ABC presented a panel on its anticipated new series The Muppets yesterday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, letting the show’s EPs Bill Prady and Bob Kushell and stars Kermit the Frog and a tardy Miss Piggy entertain reporters for a lively half hour.
Kushell noted that, while many Muppets favorites will appear in the ABC primetime comedy, the show is a sort of running mockumentary about the behind-the-scenes action at Miss Piggy’s (fictional) talk show and not a reboot of the beloved variety fest The Muppet Show of the ’70s and early ’80s. “Anybody who hasn’t seen “The Muppets” in the past will see this whole new world and it will feel fresh and original and new to them. And anybody who has grown up with it, as we all did, will have that nostalgic feel but also have their minds blown by the new way we’re doing the show. “
Kermit explained the premise further — from his own, er, unique perspective.
“It’s an interesting thing that’s going on here,” he said. “The Muppets are doing a late‑night chat show with Miss Piggy called “Up Late with Miss Piggy.” And Bill and Bob came along with this wonderful idea to shoot behind the scenes, you know, and they are producing that show. It’s interesting and scary at the same time, you know. Because you get to see things that we wouldn’t normally necessarily want you to see.”
Prady, who began his writing career with Jim Henson and the Muppets, said the new show — a long-simmering idea pitched to ABC in February — took shape faster than he expected. And presented a distinctly Hollywood challenge for Up Late with Miss Piggy EP Kermit.
“I don’t know whether you guys actually know, but I guess you’re all friends, so — Piggy and I have gone our separate ways romantically” said the felt frog who revealed he’s now dating a nice woman in the ABC marketing department named Denise. “I think it’s just kind of coming out in the press now. You guys will hear about it soon. So it can be tough to work with your ex, you know. It can be tough to the executive producer on your ex’s late‑night TV show, especially when your ex is a pig.”
DENISE, MISS PIGGY, JANICE
Asked about the breakup later, Piggy displayed her signature hair toss — and mega ‘tude.
“Any kind of attention is good publicity,” she sniffed. “So sure, I’m proud we’re broken up. This is going to be great for moi’s stardom. Mm‑hmm. Now everybody’s going to want to know, ‘Ooh, ooh, who’s Miss Piggy dating? Who is she getting caught snogging with?’”
Because Miss Piggy’s show is a latenight talker, The Muppets will feature A-list musical talent appearing in that capacity rather than a full performance.
“One of the things that we’re hoping to show for the first time in the series is a little bit sort of behind the public persona and behind the mask,” said Prady. “We might even get a camera into Piggy’s house in the morning and see if we can catch her before she gets her makeup on.”
“I’m getting a new security system right after this panel,” countered the porcine diva.
The Muppets premieres Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8/7CT.
My opinion is, because the muppets go back so long – it is inevitable that there would be people who hated it. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m so far encouraged by the overall poll results.