Well...hmm...ok. I mean, every great entertainers go through their initial period of being edgy and appealing to all ages. Then eventually, inevitably, they get watered down. This has happened to the Muppets, it was just that time. I found the special very sweet, but targeted mainly at children. I do hope kids enjoy it, and perhaps will be persuaded to give the older specials a chance too.
Pros:
I adored Gonzo's song about being Santa Claus. It really represented what I would like Christmas to be about--generosity to others. How many people who go as far as Gonzo did to make things right? Not many. And they kept hope that there's always a way.
No bad pig jokes, thank you! The part where Kermit says he'd be the one to rub on the sun tan lotion was very cute, hehe.
And glad the band showed up at the end after all, it was very in character. And I did smile when Bunsen said, "Beaker, you came back!" Too bad they weren't featured just a bit more.
The jokes like the Muppets getting dumped from the garbage truck as Statler and Waldorf heckle, Crazy Harry and riding the wing of the plane were very Muppety. Koodos!
Cons:
Seriously, what's with all the ethnic stereotypes (the piegons, and the mob)? Is this 1910? Was the audience demanding dialect comedy? Very strange...