Recently, I asked YOU, the readers of this website, to give me your opinions of the new Muppet Show special via a classic Tough Pigs article format we call Two Things. The concept is very simple: You tell me one thing you liked about the special and one thing where you thought there was room for improvement.
I got SO many responses that I’m splitting this follow-up post into two parts. This is the first part, which I’m cleverly calling “Part 1.”
As you read these, you’ll notice some recurring themes. For example, one of the more common sentiments in the “room for improvement” department is that people wish the special had been longer and they want more episodes! ARE YOU READING THIS, DISNEY?
And now, the comments from YOU, the readers:
Mac:
Liked: Bringing in a sense of nostalgia with bringing back the show, but not making it greatest hits. Like covering songs that we’ve never seen Muppets do.
Room for Improvement: Maybe another segment or a musical number and it to be longer.
Eli Neiburger:
Liked: Lots of songs.
Room for Improvement: Waldorf and Statler’s jokes could use some punching up!
Britt:
Liked: The callbacks to the original.
Room for Improvement: Too many humans.
Amanda:
Liked: The ending gag with Beaker’s eyeball coming out of Zoot’s saxophone (a sentence I never thought I would type).
Room for Improvement: Needs more Zoot.
Lucifer:
Liked: This was the first time in a really really long time Kermit really felt like Kermit. All of the subtle movements he makes and the way he stutters gosh. It’s just so good. Matt Vogel did absolutely wonderfully.
Room for Improvement: Sabrina Carpenter didn’t seem very comfortable working with the Muppets, it doesn’t really feel that much like a conversation between them.
Craig Barker:
Liked: How much it felt like a worthy continuation of the original.
Room for Improvement: Liked: I’m not sure.
James Nobes:
Liked: I love how the special felt very much like the classic Muppet Show. The backstage plot and goings on, the interaction between the celebrity guest and the Muppets, and the chaos onstage and offstage!
Room for Improvement: When it was announced as a special, I thought it would be like an hour long special, kind of like how the performances at the Hollywood Bowl and the O2 Arena were like an extended version of The Muppet Show.
Shane Keating:
Liked: Seeing all those rebuilt characters was so great. It’s crazy that there’s now potential for Pepe to talk to Hilda, or Miss Mousey to talk to Joe the Legal Weasel. The Muppet cast has ebbed and flowed so much over the decades that the fact they’re making a concentrated effort to blend all the eras together opens a lotta doors.
Room for Improvement: I get that we’re in a TikTok world, so things have to move quicker, but some of the musical numbers felt rushed in establishing what the “story” of the song was, especially Rizzo’s number. Just bring down the pace a little and let the visual breathe. It’s a stage show, not MTV.
Primarily Colorful:
Liked: The writing!
Room for Improvement: Laugh track could be dialed down me thinks.
Patrick:
Liked: The long awaited return of the more obscure Muppets (Hilda, Gaffer, George the Janitor, Miss Mousey, Paul Revere, Rowlf’s At The Dance partner, etc.).
Room for Improvement: Bring back the other classic segments (At the Dance, Veterinarian’s Hospital, Pigs in Space, Swedish Chef).
Justin Tonglet:
Liked: Loved Manchild. It felt like a classic number from the original show.
Room for Improvement: Pigs in Wigs could have used a better final punchline than Miss Piggy being embarrassed her wig came off. It wasn’t a shocker she had a wig on, it was in the title.
Regina Harrison:
Liked: The chorus of singing flora and fauna in the Islands in the Stream number – that was a real “I’ve come home” moment.
Room for Improvement: The non-guest star humans were funny and did contribute to the show, but their presence did take one out of the Muppet moment, as did all the human beings in the audience.
Jesse Oliver:
Liked: NOW THAT IS WHAT WE CALL A MUPPET SHOW!… I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! WE NEED MORE!
Room for Improvement: I can’t think of anything.
