I would say that they should have stuck with the 'variety show' concept, but they tried that and failed with 'Muppets Tonight.' So I don't know what they should or shouldn't have done, to make this a success. All I can say for sure is that I didn't like the 'reality show' story line, or the Muppets getting out in the real world.
I really DID want this to work.
- HOW kin I be so brainless, when I is so smart?
The variety show concept is dead.....No need to try it again.
I liked the idea of this show, letting the viewers get to know the Muppets and their personal lives. The last two episodes were really solid and did bring back some of the magic feel from the old Muppet Show.
The first several episodes were really rough and very edgy/risky. I still liked the Muppets getting more adult than what they had been in the past but still trying to remain true to who they are.
Do you think the time of the classic Muppets is over?
- HOW kin I be so brainless, when I is so smart?
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The problem is with the fanbase. They don't give a damn about the Muppets themselves, they just care about the strong nostalgia that the old Muppet Show evoked.
This is the highest quality show the Muppets have produced so far. I thought the storylines were up to par, the humor was slightly smarter than average, and the Muppets were 100% their fun, wacky, charming selves. It was the only comedy show I was interested in. But the 1976 one? There's nothing funny going on there. I might laugh 2-3 times every episode. The only way anyone could enjoy that show is via nostalgia.
All Muppet fans want is to watch old episodes of The Muppet Show. They don't want to see them do anything more, or anything new. Any attempt to do so will be met with disappointment and low ratings. If a show this good can't get a second goddam season then it's pretty clear nobody wants to fu©king see the Muppets anymore. They're dead. They'd all best just retire permanently.
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Requiescat in pace Pete Postlethwaite.
I think that's the issue; nostalgia and expectations.
My Dad watched about 10 minutes of the Jason Segel film and walked out because it wasn't "The Muppet Show". He literally wanted 90 minutes of sketches like the original series. I assume a lot of people approached this new series in the same way; they mentally (and literally) switched off because it wasn't what they wanted it to be, and didn't give it time to show what it had to offer in its own right, outside of what the original show used to be.
Personally I find the original series to have dated pretty badly, it only really only has nostalgic value. I still love most of the earlier films though, at least up to and including Muppet Christmas Carol. I enjoyed the new series more than the 2011 film, and a LOT more than Most Wanted which I struggled to sit through.
I think it's because the show was a little too mean spirited. They could have been a little more positive, and "The Office" format could have worked.
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Why are you people avoiding me? Does my withered face remind you of the grim specter of death?
I don't think Muppets Tonight was that bad. In fact, I say it was a pretty underrated remake. It was variety show that captured the original series very well while still being modern for the time. I loved the new sketches (particularly "Bay of Pigswatch" and "Tales from the Vet"). It brought a whole bunch of new characters (Pepe, Johnny Fiama and Sal, Andy and Ollie Pig, Bozo the Bear). The only character that probably didn't catch on was Clifford. He ended up being pretty dated as a Muppet and Kermit should have stayed on as host.
As for this show, I agree that setting it in a talk show concept was a big mistake that doomed it on arrival. It basically gives most of the Muppets nothing to do as far as being Muppets and it was a lazy means to get their celebrity cameos in without much effort. I think the reality show concept COULD HAVE worked had the show within the show still been the basic Muppet variety show for current audiences.
I agree: if it had been a variety show like the original, or even 'Muppets Tonight," I probably could have liked it. But it was a new milieu, and one of the people who criticized me was absolutely right: I didn't WANT anything new. I wanted the same old charming variety show.
(I was never in position to watch even a single ep of 'Muppets Tonight;' all I know is what my friends have told me, about it)
- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?
How many kids really genuinely liked the Variety show style, the guests, and dancing? Personally I didn't know anyone who did. I went back and watched it. I like it more now then as a kid who had no idea who the guests were, then, and even now. I never understand why they did so much dancing and singing as if we were watching a play. Transport yourself with me to the late 70's, & the 80s watching reruns. It was a time when that kind of stuff was described as, "that's gay" "what a gaylord" and I'm embarrassed that it seemed as if everyone spoke that way unless they were lucky to be born into an intelligent, highly educated family free of ignorance.
I loved the muppet babies, but no kid dared admit it. Older adults loved variety shows then, but I always thought it strange that many non-variety hour, movies or shows featured such dance/singing numbers and couldn't wait for it to be over to get back to the funny story stuff. We kids saw those talent show parts as time to get up and get a drink and Oreo cookies.
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