Apparently Disney is trying to kill the Muppets

[kbelle8995]

I liked it. It's the pilot, I'm giving them time to find balance. And there were moments of just silliness. I'm referring to "Dancing with the Czars." Plus more Fozzie, Gonzo and others please. Love the random muppet walking across the office set. Oh there's Lew and Uncle Deadly.

 

[cavepig]

Just to be clear about the show structure, the "to the camera testimonials" is not just the style of The Office.
It is a mainstay of virtually every "reality TV show" on the planet.

That style of cutaway from the action was around long before The Office came along and
adopted it.

It's not the cut to camera testimonials, it's the overall bounciness and quick zooms that's ill making. The bounciness is not part of all reality TV. Either way it's still annoying bouncing all over like I'm in a ship in a storm at sea.

 

[Roxyfire]

It's not the cut to camera testimonials, it's the overall bounciness and quick zooms that's ill making. The bounciness is not part of all reality TV. Either way it's still annoying bouncing all over like I'm in a ship in a storm at sea.

I feel the same way about those horror movies that were popular a few years ago. The ones that were shot on low quality cameras and were carried around instead of using tripods or steadicams. After watching a lot of the office and parks and rec I got used to that faux reality show style but it was tough for sure. I studied film and broadcast in school so that was a very groundbreaking style at the time. I'm surprised it held up for so long.

 

[skipfierce]

I thought the show was great!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm willing to give it a few episodes, but it didn't blow me away. It had a few funny moments, but a few parts seemed slightly off to me.

The Fozzie dinner scene was mostly just uncomfortable, as were a few other parts.

I didn't expect the original show, but a little more "Dancing with the Czars" would have been better.

 

[Brocktoon]

I feel the same way about those horror movies that were popular a few years ago. The ones that were shot on low quality cameras and were carried around instead of using tripods or steadicams. After watching a lot of the office and parks and rec I got used to that faux reality show style but it was tough for sure. I studied film and broadcast in school so that was a very groundbreaking style at the time. I'm surprised it held up for so long.

They're the the flavor of the last decade or so that have become their own genres.

Single-camera comedies have been around as far back as 'Get Smart', but over the past 15 years they've just gained and gained in popularity. I think what may be jarring to folks is I think this is the 1st time The Muppets have been presented in a single camera format.

As for the 'shaky cam' movies ... they've basically spawned what's now known as the Found Footage genre ... I think it's going to be here to stay for better or worse

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just to be clear about the show structure, the "to the camera testimonials" is not just the style of The Office.
It is a mainstay of virtually every "reality TV show" on the planet.

That style of cutaway from the action was around long before The Office came along and
adopted it.

It actually reminded me of The Larry Sanders Show. Not sure if you ever watched that one, but it's pretty great.

 

[Roxyfire]

It actually reminded me of The Larry Sanders Show. Not sure if you ever watched that one, but it's pretty great.

I'll be honest, I caught a few peeks when I was a kid but haven't revisited it. My mom said it was similar to how Hill St Blues was shot too. She loved it at the time but hated it on a rewatch recently.

 

[Asc341]

There were thumbs up all around in my family - after seeing the two recent movies that we didn't care for, we crossed our fingers for the show and wished "please don't screw this up." We weren't disappointed, and I'm thrilled that the Muppets are back where they belong - on our television sets!

 

[Robo]

It actually reminded me of The Larry Sanders Show. Not sure if you ever watched that one, but it's pretty great.

How's my hair?

HEY, Noooowww!
You see that sign? It says, "Applesause."

 

[JimmyV]

I just watched the new ABC show and I liked it far more than I figured I would.
I have no idea if it will succeed or not, but I laughed out loud many times during the show.

This. Word. For. Word.

 

[JimmyV]

I enjoyed the show but I agree that it needed to be on later. It's really not for kids, most of the jokes were adult oriented.

