I don't get this new Muppets thing.

mrincredible said:

mumstheword said:
I read somewhere that the show lost a lot of its money from PBS, and in order to still produce shows on PBS, they had to get the money from other sources. This series on ABC seems to be the bank the Muppet Show needed.

Perhaps you are thinking of Sesame Street?

Hmmmm, am I? But is Sesame Street also appearing on a TV network? OK, you're gonna make me look it up. (I'm eating ribs tonight..... )

ETA: I stand corrected -- you are 100% right:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/business/media/sesame-street-heading-to-hbo-in-fall.html?_r=0

In one of the all-time Muppet Shows, the original third wheel in a Kermit-Miss Piggy love triangle was Linda Ronstadt. She was ordered not to kiss Kermit though for fear of her lipstick staining his felt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQaeg582kRQ

Why it's not for kids: Too much showing of Muppet legs on the premiere. With the exception of Sweetums, that weirds me out.

Saw it last night. I thought it felt a little rushed, like they were trying to pack too much into it, so some jokes didn't have time to breathe, but overall I found it funny. It's not the Muppet Show, but I'm fine with that. It's a single-camera sitcom with Muppets in it, and as such I laughed at it more than I do with most network sitcoms so I'm ready to give it a few more episodes to see where it goes.

If I'm Holly's parents I am more disturbed by the fact that my daughter's boyfriend is sitting in my dining room and on my couch with nothing but a fedora and scarf on. Why isn't this smut on HBO?

We laughed a lot when we watched it last night. We're definitely of the mind that it's not a kids' show at all, but YMMV.

mrincredible said:
If I'm Holly's parents I am more disturbed by the fact that my daughter's boyfriend is sitting in my dining room and on my couch with nothing but a fedora and scarf on. Why isn't this smut on HBO?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ0SRgh3X9Q&sns=em

soorlady said:
Jim Henson must be rolling in his grave to have his creation so basterdized by the current muppeteers.

I don't know that pot smoking referencing hippie old Henson might actually like that his Muppets get to stretch their boundaries a bit. It's like letting his Gorchies out of the cabinet and onto the show

https://vimeo.com/24652753

The main function of all mass entertainment is to serve as a vehicle for advertising... the network is trying to target the all-grown-up Gen Xers (like me) who watched the original show. Except that I can't watch it because I don't have network TV in my house... oh well, sorry ABC. I don't expect it to become a cultural touchstone like Seinfeld or Friends...

Doesn't ABC put most of their programming online a week after broadcast?

Or the next day: http://abc.go.com/shows/the-muppets/episode-guide/season-01/01-series-premiere-pig-girls-dont-cry-pilot

I think with the fractionation of video content (can you even still call the entire genre "television"?) there's not going to be any more cultural touchstones like M*A*S*H or All in the Family.

Yes, ABC does put shows online after a week. And I agree that we are not likely to see more cultural touchstones in television any more, which seems a shame to me.

Best adult Kermit ever...

http://youtu.be/-eohHwsplvY

Catching up on episodes and am surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. It takes a little getting used to, but the new format (and tone) works. I have a feeling that too many people were turned off by seeing the Muppets act more "grown up" and this may not last another season, but for now it's a lot of fun. Some great laugh-out-loud moments (one with Laurence Fishburne in particular) and some sweet heartfelt moments (Kermit and Fozzie patching things up).

One thing that's odd is that there doesn't seem to be any continuity - Kermit's girlfriend disappeared as did Fozzie's.

Yes, there's being turned off by the "adult" part. Then there's also being turned off because it just isn't very good.

project37 said:

One thing that's odd is that there doesn't seem to be any continuity - Kermit's girlfriend disappeared as did Fozzie's.

One of them ran off with Chuck Cunningham. The other left to follow these kooks:

As someone who doesn't really find current sitcoms funny anymore, I've actually enjoyed watching The Muppets. It probably won't be renewed, but it's still funnier than The Big Bang Theory. It really should be on FXX or something.

ridski said:
but it's still funnier than The Big Bang Theory.

So was the cashier at Dunkin Donuts this morning.

RobB said:

ridski said:
but it's still funnier than The Big Bang Theory.

So was the cashier at Dunkin Donuts this morning.

What channel's the surveillance video of that on? I need to set my DVR.

I've always preferred live theatre.

