It was really one of the best movie surprises in recent memory how good the new Muppet movies turned out. Both the 2011 The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted were in my opinion a credit to the Muppet name. And I was extatic to hear that Muppets are coming back to TV, as I always liked the regular Muppet Show more than the movies (except for maybe the brilliant Christmas Carol).

But the new show is not The Muppet Show, and I'm really torn about it. I just watched the first episode, and I really don't know what to think. It's funny. It reall is, very much so. Made me laguh quite a few times. But it somehow it just doesn't feel quite right. The heart just isn't there. The "behind the scenes documentary" gimmick is also rather annoying, and it's getting old fast, even in just this one episode. And the guest stars... I don't know who any of those people are. Maybe I'm just an old grumpy guy and should sit with Statler and Waldorf, but I couldn't help but think "we used to get Elton John, and Paul Simon and Peter Sellers". I know there will be other guests in the future episodes, but as a premiere for the new show that lineup felt very, very disappointing.

But what really bothered me was, like I said, that the heart of what made The Muppet Show work was missing. The wonder that it was a story of that wonderful bunch of misfits putting on a show with good intentions and determination, rather than with skills, and they made it work. It was full of silliness and absurd jokes, but it was also poignant. It had and [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Q-NJKt-pc]this. This new show does not fail in delivering anything like that. It doesn't even try. And that, somehow, feels much, much worse.

Maybe I'm just sentimental. Maybe I'm being stupid. Help me out here, people. Is it just me?

I remeber the one from the late 70's early 80's IIRC, Chef was best, hurdy gurdy birdy, bidy, gurdy, etc..

Q. What do you have when you've got two little green balls in your hand?

A. Kermit's undivided attention.

*bow*

Yeah, I was disappointed in it. I love that you see all the characters, even if they're only in the background for a second, and all the voice actors sound the same. But I didn't think it was that funny.

The new show was bound to be a fair bit different, after Miss Piggy's side project in the darker side of music:

Edit: NSFW
NSFW
NSFW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aGTNS13SDU

Miss Piggy:
"You Said WHAT!"
HiYaaHHH!!!!"
Karate Chop

Statler: Why are you clapping? That joke was balls!
Waldorf: Yes, but coming on stage with a joke this bad took some balls!

I'm a huge Muppet fan, but I didn't find the first episode very funny. It wasn't the argument that I keep hearing recently that it's too "adult". Nope, just didn't find a lot to laugh at yet.

That said, it's not like every episode of the original Muppet Show was gold either. There were more than a few lesser episodes of TOS as well.

I actually like the concept, although it's pretty much Muppets meet Larry Sanders, but I'm okay with that...

I'll continue watching for now. Hopefully we'll see some improvement over time. Of course, this is being developed by the same guy that worked on the Big Bang Theory and while I loved the first 3 seasons of that show, I lost interest after that. So it's not like he has a positive reputation for improving shows over time in my mind (and I'm well aware that TBBT is the most popular sitcom on TV right now, so it's not like my tastes are similar to the common man).

I agree with the pseudo-documentary / behind-the-scenes thing being overdone.


That said, I'd love to see a return of Greg The Bunny

DOHOHOHOHO

Seriously, those are my favorite Muppets :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adfipy3lp9o

You wouldn't get away with this, theses days.

Well, it sure took them a while, but I have to say, they finally got it right. The newest episode is one that I think Henson would be proud of. It's funny, and finally it also feels like it has that Muppet spirit I was missing. Maybe what the show needed from the star was just more Rowlf (my favourite muppet).

Kermit: You know, Rowlf, there's so many selfish people in this world who won't lift a finger to help anybody. Sometimes I wish I was more like them.

Rowlf: But then you wouldn't be you. And that's no way to live.