If you grew up in the 1900s, as kids today say, chances are you crossed paths with Jim Henson’s The Muppets at some point in your life as a child. The Muppets, created in 1955, are one of the most enduring characters in musical/variety sketch comedy. They were at the height of their popularity during The Muppet Show, which aired from 1976 through 1981. The adorable puppet characters continued to appear on television and in movies in the decades that followed. They came back in a big way for a new generation in 2011’s The Muppets, a musical comedy movie starring Jason Segel. That was followed up by Muppets Most Wanted in 2014 starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tina Fey.
The Muppets Mayhem starring Canadian Lilly Singh arrived on Disney+ in 2023. But it only lasted a single season, despite earning five Emmy Award nominations and winning one for Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series. Now, the show is back in a big way again with a revival special called The Muppet Show, which is debuting on Disney+ on February 4, 2026, in celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary. Executive produced by Seth Rogen, it’s a 30-minute glimpse back into an iconic set of puppets that defined childhoods not just for one decade, but for many.
The Muppet Show Review
The Muppet Show will spark nostalgia from the moment Kermit the Frog appears on screen. From songs to skits and witty and hilarious banter among the puppets, it will bring back so many memories. The entire concept of following the muppets behind the scenes as they frantically prep to put on a show will leave you grinning from ear to ear, from start to finish.
With Sabrina Carpenter as the special guest, Maya Rudolph also appears along with Rogen himself and all your favorite muppets characters from the original. They perform a mix of popular songs, both new and classics that will get you on your feet dancing and singing, or at least bopping along from the comfort of the couch. You’ll recognize Rogen’s signature style behind the performances and skits, maybe even question what he was partaking in when working on a particular scene or two. That’s in a good way, but there’s no denying some of the scenes are slightly bizarre, all innocently so and within the usual context of the show, though.
It’s silly, slapstick humor combined with musicality, sweet stories, and fun-loving characters. Standouts in the special are, of course, Miss Piggy (we wouldn’t dare not highlight her!) and her exchanges with Carpenter, Kermit as the always level-headed leader, and Statler and Waldorf, the best grumpy hecklers and surly critics ever to grace the small screen.
While it’s a mish mash of performances, the special event does have a thematic story. It’s all about The Muppets prepping to take the stage but being faced with a huge problem: they have tons of approved performances but only 30 minutes in the show. Some performances will have to be cut and best wishes to anyone who dare tell Miss Piggy it will be any of her acts.
It’s as though the special is a teaser designed to feel the audience out, both in meta fashion on the show and in real life. Did you love it? Do you want more? There’s a lot more where that came from if audiences are interested, clearly based on the unraveling list of performances that Fozzie Bear shows Kermit. Indeed, rumors suggest the special is designed to be a “backdoor pilot” to a potential full season revival, so this is likely the strategy behind the story of only being able to fit in a few performances and the short nature of the episode.
Even if this is the intention, however, the episode still feels way too short. At 30 minutes, it feels rushed, like a teaser appetizer to prep us for a bigger meal to come that we don’t even have confirmation is coming at all. That would be fine if the show was confirmed as a pick-up and this was presented as Episode 1. But if it’s being presented as a special, it should be the proper length of one. It feels like Disney+ wanted to have its cake and eat it too, hedging its bets before committing to a full series yet still only delivering us a “special” that acts like a pilot episode. It feels a bit unfair to have it both ways.
What about more guest stars a la Sesame Street? More songs? More screen time for other muppets who didn’t get their moment to shine on stage? This is a variety show, after all. Even if it’s designed as a potential pilot, bringing on more celebrities, more surprise guests, and more performances would have better demonstrated the potential for the show as a full season.
A Nostalgia-Filled Teaser
As a special to commemorate 50 years of The Muppets, The Muppet Show was great, but it wasn’t enough. Carpenter and Rudolph do a great job, but so many other references were crying for other surprise appearances. As a streaming show with no commercials nor limits on runtime, I’m questioning why at least an hour and-a-half wasn’t dedicated to this special, even if it ends up being a pilot episode of many shorter ones to come. This circles back to the whole testing the waters approach, and showcasing what an episode could look like if there’s a full revival. But it’s like a dangling a tiny piece of carrot instead of the whole thing. Will that small piece be enough?
As it stands, The Muppet Show is a sweet look-back for those who grew up with the original. Mature viewers will enjoy watching and introducing their kids and grandkids to the lovable characters from their youths if they aren’t already familiar with them. The choice of Carpenter as the guest is the perfect way to integrate new generation talent with classic kids’ entertainment, delivering a special that both older and younger generations will love.
Will there be more? We’ll have to wait and see. This special is a good reminder of how fantastic the original series was, and a showcase that maybe there’s still an audience for a variety show with weird, colourful puppets at its heart. If you love the 30-minute special, it might prompt you to watch (or re-watch) all five seasons of the original, which are now streaming on Disney+ as well. Chances are that by the time you’re done powering through those, we’ll know if The Muppet Show is officially coming back for a revival or not. For the sake of good, honest, cute, family friendly fun that gets kids off mobile screens and giggling heartily, I hope so.