# 'The Muppet Show' returning to television **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831 "2015-04-04T20:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/21 "2015-04-05T22:11:47Z")
_Why do we always come here? I guess we’ll never know. It’s like a kind of torture. To have to watch the show._ Seriously, I guess all the web clips released over the past several years are sort of a warm up with the new technology, not to mention new writers and muppeteers. I guess we’ll all still enjoy Beaker getting hurt and the Chef’s recipes going all wahoonie shaped. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/22 "2015-04-06T03:21:02Z")
I bristle at remakes and revivals being preemptively dismissed just for being remakes or revivals (I was a defender of the _Mr. Peabody_ movie early on), so I’m biased towards optimism about this, but if they are trying to make “_The Muppet Show_ but 40 years later” … well, a lot of the guests on the original are dead. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/23 "2015-04-06T03:38:28Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > if they are trying to make “_The Muppet Show_ but 40 years later” … well, a lot of the guests on the original are dead. Sandy Duncan is still around and that’s all I care about. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/24 "2015-04-06T04:06:44Z")
A lot of the success of the original MS was the quirky nature of many of the guests, of the first season, especially. And that wasn’t so much deliberate as it was a product of circumstances. They were filming in England (thus the plethora of English and continental European guests), they were (at the time) virtually unknown, didn’t have any kind of huge budget, and they had to take what they could get as far as booking talent. It worked beautifully to help create the madcap attitude of the show (Charles Azanavour? Who in America even knew who Charles Aznavour was (besides Liza Minnelli?), but if they’re planning on recreating that, it may not work as well done deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/25 "2015-04-06T12:58:29Z")
Just had to chime in to say that I absolutely loved Muppets From Space. One of my top ten favorite films. Who could dislike the “Happiness Hotel” musical number? Jeffrey Tambor … probably his best work (best that I have seen). Classic, classic stuff. I once met Arlo Guthrie & asked him about his appearance on the show. He loved telling stories about how it all came together. The revival of the show is a good, good thing. The world needs the Muppets as much now as at any time in the past. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/26 "2015-04-06T13:17:11Z")
Here’s an idea - move _The Muppet Show_ to Comedy Central and have it replace _The Daily Show_. A political muppet show would be a real hoot - imagine Miss Piggy reviewing the latest Fox News snafu (she’d be upset that they didn’t mention her). Waldorf and Statler could be correspondents, interviewing other old cranky white men. It could mix in elements of the _Cobert Report_ as well. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/27 "2015-04-06T13:29:07Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Sandy Duncan is still around and that’s all I care about. Paul Williams, Candice Bergen, Steve Martin, Luke Skywalker, and Alice Cooper are still around too. I wonder if Alice Cooper would try to get the Muppets to sell their souls to Satan (insert “Owned by Disney” joke here…). I will watch this show. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/28 "2015-04-06T14:09:41Z")
> [@DrForrester](#): > > Just had to chime in to say that I absolutely loved Muppets From Space. One of my top ten favorite films. Who could dislike the “Happiness Hotel” musical number? Happiness Hotel is from Great Muppet Caper, not Muppets From Space. ---
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/29 "2015-04-06T14:55:43Z")
I will watch it for Statler and Waldorf, those two could make me laugh like nothing else. Waldorf: What did you think of Humpty Dumpty? Statler: Terrible. I hate off-the-wall comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/30 "2015-04-06T16:39:49Z")
Statler: Remaking old TV shows never works. Waldorf: Shut up, you fool! We’re getting a paycheck. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/31 "2015-04-06T18:40:58Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Here’s an idea - move _The Muppet Show_ to Comedy Central and have it replace _The Daily Show_. A political muppet show would be a real hoot - imagine Miss Piggy reviewing the latest Fox News snafu (she’d be upset that they didn’t mention her). Waldorf and Statler could be correspondents, interviewing other old cranky white men. It could mix in elements of the _Cobert Report_ as well. What do you think? We can call it [Spitting Image](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitting_Image). That being said…I’d watch it! ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/32 "2015-04-06T18:54:00Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Here’s an idea - move _The Muppet Show_ to Comedy Central and have it replace _The Daily Show_. A political muppet show would be a real hoot - imagine Miss Piggy reviewing the latest Fox News snafu (she’d be upset that they didn’t mention her). Waldorf and Statler could be correspondents, interviewing other old cranky white men. It could mix in elements of the _Cobert Report_ as well. What do you think? That’s not a bad idea. They would lose the ability to straight-face interviews and call out politicians or other newsmakers on their stupidity but on the other hand, getting the same politicians and other newsmakers to seriously talk to a muppet would be hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/33 "2015-04-06T19:58:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Statler: Remaking old TV shows never works. > Waldorf: Shut up, you fool! We’re getting a paycheck. Statler: Remaking old TV shows never works. Waldorf: Are you saying this one worked the first time around? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/34 "2015-04-09T10:35:00Z")
I wonder if they’ll work in the OK Go revamp of the [Muppet Show Theme Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiMZa8flyYY&index=31&list=FLzjh3pdDFbJNkFZ8LIKis9w&shuffle=2684). ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/35 "2015-04-09T16:20:15Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > Yes. For me, the Muppets died when Jim died. I get sort of embarrassingly emotional about it, even still. It’s like having someone who looks like your dad, and _sort of_ sounds like him, move in and act like everything is normal. No. I reject you, false dad. You don’t think Jim would have wanted it to end with him, do you? Anyway, I hope that they revive the variety show format. They could do a lot of clever stuff with guest stars. Remember when they did the Star Wars-themed episode with Mark Hamill (who revealed some hidden singing talents), Threepio, Artoo, and Chewie? Imagine what they could do with the cast of The Avengers! Or have Hugh Laurie in character as Dr. House on a Veterinarian’s Hospital sketch. Then, when Hugh and Rowlf duet on a piano for the closing number, we could have a surprise visit from Stephen Fry (a surprise to Hugh, as well). Christopher Lee (a trained singer) in Dracula regalia, singing “Night Waltz (The Sun Won’t Set)” from Sondheim’s _A Little Night Music,_ in a crypt with other Muppet vampires including The Count. Johnny Depp, in character as Jack Sparrow, singing and dancing “Moonlight Becomes You,” with a full-body female pirate Muppet–who changes appearance every time she enters a moonbeam. ANY of the current-day Doctors. Or ALL of them. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/36 "2015-04-09T17:19:23Z")
> [@Hermione](#): > > ANY of the current-day Doctors. Or ALL of them. There were moments when I though Matt Smith was a Muppet, who was passing as human. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/37 "2015-04-09T18:08:20Z")
(Missed the edit window) To build on Hermione’s idea, someone from Dancing with the Stars could judge the dancers in the “Ballroom” sequence, which was always one of my favorites. “One, two, three, DIP!” ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/38 "2015-04-09T18:10:16Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/39 "2015-04-10T18:26:49Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > (Missed the edit window) > > To build on Hermione’s idea, someone from Dancing with the Stars could judge the dancers in the “Ballroom” sequence, which was always one of my favorites. “One, two, three, DIP!” “You know, my marriage was wrecked by something really stupid.” “What was that?” “My husband.” ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831/40 "2015-04-10T19:11:54Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Last place is also indisputable: > _Muppets From Space_ > This is not only the worst Muppet movie, it is one of the worst movies made by anyone ever in the history of Earth. Sorry I beg to differ. Muppets from space was tolerable if disappointing. For true vileness one must look at [The Muppets Wizard of OZ](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppets%27_Wizard_of_Oz). Although perhaps you weren’t counting it because it was made for TV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppet-show-returning-to-television/716831.md?page=3)