The Muppet show logo with Muppet Courtyard in Hollywood Studios in the background
The Xavierite
After what can only be described as a full-on Muppet drought, “The Muppet Show” has officially returned in 2026 and somehow feels both exactly the same and completely unhinged in the best way possible.
This revival isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s reminding us why the wheel worked in the first place.
It’s all there—the chaos, the celebrity cameos, the fourth-wall breaks, and the deeply specific humor that makes you wonder: who exactly was this joke for? The Answer is you, especially if you grew up watching the Muppets and never quite grew out of them.
The special wastes no time diving into what makes the Muppets iconic.
The core cast is all there: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and Animal.Even better, they’re alongside beloved fan favorites like Crazy Harry, Bean Bunny, and Sal Minella (yes, the monkey muppet—finally receiving the screen time he deserves).
For longtime fans, it feels like a reunion. For new viewers, it’s an immediate crash course in why this franchise has remained so relevant for decades.
The decision to bring Sabrina Carpenter in as the first major guest is genuinely inspired. Her interaction with Scooter alone sets the tone for the entire special.It’s self-aware, fast-paced, and perfectly awkward.
Carpenter fits seamlessly into the Muppet universe because she leans into the absurdity instead of trying to outshine it.
The result is comedy that feels effortless. A Kermit-Sabrina collaboration? Legendary. A Miss Piggy-Sabrina collaboration? Even better. Rizzo the rat covering The Weeknd? Even better still.
The subplot of Miss Piggy suing Sabrina is one of the funniest running gags in the episode, blending celebrity culture satire with Piggy’s timeless diva energy.
And let’s talk about Miss Piggy, because frankly, she is the reason that I truly am the way that I am.
Confident to the point of delusion, glamorous without apology, and always the funniest person in the room, Piggy remains the beating heart of the show.
Her presence alone is proof that the Muppets never needed to “modernize” their characters; they just needed to let them be themselves.
One of the most memorable moments comes from Rizzo covering The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” which works far better than it has any right to. It’s bizarre, hilarious, and oddly impressive—classic Muppet logic.
On the other hand, eyeless Beaker is… unsettling, to say the least. Terrifying, even. A reminder that some things should stay unseen.
The revival also understands something crucial: the Muppets were never really for children. Sure, kids can enjoy the bright colors and slapstick humor, but the show has always thrived on layered jokes, industry satire, and references that go right over younger viewers’ heads.
This new iteration leans into that legacy.
The humor is sharp and clearly written with adults in mind, especially those who remember watching “Muppet Vision 3D” and are still grieving its loss.
That’s what makes this revival so successful. It refuses to water itself down.
If there’s one complaint, it’s that it’s too short. You finish the special wanting more—more Bean Bunny, more Janice (please let her interact with Sabrina next time), more chaos, and more Muppets. Honestly, that’s the best problem a revival can have.
“The Muppets are back just when we needed them the most, and they’re as weird and witty as ever.”