I just finished watching The Muppets, the brand new ABC half-hour comedy that brings the beloved creations of genius Jim Henson back to the small screen.
The first two times the Muppets were on my television, they were putting on a variety show and showing us some of the “behind-the-scenes” that went into the making of the show. This time around, they are staying with that familiar premise, but with a modern twist. Instead of a variety show, this time they all work on “Up Late with Miss Piggy” a typical late-night talk show, and a documentary crew is following them all – providing for us the very familiar mockumentary style show reminiscent of The Office, Modern Family, or Parks and Recreation.
The cut-away-interview style is something that has been overdone, but it’s still fun – the show itself pokes fun at it – and it works for this show. Why WOULDN’T a documentary crew follow the Muppets around? I would.
The tone of the show is definitely a little more “adult” in some of its themes, but hey the Muppets used to be on Saturday Night Live, so it’s not like they’ve always been just for kids.
The most important things for me with the Muppets is first, that they are still around, and second – that they are fun and funny. When the Muppets came back to the big screen the first time in 2011, I was so happy. The movie had so many great songs and just made me feel like a kid. When they came back in 2014, I probably laughed even more than I did the first time around.
This show is not that traditional musical/comedy that I fell in love with as a small kid. But I still did laugh a bunch of times, and I just was really happy that they’re back.
I’m not going to lie – I’m a sucker for the Muppets. I wore my Muppets Take Manhattan soundtrack tape out I played it so much. On my honeymoon I made it a point to get my picture taken in Disney World with Kermit the Frog.
I love the Muppets. But how do I feel about The Muppets?
I enjoyed it. I laughed. I saw that there were some negative reviews (that I didn’t read) before watching the show, and I was afraid just hearing that those reviews existed it would tarnish my viewing a bit. It didn’t.
Seeing Kermit with another pig – that’s bothered me. But that’s only because I have their wedding (even if it was only part of Manhattan Melodies) memorized.
The Muppets are back. I laughed out loud multiple times.
To me, that’s a success. I just hope that the show succeeds, because I want more.
