The Muppets is framed as a mockumentary—or maybe an attempted mock-mockumentary—that gives a behind-the-scenes look at a late-night talk show hosted by Miss Piggy. Kermit, here as Miss Piggy’s producer, acts as the sitcom’s anchor, and his much-publicized break-up with Miss Piggy propels the pilot’s plot and emotional tension. The rest of the gang shows up as the talk show’s staff, although The Muppets hasn’t quite figured out how to use them. Fozzie Bear gets a slightly amusing sub-plot, but the pilot seems more concerned with celebrity cameos (Elizabeth Banks, Tom Bergeron, Imagine Dragons) than any of the many Muppets, beyond Piggy and Kermit.
For what it’s worth, the moments between the pig and the frog really work. Miss Piggy’s shameless theatrics translate well into this mature format, and she delivers the episode’s sharpest and funniest lines. And the touching flashback to the couple’s breakup proves the Muppets’ capacity to show real emotion. This bit, at once amusing and touching, gives me hope for the show’s future—that is, if it can figure out what works before people stop watching.
For months, ABC has been heavily promoting the show as an “adult” comedy. This shift is subtle, but noticeable and emphasized a little too much. Some suggestive lines feel inserted only to make the point, “Hey, we can say this stuff now!”
If there’s anything to worry about with the show, it’s not the language or subject matter, but the structure. The mockumentary format puts the brakes on the Muppets’ spontaneous energy, and if the show is attempting to parody the mockumentary style, that distinction is vague. It’s tough to judge a show on its pilot alone, and this pilot especially does not make clear what the rest of the series will look like. Still, one or two impressive moments (and about 40 years of Muppet good will) will keep me coming back for at least a few more weeks.