‘The Muppets’ Hits Mixed Notes With Critics
Ahead of The Muppets’ premiere, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang have received mixed reviews from critics. As most of you know by now, The Muppets are back with their own new variety show on ABC.
As usual with Muppet fair, this show will be meta, and that meta-feeling started before the airing of the show, with a very public break up between Kermit the frog and Miss Piggy.
The show’s creators sent out a press release to announce their separation, and most sites reported on it as if it were real. Throughout the news it was mentioned that Miss Piggy was the host of an all new late night show called Up Late With Miss Piggy, which just put the new world of The Muppets in motion. It was smart promotion for the show, but is this new world of The Muppets paying off for long-time fans? Well, that’s mixed.
“Making the proceeds even more diffuse is the necessity to weave in as many celebrity guests as possible and to do it without seeming like an in-house publicity machine for ABC. So far, that isn’t going so well.”
“From “Modern Family” Emmy nominee Elizabeth Banks to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ host Tom Bergeron to an ABC comedy star whose cameo was one of my favorite moments, the show isn’t giving the impression that Hollywood’s A-list is beating down doors to appear.”
“There are complications that come from a premise designed to show ‘different’ sides of characters whom several generations have been raised on. The Muppets never have lacked for emotional nuance, but in exploring the reality of their lives, a demystifying occurs that isn’t always for the best when it comes to the Muppet legacy in your mind.”
In the New York Times review they deconstruct The Muppets largest problem — the star, the consummate every day man, Kermit the Frog. “He’s now one more angsty Hollywood guy in a midlife crisis, ruing his choices and chasing new (curly) tail. On ‘The Muppet Show,’ he was bothered by nitwits but wryly in control. Here, he’s beaten down. In the movies, he could be wistful, but here he’s borderline depressing.”
As for USA Today, the site points out that the focus on the muppets’ personal lives takes away from the humor of the show.
That said, we don’t see this one going anywhere. It still has a very strong built in audience that might trickle in to view the show.
[Photo by ABC]
