We’ve now seen 10 whole episodes of The Muppets, and we have a few more long, cold weeks of winter until the show returns in February with new showrunner Kristin Newman at the helm. The midseason break is the perfect time to do the same thing we’ve been doing since September: Pass judgment on every single aspect of the show. So we’ve gathered a bunch of Tough Pigs contributors around our backyard frog pond to see what we all think of the show at this stage.
What’s working for you so far?
Ryan Roe: The first thing I look for in a Muppet thing is comedy, and in that department The Muppets has been pretty solid from the beginning. There’s character-driven humor, there’s visual gags with the puppets, and [some other thing]. It’s been lots of fun to read the comments of various websites’ episode reviews and see people quoting their favorite jokes.
Evan G.: The show’s puppetry is fabulous. One of the greatest signs that puppetry tricks are working is that you don’t think about them at all. Moments such as Kermit picking up a blueberry, Carl blowing out a candle, Piggy walking down a hallway, and Sweetums riding a bicycle are fabulous stunts in their own right that haven’t gotten enough props yet.
Joe: Is it enough to be happy with the fact that we get to see new Muppet stuff on our TVs every single week??? Okay, that’s a bit vague. So I’ll say that I’m really digging the use of some B-, C-, and even D-list characters. I still can’t believe we’re getting so many great Scooter storylines. And who could’ve foreseen the magnificent resurgence of Uncle Deadly? It’s great to have Kermit and Piggy on television again, but it’s pretty special to have Yolanda back in our lives.
Julia: I’m in agreement about the comedy! The humor has been so on point. Every episode thus far has made me figuratively laugh out loud – a couple times even having to rewind the episode to hear the full joke again. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that some of the best jokes have been made by characters who haven’t had a shot at the limelight in decades. Good to have you back, Yolanda!
Matt Wilkie: One thing I’ve never heard anyone say about the new show is that it’s “not funny.” And if they did, I’d be seriously concerned that they’ve had a head injury. Every week makes me laugh and smile and be happy to be living in a time when the Muppets are in prime time in fine form.
And holy guacamole, the puppetry! Nearly every week I’m watching something that defies all expectation and logic when it comes to hiding puppeteers. And then I’m also blown away by the subtle, little movements that breathe life into my favorite characters in amazing ways.
Matthew Soberman: I have to concur with everyone’s thoughts so far. The comedy, for the most part, has been as good as any show you can see on TV these days. First and foremost, this show had to be funny to work, and it’s done that in spades. The puppetry has been able to deliver things that I never thought I could see in a Muppet production. But what really captivates me is that these characters have been able to have moments to show off new aspects of their personality. Kermit can be a manipulative jerk sometimes. Piggy can be vulnerable. Gonzo can be wary of his stunts. Fozzie can even be romantic. This is what I wanted to see the Muppets take advantage of in an episodic series, and that’s what probably what I’m enjoying the most.
What’s not working for you so far?
Ryan Roe: One thing I’m wondering about is some of the very current cultural references and how well they’ll hold up. While the guest stars are always going to betray the time period to a certain extent, I’m afraid references to Tinder and whatnot will date the show later.
Evan G: Scooter’s mom jokes have to go. They show up in every episode, and they’re awkward and creepy with no payoff. It’s such a shame, because Scooter’s other gags, such as his lack of confidence and beatboxing, have consistently been hilarious.
Joe: Super Diva Piggy. Yes, we get that she’s kind of a bitch. But it’s exhausting to see her being a horrible person week after week. She needs some positive character development and maybe a spoonful of sugar to make her a loveable member of the Muppet troupe again.
Julia: Along with comedy, I often look to the Muppets for heartfelt, sentimental moments. While there certainly have been a few quieter scenes – Piggy & Kermit’s Christmas talk and Gonzo’s hesitation about his canon stunt immediately come to mind – I’m kind of hoping for more in the future. We’ve seen a lot of workplace animosity, which is fine at times, but I’m looking forward to more buddy-buddy scenes and nice moments where characters can pause and express some feelings. I don’t think a bit more heart is too much to ask.
Matt Wilkie: Gotta double-down on the Scooter’s mom thing. It feels overused and hackneyed, turning an otherwise renewed and rejuvenated character and using a cliched “nerd” thing too often and too hard.
