The Wasteland Reviewer

The Muppet Show (2026) Written Review

Are you ready to light the lights? Are you ready to play the music? But most importantly…are you ready for The Muppet Show! The Muppets have been bringing joy to generations for over 50 years, and it has been in so many different forms of media. But things all got started with the original The Muppet Show with its beloved variety show format. With the collaborations of Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen, The Muppets get new life with this Disney+ special (that will hopefully lead to a new run of the iconic The Muppet Show). 

Does this 32-minute special bring the goods for Muppet fans? Easily! From the opening musical number with the iconic theme song, you are hooked into this nostalgic ride. There is a good mix of scores (from composers Zach Marsh and Bill Sherman) that fit the vibes of the old version of the show along with some Muppet covers of both classic rock tunes and modern songs as well. A little bit of Queen and The Weekend can go a long way for sure. But “Manchild” performed with chicken back-up singers must take the cake. The pacing of this special is great as there is always a good vibe and joyous atmosphere that keeps the fun propelling forward. The special has a great sense of humor with some classic physical gags (like Gonzo’s motorcycle stunts), fun play on words, and a few surprisingly mature jokes (some from Carpenter no less). Director Alex Timber makes sure to leave the audience’s faces hurting from smiling for 30 minutes straight. 

Does the story grab you too? Thinking about a variety show like this, you might not expect there to be a real “story”, but they do a good job of bringing some running elements together to add depth to the experience. First off, there is a lot of talk about being rusty and bringing the show back after all this time. This makes the special feel more significant as it reflects the time jump in real life and gives The Muppets something to overcome. Kermit is running around trying to hold things together (as he always does) and poor Scooter just wants it all to go off without a hitch. There are plenty of your iconic pals there to bring the chaos (like Fozzy, Gonzo, and Pepe) while others bring the snark as they commentate on the insanity (like Rowlf, Bobo, and Statler and Waldorf). The core story focuses on Kermit and Carpenter trying to put on a good show and Miss Piggy getting jealous and putting her at odds with Carpenter. This conflict (one-sided as it is) brings a lot of the best moments and zingers in the special. There are a few fun subplots for big human stars like getting cut from the show or falling for a Muppet which are just the icing on this already delicious cake. 

How does this cast deliver on bringing these amazing characters to life? Give it up to an original like Dave Goelz to still be going and delivering on iconic characters like Gonzo, Waldorf, and Bunsen. Bill Barretta fills some big shoes as he brings Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, and Pepe to life. Matt Vogel, Eric Johnson, and David Rudman bring some of the most important characters to life (especially with Vogel voicing Kermit). Carpenter is charming, funny, and quite the performer as she has great chemistry with Kermit, Piggy, and her chicken backup singers. Rogen gets some laughs and he pops up as well. But it is Maya Rudolph who unexpectedly shows up in the audience who steals the show as she flirts with a grumpy Muppet in the crowd. This crew of performers pull this together so smoothly and make for such a joyous experience. 

Should The Muppet Show be brought back formally? Based on this special, 100% yes! The team at the Jim Henson Company nailed this as Carpenter and Rogen bring the big names (real life ones at least) to make this happen. Hilarious. Great music. A fun mashup of story and variety show shenanigans. The Muppet Show shows why the Muppets should just never go away.