The Muppet Show Returns After 50 Years on ABC

Kermit the Frog is back where he belongs, hosting a vaudeville-style variety show that proves some things really do get better with age.

ABC's 2026 revival of The Muppet Show returns to the original formula that made the series a hit 50 years ago. Director Alex Timbers and his team put Kermit back in charge of the old theater, complete with Statler and Waldorf heckling from their signature box seats.

The new version features musical guest Sabrina Carpenter, who appears in comedy sketches and musical numbers alongside Miss Piggy, the Swedish Chef, Fozzie Bear, and the entire beloved cast. Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen also make appearances, with Rogen serving as executive producer.

This return to basics comes after years of unsuccessful attempts to modernize the franchise. ABC tried updating the format in 1996 with Muppets Tonight, set at a TV station instead of a theater. Disney's 2020 streaming attempt, Muppets Now, moved the action online with Scooter running the show instead of Kermit.

The original Muppet Show ran from 1976 to 1981 and attracted major stars from George Burns and Milton Berle to Elton John and Steve Martin. The variety show format, inspired by classic vaudeville, became a cultural phenomenon that spawned movies and generations of fans.

Why This Inspires

Sometimes progress means looking backward. In an era obsessed with reinvention, ABC discovered that the magic was always in the simplicity of felt puppets telling good stories with heart.

The new generation of writers and puppeteers honored what worked while bringing fresh energy to the stage. They kept the warmth, the humor, and the gentle chaos that made the original special.

One standout scene shows Miss Piggy bursting into Sabrina Carpenter's dressing room, accidentally flattening Kermit, who hides and moans in pain. It's classic Muppet comedy that works just as well today as it did decades ago.

The revival proves that good entertainment doesn't need constant updates or internet tie-ins. Sometimes the recipe for joy is already perfect, waiting patiently for someone to trust it again.

Fifty years later, Kermit is still showing us that being green is easy when you stay true to yourself.