The Muppets and all of Jim Henson’s brainchildren were built on a similar premise: imagination, storytelling, and wonder. Fraggle Rock was created to make world peace. Labyrinth taught us growing up did not mean we let go of our imaginations completely.
Henson had a way of taking his works and connecting to people of all ages. Now, The Muppets seem to have trouble connecting with more modern audiences. Is there a way to revitalize these beloved characters before they become nothing more than a relic from a bygone era?
When Death Came To The Muppets
One could argue the problem first began with the passing of Jim Henson. After his death, one could feel the magic drifting from the Muppets. Two years later, The Muppet Christmas Carol found its way to theaters. Michael Caine and the Muppets put on a great retelling of the Dickens story to a modest success at the box office.
In 1996, Muppet Treasure Island grossed well in theaters. That’s where the magic started to wane. One month later, Muppets Tonight premiered on ABC but only lasted for ten episodes. In 1997, the show received a full twenty-two-episode run on the Disney Channel.
1999 saw the release of Muppets From Space, a movie that is genuinely funny for the first half of its runtime. Muppets From Space bombed in theaters, unable to break even at the box office. There was a Henson-sized hole in the Muppets, and this movie made it more apparent. The Muppets would not receive another theatrically-released film until after the acquisition by Disney was completed in 2004.
The Muppets Change Directions
The year 2009 seemed to be a bright spot for Kermit and the gang. Rumors of a new movie written by Frank Oz made their want onto the internet. The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made was to surround Gonzo the Great, blowing a large sum of money making a movie. As the film progressed, production would get cheaper and cheaper until the end. Later, Jason Segel was attached as the writer. This movie would not come to pass. Instead, Segel wrote The Muppets, a movie which garnered box-office success.
Despite the critical success, The Muppets left some fans asking one question. Did the writers know the Muppets and its humor? Despite being puppets, The Muppets never catered to children with their humor. Yes, the jokes had a childish quality to them. But while the kids laughed, Kermit the Frog slyly elbowed his parents in the ribs, making sure the double entendre was caught. The Muppets catered to the lowest common denominator humor: fart jokes.
The Muppets Most Wanted was another box office success, albeit a small one. Again, the writing came into question as many reviewers wondered why so much screen time was offered to two of the most uninteresting villains the Muppets ever faced.
Disney tried to follow up the success of Most Wanted with a television show aptly called the muppets. Best described as “The Office with Muppets”, the television show was met with favorable public perception. The show was not picked up for a second season due to issues with the show’s production.
The Muppets would not see another movie or television show until 2020. With the launch of Disney+ Muppets Now was announced, going back to a similar route of stylized segments featuring different characters and situations. The show lasted six episodes.
2021 saw The Muppets Haunted Mansion come to Disney+. The movie debuted as the 6th most streamed film across all streaming platforms and received great reviews. The Muppets Mayhem, a 2023 show revolving around Muppet band The Electric Mayhem, generally received good reviews, but Disney canceled the show after the first season.
The Muppets Problem: Disney
While one might argue Disney did try to revitalize The Muppets at one point in time, it could be argued the Muppets acquisition occurred for one reason: money. Before his passing, Jim Henson had a difficult time keeping the Muppets in the public eye. He hoped that Disney, a media company, would help make that a reality. Instead, Disney spent years milking the license with products and nothing else.
When the company finally decided to use the property for a feature film, Jason Segal was chosen over Frank Oz as the head writer. This led many to wonder if Disney was more interested in working with Jason Segel than The Muppets. In other words, was Disney making a Muppets movie hoping Segel’s involvement would make them a profit.
It is not like the Muppets are hard. Look at the success of Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island. Both movies were box-office successes despite being without Jim Henson. Muppet Haunted Mansion earned praise for being the most nostalgic movie Disney ever made. Although all three movies were based on other properties, all three movies were able to connect to that sense of wonder Henson worked so hard to create. Keep doing something like that! It is not that hard!
Now, it seems the show has been relegated to nothing more than a nostalgia pop. Remind the public of the Muppet’s existence, show them off for a bit, make more merchandise, and use them sparingly until the next nostalgic moment. The problem with nostalgia is that it eventually wears off. There will come a time when The Muppets do not generate as much attention because there will be an audience that knows little to nothing about the Muppets. At that point, Disney will kill the franchise made for imagination and wonder in the name of a quick dollar.
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