The Muppets, puppet characters
created by pioneering puppeteer Jim Henson, are easily the most iconic puppet
character ensemble in pop culture. Thanks to their regular appearances in the
landmark children’s educational TV show “Sesame Street” over the decades, they
are easily recognized. On their own, the Muppets are a media phenomenon as
well, with variety programs such as “The Muppets Show” and “Muppets Tonight,” several
movies, a “Muppet Babies” animated series and even a short-lived primetime sitcom
being their latest production. Over four years after the end of “The Muppets”
on ABC, they have a new show soon to stream on Disney+, with their first
trailer being released this Wednesday.
As Comic Book Resources would have it, Disney+ just released the look
at “Muppets Now,” the latest comedy series from Muppets Studio that is being
hyped as the official “streaming” debut of the Muppet character stable in their
own dedicated program. Said trailer looks to make a great impression on Muppets
fans with its ingenious and contemporary presentation of the new show. It also
serves to effectively reintroduce primary characters such as Kermit T. Frog,
Miss Piggy, Gonzo and more as they take up the challenge of a new show.
In a nice sendup to the virtual online
conferences that came into vogue due to COVID-19, the Muppets stage such a
multi-panel gathering to discuss Disney+ green-lighting “Muppets Now,” joined by
a beaver-like Muppet character called “Joe from Legal” (ostensibly the Disney+
legal liaison). The virtual conference goes into wordplay hijinks, with Legal Joe
insisting the streaming episodes be called “Muppisodes” (to enhance the IP),
then providing the cast with a dump of a production studio, where they will be
making unscripted content on various topics and are expected to deliver them…by
end of July.
You read right. “Muppets Now”
will premiere on the Disney+ streaming library on July 31. Each “muppisode” (six
for this inaugural season) is slated to run for 10 minutes of whatever the
Muppets have in mind to present, from cooking with the Swedish chef, to game
shows, to even the call-back talk show format seen from 1996’s “Muppets
Tonight.” For franchise fans who felt that the “Muppets” 2015-16 primetime
series on ABC was a bit of a letdown, “Muppets Now” promises to bring back
quality Muppets wackiness like only Kermit and the gang in their prime can
offer. Viewers just have to wait until the end of the month to see if they ring
true.
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