If you’re around my age, your first introduction to Kermit the Frog was probably Sesame Street — helping teach kids their letters, how to read, and a few basic life lessons along the way.
Then, in 1976, Kermit left Sesame Street for The Muppet Show. It was a variety series filmed live in front of a Muppet audience at the famous Muppet Theater. Along with sketches and musical numbers, the show featured an impressive lineup of guest stars, including Elton John, Rita Moreno, and Steve Martin. Just as important, it also showed what went on behind the scenes, with Kermit desperately trying to keep the whole production from falling apart.
The show introduced us to a whole lineup of new Muppets: Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf the Dog, and Gonzo the Great. Recurring sketches like “Pigs in Space,” “The Swedish Chef,” and “At the Dance” became staples. The Muppet Show had the perfect blend of music, humor, heart — and especially chaos. It was family-friendly, but layered with jokes that adults clearly appreciated more than kids.
In 1981, after five seasons, The Muppet Show came to an end. We still got movies and cartoons afterward, but it was never quite the same.
Now, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original series, the Muppets are back with a new special. It leans into the classic variety-show format, bringing back familiar faces with new music, comedy, and sketches, along with the behind-the-scenes madness that was always part of the charm. It’s clearly meant to welcome longtime fans while also introducing a new generation to what made the Muppets work in the first place.
Grammy Award winner Sabrina Carpenter is the guest star. I’ll be honest — I had no idea who she was going in. Pop music isn’t really my thing, so she’s not someone who’s ever been on my radar. That said, she does a great job working with the Muppets and fits in better than expected.
Executive producer Seth Rogen and actress Maya Rudolph also make appearances.
The opening is classic Muppet Show, right down to Gonzo messing up the horn at the end. I loved the return of the laugh track, and this time the audience is made up of both Muppets and humans, which works surprisingly well.
Seeing the old gang back together — and all the disorder happening backstage — felt very much like the original series. In a good way.
It is a little strange watching Kermit without Jim Henson’s voice. Don’t get me wrong, Matt Vogel does an excellent job. He’s nailed the mannerisms and the constant stress Kermit deals with trying to keep the show running smoothly. Still, it’s hard not to feel a little sad knowing Jim Henson is no longer around.
The format stays true to the original: opening number, backstage chaos, “Muppet Labs,” and a closing number.
The one thing that really bothered me was the introduction of a new sketch, “Pigs in Wigs.” It wasn’t bad, but for a special that could potentially serve as a new pilot, this wasn’t the time to experiment. There’s a deep bench of classic recurring sketches, and it would have felt safer — and smarter — to lean on one of those.
Overall, it was genuinely great to watch The Muppet Show again. But there’s still one big question hanging over all of it: will Disney actually do anything with it?
Disney acquired the Muppets from the Jim Henson Company in 2004, and in that time has done surprisingly little with such a rich and beloved property. It often feels like Disney has no clear idea what to do with the Muppets, which raises the obvious question of why they bought them in the first place. For longtime fans, this cycle has become more frustrating than exciting.
Last year, Disney even closed MuppetVision 3D* at Walt Disney World — another reminder of how uncertain the franchise’s future feels.
Looking at the track record, it’s hard not to feel like this special offers false hope. It may very well be a one-shot, followed by years of nothing. That would be a real shame, especially since this special does such a strong job of returning to the original formula that worked so well.
I truly hope I’m wrong. I’d love to see Disney commit to a full series. But history suggests otherwise.
That said, even as a standalone special, this is a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show.
The Muppet Show premieres on Disney+ and ABC on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
Anthony Andujar Jr. 
Newsdesk