CastletonSnob Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I’ve been getting into The Muppets lately, and I just realized that none of the shows after The Muppet Show were nearly as successful, with the exception of Muppet Babies. Why haven’t the post-Muppet Show shows been as successful? Is it because the Muppets are a product of their time? Kids today probably have no idea what a variety show even is, which is what the Muppet Show was making fun of. And yes, I know the Muppets were originally intended for general audiences, like Looney Tunes, but also like Looney Tunes, they’re now marketed toward kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 The Muppets are very much a "product of the time" that really have no relevance in today's culture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CayceG Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Variety shows--which is what The Muppets always has been--died with the Carter Presidency. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Muppet Babies was the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cusideabelincoln Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Keyser_Soze said: Muppet Babies was the best. That opening theme song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexy_shapiro Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 The characters were created with the format of the Muppet Show in mind, so it makes sense that the show was as successful as it was. The shows haven’t as been successful simply because the premise behind the ideas behind them are not as strong. But why only focus on television? The movies have done mostly well over the years with only a couple of financial duds. Sure, they haven’t remained as culturally significant as they were in the 70’s, but that’s asking a lot of any property to remain equally relevant over a span of decade. It’s no small feat that a variety show spoof was able to spin off into a number of successful narrative films. And they even managed to have a hit in 2011 long after the franchise had been considered dead. But the 2011 movie actually does address their decline in popularity. The world and our media is more cynical and the Muppets aren’t cyclical at all. I’ve introduced The Muppets to a few of my students and they think they’re hilarious. Kids might not be actively seeking out Muppets content, but from my experience the humor still works as well on them as it did for me at that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remarkableriots Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaysWho? Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 To this day, the Muppets are funny to me. I feel bad for not having seen at least the 2011 movie, but from the bits I've seen, it's lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexy_shapiro Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 5 hours ago, SaysWho? said: To this day, the Muppets are funny to me. I feel bad for not having seen at least the 2011 movie, but from the bits I've seen, it's lovely. I mean, the only person you’re hurting is yourself. If you’re feeling down during the pandemic give it a watch. It feels like a hug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentbob Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 The Muppets are huge in my household and am still a fan of them. Yes, they have hits and miss on the entertainment front. I miss The Jim Henson Hour but I wouldn’t consider it a Muppet Show. They did The Muppets Tonight where they had Clifford (Kevin Clash) as the host. It was probably the closest they came to being anywhere near the classic series. Which for the life of me, wonder why they don’t just give us that. I’ve seen one episode of the new Disney+ show and it had its moments but I miss the nostalgia of old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 4 hours ago, sexy_shapiro said: I mean, the only person you’re hurting is yourself. I'll be the judge of who he's hurting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexy_shapiro Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Considering how much I loved The Muppets growing up, I’m surprised that I haven’t seen a single episode of The Muppet Show, outside of clips I was able to fine online. There were never reruns on when I was a kid. I think the only way available at the time was to buy a box set. And now it’s not even available for streaming. What gives? I thought it was generally considered to be their high point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazyPiranha Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Licensing for a variety show is probably an absolute nightmare. It’s probably not worth the time and effort to get the rights of everyone involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 I was listening to this rap song and this guy dropped a Super Grover reference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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