Me (No, nobody was behind me in line): Hi, I see this sign here that says there's a problem with the Dunkin Donuts app but it doesn't go into a great amount of detail. I've been having trouble reloading my account with cash - is that the problem this sign is referring to?

Cashier: I guess. I hate that thing anyhow, half the time it doesn't scan.

Funny gal.

I guess your point is that something that isn't funny can be funnier that something else that isn't funny.

Strangely, so can something that is funny

If our standard for funny is Big Bang Therory then, yes, the Muppets is hysterical by comparison. Doesn't mean it's any good

ridski said:

RobB said:

ridski said:
but it's still funnier than The Big Bang Theory.

So was the cashier at Dunkin Donuts this morning.

What channel's the surveillance video of that on? I need to set my DVR.

Maybe ABC should hire the lady at Dunkin Donuts.

I love this new Muppets show. It's so funny and irreverent. It reminds me of 30 Rock which was the last sitcom I ever watched. And loved.

While I'm still sorry you don't like it, I'm happy as ABC just ordered 3 more episodes, bringing this season to 16. A short season, but that was what they were originally scheduling for. Apparently it's been doing well in ratings and looks good for a second season pick up. I've been following it and it keeps getting better each week. Last week's with Piggy and Reese Witherspoon working on a Habitat for Humanity site was hilarious. IMO, of course.

Some choice lines from the season so far:

Pepe the Prawn (after listening to Ms. Piggy drone on about herself for a long time): "Someone peel and eat me, already!"

Fozzie: Have you ever been shot with a tranq dart, Kermit?

Kermit: No, but I did lick my cousin once and the walls began to melt...

Reese Witherspoon: Have you seen my movie, Wild? I did all my own walking.

Fozzie: When your online profile says 'Passionate bear looking for love', you get a lot of wrong responses.

Fozzie: Now, this is true, ask any park ranger. Most bear attacks occur when the bear's feelings have been hurt.

Kermit: I woke to the sound of my alarm clock. It was so refreshing. I usually wake up to the sounds of my own screams

Swedish Chef's version of Rapper's Delight

The Reese Witherspoon episode had some great laugh out loud moments - my favorite being Bobo's explanation of how he dries himself off after a shower, "Um, I have an associate's degree. I use a towel."

I've been enjoying how the B-plots give the B-characters time to shine by putting them in everyday office situations. I actually felt a little sad for Sam misreading Janice's hello, loved Bobo and the Newsman trying to sell cookies for their daughters, and Rizzo stringing Scooter along after their fender bender. I also liked the twist on the old show's "celebrity sings a cover song" segment as Fozzie's girlfriend teased Fozzie about his 1980s guilty pleasure tune.

It's really funny stuff and I'm glad to know it's sticking around for a little while.

ridski said:
While I'm still sorry you don't like it, I'm happy as ABC just ordered 3 more episodes, bringing this season to 16. A short season, but that was what they were originally scheduling for. Apparently it's been doing well in ratings and looks good for a second season pick up.

Break out the Sean Penn.

I thought that it was getting better and better, so it's interesting to see that's already being "rebooted" with the next six episodes:

http://deadline.com/2015/11/the-muppets-showrunner-bob-kushell-exit-kristin-newman-reboot-1201606360/

It really doesn't need much of a reboot.  I think some episodes were a bit stronger then others, but the overall concept to transfer these characters into a more adult sitcom was spot on.

Unfortunately to appeal to the masses you would probably need to dumb it down a bit and add a laugh track.

The Muppets are back after the "reboot" and it didn't feel as strong to me - lost some of it's edginess.  But that's only one episode.

jamie said:

The Muppets are back after the "reboot" and it didn't feel as strong to me - lost some of it's edginess.  But that's only one episode.

They pretty much played out everything that's been said in this forum and elsewhere: Get Kermit and Piggy back together, get the rest of the Muppets involved in front of camera and more songs. Less talk, more variety. If they keep it moving in that direction, I don't why it shouldn't pick up more viewers. I liked the previous episodes (though I missed the last one) but having just finally got around to seeing Muppets Most Wanted, I do really miss the variety aspect.

Ugh - this week's episode was lamer than last week.  Like I said in December - I think they've dumbed it down a bit to get broader appeal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F44HRvn8tiA

This is from last season - I'm sure the reboot probably wouldn't have included the "Learn a new song" line.

I didn't realize it had been moved to Tuesdays. Looks like my DVR didn't either. I'll have to check out last night's on demand.