Ethan Gillett:
Liked: I loved everything except for the Pigs in Wigs sketch.
Room for Improvement: Nothing really.
Gregory DiBruno:
Liked: The original theater, Gonzo’s stunt fanfare, the original theme song and closing credits, and everything!! Even the old characters returning!!!! I want more shows and a full season!!!!
Room for Improvement: At The Dance, Fozzie’s Comedy Act, Pigs In Space, and the Muppet News Room!
Andre Johnson:
Liked: The musical numbers.
Room for Improvement: Make Statler and Waldorfs heckling better.
Nonsensical Things:
Liked: The Production Value
Room for Improvement: Statler and Waldorf’s bits left much to be desired.
Taylor:
Liked: Miss Piggy! This was the funniest she’s been in a while. One of my favorite portrayals of her.
Room for Improvement: This is already more analogue than most puppet-heavy productions nowadays, but the digital camera effects and musical elements contributed to an artifice that is not there in the original show. It was a triumph for sure, but I would love a more tactile look and feel.
Mike:
Liked: Writing that felt true to the characters as we’ve known them over the decades.
Room for Improvement: Needed more Fozzie.
Andrew Reitman:
Liked: Getting to see all of the Muppets that were rebuilt after years (in many cases decades) of absence. Specific shoutouts to Hilda, Gaffer, George the Janitor, Bean Bunny, Boppity, and Gloat.
Room for Improvement: Most characters were relegated to background roles without even a single line. I hope that the show will get picked up to shine a spotlight on some of these characters in addition to the ones general audiences are more familiar with.
Morgan:
Liked: The Sketches and Song Moments felt on par with the original show. They reflected the current social climate while keeping in spirit with the show. Pigs in Wigs complements the current trend of period piece dramas of today as much as Pigs in Space reflected the love of sci fi in the 1970s.
Room for Improvement: No more laugh track, please.
Spencer Cohen:
Liked: The inclusion of the original Muppet Show characters, but also a number of post-Jim characters, including Pepe, Bobo, and of course… THE Miss Poogy!!!
Room for Improvement: The inclusion of Walter.
Anonymouse:
Liked: Rizzo’s performance of “Blinding Lights”, which proved that Bradley Freeman Jr. had the character in great hands.
Room for Improvement: Two of the musical numbers felt rushed, those being the aforementioned “Blinding Lights”, and the final number, “Don’t Stop Me Now”; if it were to get a full series, the songs should feel complete.
Zeecil Portesque
Liked: “Blinding Lights” is my favorite part of the special, with Rizzo getting a new musical number and Beauregard’s electrical mishaps, which got me good.
Room for Improvement: I was hoping we’d get more of the Pink Audience Monster.
Wonder:
Liked: I did find many of the jokes really funny! I was worried that the classic style of humour wouldn’t really work in the more cynical atmosphere of entertainment these days, but I think it worked really well!
Room for Improvement: To be honest I’m not fond of the laugh track. I know it was there in the original, but I feel like the jokes could have stood for themselves rather than telling us we needed to laugh. It’s a small nitpick though.
Karin Abell:
Liked: That they had the same set, show formatting, and key elements from the old show that I love sooooo much.
Room for Improvement: The only thing I’d change is that there was only one episode! I’m ready for many many more!
Lamango:
Liked: The seamless combining of the different eras of the Muppet History coming together for one special. Season 1 characters like Hilda sharing the screen with 80’s characters like Bean, and 90’s characters like Pepe and Bobo.
Room for Improvement: Besides the comfort knowing they get picked up for at least one season? A Floyd line wouldn’t have hurt.
Sebastian:
Liked: All the background characters (and by extension, the background gags) were terrific. Not only was it cool seeing so many forgotten characters rebuilt, but paying attention to what they’re doing backstage is always fun, just as it was in the original show. (Seeing Johnny Fiama visibly perplexed by Mahna Mahna was especially great.)
