‘The Muppet Show’ set for a star-studded comeback in 2026
Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and the rest of the Muppet gang are slated for a comeback in 2026, as streaming platform Disney+ confirms a reboot of the beloved “The Muppet Show.” Coinciding with its 50th anniversary, the variety show will see the puppets returning to Muppet Theater alongside pop star Sabrina Carpenter as guest star and co-executive producer.
While the variety show is set to be a one-time special, there are reports the reboot will be a pilot for an ongoing series similar to the 1976 original.
Making a comeback
Apart from Carpenter, the upcoming show will include a large creative team from three production studios, including recent Emmy award winner Seth Rogen, who is also a co-executive producer. He will be joined by Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, and Alex McAtee for Point Grey Pictures; David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter, and Michael Steinbach for The Muppets Studio; and several others from 20th Television and Disney Branded Television.
Also returning for the special are the original longtime Muppeteers, including Matt Vogel (Kermit), Eric Jacobson (Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear), Dave Goelz (Gonzo), Bill Barretta (Pepe Prawn), Peter Linz, and David Rudman.
“The Muppet Show” reboot will be written by Emmy-nominated comedy writer Albertina Rizzo (“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”) and directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers (“Moulin Rouge!” and “American Utopia”).
Created by Jim Henson in 1955, The Muppets initially appeared on Sesame Street in 1969 before Henson launched “The Muppet Show” in 1976, which skyrocketed his characters to popularity.
The original variety show went on to air for five seasons until 1981, and featured guest appearances from the likes of Elton John, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, and many others.
The Muppets endured in pop culture through film and television shows such as “The Muppet Movie” (1979), “The Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984), and “It’s A Very Muppet Christmas” (2002). Eventually, the franchise was acquired by Disney in 2004 and continued through films such as “Muppets Most Wanted” (2014), “Muppets Haunted Mansion” (2021), and the TV series “The Muppets Mayhem” (2023).
Further details regarding the premiere of “The Muppet Show” reboot are yet to be released.
