REVIEW: 'The Muppet Show' Brings Sincere Nostalgic Whimsy to the Modern Age
- Sarah Angelo-Haight
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Muppet Show, surprisingly, is not the American institution many assume it is. In fact, Muppet creator Jim Henson attempted to make The Muppet Show in America twice: once in 1974, and again in 1975, but it wasn’t until the show was presented to the UK’s ATV network that it was given a chance. Only after it found success across the pond did Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and the rest of the Muppet performers have their variety show syndicated in the United States in 1976. This was an explosive period of time in the country: from the Vietnam War to the Kent State Massacre; from the gas crisis to the Watergate Scandal, The Muppet Show provided an oasis of mirth in a desert of struggle.
So, too, does 2026’s The Muppet Show. During a time in our country when our friends and neighbors are living in fear, when truly heinous acts are being treated as business as usual, many of us are looking for something to provide a wholesome distraction from our problems and fears. The Muppet Show is exactly that: a breath of fresh air in a room gone stagnant.
This isn’t a reimagining of The Muppet Show like 2015’s clever mockumentary The Muppets. This is a full-on revival of the original concept, from the campy sketches to the backstage mayhem, viewers are treated to the best kind of nostalgia. Without resorting to cheap fan service, The Muppet Show picks right back up where it left off, as if no time has passed, and as if the horrors of the world aren’t waiting right outside the stage door.
Kermit and company are aware that they’ve got their own large, felt shoes to fill as the backstage portions of the special focus on creating a cohesive show that doesn’t run for twelve hours, as Kermit had assumed everyone understood his oblique friendly responses to their ideas to be full endorsement and approval to be part of the program. This misunderstanding requires some difficult decisions to be made regarding cutting acts, and Kermit makes the unfortunate choice of cutting Miss Piggy’s second of two numbers to make room for special guest Sabrina Carpenter. Piggy, of course, is not one to take such a slight lying down and spends the bulk of the special making it clear she will be singing in the show, whether Kermit wants her to or not. Piggy herself remains an icon, and proves she still has the chops to share the stage with contemporary artists like Carpenter, who wisely seems to know who the real queen of the show is.
The acts for the show itself are typical Muppet fare and include a Carpenter performance backed by a chorus of singing chickens, a period drama starring Piggy called “Pigs in Wigs,” and a somewhat inexplicable but extremely entertaining cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinded by the Lights” by Rizzo the Rat and friends. A presentation from Muppet Labs brings us classic Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew shenanigans, while a Muppet News Flash reports on the untimely death and miraculous resurrection of celebrity cameo guest Maya Rudolph. Executive Producer Seth Rogan also makes an appearance, fitting right into a conversation with fellow furry comedian Fozzie Bear. I won’t spoil what Kermit ends up choosing for the final act in the show, but suffice it to say, it brought tears to the eyes of this tired, angry, elder millennial.
The Muppet Show is a nostalgic love letter to whimsy. It doesn’t treat the source material ironically, nor does it attempt to modernize it the way The Muppets did. This is a true revival of a classic in the sincerest sense. The sketches are kitschy, campy, and fun, and the backstage segments feel modern while still maintaining the almost anarchistic vibe of the 70s. The familiar backstage set feels like coming home, and the iconic Muppet Theater looks better than ever. Luckily, they reserved Statler and Waldorf’s usual box, because it isn’t a performance of The Muppet Show without their colorful commentary.
Rogan has stated he’s been trying to bring the Muppets back to television for years, and it is clear this is a labor of true love, not just from Rogan but from everyone involved in the production. With any luck, and with Rogan’s continued support, Disney will greenlight more Muppet content. Kermit and his merry band of bizarre performers are exactly who this world needs, and The Muppet Show proves it.
About The Muppet Show
Premiere Date: February 4, 2026
Writer: Albertina Rizzo, Kelly Younger
Director: Alex Timbers
Distribution: Disney+
Cast: Sabrina Carpenter, Seth Rogan, Maya Rudolph, Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman and Matt Vogel
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