SPOILER ALERT with Jimmy Nichols: It's time to bring back the Muppets, for real

Growing up, I loved watching the Muppets. My family owned the DVD for the 2011 “Muppets” movie, which focused on Walter and the other Muppets trying to save the studio. 

I then watched in theaters “Muppets: Most Wanted.” Once Disney+ was launched, I started watching older movies like the 1979 “Muppets” movie and “A Muppets Christmas Carol.” 

I have watched some of the full shows and plenty of clips from “The Muppet Show” that ran as a variety show in the 70s. This group of puppet animals, and whatever Gonzo is, holds a very special place in my heart. 

When it was announced they would be returning for a “Muppet Show” special, I was ecstatic. Then, I was even more thrilled when they announced one of my favorite artists, Sabrina Carpenter, would be the celebrity host for the show. 

Carpenter has interacted with the Muppets before, with her “arresting” Miss Piggy at one of her concerts for being too gorgeous and Miss Piggy not denying the charges.  

Already showing she has a sense of humor when it comes to the group, this became a must-watch event for me, and after watching the special, it should be a must-watch for you. 

It begins with a very gorgeous cinematic shot of Kermit the Frog turning on the lights to the old theater as a piano version of the song “Rainbow Connection” plays in the background. After a quick joke between him and Rowlf the Dog, Kermit tells Scooter to get everyone in place. 

We then hear another piano version of another classic Muppet song, “Moving Right Along.” Miss Piggy and Sabrina exchanged a few jokes in the dressing room before we cut to Kermit inside the O of the Muppet Show title card. 

The show goes back to its variety show nature with the opening act being Sabrina performing her hit song, “Manchild,” in a Muppet bar with the chickens as her background singers. She sings along while tossing out the difficult patrons. 

The audience is treated to some Muppet classic sketches, showcasing some fan-favorite characters like Gonzo failing his stunt and continually interrupting the show, Pepe the King Prawn being Miss Piggy’s stand-in love interest, and Dr. Honeydew’s experiment failing on Beaker. There are other bits and sketches to cover all the fan favorites. 

However, this is the main plot of the special: Kermit has promised a spot to everyone and realizes there are too many acts, and he will need to cut someone’s time. He attempts to cut Miss Piggy’s musical number, but she is having none of that, swearing she will be singing on the show. 

Her solution is to interrupt the duet between Kermit and Sabrina singing “Islands in the Stream.” Singing on a boat in a swamp, Miss Piggy tosses Kermit out of the boat to finish the duet with Sabrina. 

Kermit realizes there is only time for one more act. With so many Muppets still having not gone on, Kermit decides to sing “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen with everyone. 

While some fans were upset the group did not end with “Rainbow Connection,” the song choice felt like the perfect message to send to Disney. The Muppets want to keep performing for the next generation of fans and often go unspotlighted by the media juggernaut. 

Disney has cancelled shows and movies the Muppets have been rumored to have and even replaced their rides and exhibits at the parks. The Muppets just wanted a shot and showed in this performance why they deserve to be featured. 

The results of the show are hard to disagree with the group. Disney reported the special saw almost eight million views on the streaming service, with more coming in the past few weeks as fans have gone back to watch the show. 

It received a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and clips of the show quickly went viral online. The Muppets showed they deserve a shot in this new media. 

They featured everything that made the group lovable to all its fans in the past. Jokes for both children and adults, celebrity cameos by Seth Rogen, the executive producer of the special, and Maya Rudolph and a studio laugh track at all the funny moments only fueled the nostalgia of the special. 

Nostalgia is something Hollywood loves to capitalize on with sequels to fan favorite movies and constant remakes. The Muppets special asks the question why not give the fans what they want: a consistent show or movie schedule for the intergenerational group. 

With the great success of this special, it will be hard for Disney not to consider more full-time programming for the Muppets. 

This special was amazing. If you have ever watched a Muppet movie or show and enjoyed it, you will love this special. It has everything that makes the Muppets great, and, hopefully, if more people watch it, Disney will consider bringing the Muppets out of forced retirement.