The Good, The Bad, The Weird Official Muppet thread

[Disney Irish]

I feel like Sabrina Carpenter being the guest star should help draw people in.

She certainly has her fans and a connection to Disney, which is probably why they picked her to be the first guest star.

 

[Phroobar]

I feel like Sabrina Carpenter being the guest star should help draw people in.

I don't think Sabrina Carpenter is in the same league as Aerosmith was in their heyday.

 

[Disney Irish]

I don't think Sabrina Carpenter is in the same league as Aerosmith was in their heyday.

And yet if you ask the target audience for each neither would be able to pick the other out from the crowd.

Aerosmith in their heyday didn't also have to contend with daily social media views, I suspect they couldn't even hold the mic for Sabrina in that regard.

Pop stars of today are in a league of their own.

 

[erasure fan1]

I get what you're saying, but this is a tale as old as time, as the saying goes. Its a cut throat make or break type of situation in TV, has been for at least 50 years if not since the birth of the medium.

That's true. My big issue is the absolute stupidity of Disney. This is a franchise they stained and mismanaged. So while I understand your point, I just really think this is all just a setup for failure. Again. If you're not going to give it a fair shake, why even do it? Just stick to viral videos, commercials and special events. Or just sell it.

I love the Muppets, for more years than I can remember. And as I've said, I'll give it a go and I hope it's good. But if we're throwing down the odds, how many people are putting their chips on, it won't do well? I'm guessing most. Because the odds of, even if it's good, them continuing it, is not very good. That's what happens when the majority of the content isn't good. And when it is good, it's abandoned. And trust me, there's NO ONE on this site who wants to be wrong more than myself.

 

[DKampy]

I guess we'll see. Seth Rogen does not at all give me confidence in the project though.

Seth Rogan is one reason I am interested…, Granted he is hit and Miss in his acting roles…. As he always just plays Seth Rogan…. But I find The Studio to be one of the funniest shows on Television in some years…,Which he produces, Writes, directs and acts in…,If he can bring some of that energy but muppetfy it and clean up some of the jokes a bit…. Sign me up

 

[Disney Irish]

That's true. My big issue is the absolute stupidity of Disney. This is a franchise they stained and mismanaged. So while I understand your point, I just really think this is all just a setup for failure. Again. If you're not going to give it a fair shake, why even do it? Just stick to viral videos, commercials and special events. Or just sell it.

I love the Muppets, for more years than I can remember. And as I've said, I'll give it a go and I hope it's good. But if we're throwing down the odds, how many people are putting their chips on, it won't do well? I'm guessing most. Because the odds of, even if it's good, them continuing it, is not very good. That's what happens when the majority of the content isn't good. And when it is good, it's abandoned. And trust me, there's NO ONE on this site who wants to be wrong more than myself.

I don't think Disney does anything like this to set it up to fail. As why bother if that was the case, just continue with what you're doing and save all the time and money.

No, to me this look more like they are really trying to see if they can market the IP to younger modern audiences. Why else would you tap one of the hottest pop stars on the planet right now as the first guest star. She is literally Billboards number 1 artist right now. And has the benefit of already having a connection to Disney by being a former Disney Channel actress, so you get two for the price of one.

So we'll see what happens, but to me this looks like Disney is really trying here.

 

[erasure fan1]

I don't think Disney does anything like this to set it up to fail. As why bother if that was the case, just continue with what you're doing and save all the time and money.

Let me better clarify. They think they're doing exactly what you're saying. But unfortunately they don't know what the problem is. That's why we see the same outcomes all the time. Do I think they're making crap on purpose? No. I really think they see something like that Muppets now or that the office imitation show they did as genius.

So when I say "set up for failure" it's because when I see the same issues over and over, I have to assume nothing will change. This is solidly a prove it situation for me. I hope it's good. I hope if it is good, but doesn't blow the doors off D+, they give it a chance to let it grow. We'll see next year.

 

[networkpro]

That's true. My big issue is the absolute stupidity of Disney. This is a franchise they stained and mismanaged.

And how is this any different than the majority of the intellectual properties Disney has acquired ?

