Let's be honest. The Muppets have a spotty track record.
Yes, they're beloved for a reason. Yes, Jim Henson was a genius. But whenever someone other than Henson took over the franchise, things usually went downhill, though there were a few moments of brilliance here and there. The Muppets Take Manhattan is a classic, but The Muppets Wizard of Oz? Seriously? For every Muppet Christmas Carol there's a Muppets From Space, where things arguably go off the rails.
On television, the Muppets fared even worse. The original, five-season The Muppet Show is a bona fide national treasure, but there have been umpteen attempts to revive it since the '80s and every single one of them has failed. Most of them never even made it past a pilot. And don't even get us started on all those godawful Christmas specials... The Muppet Family Christmas was terrific, but all the others lost sight of who and what the Muppets are about.
So when we heard that ABC had agreed to resurrect the Muppets for yet another try, we were wary. To say the least. But this trailer for the show, just released online today, has won us over. See for yourself.
Could it be? Is it possible? Has someone finally figured out how to bring the Muppets to weekly TV again — and make it worth watching?
The premise of The Muppets is as meta as ever: Kermit is reuniting the gang for a new variety show to air on ABC. This time, a documentary crew appears to be following everyone around, recording the process. But what really got our juices going was seeing the Muppets' personal lives outside of the theatre.
Fozzie meeting the human parents of the girl he's dating? Gold. Kermit sheepishly admitting his lifelong attraction to pigs? Endearing. Miss Piggy not remembering any of the other Muppets' names? Perfection. These moments feel modern and accessible, yet completely in-character.
Okay, ABC. We're in. (Please don't screw this up.)
The Muppets premieres this fall and will air on Tuesday nights on ABC at 8:00 P.M.
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