Matthew Soberman: Heck, I’ll triple-down on the Scooter issues. Unfortunately, I’d have to argue that he’s the worst-written character on the show, which breaks my heart, because I love the guy. He shouldn’t be the stereotypical nerd who still lives with his mom. He shouldn’t be a one-note character. To me, Scooter is the guy with something to prove. In The Muppet Show, he gets a job because his uncle runs the theater, but almost instantly, he manages to show his worth, becoming an invaluable stage hand and occasional performer. He always had a degree of confidence in himself and others.
I always saw Scooter as the guy who maybe lived a couple of years with his mom after college to save up for an apartment, but eventually struck out on his own because he knew he could. He still calls his mom every Sunday at noon, though.
What’s your favorite episode?
Ryan Roe: I have to go, go, go with “Going, Going, Gonzo.” Gonzo did a stunt, Kermit was in fine form, and the Piggy Water stuff was thoroughly funny.
Evan G.: “Going, Going, Gonzo” made me cry. I am a grown man who cried as Gonzo launched himself into a barrel of Piggy Water.
Joe: “Pig’s in a Blackout”. I’m still tickled that Scooter got his own episode, and it was the first time we really got a reminder of the heart The Muppets was sorely lacking. Gonzo and Scooter shared a tender moment (and hey, there’s a character combo we haven’t had in a long time), and it ends with Kermit singing “Rainbow Connection”. I think this episode was a big turning point for the mood of the series.
Julia: I’m still a big fan of “The Ex-Factor”. Great guest, funny gags, an Electric Mayhem road trip, Uncle Deadly delivering some snark, and Scooter being a Color-Me-Mine fanatic. What more could you ask for?
Matt Wilkie: A solid tie between “Pig’s in a Blackout” and “Single All The Way.” Both show the perfect blend of humor and heart that the Muppets should always strive for. “Single All The Way” also had a great beginning, middle, and end to each and every one of its plot lines that had terrific payoffs.
Matthew Soberman: For me, it’s easily “Pig’s in a Blackout.” That was the episode where I knew that the series could work. I once heard from a major Muppet personality that the true sign of a successful Muppet production would come from asking the question “does this still work if you take out the Muppets?” If the answer’s no, you’re doing something right. With “Pig’s in a Blackout,” I’d argue that the episode doesn’t work without the Muppets. The jokes are really funny, there’s some great puppetry work, and best of all, it ends with a verse of “The Rainbow Connection.” That’s Muppets to a T.
Which character do you think has been written the best?
Ryan Roe: Probably Uncle Deadly! The fact that he’s still a pretty obscure character has worked in the show’s favor. Nobody really cares that he’s not acting exactly like he did on The Muppet Show, because he’s killing it as Piggy’s patient but occasionally dramatic wardrobe person.
Joe: Everyone else is going to say Uncle Deadly, so I’ll take a risk and say Fozzie Bear. His recent spotlights have been great at reworking the character so that he’s not just an imitation of Frank Oz’s interpretation, but his own indecisive, neurotic, schlub. He’s not the same guy we knew from The Muppet Show, but I think we’re finally ready to accept his next incarnation.
Julia: I definitely second Uncle Deadly and Fozzie, but I’ll go ahead and throw my hat in the Scooter camp. Is the gag about him being a huge momma’s boy becoming a bit trite? Perhaps, but Scooter has delivered some of the best lines and plots so far on the show. We haven’t gotten much of the guy since Richard Hunt passed, so to see this amount of him, so frequently and so humorously? Yes please! I’m looking forward to them expanding upon Scooter as a character! And hey, if there were an episode centered around Scooter and Uncle Deadly running work-related errands, I would not complain.
Evan G.: I’d like to agree with everyone else and say Uncle Deadly. He manages to balance sinister with glamorous in a way no character has ever done before. Most importantly, he gives Miss Piggy a friend to bounce jokes and ideas off of. She always needed that, honestly, and Foo-Foo was never good enough.
Matt Wilkie: This is a very difficult decision. Scooter, Uncle Deadly, and even Fozzie are solid choices (though I’d argue that Fozzie needs a little clearer motivation at times), but I’m going all in for Zoot – with a caveat. There’s something hilarious to me about the well-timed non-sequitur and Zoot has been nailing all of his interjections. But the type of less-is-more hilarity that the writers have created with Zoot should stay that way. The less I know about him on a personal level, the funnier it is. So please no Zoot A-stories, at least for now!