 

[erasure fan1]

And how is this any different than the majority of the intellectual properties Disney has acquired ?

It's not at all.

 

[Disney Irish]

Let me better clarify. They think they're doing exactly what you're saying. But unfortunately they don't know what the problem is. That's why we see the same outcomes all the time. Do I think they're making crap on purpose? No. I really think they see something like that Muppets now or that the office imitation show they did as genius.

So when I say "set up for failure" it's because when I see the same issues over and over, I have to assume nothing will change. This is solidly a prove it situation for me. I hope it's good. I hope if it is good, but doesn't blow the doors off D+, they give it a chance to let it grow. We'll see next year.

Well then that isn't setting it up for failure as that is not what the term means, as that would be Disney doing something intentional to make Muppets fail. No this would be just a failure to understand the IP, in your opinion. Which you are entitled to that opinion. I honestly don't think the previous shows were bad, so we'll agree to disagree on that.

However I agree lets hope it is good. I just don't think, given the history of TV, that if it doesn't find an audience they will give it a chance to grow over time. That is just something that I don't think they are willing take a chance on.

 

[erasure fan1]

Well then that isn't setting it up for failure as that is not what the term means, as that would be Disney doing something intentional to make Muppets fail.

Very hard disagree on that. You can absolutely, without a doubt, set something up for failure and not realize it. In no way does it have to be self sabotage. That's just giving Disney a pass. A great example, Xbox absolutely set up the series X for failure this gen based on the actions of the end of the 360 and how they went about the XBone. They thought what they were doing was setting up the future of video games. Turns out, not so much. I don't think you will talk to many that will think the series x wasn't "setup to fail". It was, they just didn't realize it.

That is just something that I don't think they are willing take a chance on.

Agreed, as I've been saying. And that's a great example of setting themselves up for failure. Each time they have something that resonates with an audience and fans, and you abandon it because it didn't hit pie in the sky numbers. You set the next project up for the, why get invested, it isn't going to go anywhere anyway, attitude.

I just don't think, given the history of TV, that if it doesn't find an audience they will give it a chance to grow over time.

Here's my question to you. Muppets mayhem was very well liked by the majority of fans. It didn't do huge numbers and they cancelled it. But now here's something different. They're still making something new and spending money. So why not build upon what you had? Make adjustments, expand on what worked, move away from what didn't work.... Either way you are spending the money. If Disney is so risk adverse as everyone says. Why not take a safer route and expand on something that already has a strong quality base that the fans as a majority already enjoyed?

 

[Brer Panther]

I just don't think, given the history of TV, that if it doesn't find an audience they will give it a chance to grow over time. That is just something that I don't think they are willing take a chance on.

Do they EVER do that nowadays? They certainly didn't with the other two Muppets shows they attempted (by which I mean the 2015 show and Muppets Mayhem - Muppets Now barely qualifies as a show).

 

[Phroobar]

The Muppets are a vaudeville act. They thrived on being a 70s variety show. That kind of show has been dead for almost forty years. The format just isn't viable anymore.

Do you really want to see a c list celebrity do sketch comedy, then sign/dance, then the Muppets do a song and then everyone do a finally song intermixed with backstage drama?

Muppet fans say yes. General audience:

 

[Disney Irish]

Do they EVER do that nowadays? They certainly didn't with the other two Muppets shows they attempted (by which I mean the 2015 show and Muppets Mayhem - Muppets Now barely qualifies as a show).

No, and its been that way in TV for at least 20-30 years, and even more so in the streaming era, and not just isolated to Disney. You can go back and see all the first season cancelled shows, good shows, that were cancelled by their respective networks/streamers because they didn't gain an audience during its first season. Its a harsh reality of TV, its basically do or die.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Seth Rogan is one reason I am interested…, Granted he is hit and Miss in his acting roles…. As he always just plays Seth Rogan…. But I find The Studio to be one of the funniest shows on Television in some years…,Which he produces, Writes, directs and acts in…,If he can bring some of that energy but muppetfy it and clean up some of the jokes a bit…. Sign me up

The real question is how much Sal Saperstein is involved.