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Acquiring The Muppets back in 2004, Disney has left the IP hanging for quite some time, with few projects every few years like Muppets Mayhem and Muppets Haunted Mansion. However, with the return of The Muppet Show, producer Seth Rogan brings the nostalgia of The Muppets right back in this 2026 revival of the original show.
Guest Star Sabrina Carpenter
Having Sabrina Carpenter as the first guest star was the perfect way to start The Muppet Show off with a bang. With the number of comparisons Carpenter gets to Miss Piggy, it seemed almost perfect to put her alongside the characters, and she fit in seamlessly. Her chemistry with Miss Piggy in each scene was off the charts, although Miss Piggy threatens to sue her for stealing her look. Carpenter really flexes her acting muscle in this special, making her a very strong guest star to come back with.
Courtesy of Disney
To no surprise, her musical numbers were absolutely stunning. From the hilarious performance of “Manchild” accompanied by the chickens to her duet with Kermit that turned into a duet with Miss Piggy, Carpenter’s voice really shines with any person or Muppet.
Nostalgia Trip Gone Right
In an era where the film and TV industry is focused more on dramas—which isn’t a bad thing—The Muppet Show brings back humor in a way that felt impossible. The Muppets also have a certain nostalgia factor that not many other IPs have, making for a perfect combo of characters we know and love, creating hilarious scenes that make the show a laugh-out-loud experience.
Statler and Waldorf are the best heckling duo out there. The gag is always the same, yet I find myself giggling anytime they make a joke from their balcony. We also get some classic gags with Fozzy and his massive thinking hat, smacking Rogan in the face on his way out from cutting him from the show; it’s very goofy. The Muppet Show is chock-full of cliche jokes and bits, but somehow they always feel fresh and entertaining to watch.
Maya Rudolph’s cameo guest appearance was also very charming, with the few minutes of screentime she got. Choking on an eyeball that bounced away from Muppet Labs, Rudolph is presumed dead until a sandbag falls on her as she’s getting wheeled out and revives her. The delivery of the scene is so funny, and one of my favorites from the episode. Rudolph is a comedy powerhouse that fits right into this episode.
A Couple of Notes
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the special, there were a few down moments in the episode that made the show drag a little. There was a running bit that Kermit said yes to too many acts, and now there’s not enough time to get them all in the episode—and while that’s a perfect plot for this special—it seemed to weigh down the episode a bit. With a 30-minute runtime, there isn’t a lot of time to keep coming back to the same bit, but they attempt to, and it doesn’t work out in their favor.
Rizzo the Rat is such a fun character, but his performance of “Blinding Lights” in the middle of the episode felt a little out of place, and the scene could have been filled with something else. All of the other musical performances felt integral to the show—a personal favorite of mine being the finale with the entire ensemble singing “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen—but his felt more like a way to tell the audience, “Hey, remember Rizzo? Yeah, he’s here too,” and there were better ways to include him.
We Need More Muppets
Although there are no confirmed future episodes, this special oozes with passion and love for the Muppets from Rogan, and there is hope that more is to come. With the return of the beloved show, I would love to see more episodes with celebrities like Chappell Roan, Rachel Zegler, or Colman Domingo. After a successful first run, maybe the Muppets will return to their much-deserved stardom.
Sources: IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, Spotify, Spotify, IMDb, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, IMDb, IMDb.
Images: Disney
