Forty years ago, the late great Jim Henson’s creation dominated pop culture. In recent years, however, the once most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, muppetational Muppets have become a forgotten ghost amongst a slew of IP acquisitions made by the Walt Disney Company.
There was once a time when Muppets movies and spin-offs would be released consistently. Now, it has been over 10 years since the last movie, with only two Disney+ specials to fill the Kermit-shaped gaps in our hearts.
This, thankfully, changed on Feb. 7, when the first episode of “The Muppet Show” in more than 40 years aired.
For many younger fans, including myself, the Muppets have been a memory left to be discovered by reruns and streams on Disney+ with celebrities who are no longer relevant in modern pop culture.
The new show and potential reboot allow young fans who had not yet been born when the original show aired to see their favorite celebrities interact with the iconic cast.
Produced by Seth Rogan and starring Sabrina Carpenter and Maya Rudolph, the new writers managed to capture the original style of the show perfectly. They took a more adult tone, like the first season — a stark contrast to the more child-friendly approach the Muppets have taken following the end of the original show.
The humor caught the best of all three celebrities featured while also perfectly highlighting each of the Muppets. From Carpenter and Miss Piggy’s threats of a legal battle to Rogan being fired by Fozzie, the humor and chemistry between the Muppets and guest stars was strong and every joke hit the mark.
The music choices fit the cast like a glove and kept the episode flowing smoothly, including Carpenter singing her hit single “Manchild,” a cover of “Blinding Lights” by Rizzo the Rat and an ensemble cover of “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
The combination of the younger Carpenter, who is extremely popular with young audiences, and the more experienced Rogan and Rudolph, who are more popular with older audiences, allows fans who grew up with the original show and new fans alike to enjoy the special. The choice of guest stars and music are further examples of how the creators masterfully blended nostalgia with a new spin.
The only negative in the special is the glaring absence of legendary puppeteer and voice actor Steve Whitmire. The former voice of Kermit and Rizzo was fired in 2017, and while Matt Vogel was excellent, replacing Whitmire was a monumental task.
I am not alone in my love of the new Muppets special, as it opened on Rotten Tomatoes with a 100% score and maintains a 98% with both audiences and critics following the first few days back on air.
If you are a lover of slapstick comedy, theater, music or the Muppets in general, you should watch the new reboot of “The Muppet Show.” It is joyful, filled with love and laughter and a surefire way to make your day better.
Categories: Art & Life
