One Has Got To Give Them Credit: "The Muppet Show" Special Review

For the first time since the original series ended in 1981, "The Muppet Show" makes its humor-filled return through an ABC and Disney Plus television special. Created as a backdoor pilot for a potential series revival, with guest star Sabrina Carpenter taking center stage, the special seeks to capture the magic of the original series, while creating something brand-new that new generations will enjoy, as will the old.

"The Muppet Show" is returning for new adventures, featuring special guest star Sabrina Carpenter plus fan favorites Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. (Image/ABC and Disney Plus).

"The Muppet Show" was originally a five-season series that ran from 1976 to 1981. Kermit the Frog takes center stage as the backstage manager. Many other Muppets characters make prominent appearances, including Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, among others.

Moving on to the 2026 special, which released as part of the original series' 50th anniversary, not all of the humor lands perfectly. However, as Kremit the Frog points out, they are "still working out a few kinks." As such, the criticism regarding the humor not all being on-point shouldn't be held too much against the creators, as it has been several decades since The Muppets have operated within this genre.

It isn't worth naming a stand out performance or performances, as each Muppet brought their unique charisma and charm to the table throughout the special. From Gonzo putting his over the top persona on full display, to Miss Piggy's sassy nature making its presence known from the very beginning. In defense of the creators who have worked on The Muppets property over the years, they have done an excellent job of keeping each character's personality the exact same, with "The Muppet Show" special being no exception to this.

The one musical act that didn't quite land entirely as it was intended was Rizzo's performance of The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights." While this is the weakest musical performance of the special, it is still an excellent number. Rizzo puppeteer Bradley Freeman Jr. has a great performance here, during one of the most unique acts of the entire special.

Sabrina Carpenter was the perfect guest star for the special. While she could've been used more than she was, she does a stellar job with the screentime she's given. From her full opening sequence, to her peformance of her hit single "Manchild," she takes the limited spotlight she is given, and she owns each and every moment.

At the time of writing, "The Muppet Show" revival has not been greenlit by Disney, who is likely waiting to see how the special performs overall before making any final decisions. If "The Muppet Show" does officially come back, it will be, as Miss Piggy said, truly "wonderful to be back in the theater again giving the people what they truly want.”