10 07:30 am
brightknightie) wrote2026-02-10 07:30 am
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"It's time to play the music; it's time to light the lights; it's time to raise the curtain..."
Over the weekend, I watched the new The Muppet Show one-shot special -- aka backdoor pilot -- on Disney+ (it also aired on ABC), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Consistently satisfied, sometimes delighted. This is the kind of retro comfort genuinely-all-ages TV that I would absolutely watch every week at this time in my life and the life of the world. (See the Wikipedia entry for details.)
I personally felt that it was every bit the classic premise, no unnecessary and unwanted updating. The Muppets are putting on a variety show in their theater, with Kermit as the beleaguered director and host, Piggy as the overbearing prima donna, Statler and Waldorf heckling from the balcony, and absolutely everyone else also in their accustomed roles and specialties, just as they should be. The human guest stars -- Sabrina Carpenter, Maya Rudolph, and Seth Rogen -- did what human guest stars should, which is be funny and talented and charming and not matter much at all, really, because this is the Muppets' show, and we're here for Piggy feeling outraged at Carpenter for wearing her same dress, and for Gonzo blowing his daredevil stunt, and Scooter misunderstanding Kermit's directions, and Fozzie trying to solve problems with prop comedy...
It's not the best episode of The Muppet Show. But it is The Muppet Show (1976–1981): revived, not rebooted.
Abby (TV_Elf) would have made sure we all knew it was coming in advance so we wouldn't miss it on broadcast. She would have enjoyed it.
I personally felt that it was every bit the classic premise, no unnecessary and unwanted updating. The Muppets are putting on a variety show in their theater, with Kermit as the beleaguered director and host, Piggy as the overbearing prima donna, Statler and Waldorf heckling from the balcony, and absolutely everyone else also in their accustomed roles and specialties, just as they should be. The human guest stars -- Sabrina Carpenter, Maya Rudolph, and Seth Rogen -- did what human guest stars should, which is be funny and talented and charming and not matter much at all, really, because this is the Muppets' show, and we're here for Piggy feeling outraged at Carpenter for wearing her same dress, and for Gonzo blowing his daredevil stunt, and Scooter misunderstanding Kermit's directions, and Fozzie trying to solve problems with prop comedy...
It's not the best episode of The Muppet Show. But it is The Muppet Show (1976–1981): revived, not rebooted.
Abby (TV_Elf) would have made sure we all knew it was coming in advance so we wouldn't miss it on broadcast. She would have enjoyed it.
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