It has been 34 years since “The Muppet Show” and 15 years since “Muppets Tonight”. That's a long time since the last live-action Muppet show. And it”s been 22 years since the last episode of “Muppet Babies” aired on Nickelodeon. Let's all take a minute to feel old…
So when ABC announced they were reviving the show for the 2015-2016 season, it was a welcome surprise. But how would the Muppets fit in to a 21st century world? Variety shows are a thing of the past. Into that entertainment vacuum, Reality TV has taken the reigns as king. So it seems obvious in hindsight that “The Muppets” would explore and lampoon all the tropes of that ever-present genre.
From the official press release:
The Muppets return to primetime with a contemporary, documentary-style show. For the first time ever, a series will explore the Muppets” personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, breakups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. This is a more adult Muppet show, for “kids” of all ages.
The new version of the Muppets doesn”t seem above taking jabs at themselves as well. Self-deprecating humor plus nostalgia sounds like a recipe for success.