Room for Improvement: I just wish it was longer. When I heard we were getting a “special” based on The Muppet Show, I expected it to be 45 minutes to an hour.
Noah Ginex:
Liked: The attention to detail in recreating the set and costumes and feel of the theater
Room for Improvement: Let sketches breathe! Let them finish! Every scene/number/song/sketch doesn’t end in disaster! Sometimes pieces are just beautiful and simple and real and whole! If everything always ends in disaster, then it isn’t fun or even novel when things go wrong.
Brian:
Liked: Even if only in the background, it included Muppets from all eras as part of the gang!
Room for Improvement: I would have enjoyed one more non-musical skit.
Graham:
Liked: The inclusion of season 1 characters, like Mildred, Hilda, Zelda, and George. I like that they increased the number of female characters by bringing back these classic Muppets.
Room for Improvement: I wish they had framed the final song differently. I think the same emotional ending with many of the Muppets signing together could have been reached in a more chaotic way that I feel better represents the original Muppet Show.
Nicholas:
Liked: The “Islands in the Stream” number really felt like a classic Muppet Show song choice and performance. I really liked that it continued the tradition of Guest Stars singing covers with Muppets.
Room for Improvement: The only thing that felt missing from the special was a classic “Weird Muppet” segment, something in the vein of a Planet Koozbane or a “Java” style number.
KJH:
Liked: I loved that it was so true to the original.
Room for Improvement: I thought the audience was too well-lit. I imagine it was needed to show the guests in the audience, but it didn’t have that old theater feel to it. The audience would have very dim lighting during a show.
Josh K:
Liked: Every music choice, right down to the old music cues such as Gonzo’s intro music. Rizzo’s triumphant return number was a highlight!
Room for Improvement: Not really a complaint, but an observation. Time makes fools of us all, and I hope Dave Goelz is training up an understudy because Gonzo and Bunsen are starting to sound a little old, and I know he’s limited on how much puppetry he can actually do. Love the legend but he’s earned some retirement.
Connor Gibson:
Liked: A huge crowd gathering of Muppets in the theatre
Room for Improvement: Having other Muppets Like Bean Bunny, Johnny Fiama, Sal Minella and Walter bigger parts in the special
Brian H:
Liked: This special really captured the essence of The Muppet Show, from the music and guest star, to the humor and performances of every character featured on the show.
Room for Improvement: If there was one thing this special could improve upon, it would be to make sure there is a good balance of bits that can entertain and keep the attention of all audience. Old school Muppet fans will get a lot out of it, but I do worry if it will be enough to attract newer, younger audiences to the Muppets.
Fulton Mraz:
Liked: The guest stars are my favorite.
Room for Improvement: Vets hospital.
Talon Schultz:
Liked: Not being afraid to return to the subtle adult humor of the original show.
Room for Improvement: The obnoxious late 2000s Nickelodeon-esque laugh track. I know the OG show had one, but this one needs to be tamed down.
Brian:
Liked: I absolutely loved that they included the laugh track just like the original.
Room for Improvement: Only one classic sketch (Muppet Labs). I need me some Veterinarians Hospital, Pigs in Space and At the Dance!
Chris Stulz:
Liked: The Writing – I thought over all the jokes and tone perfectly captured the spirit of the original series.
Room for Improvement: I know I’m going to get flack for this, but the arm rods. Jim hid the arm rods as best he could throughout productions. Seeing them unnecessarily left in – some very large and thick – took away the otherwise great performances.
Steven Brandon:
Liked: It was like Season 6 episode 1. no major changes to the format.
Room for Improvement: Have the guest stars do different things that they’re known for. Sabrina Carpenter doesn’t have to sing a Sabrina Carpenter song. I’d also love to see her dance or juggle or do magic etc.
Sully:
Liked: It felt like a near perfect return to form, and the first real chance to allow the general public to adapt to Matt Vogel’s Kermit in a longer format (which he crushed). This episode seems to have single-handedly sold a lot of people online on the fact that Matt is a worthy successor to Jim and Steve, and it warms my heart.
