When Disney launched their
exclusive digital streaming service quite simply known as Disney+, it offered
them a platform to put their massive media library, spanning film and television
across the better part of a century, up for subscription access. While being
able to see classics of live-action and animation from a major studio (and all
other production labels now under its umbrella) is a major plus, viewers with contemporary
sensibilities might be put off with some of the characterization and elements
from these oldies. For that reason, the House of Mouse has seen fit to include
pre-program disclaimers to some of their older content, like Jim Henson’s “The
Muppet Show.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, content disclaimers have been added on some
Disney+ streaming offerings such as classic 1976-81 funny variety program “The
Muppet Show” to alert viewers that there are some discredited stereotypes and
depictions featured in it from the past that might be uncomfortable for
present-day audiences.
“This program includes negative
depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were
wrong then and are wrong now,” so goes such a disclaimer that is shown before
the start of “The Muppet Show.” The warning further exclaims that Disney is
opting not to remove such content entirely, but will keep them on in order to
have viewers see discredited notions and therefore be aware of how much harm
they did before people eventually knew better. Such a course of action, Disney+
hopes, would make the audience talk about the old stereotypes and hopefully “lead
to a more inclusive future.”
Among the entertainment fare
shown in “The Muppet Show,” which parodied retro variety shows and lampooned
numerous items in pop culture, are hot-topic depictions such as stereotyped cultural
characterizations. While Disney has been careful not to be specific, observers
can see the warning referring to Native Americans (then called “American
Indians”) and Middle Eastern depictions. No less than 18 episodes of the
classic show have the above disclaimer added on before the program proper,
spread through the series’ five seasons. Other Disney+ content with the
advisory include animated movies of the Disney canon like “Dumbo” (treatment of
circus animals), “Peter Pan” (again, Native Americans) and “Aristocats,” to
name a few.
Most of “The Muppet Show” has
been available for streaming on Disney+ since last Friday, February 19. The
disclaimers put on it and other streaming content were part of Disney’s new “Stories
Matter” initiative, wherein it is reviewing its digital library in order to
determine which media could use such an advisory at its start.
It wasn’t enough to get The Muppet Show on #DisneyPlus, @TheMuppets also had to take over five of our Originals. (1/5)
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) February 19, 2021
All five seasons of #TheMuppetShow are now streaming! pic.twitter.com/QSucYZzqQ3
Image courtesy of Fox Business
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