The Muppet Show (2015 TV series) (Johnsonverse)

The Muppet Show is an American-British variety show, based on the television series of the same name that ran for five seasons from 1976 to 1981 on ITV in the UK and on CBS in the US. Developed by Tim Johnson and produced by The Jim Henson Company in collaboration with ITV Studios and, until the Henson acquisition in 2018, The Muppet Studios, the show has aired on WBC since September 22, 2015 in the US, and since March 6, 2016 on ITV in the UK.

Unike the original series, which was shot at Elstree Studios in the United Kingdom, the new Muppet Show is shot at the Johnson Studios lot in San Jose, California. Since its premiere, it has received critical acclaim for staying true to the original. It has been renewed to the 2024-2025 television season.

Premise
Much like the original show, Kermit the Frog hosts a variety show in the Muppet Theatre. Many sketches are featured in almost every episode, as well as skits taking place backstage. Each episode also consists of several musical numbers

Conception
In 2014, Tim Johnson, looking to release a new Muppets series in primetime to keep the franchise relevant, saw a pitch for a proposed adult-oriented series created by Bill Prady (who also came up with the idea to bring the Muppets back to primetime television) and Bob Kushell. However, he rejected the idea, feeling that Jim Henson wouldn't want an adult-oriented Muppets series. He immediately greenlit a revival of the classic Muppet Show, demanding that the franchise return to its vaudeville roots, with himself, Prady, and Kushell as showrunners and executive producers, allowing Prady to concurrently continue performing his duties as executive producer on The Big Bang Theory, which CBS had renewed through its tenth season, for the 2016–17 season. WBC ordered a pilot script and a 10-minute proof of concept filmed presentation, which was filmed at the Johnson Studios lot in May and delivered just in time for WBC schedule consideration. The pitch presentation, which was first screened to the public on July 11, 2015, at Comic-Con to an overwhelmingly positive response, was released online on July 21, 2015. The pitch presentation's release became the top-trender on social media.

Development
Among the writers that Johnson got for the show outside of himself included Jack Burns (for the first five seasons until his death in January 2020), David Odell, Joseph A. Bailey, and Chris Langham, all of whom had written for the original series, performer David Rudman, his son Adam, former Fraggle Rock writer Jocelyn Stevenson, Prady, and Sesame Street performer and writer Joey Mazzarino, who is also a performer here.

Puppeteers who worked on the original series included Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, and Louise Gold. The set used is the former Stage 28 in Johnson Studios (formerly Universal Studios), and was decorated with the same set pieces used in the 2011 film The Muppets. Sets must be raised four and a half feet so that the Muppet performers will have room to operate the characters, and all sets have platforms which can be moved. The opening sign used is the same one that had been used on the original show from its second to fifth seasons, and the intro is a shot-for-shot recreation of the intro for the third season, but with the Animal and Lips/Dolores solos from the fifth season intro, while the credits are a recreation of the fifth season credits, though with the addition of Janice to the orchestra next to Floyd Pepper, playing the banjo. Christophe Beck, who had composed the score for the 2011 film The Muppets, conducts an orchestra for the new series.

Cast

 * Steve Whitmire as Kermit, Statler, Beaker, Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, the Newsman, Link Hogthrob, Lips, Andy Pig, the Swedish Chef (hands), and others
 * Eric Jacobson as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam the Eagle, George the Janitor,
 * Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Waldorf, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Randy Pig, Beauregard, Muppy, Chip,
 * Bill Barretta as Rowlf, Pepé the King Prawn, the Swedish Chef (head), Dr. Teeth, Bobo the Bear, Mahna Mahna, Johnny Fiama, and King Rupert the Second (a.k.a. King Goshposh)
 * David Rudman as Scooter, Janice, Wayne,
 * Matt Vogel as Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Camilla, Pops, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Uncle Deadly, Sweetums, J.P. Grosse,
 * Peter Linz as Walter, Nigel,
 * Kevin Clash as Clifford
 * Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Dolores (Trumpet Girl)
 * Brian Henson as Sal Minella,
 * Julianne Buescher as Denise and Wanda
 * Tyler Bunch as Thog
 * Ryan Dillon as
 * Kathryn Mullen
 * Karen Prell
 * John Tartaglia
 * Louise Gold
 * Artie Esposito
 * Frankie Corderro
 * Carmen Osbahr
 * Joey Mazzarino
 * Jennifer Barnhart
 * Stephanie D'Abruzzo
 * Alice Dinnean
 * Tim Lagasse
 * Bruce Lanoil
 * Mike Quinn
 * Drew Massey

International versions
Like the French and German versions of the original Muppet Show, the title card is replaced for all foreign versions with a new one showing the foreign-language title. In most cases, however, these versions feature local guest stars in most episodes, replacing the originals, with their segments shot at that version's studio (though Muppet-only skits are kept, with references to the guest star being redubbed).

COVID-19 pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was put on hiatus, and was replaced with Netflix original Muppets Now. However, Tim has said that the show would reenter production eventually. The show reentered production on October 10, 2020, with the sixth season set to air in December of that year. New social distancing measures were taken, with some celebrities appearing through Zoom. Other performers living outside of California recorded a vocal track that substitute puppeteers would perform to.

Reception
The show was universally acclaimed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a score of 100%, with the critic consensus reading, "With high production values, top-notch guest stars, and quality humor, The Muppet Show has successfully recaptured what made the original show fun to watch". The episode guest-starring Judy Sheindlin, in particular, is cited as the best episode in either this series or the original. Variety called it "a fun show that would have done Jim Henson proud".