Matthew Soberman: Ooh, this is a tough one. Uncle Deadly has been the breakout star of the series. Matt Vogel has put an imprint on this character all his own. No longer is he the melodramatic villain, but now the sassy grunt who has it all figured out; he’s just waiting for everyone else to catch up with him. Yolanda, who I never thought would be more than a one-joke character, has surprised me by having just the level of cynicism and wit the show needs. Bobo is great as always, and Carl is finally getting the exposure he deserves. The interaction between the various members of the Electric Mayhem have also been some of the best parts of any given episode. I really think the supporting characters on this show have been its secret weapon.
Do you have a single favorite joke?
Evan G.: All my favorite jokes are from Pepe. I think I’d have to go with his controversial casting as Hamlet, since, y’know, he wasn’t very… good.
Joe: Anything from Uncle Deadly. I can’t even narrow it down. So I guess I’ll go with, “There are no emergency jeggings; hope is what she needs now.”
Julia: Anything out of Deadly, Carl, Yolanda, and Scooter’s mouth so far has had me in stitches. However, Kermit’s classic “Rainbow Connection” being interrupted was gold.
Matthew Soberman: I still have to go with Fozzie’s pronunciation of “brothers” in “Bear Left, Then Bear Write.” There’s just something about a Muppet with slurred speech that tickles my funny bone. Oh wait, I finally get the title of the episode! Y’know, because the Bear left the show so that the Bear could write! Heh. Clever.
Ryan Roe: Boy, it’s hard to narrow it down. You know one that made me laugh pretty loudly? Big Mean Carl’s interrupted on-camera interview: “Yeah, my father used to call me a worthless piece of fur… AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I DID TO– Hey, where are you going?!”
Much was made of the show being an “adult” Muppet series. How do you think that’s going?
Evan G.: I don’t know. Some of the more adult jokes are solid, but the show is clearly at its best the less racy it is, as evidenced by episodes like “Going, Going, Gonzo” and “Single All the Way.” Also, look: adults do other things beyond dating. Let’s see some of that.
Joe: Fine, I guess? It’s not nearly as adult as some feared it would be. We haven’t seen any Muppet sex. The drug references are barely hinted at. Most of the “adult” jokes have been noticed by adults but go way over the heads of kids. I think the writers have been playing a delicate, but successful balancing act with the adult stuff.
Julia: I feel fine about the adult humor, for the most part. Compared to most other shows on TV nowadays, The Muppets is still relatively tame. Most of the adult humor they’ve pulled off has been pretty smart and funny (Sam’s outlook on the word “gesticulating” still makes me chuckle after all these weeks). Sure, there’s probably been an adult joke or two that’s been played for the shock factor, but currently I’m not too worried and pretty proud at how well the show’s been balancing its content.
Matt Wilkie: There hasn’t been anything more adult than what you might see on another network T.V. show, that’s for sure. I am actually quite surprised that we have a show starring Pepe and we haven’t seen any stronger allusions to Muppet sex. I mean, for all the years of talk of him getting down, let’s actually see it! (… I don’t mean we actually need to see it, but maybe a towel-clad prawn leaving a woman’s bedroom could push the boundaries.)
Matthew Soberman: I think the writers are starting to find the balance between more adult references and a family-friendly sense of humor. The more adult jokes have become less cringe-worthy in more recent episodes. I touched upon this in my review of “Single All the Way,” but I’ll put it here because it’s worth repeating: What I love is that this is becoming a more “adult” Muppet show because these characters are actually showing maturity. They have flaws, they can get introspective, and they can put themselves on the path of self-improvement. That’s what I really wanted in this show, because you can’t get a lot of that on a variety series.
Ryan Roe: Eh. I’ve quick to point out to casual fans that the Muppets have always been willing to tread into grown-up territory, but now that I’ve had time to absorb and process the aired episodes, I’d be just fine if they pulled back on that a little. The occasional innuendo is fun for everyone, it just shouldn’t be the default general direction for the show’s jokes.
The whole world went crazy when it was announced before the first episode aired that Kermit and Piggy had broken up and Kermit was now dating Denise. What do you think of Denise so far?
Evan G.: Who? Denise? There’s a character named Denise? I think the new female character is named Yolanda. Yolanda’s great, you guys.
