Muppets

[POLY LOVER]

seems to be doing well, will this assure an update to the attraction?


Season to date, The Muppets still ranks as Tuesday’s highest-rated new TV show among Adults 18-49 (2.6). On average, the freshman show is improving its half-hour for ABC by 69% in Total Viewers (7.6 million) and by 86% in Adults 18-49 (2.6), standing as the net’s strongest performing Tuesday comedy in 4 years. In its most recent airing this week, The Muppets returned against the World Series with an uptick in Adults 18-49 (+8%).

 

[Fox&Hound]

I hope so! I can't imagine a world without muppets. I know some think they are taking more mature perspective with the ol' gang, but I find the show hilarious. Wouldn't mind just a little bit more heart though.

 

[Ginzuishou]

It's kind of silly and cheesy, but I always watch.

I like how Miss Piggy is kind of psycho .haha

 

[WondersOfLife]

I really do not like the new show... It just.. Eh.. So adulty.

Which is fine for Hollywood Studios. It's becoming more of an adult/teen-friendly park.. With a Toy Story land to dump the kids in.

 

[wdwmagic]

seems to be doing well, will this assure an update to the attraction?


Season to date, The Muppets still ranks as Tuesday’s highest-rated new TV show among Adults 18-49 (2.6). On average, the freshman show is improving its half-hour for ABC by 69% in Total Viewers (7.6 million) and by 86% in Adults 18-49 (2.6), standing as the net’s strongest performing Tuesday comedy in 4 years. In its most recent airing this week, The Muppets returned against the World Series with an uptick in Adults 18-49 (+8%).

I really don't see the Muppets attraction being updated, even if it survives whatever is ahead for the Studios expansion.

 

[PlaneCrazy1978]

I still remember the MGM preview show with Henson sitting in front of the dark ride vehicle talking about how great the ride was going to be.

It would be nice if they gave Muppets some love, but there's a part of me that says it isn't going to happen....if it's even going to be there.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I really do not like the new show... It just.. Eh.. So adulty.

Jim Henson was trying to make his show more adulty as shown in his Pitch for the original Muppet Show..

 

[WondersOfLife]

Jim Henson was trying to make his show more adulty as shown in his Pitch for the original Muppet Show..

Interesting! It's just not what I grew up with though. XP

 

[Worldlover71]

Actually that pitch reel was a tongue in cheek attempt to get network executives to pay attention. The Muppets have always included adult humor but it was always aimed at the whole family. I don't have kids. Can anyone who does say if their kids are enjoying the new show?

 

[Tom P.]

Jim Henson was trying to make his show more adulty as shown in his Pitch for the original Muppet Show..

While I understand what you're saying, that pitch was aimed at CBS network executives whom Henson was trying to sell on buying The Muppet Show. (Which, of course, they ultimately didn't do.)

Henson was directly in charge of the entirety of The Muppet Show, as well as all of the Muppet movies and other projects prior to his death. Nothing has ever asserted that he did not have full creative freedom or was restricted in any way. Had he wanted to nudge the Muppets in a more 'adult' direction than they were, similar to what the new show is doing now, he could have done so. If not on the TV show, certainly in the movies. But he didn't.

The Muppets were always carefully crafted to be suitable for the entire family. Henson definitely did not want a product aimed at kids -- he'd done that with Sesame Street and wanted to broaden his horizons. But, similarly, he did not want a product that was aimed at adults either. Go back and look at the weekly ads for episodes of the Muppet Show, also produced by Henson and his company. All of them sell the fact that it is 'family entertainment'. Yes, there was always some edginess in places and some humor that was aimed squarely at the adults. But it was always carefully balanced with other elements that kids would enjoy.

Saying "how would Henson do it" is as unanswerable as saying "how would Walt do it". None-the-less, I feel confident Henson would not do a new TV show the way they are currently doing it.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

While I understand what you're saying, that pitch was aimed at CBS network executives whom Henson was trying to sell on buying The Muppet Show. (Which, of course, they ultimately didn't do.)

Henson was directly in charge of the entirety of The Muppet Show, as well as all of the Muppet movies and other projects prior to his death. Nothing has ever asserted that he did not have full creative freedom or was restricted in any way. Had he wanted to nudge the Muppets in a more 'adult' direction than they were, similar to what the new show is doing now, he could have done so. If not on the TV show, certainly in the movies. But he didn't.

