For those of us who grew up never believing Saturday Night Live (SNL) represented the peak of sketch comedy, or that a blue bird (?) with an unusually long nose actually wrote “A Christmas Carol,” the news of the return of “The Muppet Show” came as a welcome surprise. The return is, well, provisional, but here’s why it matters.
The Muppets were born in the 1950s, crafted by the Henson Company with a simple mission: sheer creativity. Originally for a sketch show whose entire cast was made up of these newfangled “marionette puppets” (hence, “Muppets”), Jim Henson’s creations quickly evolved. Over the years, they moved from their show, “Sam and Friends,” to appear as a regular segment on the Ed Sullivan Show, providing light hearted but smart comedy to American audiences tuning into late-night television. Then came their big break. By the time the late 1960s rolled around, experimental psychologist Lloyd Morrisett and television writer Joan Ganz Cooney, with help and funding from the U.S. government, teamed up to create a program that would revolutionize both the world of film media and children’s education: “Sesame Street.” Building on the educational model popularized by Fred Rogers of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood ” (1968) — widely credited with inventing character-focused children’s programming with his show — “Sesame Street” revolutionized children’s media. The Henson company was tasked with making and performing as new Muppets in the show’s leading cast within the first two years. Not only did the show succeed with its educational goals, but The Muppets reached international fame. They were destined for more than just children’s entertainment.
Jim Henson, eager to prove that puppets are, as James Gunn might put it, “punk rock,” came up with a new idea: an SNL segment called the “Land of Gorch.” And, well, it bombed. Badly. Famously, SNL actor John Belushi went as far as to eloquently nickname the characters the “Mucking Fuppets.” Henson had one more shot to make the Muppets work. So came the birth of a vaudeville-style comedy show, initially aimed at an adult audience, starring his now well-known Muppets. Henson created two pilots for ABC, “The Muppets Valentine Show” and “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence.” Neither was picked up. Yet, CBS, seeing “Sesame Street’s” success, took a chance on Henson’s new show.
“The Muppet Show” became a global hit, pulling in hundreds of millions of viewers per episode after the first season. The show would feature iconic hosts like Elton John, Rita Moreno, and Paul Simon. It was more than just funny. It was a touchstone of connection, offering a rare space where kids and adults could laugh together. Smart writing met slapstick humor, and each episode’s underlying message was always one of ridiculous joy. It wasn’t nearly as educationally focused as “Sesame Street,” but it taught younger generations something arguably more important than counting: comedy.
Which brings us to today.
50 years after its premiere, “The Muppet Show” is getting another shot. With Seth Rogen as producer and Sabrina Carpenter as host, the episode will serve as a one-off special that could lead to the greenlighting of a full series reboot if audience response is strong. So, Kermit might sing “Bed Chem” — big whoop. But, really, we should be celebrating. In a world saturated with brilliant but emotionally taxing award-winning dramas (think “The Bear,” “The Last of Us,” and “Severance”), and with children’s television in a weird limbo between overstimulating cartoons and poorly-written teen angst, there’s a gaping hole where smart, funny, and heartfelt family entertainment used to live.
We don’t just want The Muppets back. We need them.
We need a show that doesn’t talk down to kids or disregard adults. We need the chaos of Gonzo, the high-strung cheerfulness of Kermit, the unfiltered audacity of Miss Piggy. We need to be reminded that it’s okay to laugh and that corny can be cool. The Muppets are proof that weirdness has great value and that joy, especially in hard times, is radical.
So yes, “The Muppet Show” is back. And yes, you absolutely should care.
