Muppy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2015
- Messages
- 310
- Reaction score
- 263
I like that this show doesn't reference the past projects the Muppets have done. Think back to the Muppet Show, Muppets Tonight and even the first 6 movies and notice how they rarely (if ever) made a reference to earlier shows, movies, etc. Both The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted, focused heavily on The Muppet Show and the first three movies (using songs from The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie, the Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan, while also making various call backs to them as well) instead of making a brand new idea that didn't depend on nostalgia and the original concepts of the Muppets. Those two movies tried to create some kind of canon for the Muppets, which didn't really work in my opinion. I liked when each individual project had it's own canon (which is something I like about The Muppets (2015)). The new show feels classic in that way because the writers have to come up with new ideas, and better jokes, rather than a (potentially) forced reference that only hard core Muppet fans will understand.I think that's one of the smaller things they need with the show. I did like in the new movies how they constantly referenced other projects, and I really think this series could use jut a smidge of that. Even the new Peanuts movie they managed to Easter egg and reference things, like the infamous "No Dogs Allowed!"
The show could indeed use a little more meta. If there's one thing from the prepitch pilot that's missing here it's little references to minor muppet characters. Sure, we can see Beautiful Day in the background of one of the last episodes, but I really think they need a meta joke punch here and there. A joke about a previous film, maybe? I'd love to see them make a joke about licensing themselves out as Muppet Babies. I think that sort of thing can easily fit into the show without ruining too much of the element. After all, the show is about the production of a TV show starring characters that have had shows and movies before. Why not name check a couple here and there? Have Kermit say something like "Muppet Christmas Carol bought me a nice car, and Muppet Treasure Island bought me a nicer one" or something like that.