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Established on Frank Oz's birthday, May 25th 2011. Created by Lara.
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Holy cow they nailed it. I didn't think they would but they did. My main complaint is that it didn't feel like a special event, it was just another episode of the Muppet Show, which is a massive plus if it gets picked up for a series but will be deeply frustrating if it doesn't. The only part to go against that was the emotional climax which I guess they though they needed as a one off special, but since the rest of the episode felt so much like an episode of the Muppet Show it jarred somewhat
Specific thoughts:
Not every musical number needs a bit to go with it. It worked well for Islands in the Stream but Manchild already had a good skit going (Sabrina beats up monsters in a bar) and the part with the fans seemed tacked on and the Blinding Lights segment straight up felt like a Muppets Tonight segment and while I do like Muppets Tonight the cut-off musical numbers are undoubtedly the worst thing about it
Despite this I did like the musical numbers even though I don't like any of the songs involved which I think is an important thing for the Muppets to pull off
As an avowed Pepe hater and having never watched Bridgerton I didn't particularly like Pigs in Wigs, but I am at least glad they're willing to try something a bit different
The setup of Pigs in Wigs also made me think of SNL's Lord and Lady Douchebag sketch which is probably not what they were going for
Beaker's eyes falling out was more disturbing than funny
I didn't mind Seth Rogan's first cameo but his second felt gratuitous. Maya Rudolph was funny but it felt like it was missing an ending. Needed to either be cut or expanded.
I loved how many Muppets they were able to give one scene, and I'm assuming for a full series they wouldn't need to try so hard to give everyone something to do in every episode
Scooter MVP
Background Johnny Fiama :Fire Emoji: :Fire Emoji: :Fire Emoji: :Fire Emoji: (I'm on a computer). I hope if they get a full series they can bring in some of the parts of Muppets Tonight that worked
I wish Electric Mayhem got a full number but again, time constraints
Honestly they should have just done it extra long and gone back to half an hour when they get a full season order
This might be an odd complaint, but I was often thrown off by the laugh track. I haven't gone back to the original to check, so maybe this was a thing there as well, but I felt super thrown off whenever there was a laugh track backstage. the audience can't see that! I think the laughter sounded more canned and less organic than the original? But I would be happy to concede if that's nostalgia goggles
Statler and Waldorf weren't that funny, but I think that's accurate to the original show
I've never minded Matt Vogel's Kermit voice; stop being mean to Matt Vogel. The voice that throws me off the most is still Dave Goelz as Waldorf and he's been doing that since the 90's
God that was longer than I expected. Overall I really liked it. My worst fear with this was the franchise descending into a self indulgent ouroboros of nostalgia, but it managed to be reminiscent of the original while also having a clear vision of what the Muppet Show could be in the 21st century. I can't wait for it to not get picked up for a full series and for the Muppets to return to their eternal limbo of suffering. (I've been a fan since 2014 I keep my expectations accordingly)
Happy Pride month to all the gay folks who should still be with us but were lost to AIDS. So many of them had (and continue to have) huge impacts on the world, despite their lives being tragically cut short.
Since this is primarily a Muppet blog, I wanted to take a moment to talk about Richard Hunt.
Richard Hunt was a gay man and a fantastic puppeteer who started working with Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, and company in 1970 at age eighteen and joined the cast of Sesame Street two years later. While working with the Muppets, he originated the characters of Scooter, Beaker, Statler, Sweetums, and Wayne, but also became the primary performer of Janice and is responsible for the flower child personality she is now known for. He was also known to be a fantastic singer.
But maybe most importantly, he made so many people happy. According the book "Of Muppets and Men" by Christopher Finch, Hunt "seems to get more unadulterated pleasure from performing than anyone else in the organization. When he is not working on camera, he is apt to have Scooter or Beaker or Janice -- anyone -- on his arm for the purpose of entertaining... He makes the crew laugh, jokes with the guest star, clowns for the shop personnel. He is one of the chief reasons for the loose atmosphere that exists around Studio D despite the pressure and the slow pace that are endemic to television production."
Hunt died at age 41 due to AIDS complications. The Muppet Workshop made a panel for the NAMES Project AIDS quilt in his honor. The Richard Hunt Spirit Award is presented every year at the Sesame Street wrap party to the cast member that best honors Hunt's generosity and dedication on set.
Rest in peace Richard. Thank you for the laughs and the smiles, and happy Pride 💛
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