Room for Improvement: I personally felt Kermit’s speech at the end slowed the pacing of the show, BUT I see how that lends itself to a one-off special, and likely wouldn’t be something we’d see on a recurring basis should this show get picked up.
Kenjiro:
Liked: The usage of classic Muppet interpretive silliness on contemporary music!
Room for Improvement: That finale. Felt as though it was trying to insert an emotional thread when it wasn’t necessarily needed.
Jacob Rivera-Sanchez:
Liked: I loved how Alex Timbers & Co. stayed true to the original and revitalized it for 2026. From the theme song, the design and visuals, the jokes, and more!
Room for Improvement: I love that they had new sketches and a couple favorites, but they should have included at least another legacy sketch like Pigs In Space, Vet’s Hospital, At The Dance, etc.
Cole:
Liked: Sabrina Carpenter was the absolute perfect guest star. She bounced off of The Muppets flawlessly.
Room for Improvement: I feel that some characters, like Fozzie, Rowlf and the Electric Mayhem, kinda felt like after thoughts.
Sophie:
Liked: Literally almost all of it but especially Rizzo
Room for Improvement: That a season has not been greenlit.
Amber Hannen-Snyder:
Liked: How instead of forcing the Muppets to adapt to the modern world, they take the modern world force it to adapt to the muppets.
Room for Improvement: I would love to see guests that aren’t huge fans of the Muppets. Someone whos going to think their weird, or at least doesn’t gush over how they’re such big fans.
Jackson:
Liked: The music choices were inspired. They covered classic country duets, rock numbers, and modern hits. Each of them felt like natural fits for the Muppets.
Room for Improvement: The songs felt rushed, especially the finale. Feels like they needed to add another verse or two in there.
Louis Reynolds:
Liked: The set design on Rizzo’s song.
Room for Improvement: Gonzo should’ve gotten more lines that weren’t actress names.
Joe Hennes:
Liked: Gonzo shouting “DIANNE WIEST” while roller skating past the stage.
Room for Improvement: Kermit’s emotional speech near the end. It halted all of the momentum, and they didn’t need it.
Harley:
Liked: I liked that they did modern music. It’s cool that it’s basically The Muppet Show but as if they just kept doing a variety show based on whatever the current music was.
Room for Improvement: I think they could improve by utilizing their classic characters a little more thoroughly. In Pigs in Wigs, why were Link Hogthrob and Dr. Strangepork not in the sketch? It was cool to see Miss Poogy and Andy and Randy Pig in the background, however.
Ken:
Liked: There was some chaos.
Room for Improvement: Bigger explosions. The lights blowing up during Rizzo’s number was barely noticeable that it was really a problem.
Lord Lew Grade (presumably not the one who’s been dead since 1998):
Liked: The violence! I love how much hitting, throwing, smashing, and dunking there is of Muppets in this. Slapstick and physical comedy are always easy wins with puppets in general but especially with The Muppets.
Room for Improvement: The attempts at having “emotional” moments. Leave that in the movies; The Muppet Show should be there to be silly and fun without getting bogged down in the “Lovers & Dreamers” stuff.
James Carroll:
Liked: Islands in the Stream number is the most authentically Muppet Show thing I’ve experienced since the Muppet Show.
Room for Improvement: Less of a focus on Miss Piggy. Like a lovely, but potent, perfume – her presence can be suffocating.
Jake:
Liked: The recasting of Hilda.
Room for Improvement: The writing for Statler and Waldorf.
Kyle Driscoll:
Liked: The writing of this special was some of the best I’ve seen in a Muppet production in many moons. This special really got the tone right and struck that delicate “sweet and salty” balance of the best Muppet productions.
Room for Improvement: The pacing of the build-up to the finale could have been better. The special is very fast-paced, but once Kermit goes on stage for his apology/monologue, it comes to a screeching halt.