The Muppets were always carefully crafted to be suitable for the entire family. Henson definitely did not want a product aimed at kids -- he'd done that with Sesame Street and wanted to broaden his horizons. But, similarly, he did not want a product that was aimed at adults either. Go back and look at the weekly ads for episodes of the Muppet Show, also produced by Henson and his company. All of them sell the fact that it is 'family entertainment'. Yes, there was always some edginess in places and some humor that was aimed squarely at the adults. But it was always carefully balanced with other elements that kids would enjoy.

Saying "how would Henson do it" is as unanswerable as saying "how would Walt do it". None-the-less, I feel confident Henson would not do a new TV show the way they are currently doing it.

That shows pretty well in the original Pilot...

 

[POLY LOVER]

there was always an adulty level of the show, nothing really changed in the new version, I watched it and was surprised how good it is. The old men are my favorite.

 

[LondonGopher]

Actually that pitch reel was a tongue in cheek attempt to get network executives to pay attention. The Muppets have always included adult humor but it was always aimed at the whole family. I don't have kids. Can anyone who does say if their kids are enjoying the new show?

Coincidence!

I have been recording the new programmes and just watched the first one tonight with my 8 year old. I wish I had watched it myself first.

DH and I are pretty careful/conservative with the media we allow in the house, but my son loves the old Muppet Shows (they were filmed just down the road! ) - I thought we'd be ok.

The tone was pretty adult, despite the show being on before the watershed. Most of the grown-up stuff went over my son's head - but because of that he didn't find the programme very funny. And truthfully, I didn't find it funny either. I wasn't offended, I just didn't laugh. It didn't help that I didn't recognize either of the two "stars" or the musical act (gettin' old, me).

And so to answer your question...my son didn't like it, and told me he didn't care if I deleted the rest of the programmes. I don't know how many 8 year olds would find jokes about AA meetings, shotgun weddings and inter-species rumpy pumpy (featuring Fozzie Bear ) amusing. And the story arc about working with your "ex" - that's not exactly riveting stuff for kids, either. A fail in our house.

Despite that, I hope the show succeeds - if only to convince Disney to keep trying Muppet stuff!

 

[Brer Panther]

My one complaint about the show? It's been SIX EPISODES and we haven't seen Walter yet!

 

[BuddyThomas]

seems to be doing well, will this assure an update to the attraction?


Season to date, The Muppets still ranks as Tuesday’s highest-rated new TV show among Adults 18-49 (2.6). On average, the freshman show is improving its half-hour for ABC by 69% in Total Viewers (7.6 million) and by 86% in Adults 18-49 (2.6), standing as the net’s strongest performing Tuesday comedy in 4 years. In its most recent airing this week, The Muppets returned against the World Series with an uptick in Adults 18-49 (+8%).

I think you just gave the MagentaPanther a nervous breakdown.

 

[Matt_Black]

Interesting! It's just not what I grew up with though. XP

Yes you did, you just don't remember. From the Great Muppet Caper-

Gonzo: Picture, sir?
Man: No, thank you.
Gonzo: C;mon, it'll be a great memory for you and the missus, there.
Man: My wife isn't feeling very well.
Gonzo: Oh, well, maybe she should have stayed at home.
Man: My wife IS at home!
Gonzo: Dah... ah... um... NEXT TABLE!

 

[PizzaPlanet]

I really don't see the Muppets attraction being updated, even if it survives whatever is ahead for the Studios expansion.

Fine by me. It's perfect as it is.

 

[French Quarter]

I hope so! I can't imagine a world without muppets. I know some think they are taking more mature perspective with the ol' gang, but I find the show hilarious. Wouldn't mind just a little bit more heart though.

I have been loving it. I think it's wonderful the new direction the Muppets are taking.

 

[French Quarter]

Jim Henson was trying to make his show more adulty as shown in his Pitch for the original Muppet Show..

Exactly! This is what the Muppets are supposed to be. Sesame Street is for the kiddies.

 

[Brer Panther]

Scooter is slowly becoming my favorite character on the show.