Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Muppets return with mayhem, celebs, and kid-friendly laughs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Muppet Show (2026)
What's the Story?
In THE MUPPET SHOW, the Muppets come together to produce their first stage show in a long time. True to the original's show-within-a-show and variety show format, the special features musical numbers, comedy sketches, and meta scenes where the Muppets talk about making the show. Kermit the Frog (voiced by Matt Vogel) is producing the show, and tries to hold it all together amidst the mayhem. Sabrina Carpenter guest stars, and is delighted to perform a duet with her idol, Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobson); the performance quickly goes off the rails. Doctor Honeydew's experiment causes Beaker's eyes to multiply and fly into the audience, almost killing Maya Rudolph when one eyeball lands in her mouth. Gonzo's rocket-powered roller skates send him flying throughout the theater, and Rizzo the Rat's musical number is interrupted by a power outage. Interspersed with the madness are comedy sketches, including a Bridgerton-esque period piece, and whole-cast finale musical number. The Muppets barely make it through this performance, but are eagerly hoping to come back for more.
Is It Any Good?
The long-awaited return of this nostalgic favorite perhaps doesn't live up to the incredible hype, but it's fun nonetheless. The new version of The Muppet Show shines during the celebrity musical numbers and always-hilarious shenanigans from characters like Beaker and hecklers Statler and Waldorf. Some of the comedy sketches are a little uneven, but they include both grown-up jokes and kid-friendly shenanigans to keep everyone engaged. Adult Muppet fans will appreciate that the show stays very true to its roots; there's some updated humor to match 2026 worldviews, but a lot of the gags could've come straight from the old series. Today's kids likely have less familiarity with the Muppets than their grown-ups do. If this one-episode special does grow into more, it may have the potential to help a whole new generation fall in love with the silly puppets.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Miss Piggy's attitude. How do we know that she's not meant to be a good example? How are her actions so over-the-top that we get clues she's not doing the right thing?
Talk about what makes The Muppet Show funny. Does it remind you of any other TV shows or movies?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 4, 2026
- Cast : Eric Jacobson , Matt Vogel , Sabrina Carpenter , Seth Rogen , Maya Rudolph
- Networks : ABC , Disney+
- Genre : Variety Show
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Puppets
- TV rating :
- Last updated : April 14, 2026
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