Hear Me Out: ‘The Muppet Show’ is the perfect Disney+ revival
It’s been over two decades since The Muppets were acquired by Walt Disney Studios, and the ‘House of Mouse’ has done very little with Jim Henson’s legendary characters, for, as it turns out, going back to basics is the most logical and successful approach.
The last decade has been the first time since the inception of The Muppet Show in which Henson’s lovable ensemble of puppets has been almost completely silent. Following the original The Muppet Show‘s conclusion in 1981, a regular pattern of cinematic releases and television specials has kept the characters in the public consciousness, even after the creator’s tragic death in 1990. Although Disney officially took control of the franchise in 2004, there haven’t been any significant new Muppet-related endeavours since the underperformance of 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted.
Considering that Disney has milked its Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar properties for all they’re worth with content on Disney+, it’s a bit surprising that the Muppets have been all but ignored outside of a few shorts and mini-specials.
There was once a time when A-list actors would sign up to co-star with the Muppets, as the characters lived beyond any one puppeteer or actor who portrayed them, and although it’s sad that all that Disney could come up with to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the franchise, 2026’s The Muppet Show from producer Seth Rogen is the perfect way to relaunch the characters into a modern era.
Where so many Muppets-related productions have gone awry is that the characters are inherently performers, and are at their best when they’re tasked with putting on a show. It’s impressive that Henson’s original vision for a variety, late-night show in 1976 is still just as relevant today, which made it a brilliant decision for The Muppet Show to use the same formula. If it wasn’t for the modern celebrities in the audience, the new special could be mistaken for an episode of the original series.
Ironically, the advances in technology have only made it more impressive how well the puppeteering for the Muppets works, as it requires a personality and passion that can never be captured with CGI. Although a majority of the original cast members who played the Muppets have either passed on or retired, The Muppet Show revival brought back performers who had some experience in their given roles. Steve Whitmire has received some criticism in the past for sounding nothing like Henson’s version of Kermit, but his performance is greatly improved in the new special, especially given that he is often the centre of attention.
Since the original The Muppet Show was best known for its cavalcade of celebrity guest stars, the new special needed someone relevant to a younger generation in order to fulfil its potential, so the selection of Sabrina Carpenter as the musical guest wasn’t only a sign that the Muppets were oriented towards today’s audiences, but a brilliant choice of someone willing to play ball.
Carpenter’s interactions with characters like Miss Piggy and Gonzo are seamless, as she has already been game to do comedy based on her Saturday Night Live appearances. The fact of the singer being a professed fan of Miss Piggy since childhood offers the compelling note of self-awareness on the part of The Muppet Show in acknowledging that these characters have existed for quite some time.
What’s most impressive is that it’s almost devoid of nostalgia; instead of replicating old bits and bringing back ‘The Rainbow Connection’, the special came up with new gags and allowed the characters to simply return to their duties as if no time had passed. The presence of the Muppets has been sorely missed, and The Muppet Show is the most authentic to Henson’s vision that the franchise has been since his death. While it may have been released as a standalone special, 2026’s The Muppet Show will hopefully be the inception of the franchise’s new era.