Mark J. Hansen:
Liked: Loved seeing some characters that haven’t popped up as much in recent projects, Pops and Hilda but also Johnny and Sal!
Room for Improvement: Maybe seeing them integrated more in the actual show and not just background, but we’re talking a huge cast of characters, so I’ll take what I can get.
Noah Darden:
Liked: The special guest felt on equal footing with the Muppets.
Room for Improvement: They could’ve found some way to include Walter.
Meagan:
Liked: Sabrina and Piggy’s matching outfits and wigs–I mean, real hair.
Room for Improvement: Adjusting the pacing, and tightening the script a bit on the backstage stuff.
Sondra:
Liked: Rizzo’s music number – loved it!
Room for Improvement: The ending — It felt unneeded to have the “big heartfelt moment” when nothing was really wrong.
Rochelle Wilde:
Liked: I loved all of the nods to the past! The older uncommon Muppets mixed with the new. The nostalgic themes throughout while keeping it fresh. I loved seeing Rizzo again- it’s been too long!
Room for Improvement: It was too short! Honestly! It flew by. For a special- it could have been an hour!
Johnny Sittin’ Rock:
Liked: That it was original Muppet Show format, e.g., there was a random musical number by the rats, which is totally in keeping with what might have been in an original series episode.
Room for Improvement: The sound could be cleaned up – too much background noise.
S Wilson:
Liked: Rizzo’s “Blinding Lights” number.
Room for Improvement: Most of the rebuilt characters having very little time to shine.
Josh Stein:
Liked: Hilda got a line.
Room for Improvement: Sabrina should’ve been in the closing number.
Marni:
Liked: They definitively caught the heart of The Muppet Show. It’s the same level of zaniness and goofy that you would expect.
Room for Improvement: The reliance on human cameos. If a full season was greenlit, I would hope they return to the one-human format. How can one be a very special guest star if other humans are taking time away that could be spent on them?
Nicholas Langford:
Liked: Matt Vogel’s Kermit has a beautiful singing voice and I hope he gets more chances to play the character. He’s been totally robbed and I’m excited for him to do more!!
Room for Improvement: This problem plagues modern television but these nicer cameras deserve more evocative lighting! Make this show look beautiful! What happened to contrast?? I miss her!!
David Shnoudeh:
Liked: It was AWESOME to see so many familiar characters! And we got to see George the Janitor and Beauregard in the same episode..
Room for Improvement: I’d like to see some old skits like Pigs in Space return.
Clara:
Liked: I liked seeing Rizzo have his own musical number after being absent from The Muppets for a long time. And seeing it felt like something that the original show would’ve done, but also brought into modern times. It was a nice blend of old and new.
Room for Improvement: I wish it was longer so that we had time for more classic skits like Vet’s Hospital and Pigs in Space and to see more Muppets have their time to shine.
Ian:
Liked: The final act was awesome.
Room for Improvement: Awkward rewrite of “Islands in the Stream.”
Rob Wiles:
Liked: Islands In The Stream was perfect.
Room for Improvement: They haven’t announced a full series yet.
LUCAS:
Liked: RIZZO HAVING HIS OWN SONG NUMBER MY BEST BOYYYY
Room for Improvement: I felt the Maya Rudolph cameo came out of nowhere and was weird.
Louie Holden:
Liked: Rizzo’s cover of Blinding Lights. That was the last thing I expected from this special and it was the best part. I need it on music streaming ASAP, Disney. Also just seeing Rizzo return is awesome, his new performer is great!
Room for Improvement: I wish there was more of it! It felt like some scenes were a little cut down so they could fit the 30 minute runtime (especially Don’t Stop Me Now). Hopefully that can be ironed out for a (hopefully all but guaranteed) full season of the revival.
Andrew Bergmann:
Liked: Miss Piggy-always on point! Perfect reactions everywhere!
