Is it time to play the music and light the lights with Seth Rogen on The Muppet Show tonight? Well, the latest rumor seemingly suggests the iconic television series might be making a comeback — not on Disney+ or ABC, but another network. The Muppets are one of the most beloved casts of characters in pop culture, with the likes of Kermit the Frog, Fozzy Bear, Ms. Piggy, Gonzo, Animal, and the rest known the world over. Yet outside of a few commercials and shorts, the characters have been largely absent from the spotlight lately, and are in need of a comeback.
Muppets fan site ToughPigs has obtained information that may hint at a revival, with a screenshot of a production publication listing The Muppet Show. Reportedly, a new version of the series is in development at Fox with Seth Rogen and longtime friend and creative partner Evan Goldberg at the helm through their production company, Point Grey Studios. Fox has seemingly ordered only a pilot, which has received tax credits from the state of California. No official news has been confirmed yet, so this is still just a rumor for now.
The Muppets Return
‘The Muppets’ with Kermit, Amy Adams, Jason Segal, and others
Disney
A comedy variety sketch series that featured the Muppet characters putting on a show, with each episode featuring a human guest star, The Muppet Show ran for five seasons from 1976 to 1981. During this period, the property exploded with feature films and various spinoff projects, but after creator Jim Henson’s untimely death in 1990, the Muppets entered a period of professional and creative drift.
Attempts to revive a prime-time Muppets series have struggled since the 1990s, with Muppets Tonight being the first failed attempt to recapture the magic of The Muppet Show. ABC aired an Office-style mockumentary take on the characters with The Muppets, which was criticized by fans and canceled after one season in 2016. The Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem-centric Muppets Mayhem, which aired in 2023 on Disney+, was also canceled after a single season.
Many fans of the Muppets have been critical of Disney’s handling of the property since the studio acquired the brand in 2004. While 2011’s The Muppets seemingly relaunched the franchise, 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted underperformed at the box office. Earlier this year, the company made the controversial decision to close Muppet*Vision 3D, Jim Henson’s final project, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The notion that Disney is letting a pilot for The Muppet Show potentially go to Fox instead of ABC or Disney+, something they would never do for Marvel or Star Wars, speaks to how they view the property.
Yet Seth Rogen producing a new spin on the Muppets might be just what the brand needs. Rogen and Evan Goldberg already successfully relaunched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Muppets are right up their alley, particularly since Rogen’s friend and former Freaks and Geeks co-star Jason Segel already worked on the franchise with 2011’s The Muppets. The Muppets tend to work best in a comedy ensemble setting, and Rogen and Goldberg can bring in a new generation of writers who grew up on The Muppet Show to reimagine the characters while also keeping what makes them so beloved. As seen with The Studio, Rogen is able to attract many high-profile guest stars, which is another hallmark of The Muppet Show. Decades after the end of the television variety show’s heyday, it might be ready for a comeback.
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