Anyone who’s ever watched a television show while thinking thoughts about the television show they’re watching while thinking thoughts about it knows that one thing is true: There’s almost no such thing as a perfect show. (I say “almost,” of course, because of Homeboys From Outer Space). So it shouldn’t shock anyone that Up Late with Miss Piggy has had its ups and downs.
It must be hard coming up with that much entertainment on a regular basis. I mean, think about it. Miss Piggy and her crew do an hour-long show every weeknight, five nights a week… If my math is right (and I was a solid C- student in math), that’s 800 hours of TV every month! Holy maracas!
But man, ever since the show returned from its winter hiatus, it’s felt like they should change the name to Up Late with Miss Piggy But It Doesn’t Feel Like You’re Up Late Because It’s Fun to Watch the Show So You’re Wide Awake. Am I right? It’s just more fun. Usually, it takes some kind of behind the scenes shakeup — like, say, a change of showrunner — to refresh a series like this. But apparently all Piggy needed was a vacation, and I’m sure most viewers would agree that she should go on vacation more often!
It was an inspired move on the part of Miss Piggy and her producer Kermit the Frog to start featuring all the various animals, Animals, monsters, and chefs who work for the show. Who ever would have guessed in a million years that writers, stage managers, stagehands, and various other crew members could be funny onscreen? Well, I guess David Letterman figured it out several years ago. But still!
And the comedy pieces they’ve been doing have had such a contemporary edge! “Pepe the Uber Driver” and “Bobo Reads Tweets by a Real Housewife Person” were big hits early on, and it’s been impressive to see what they’ve come up with since then. My favorites so far would have to be “Big Mean Carl Delivers Food For Seamless,” “Lew Zealand Posts Comments on YouTube,” “Yolanda Uses Tindr,” and “Gonzo Asks Siri to Set an Alarm For Five Minutes From Now.”
It was surprising to see the recent appearance by Rowlf the Dog, the guy who owns the popular LA bar Rowlf’s Tavern, but it was wonderful to see him and Janice from the Electric Mayhem having so much fun doing one of their old sketches from the days when they performed together in a weekly live stage show. Or was that a TV show? And how long ago was that, anyway?
And that delightfully old-school sketch paved the way nicely for the “Pigs in Space” sketch featuring real-life NASA astronaut Robert Behnken. The Swinetrek crew’s reaction when Behnken explained what happens when you sneeze inside a spacesuit was priceless. I could not even begin to put a price on it. Not to mention “At the Dance,” “Bear on Patrol,” and of course, “The Talking Houses,” which I think may have baffled many viewers, but I liked it. House #1’s sister doesn’t spend so much time on the phone because she’s addicted to texting — it’s because she’s an Apple Store! I love it!
What I’m trying to say is, Up Late with Miss Piggy has successfully refocused its creative energy and make itself better. It’s so satisfying to see a TV show do that, and I can’t wait to stay up late to see what they come up with next. Wheee!
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by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com