Room for Improvement: More character interactions were needed.
Thomas Wilcox:
Liked: Don’t Stop Me Now.
Room for Improvement: Nothing it’s Perfect.
Lincoln:
Liked: The music.
Room for Improvement: Penny Waxman should have appeared.
Andrew Crane:
Liked: The mixture of songs. From the artist and from pop culture recent and old!
Room for Improvement: Tone it down on the laugh tracks. Don’t need a laugh almost every other line.
Greg:
Liked: The closing credits font!
Room for Improvement: Give Jim Henson a creator credit like he received on other projects (e.g., Muppets Mayhem, Muppets Haunted Mansion).
Joe Krejci:
Liked: It was a lot like the original series, which is great.
Room for Improvement: Need more episodes.
M.:
Liked: The musical numbers! A lovely blend of classic & new with beautiful sets and the perfect dose of humor
Room for Improvement: I would have left out Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph’s cameos. Sorry!
Pak-nit:
Liked: Maya Rudolph and Beautiful Day Monster had fantastic chemistry.
Room for Improvement: Don’t Stop Me Now started off with sad Kermit and cut down the song way too much.
Alexander R:
Liked: I loved that they didn’t try to play it safe. When reviving a classic show, there’s definitely an inclination to play the hits; instead we got a reboot that is willing to try new things.
Room for Improvement: Some characters got shortchanged. I would have liked more Fozzie, and even though Dave Goelz did get to perform a whole Muppet Labs sketch as Bunsen, I think Gonzo deserved more than being a running gag.
Zach:
Liked: The multiple running gags throughout were hilarious, but Gonzo’s takes the cake.
Room for Improvement: Could do without the Disney/Nickelodeon laugh track.
Melissa Scopelitis:
Liked: The music choices.
Room for Improvement: Need to see the classic skits like Veterinarians Hospital and pigs in space.
Ernest:
Liked: The performances.
Room for Improvement: Maya Rudolph’s sub-plot.
Debra Forth:
Liked: The return of senseless violence done right (Manchild sketch Sabrina throwing Muppets and Piggy breaking down the door and Kermit falling out of the boat).
Room for Improvement: Hated the laugh track for backstage moments. The “live” audience isn’t supposed to see that.
stevescarwizard:
Liked: The music was delightful!
Room for Improvement: I wish there were more Muppets in the intro.
TJ Grant:
Liked: The blending of Muppets and real people in the audience and both parties interacting with one another.
Room for Improvement: Personally, I felt the colors for the show felt a bit muted, compared side by side to the OG on Disney Plus.
Addison:
Liked: Miss Piggy getting angry at Kermit.
Room for Improvement: Sabrina Carpenter getting more acts.
K.T. Lyn:
Liked: The attention to detail: props, background characters, costumes, etc. All spot on!
Room for Improvement: Statler and Waldorf need to up their heckle game!
Scott Joy:
Liked: I am delighted by its timeless blend of new and old. I can remember watching in the 1970s, and this episode still feels of the moment!
Room for Improvement: No apologies, Kermit. Take pride in the show’s chaotic beauty.
Oscar:
Liked: Yolanda Rat was in some of it.
Room for Improvement: Yolanda had no voice lines, she should have some and should have been in more of it in general.
Weston Z:
Liked: It really felt like The Muppet Show.
Room for Improvement: The songs felt rushed.
Elias:
Liked: That it was back again, in the Muppet Theatre.
Room for Improvement: The scenes and musical numbers were too long, which made it too few sketches. Back in the 70’s & 80’s there were more sketches, and shorter numbers and sketches. A sketch sometimes had just one single joke. And a Swedish Chef sketch was very missed.
Stephanie Routh:
Liked: Bringing back classic characters like Hilda, Wayne and Wanda, Mildred, and more.
Room for Improvement: They left out Walter.
Ty Sargent:
Liked: How faithful it was to the original show.
