ABC has announced that Kermit, Miss Piggy and Co. will return to TV in the upcoming 2015-2016 season. The simply-titled “The Muppets” will premiere this Fall and air Tuesday nights at 8pm. Contrary to initial speculation, this isn’t a revival of “The Muppet Show”, but rather a documentary-style series that “will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires.”
Clearly this concept is aimed at a more adult audience – those who grew-up with Kermit and his pals. But kids are surely going to be a target audience as well, though the material may not be the “over-the-top silly/funny” that you’d expect for children. A pilot presentation was showcased to the network heads a few weeks ago and reportedly received a standing ovation, allowing “The Muppets” to be green lighted straight to series.
Since Disney bought the property in 2004, the relationship has been a rocky one at best. TV specials “The Muppets Wizard of Oz” and “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” were both entertaining but not instant classics. The gang has made numerous TV appearances on ABC shows including “Good Morning America” and “Dancing with the Stars”. A few web efforts garnered decent, but underwhelming attention.
Most prominently has been the icon characters’ recent return to the big screen. 2011’s “The Muppets” won an Oscar (for Best Original Song) but only grossed $89 million over its holiday season run. Disney still decided to go forward with a sequel, but 2014’s “Muppets Most Wanted” managed to make just $51 million.
And now Disney and ABC have decided to take yet another huge gamble with the Jim Henson creations. This new show should determine, once and for all, if The Muppets are still relevant members of modern pop culture. If the show fails, and is embarrassingly cancelled after three or four weeks due to low ratings, I hate to think where Kermit and pals will go from here.