soporific
Jim Henson, the guy who gave birth to The Muppets, created a show for everyone. He wanted kids and adults alike to be able to get into the show. Why this new version chucks out that idea I can't fathom because it stinks to high heaven. Didn't they try this out on a few test audiences made up of people NOT in the 18-34 age category?? Obviously not.I will be honest and admit that I didn't get more than half way through the first episode so maybe the show turns it around in the last 20 minutes but having read some other reviews it seems it doesn't.The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars is because I didn't wanna be one of those guys who just smacks a 1 on what is obviously a lot of effort. But for CRYING OUT LOUD, WHY DID YOU THINK THIS WOULD WORK and not be CANCELLED AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY?If you want The Muppets, you can't go wrong with the original series, but you WILL go wrong with the new version and it's why Jim Henson's ghost is not happy.
violingineer
ABC can only poorly copy the jokes/mood of an actual original show called The Office. The "modern" adaptation of the Muppets isn't all that modern since we have seen the Office style for ten years now.I had mild interest in this since I grew up with Beeker and the Swedish chef and Animal and pigs in space and thought I might get to see something fun and refreshingly bright in a world of dark adult gloom and doom. But what did I get.... Adult situations and pseudo funny pseudo fresh reality humor that frankly is getting old. What was the bonus I got with all of this masked by puppets from the past?....Characters violating my childhood memories. The show isn't for kids. And it isn't for the adults that grew up with these puppets. But one thing is for sure.... It's adult puppets masquerading as the Muppets. Just a little too much reality for me when I wanna tune in to The Muppet Show and forget my adult life for an hour.
swankykitteh
I was super hyped about the Muppets returning to small screen prime time! I honestly had high hopes that my daughter and I might be able to use the show to make a common connection as something amazing from my childhood to now hers as well... What we got? Drug use and innuendos, complicated and adult relationship plots, over the top crass humor. There's even hinting of possible beastiality between Fozzy Bear and his real life actress portrayed girlfriend, in the VERY FIRST episode! In short, this is not a show for kids, and will only lead to awkward thoughts and conversations. Certainly not worthy of an 8pm time slot here in the Midwest. Maybe 10pm or later, but not 8pm. I'm saddened to have seen this day. My childhood has been sullied, and the poor late Jim Henson must be doing cartwheels in his grave.
Rob_Taylor
The four episodes I've seen so far are as close to torture as I'm ever likely to come and I have no desire for more.See, I haven't watched the Muppet Show for many, many years, so I reasoned that, with this new show, I would have no real nostalgic bias against it. Boy was I wrong! The Muppets utterly misses the point of what made the Muppet Show good. In an effort to try and make the show more adult-themed, it forgot that the adults that would be watching it are likely all fans of the Muppet Show from years ago. Those fans would have certain expectations. Expectations that, as it turns out, are completely ignored.Now, I like Bill Prady's work, so I think the intent was a good one. But he has clearly missed the mark. As I watched the pseudo-reality show take on the Muppets, all I felt was sadness and depression. The new show, with its Muppets updated and more adult-oriented, is just direly boring to watch. All of the fun has been sucked out of them and what is left are cynical shells of the original characters.Still, I persevered through the first three episodes, struggling to find a root cause for lack of enjoyment. It wasn't until the fourth show, however, that I understood what it was that was so wrong with the new version.See, in episode four, the Muppets goes to a bar and there is a karaoke night going on. The Muppets join in and.......suddenly they were fun again. The simple addition of music and singing totally transformed the dreary behind-the-scenes reality nature of the cast and made them fun once more. Of course, the karaoke was short lived, and likewise so was the fun. Soon enough it was back to the tedium.Intrigued, I got hold of some of the original show episodes and watched one at random. As well as being immediately familiar to my old memories, it was indeed the music that made the show. Very little of the original series was without music of some sort and each episode had several music and dance numbers. Seeing Sylvester Stallone sing and dance "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" with a giant Muppet lion is not to be missed! That, then, is what the new show lacks. Fun. Sure, there are jokes, some adult humour and the occasional smile to be raised. But there is no actual fun in the series.So, apart from missing the point completely, is there anything good about The Muppets? Well, I can honestly see what they thought they were doing. This isn't a remake of the Muppet Show. It's a reboot. Same characters, different script and a totally different feel. However, without the fun element, which was what the Muppets were all about, it is a hollow effort.If you then add in the slightly-off voice work (still very good) and the reality, shaky cam shots, this is like watching a Bluray extra on the making of the Muppets.All they need to do is stop trying so hard. The Muppets could be good, if they add in some more music routines, stop making Kermit such a depressive sad case and remember that fun doesn't have to be edgy.SUMMARY: Totally misses the point of the Muppets. Little singing, little dancing, depressive reality-based nature. No damn fun! Not a good direction to take the Muppets in. Jim Henson is probably spinning in his grave.