Room for Improvement: Giving more characters time to shine.
Eevee Rubin:
Liked: The props reused from MuppetVision (the pizzarizzo plaque next to pops, and the cast member sign in Muppet Labs).
Room for Improvement: The show was incredible and amazing and I loved it but like where’s my boy Walter omg 🙁
Katie:
Liked: I adored the writing! All the characters felt like themselves, and were super funny.
Room for Improvement: I really wish we got more of certain characters. Such as Fozzie, Electric Mayhem, more Statler and Waldorf.
Mupple Williamson:
Liked: Rizzo getting a spotlight song after 10 years of absence!!
Room for Improvement: I would have loved to hear characters we haven’t heard from in decades speak, like Hilda got to. I’d love to hear the new Miss Mousey and George the janitor voices.
Dre:
Liked: Loved the musical numbers and had the feel of a classic Muppet Show episode. Also love the faithful recreation of the opening and ending.
Room for Improvement: I don’t really have any complaints besides wishing the final number got more screentime it felt a little rushed!
Rick:
Liked: That new Muppet saying “see? Can’t trust anyone” at the start of Kermit’s speech. That was really funny for some reason.
Room for Improvement: A Fozzie segment, really, even an intro Fozzie joke would’ve been nice.
Theo:
Liked: Rizzo and his rat boyband.
Room for Improvement: The fact that i cant stream Rizzo’s version of blinding lights.
Caden:
Liked: Only one? Alright, I’ll say the bit with Satay (the guy who said “I’ve been burned before”) made me laugh, and was probably the funniest moment in the special.
Room for Improvement: If I have to nitpick, I’ll say that I wish at least one of the musical numbers was a showtune or old vaudeville song instead of a pop song.
Julia:
Liked: The way they staged Manchild – felt like a classic Muppet/guest star number, and especially loved the feather mishap at the end!
Room for Improvement: They went a tad too hard on the sentimentality in the moment at the end. It’s a good tool in the Muppets’ arsenal, but should be used sparingly.
Andrew Goeing:
Liked: Islands in the stream, the Production values were amazing, and the song choice shows they are willing to give the guest stars opportunities to show off their talents instead of just promoting their portfolios.
Room for Improvement: Listen, I’m willing to defend Muppets Now as much as the next guy (probably more so) but after THAT show’s take on the Swedish Chef sketches, where the less Chef there was the BETTER the sketch was, I’m gonna need the potential new show to NAIL a Swedish Chef sketch before I can say The Muppet Show is back.
Kyle Frisch:
Liked: I loved that the show didn’t just “play the hits,” so to speak. It was full of new sketches and songs that the Muppets haven’t sung before, like a genuinely new episode!
Room for Improvement: Kermit’s weird speech before the final number fell flat for me. It was trying too hard to be an “emotional” moment, which felt unnecessary. The show was fun, Kermit! Don’t be so hard on yourself!
Mikahail Richardson:
Liked: I love the fact that it resembles the classic show with up to date material!
Room for Improvement: There needs to be more Muppeteers, and I for one, am available.
Stuart Hunter:
Liked: Rizzo’s rendition of “Blinding Lights.”
Room for Improvement: The Pigs in Wigs sketch.
Von Beckford:
Liked: It felt like we had just picked up where we left off, not even from The Muppets (2011) but from the original ending of the show in 1981.
Room for Improvement: Personally, I wanted to see Miss Piggy’s Aphrodite sketch!
Ren:
Liked: The relationship between Miss Piggy and Sabrina Carpenter – leaning into the fact that YES she’s an icon, an aging diva, perhaps an og #influencer. More of the emotional security of the beloved grand dame, less of the spurned ingenue of the 70s! This side of Piggy is great to see (and will make a great Danny Horn podcast someday)
Room for Improvement: I feel like Bunsen and Beaker have gotten a lot of airtime in recent years, and I’d have preferred a Swedish Chef bit to Muppet Labs.
