Rejoice Muppet fans! The Muppet Show will be able to stream on Disney+ this February.
Created by Jim Henson, The Muppet Show stars Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, the Swedish Chef, The Newsman, Animal, Statler, Waldorf, and so on.
For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it is presented as a variety show but it combines sketches and musical numbers into one package. The Muppet Show was directed by Peter Harris and Philip Casson, with the script written by Jack Burns (who wrote the first season) and Jerry Juhl (who is the head writer). Jim Henson and Sam Pottle composed the theme music. It originally premiered in 1976 and ended in 1981, with the original show aired on CBS/ITC in the US and ATV in the UK.
Alongside the main characters, celebrities also made appearances such as Elton John, Mark Hamill (of Star Wars fame), John Cleese, Steve Martin, Liza Minelli, Alice Cooper, Julie Andrews, Diana Ross, and Gene Kelly, to name a few.
According to the description of the video showing The Muppet Show, all five seasons of the show will be coming to Disney+ on February 19, 2021. For the first time ever, seasons four and five are also streaming on the site, having never been released previously on home entertainment.
The Muppet Show sees Kermit the Frog managing a cabaret-style theatre house. However, there is drama occurring behind the scenes instead of on the stage, much to his displeasure. Not only does Kermit have to put up with the mishaps from the rest of his fellow Muppets, but he also has to keep the guest stars happy.
The action is balanced between on-stage acts and the chaotic goings-on occurring behind the scenes. Episode number 110 is one of the few exceptions where almost all of the sketches happen on stage. The concept is reminiscent of The Jack Benny Programme, where the star struggled on a weekly show amidst personal issues and an uncooperative cast.
On an unrelated note, the Swedish Chef recently made a surprise appearance at The Game Awards last year to announce his appearance in Overcooked: All You Can Eat as a cameo character. Not to mention, Muppet Labs (consists of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker) appeared alongside Goose from Untitled Goose Game at The Game Awards to present the Impact Award to the indie video game, Gris.
After countless years of waiting, long-time fans will have the chance to be reacquainted with The Muppets Show while newcomers will be introduced to it for the first time – whether they are people that missed out on the show the first time, or an entirely new generation. The show will join other Muppets shows and movies on the Disney streaming service, such as Muppets Now, Muppet Treasure Island, and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Words by Fiona Li