OFFICIAL: The Muppet Show to return in 2026 with a new special starring Sabrina Carpenter

[GuySmileyfan]

With so many criticisms, now I’m a little nervous. But in my opinion, I think the 50th anniversary special of TMS might have a chance to be a hit and maybe become a full series. Of course, that’s probably my silly optimism. Look this is maybe your guys opinion and I’ll try to respect everybody’s opinions, but I just don’t want to act negative or go doom and gloom like I always do from time to time. Just saying!

 

[LittleJerry92]

It’s fine to be excited for a new series, the issue is any forms of criticism we have to how the Muppets have been treated under Disney’s “care” have come off personal on your end.

 

[GuySmileyfan]

It’s fine to be excited for a new series, the issue is any forms of criticism we have to how the Muppets have been treated under Disney’s “care” have come off personal on your end.

Oh well, I tried! Sorry that I’m not an negative type like you guys. But I hope the 50th anniversary special of The Muppet Show is a success and become a series. But let’s see what the trailer looks like next year.

 

[LittleJerry92]

Oh well, I tried! Sorry that I’m not an negative type like you guys.

I rest my case.

 

[GuySmileyfan]

I hope the new Muppet Show backdoor pilot is it hit, so we can have a series. I’ve been worried about the Muppets since Muppet Most Wanted and The Muppets 2015 both flopped! I just hope the Muppets make a big comeback. Unless, some people are going to be negative, but this is a discussion forum. What can you do?

 

[LittleJerry92]

There’s a difference between being just straight up negative vs what people are likely realistically expecting will happen with how the characters have been treated under Disney’s poor “care.”

 

[dwayne1115]

I'm excited but like others I'm a little bit nervous. As I said in the thread about the upcoming Piggy movie I'm concerned that this is just going to be another celebrity fan fic. That's not saying it would be completely bad they just might not completely understand the depth and character dynamics as say a veteran Muppet writer. So I personally will keep my fingers crossed and hope for great things for the Muppets.

 

[Chilly Down]

Some intriguing developments over the last couple of weeks...

As you all know, Disney continues to do its #Muppets70 celebration on Facebook by posting a different picture of a Muppet every week. Within the last month, they've celebrated Gaffer as well as George the Janitor...and they were clearly new builds, suggesting that they'll be in the TMS special. (I can't imagine rebuilds just for the purpose of a Facebook photo.)

Although I love Beauregard, George was always pretty funny too. I guess there wasn't a need to ever have two janitors on the show at the same time. It would be great if they would have some interaction this time around. The closest we've gotten is a background image in a TMS comic by Roger Langridge where they both look at each other very quizzically! (Also, I'm guessing Eric Jacobson will likely take the reins as George.)

Sidebar: Ever since the idea of a revival TMS show was floated about in the early 2000's at EM.TV, I've had an idea for what I wanted the opening to be. It would be fun for everything to be proceeding as normal, as though a new episode of TMS still happens every week. Then Beauregard interrupts Kermit to say, "Umm, I accidentally unplugged the broadcast tower. Sorry." A flustered Kermit, trying to make the best of it, says, "Well, how long have we been off the air?" "Umm...let me see," replies Beau. "I think it was...1981." "!981??" Kermit says. "You mean we've been off the air for 34 years?" "I kept meaning to bring it up," says Beau, "but I just kept forgetting!"

So the tower is plugged in again, and that's how we finally see a new episode of TMS!

Anyway, the notion of bringing back characters we haven't seen in a while sounds like a lot of fun. And it makes me wonder who else we might see. Will Kevin Clash come back to play Clifford or Clueless Morgan? Could Brian Henson take time off of his regular job to bring us an appearance by Sal Manila or Dr. Phil van Neuter? And (here's the most outrageous one, but I'm still hoping) can the tension be eased in the Steve Whitmire situation by letting him return even briefly to perform Rizzo or Bean Bunny?

Another out-there thought is for Dave Goelz to get a chance to reprise his role as Digit, his underrated character from The Jim Henson Hour. But I know I'm just doing pie-in-the-sky stuff now!

All of that being said...ultimately, what I want to see is a really funny show that stays true to the characters and their mostly family-friendly content. If there are no characters outside of the ones we've been seeing since the 2010s, but it's just a good show, that will matter far more than any guest appearances and Easter egg background characters. (It's just easier to speculate about the characters, that's all!)