‘The Muppet Show’ special brings back the magic of the original — and a couple of Muppets

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Get ready for some music, lights, and Muppets! A new special is coming to Disney+ on Wednesday to celebrate 50 years of “The Muppet Show,” bringing back the classic variety program that delighted audiences for generations.

Award-winning director Alex Timbers is leading this resurgence of the Muppets. He’s known for his creatively staged shows that feature puppets – like his work on “The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway” and the musical “Beetlejuice” – which gave him valuable experience for working with the Muppets.

The creators of the special, led by Albertina Rizzo, envisioned it as a direct continuation of the original series, which ran for five seasons. As Rizzo explains, they approached it as if it were ‘Season 6, Episode 1,’ set in the year 2026.

Although the show is set in the present day, the creators wanted to keep the same visual style and overall atmosphere that fans loved in the original version.

In the new show, it’s set in 2026, but the creators deliberately avoided modern touches like cellphones or trendy slang. Timber, speaking from New York City, explains they didn’t want the Muppets to feel like they were awkwardly trying to sound current or use TikTok trends. The goal was to feel natural and not forced.

Staying true to the source material, this new version includes appearances by well-known faces. Singer Sabrina Carpenter performs her popular song “Manchild,” and actors Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen both make brief appearances. Rogen was also one of the show’s executive producers.

According to Timber, Seth’s enthusiasm was a major driving force behind this project. He’d been hoping to bring back ‘The Muppet Show’ for years, and it’s exciting for fans to see the Muppets in their classic, original format.

Putting on this show required determining the right size for the Muppet Theater. To do this, Timbers and his team located the original plans from 1976.

We paid close attention to getting the size right,” he explained. “Performers have often noticed that previous recreations of the Muppet Theater haven’t been accurately sized.”

Along with the set dimensions, Timbers received instructions on filming the Muppets. He discovered that scenes featuring only Muppets needed to be filmed at 3/4 scale, while scenes with both Muppets and humans required a 7/8 scale.

Timbers explains they use careful measurements to ensure everything feels properly sized for the Muppets, like making sure a mug fits Kermit’s hands and a desk is the right height. He says figuring out these dimensions is complex but satisfying. It’s important because the Muppets vary greatly in size – some, like Thog, are enormous, while others, like Rizzo, are very small.

Despite the technical challenges, directing the Muppets is surprisingly enjoyable. Director Timbers explains that the performers remain fully committed to their characters even when the cameras aren’t rolling. It’s like giving direction to Kermit himself, and getting a response from Kermit, not the performer.

Director Alex Timbers explained that getting the size right was crucial for this special. He noted that Muppet performers often felt previous recreations of the Muppet Theater hadn’t been accurately sized. (Jacqueline Jones / Disney)

The puppeteers’ dedication to their characters also impressed the celebrity guests. Director Timbers remembers that performers like Sabrina were genuinely engaged, treating Kermit as a real scene partner even when the set was being adjusted. “She’d just keep chatting with Kermit,” he says, “and it was really delightful for her and for all of us. It was impossible not to enjoy working in that atmosphere.”

Matt Vogel, the performer behind Kermit and other Muppets, and Eric Jacobson, who brings Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal to life, are also executive producers of this special. As the puppeteers, they understand the Muppets’ capabilities better than anyone.

I remember Timbers explaining that Matt and Eric were deeply involved in the project for months beforehand. He’d share storyboards with them, and we’d all go through each shot together. They were great at figuring out what we could realistically achieve, offering really helpful input.

As a huge Muppets fan, I’d say Timbers really nailed what makes them special – it’s this wild, over-the-top energy mixed with a ton of silly fun and genuine heart. And this special totally delivers on that! They cram so much into just half an hour – so many jokes and, of course, so many Muppets! It’s perfect.

According to Timbers, this special features over 180 Muppets, which is amazing! Having so many Muppets in a single scene is incredibly complicated. It’s not just about arranging the puppets themselves, but also coordinating all the puppeteers behind the scenes.

Longtime Muppet fans will be excited to hear that Bean Bunny and Rizzo the Rat are back! This special marks their official return after being absent from the Muppets for several years, and Rizzo even gets to perform a stylish musical number.

Timbers explained they wanted to give the character Rizzo a chance to really shine, and he believes audiences will be surprised by the song and the performance by Rizzo and his companions. Bradley Freeman Jr. now plays both Rizzo and Bean Bunny.

As a film buff, one of the coolest parts for me was getting to hear about how they approached Miss Piggy’s wardrobe. Apparently, working with costume designer Daniel Selon and writer Albertina Rizzo on choosing her outfits was a really big deal. You’ve got to remember, Miss Piggy is a fashion icon, so everyone involved treated that aspect with the seriousness it deserved!

Many of the costumes were custom-made for this project. We carefully reviewed all of her previous outfits from the show, paying attention to details like color and jewelry – even the specific type of pearls she would wear. We spent a lot of time perfecting even small details, like her shoes, going through many versions to get it just right.

According to Timbers, the Muppets connect with audiences because there’s a gap between how the characters see themselves and how we, the viewers, see them. For example, Piggy imagines herself as a serious actress like Meryl Streep, while we see her quite differently. Fozzie believes he’s a comedian like John Mulaney, and Gonzo fancies himself a daring action star like Tom Cruise. However, Kermit understands the truth and gently shields them from their own delusions.

That reading of Muppet psychology points to who Timbers considers his favorite character.

As a Broadway director, my job is to help my actors and creative teams shine by supporting their strengths and talents. That’s why I feel a strong connection to Kermit the Frog.

Timbers, a longtime fan of Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s creations, jokingly links receiving a caricature on the wall of fame at the iconic New York theater restaurant, Sardi’s, to the Muppets’ Kermit the Frog. In the 1984 film “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” Kermit famously visits Sardi’s in disguise, wearing a fancy outfit and a fake mustache. A drawing of this disguised Kermit now hangs permanently in the restaurant.

Timbers was thrilled to have his portrait hung at Sardi’s, especially because it ended up alongside Kermit the Frog’s. He says that while Sardi’s portraits have different meanings for everyone, for him, it felt like being displayed alongside a legend like Kermit.

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2026-02-04 14:02