Joe: Too soon to tell. She’s had, what, five whole minutes of screen time? Give her an episode to herself and ask me again.
Julia: So far I’m digging Denise! She felt a bit awkward and out of place in the pilot, but ever since she’s left a nice impression on me. Granted, she’s only had a couple of scenes thus far. Fingers crossed we get a scene of her eating an upside down cupcake smothered in ketchup!
Matt Wilkie: I totally get why Kermit fell for her – she’s kind, sweet, and hardworking like he is, has Fozzie-esque corny jokes, and very cute. From what we’ve seen so far, she’s an anti-Piggy. But let’s see more of her! People are complicated and we’ve only seen a glimpse of Denise so far. I’m ready to delve deeper.
Matthew Soberman: I’ll probably have more of an opinion once we’ve seen more of her. Denise seems more like a means to an end, a way to move the plot along. I’d really like to see here become a real character and have some genuine moments on the show. My only real complaint is that the voice seems a bit jarring coming from that character. I did not expect her to have a husky Southern accent.
Ryan Roe: I wonder if the writers feel like they have to use Denise occasionally just because they caused such a fuss by introducing her. They’ve made a good effort to make her unlike Piggy, almost to the point that she’s too sweet and nice. My favorite thing she’s done so far is her fan freakout moment with Kristin Chenoweth. They should let her have more outbursts of personality like that. And yeah, she does kinda look like Natalie Dormer.
What have you not seen on the show yet that you’d like to — whether it’s a character, a guest star, or something one of the Muppets should be doing differently?
Evan G.: More sketches, and more songs played out to their conclusions. Overall, I’d like to see more Muppets participate in Up Late. What are Gonzo, Rizzo, and Pepe writing anyway?
Ryan R: That’s a great point. We kind of assumed that the talk show format was going pave the way for sketches, but we haven’t seen any actually happen. And as much as I’ve been reminding people that this is not The Muppet Show, it would be so cool if one of those sketches was something familiar like “Veterinarian’s Hospital.” Which stars Piggy anyway!
Joe: I’d like to see some one-off characters that actually matter. The guest stars have been mostly interchangeable. I believe we’ve only had one one-off Muppet (Gonzo’s blind date, who ends up with Liam Hemsworth). I’m glad to see so much attention given to the main cast, but there’s whole world out there!
Julia: Walter. Bring back Walter. While I’m sure the show could continue to thrive without him, I’m missing that little nerd. He brought so much heart and soul to the last two films, it’d be a shame to sack him when he has so much room to grow as a newer character.
Matthew Soberman: I’d actually like to see them reference their earlier stuff more. I’d also like to see some backstory on the show. What pushed Kermit out of the spotlight and behind the camera? Heck, why did pretty much all the Muppets besides Piggy, Fozzie, and the Electric Mayhem stop performing and step back into production roles? When did Piggy agree to let the Muppets work on her show? As for a character, I’d love to see Constantine return. In a show that’s trying to be more adult and cynical, Constantine would fit in beautifully.
If you had to give the first 10 episodes a cumulative letter grade, what would it be?
Ryan Roe: A firm B. It’s had some ups and downs, but it’s been fun to see Muppets being funny on my TV every week, and there’s every indication that it’s only going to get better from here.
Evan G.: B-, but my students always told me I was a tough grader. I think the last few episodes have been very good, but the first were so middling that I can’t give them much credit.
Joe: B+. I’m incredibly happy about the series as a whole, but there’s definitely room for improvement. Making Uncle Deadly the new star of the show, for example.
Julia: Definite B+ from me as well. The show’s given us so many great lines and moments already, but I’m crossing my fingers we’ll see more growth as it develops over the rest of the season.
Matt Wilkie: B+ … +? Can I do that? I’m gonna do that. B++. It’s got such good bones and is working out most if not all of the kinks quickly, which is more than many of our now-favorite, most popular and successful comedy sitcoms can say in their first season. I’m very much looking forward to the rest of this season!
Matthew Soberman: I’ll give it a B+ and a Most Improved Award. It’s clear that after a rocky start, the show is finally finding its groove and the episodes have been steadily improving week by week. If this keeps up, the last six episodes should be amazing.
Click here to read about Kristin Newman’s planned changes to the show! And click here to see Muppet sex on the Tough Pigs forum!