Later than what? It occupies the same time slot as:

• The Simpsons
• Big Bang Theory
• Gotham
• NCIS
• NCIS New Orleans
• Grandfathered
• The Middle
• Grey's Anatomy
• Bones

I'm fairly certain that the Muppets will reveal far less sex, sexual innuendo, blood, guts and gore than any of these other shows.

 

[bbjunkie]

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew repeatedly tazers Beaker (who finally succumbs and falls out of frame.)
KERMIT (to Honeydew): "But, isn't that dangerous?"
HONEYDEW: "No. I'm wearing rubber gloves."

Classic Muppets. I liked

"did you know their original name was Imagine Dragons?"

"Aren't they still the Imagine Dragons?"

"Yeah, they kept it."

 

[doconeill]

You really can't just remake the original show. It was canceled, like most shows, due to ratings vs. costs. It doesn't matter how much it was loved - it's a matter of sustaining viewers over the long run. Just simply doing it again isn't going to increase viewers.

And NO ONE is doing variety shows any more. Now, that's not to say that we couldn't USE a variety show and people wouldn't tune in...but variety shows were left behind in the 70s.

The Muppets need to try to draw on their old audience AND a new one. There are many ways they might attempt that. They've chosen one. They may not succeed, but at least they are trying.

 

[Elevationist]

Kermit and Miss Piggy on Jimmy Kimmel

"Yeah, that's it, she's dating any one."

I died.

 

[Robo]

Classic Muppets. I liked

"did you know their original name was Imagine Dragons?"

"Aren't they still the Imagine Dragons?"

"Yeah, they kept it."

I laughed at that one, too.

 

[skier_pete]

It actually reminded me of The Larry Sanders Show. Not sure if you ever watched that one, but it's pretty great.

Larry Sanders was genius.

This - well...it made me laugh enough that I will come back. I would agree I'd like to see a little more of the acts. The documentary thing seems done to death. Not just "The Office" but that's what most people think of, "Modern Family" does it to to some extent, and as others point out, a lot of reality TV as well. I actually wish they didn't do that. They could completely drop the "talk to the camera" angel, and still keep the show exactly as it is.

People seem upset by the adult humor, but forget that Jim Henson always directed the show at adults and there was always a little bit of adult humor in the show - just there was a lot more zaniness than in this show. There was still a little of that "Dancing with the Czars" and such.

I'll be interested to see if it succeeds. I all along thought this would be a tough sell on network TV. Thought it would work much better on ABC family, where it wouldn't need such high ratings to stay alive.

Actually it appears the initial ratings were pretty decent. An 8.9, whereas the Voice had a 12.0 and NCIS a 17.68. Muppets had a 2.8 in the 18-49 slot. Considering NCIS is a ratings juggernaut, and the voice does well as well, an 8.9 has to have people at ABC pretty happy, except the question is where does it go from there. My guess is if it keeps above a 6.0 overall and 2.0 in 18-49 it stays on the air.

 

[Robo]

1. I'll be interested to see if it succeeds. I all along thought this would be a tough sell on network TV.
2. Thought it would work much better on ABC family, where it wouldn't need such high ratings to stay alive.

1. Agreed.
2. It would perish, for certain, in that swamp of despair.
I'll never, NEVER, forgive that bunch of clods running ABC Family for canceling Bun Heads.
(I do know that the particular clods who cancelled that show have now all, THEMSELVES, been "cancelled" from their jobs.)

 

[kbelle8995]

The Muppets have always had an edge. If they were constantly sweet, I wouldn't have stuck around.

The Muppets go to WDW: Scooter and Kermit's relative talk about Bean Bunny.
Kermit's frog relative: Oh isn't he cute.
Scooter: Yeah. We got tired of being cute so we hired him to do it.

Also there's a great quote from Janice in the The Great Muppet Caper which starts "Look mother it's my life okay...." I remember hearing it as a kid and it stuck with me. It's felt so wonderfully naughty.

 

[HopperFan]

The show is marketing itself to adults as shown in their ad. It is not intended to be a child's show although I don't think the humor would be picked up by kids if they did watch the show.