BJ Wanlund:
Liked: The musical numbers were spot on!
Room for Improvement: I thought that it was not long enough. It made the “oh we’re running way too long so we gotta cut some stuff” plot line seem needlessly contrived and more than a bit forced.
Emily Ann Schulz:
Liked: Rizzo singing was amazing.
Room for Improvement: Kermit and Miss Piggy should work on their relationship and get back together.
Michael Bardouniotis:
Liked: I loved seeing Rizzo the Rat and his friends perform “Blinding Lights” and accidently turning it into an explosion gag. Pure classic Muppet humor.
Room for Improvement: I would’ve loved a traditional Fozzie monologue with Statler and Waldorf roasting him from the balcony, just like the old days.
Joe De Gennaro:
Liked: I like no I loved it stayed true to the old Muppet Shows of the past. Jim and Brian would be proud.
Room for Improvement: More Frackle throwing.
Pat Sommer:
Liked: I loved Bradley Freeman Jr’s take on Rizzo! Happy we got to see Rizzo in action after the big news of his return.
Room for Improvement: If for whatever reason the show doesn’t get picked up, the special offers little rewatch-ability (due to constantly reminding you that this was designed to be more).
Tyler Partnow:
Liked: Hilda. Hilda. Hilda. It was one line, but what a spectacular line it was. Bravo, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, for bringing forth such a studied, authentic performance of a character who previously had probably >1 hour of screen time.
Room for Improvement: Some of the editing choices made the gags not read very clearly the first time watching: Piggy knocking Kermit out of the boat had so many quick cuts that I simply had no idea what happened when I first watched.
Kristian:
Liked: After 9 years of silence, Rizzo returned with a whole music number to himself.
Room for Improvement: Janice shouldn’t be in the orchestra pit and in the arches at the same time.
Paige:
Liked: I loved that Janice and Kermit had a scene together. I feel like you don’t see those two together that often.
Room for Improvement: Outside of them in the title song, I felt a distinct lack of the presence of the full bodied “Monster” Muppets.
Guillermo:
Liked: It does more for the Muppets than the recent Looney Tunes movie (The Day the Earth Blew Up) does for Looney Tunes. The latter had too much fanboy gushing within itself to be taken seriously.
Room for Improvement: Less reliance on CGI special effects, and more emphasis on practical effects.
Jake:
Liked: I think everything involving the guest stars (aside from maybe Seth Rogan) was incredible, Manchild and Islands in the Stream are top tier Muppet Show performances for me!
Room for Improvement: I think there was definitely some parts of the show where you can tell they had to cut some stuff for time, Kermit’s final moment sort of comes out of nowhere and the final number doesn’t exactly flow with the rest of the episode.
Hunter Fenton:
Liked: The opening theme song.
Room for Improvement: I dunno, I just enjoyed it!
Jason Bornstein:
Liked: that they were trying new sketches (something they did a lot of in the original show).
Room for Improvement: The beginning and ending scenes felt more like the bookends of a movie of the return of The Muppet Show instead of a TV show episode of what we know as The Muppet Show. They don’t need to be so dramatic with it.
Patrick:
Liked: The orchestration of the songs.
Room for Improvement: Lack of Fozzie Bear stand-up comedy.
Will Carroll:
Liked: I liked how the show runners created a new sketch set up with Pigs in Wigs than solely having the whole show be a greatest hits of all the old sketches like Pigs in Space or Vets Hospital.
Room for Improvement: Maybe I’m just an old man but aside from the closing number I didn’t recognize any of the songs used in this; don’t get me wrong all the songs especially all of Sabrina’s numbers were great I was kinda hoping for at least one old novelty song or something more vaudeville-y like in the UK Spots.
And that’s it for part one! Stay tuned for lots more fan feedback on The Muppet Show!
Click here to praise Rizzo on the Tough Pigs Discord!
by Ryan Roe – [email protected]
