The Muppet Show 2007?
Posted Jun 10th 2005 4:29PM by Adam Finley
Filed under: TV Royalty, Industry
Disney, which bought the Muppets last year, apparently has big plans for the loveable, ping-pong-ball-eyed characters, including a possible re-launch of The Muppet Show in a couple years. However, don't set your Tivo for 2007 just yet, as the possibility of an updated Muppet Show will hinge on Disney's ability to turn the Muppets back into the viable commodity they once were. As much as I adore the Muppets, losing Jim Henson's innocence and subsequently being assimilated into Mouse, Incorporated may have permanently changed them from endearing cultural icons to just another nostalgic commodity.
Seven greatest hand cannons in TV history
TV Squad previews NBC's new shows (part 1)
TV 101: How ESPN controls the world and what the other networks can learn from it
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-16-2005 @ 4:20PM
Sugar said...
As a huge fan of the Muppet Show, I have to say that what most likely will be missing is not Jim Henson's innocence, but his and Frank Oz's wit and irreverence.
What is missing is the off, slight humor alongside the obvious site gags that made The Muppet Show great. The last time they tried to resurrect The Muppet Show, it just didn’t work, they focused on the mayhem and lost any subtly. I know, the idea of Muppets and subtly might not seem like they connect, but they do and did quite wonderfully.
Reply
6-16-2005 @ 4:20PM
Bebop said...
yea i agree with the above statmentes oh and when the made the comeback during the late 90's (97 was i?) the Rastafarian puppet who was the host couldn’t have helped much
Reply
6-16-2005 @ 4:20PM
Taylor Foster said...
Yeah, it was in 1996 that 'Muppet's Tonight!' was first aired, and Kermit handed over the hosting responsibilities to Clifford (yeah, the purplish rastafarian muppet). I think that was a serious bad move, because if you go back and watch the earlier episodes of the original muppet show a good portion of it was based on kermits interaction relationships with the cast behind stage and with the guest for that episode. I just don't think they ever got that going with Clifford.
A new version of the show should be brought back because people want it back, not because they can make it into a commercially viable product again (I am assuming that is what they are refering to when they say 'viable commodity'). My utopian vision would include a new version of the muppet show returning to fulfill a purpose, e.g. to fill in much needed quality tv spots already taken over with..ummm...*loosens tie*...rubbish shows.
It also scares me a comment on the page linked to by Disney CEO Michael Eisner "'They'll stay away from politics and religion,'' Mr. Eisner says. "The Muppets have a certain modicum of innuendo. They're not gratuitous.'" This was in reference to recent 'puppet' movies, such as Team America. But how far does this go? Will they be able to bring back Sam the American Eagle (who to me represented the 'Right' on the show at the time, or maybe he represented severe media regulations?). Or will they still be able to sing songs with lyrics such as '...the nation rising as one, to send their honoured son, to the whitehouse (the nation's only whitehouse) to voice their discontent, unto the president, upon the burning question that has swept this continent', (Ignore the fact the question was 'Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?') that was from episode 14, Jan 17, 1977. Will they not even be able to mention the President, or anything political? This...troubles me.
Reply
11-02-2005 @ 12:29PM
Adam said...
That's a really good point. I remember Frank Oz saying in an interview that when he and Jim Henson worked together it was like jazz. They just riffed off one another. Think Bert and Ernie.
Reply