The Muppet Show lands a Disney+ special

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It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights! Life sure can feel much brighter with the Muppets back in sight.

The Muppet Show is coming back next year in the form of a Disney+ special, according to Variety. The program will feature singer Sabrina Carpenter together with the enduring Jim Henson characters. Carpenter will also be an executive producer along with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, among others.

“Carpenter has spoken of her love for the Muppets for years, including listing Kermit as her favourite Hollywood date in an interview years ago and channelling Miss Piggy with her outfit at the VMAs earlier this month,” said a report published on Deadline announcing the news.

The plot of the special will be familiar to Muppet fans: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and the rest of the gang will return to their theatre to produce a variety show. If the special is well received, more Muppet shenanigans could be on the way.

“According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the special could serve as a backdoor pilot that would help launch a new iteration of the iconic series,” read Variety’s report.

It also noted that longtime Muppet performers Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman and Matt Vogel will be among those bringing the characters to life. Goelz was a performer on the original television series and originated characters such as Gonzo and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew.

The Disney+ special will come at a momentous time for the chaotic characters — next year marks the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show. The variety series aired from 1976 to 1981 and attracted guest stars including Elton John, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli and Paul Simon. It earned Emmy, Grammy and Peabody awards during its run.

Created by Jim Henson in 1955, Muppet characters made their television debut on Sesame Street in 1969, but it was The Muppet Show that brought them widespread recognition and led to many other Muppet shows, movies and specials over the years. The Walt Disney Company bought the franchise in 2004.

This special follows two other Disney+ Muppet projects — the Muppets Haunted Mansion special (2021) and The Muppets Mayhem series (2023). All five seasons of The Muppet Show are streaming on the platform.