Could we see The Muppet Show return to television?
According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s Lesley Goldberg, ABC is developing a revival (or reboot) of the puppet-driven variety show, ordering a pilot presentation and filming a “proof of concept.” The script for the new pilot will be written by Bill Prady, co-creator of The Big Bang Theory. Prady is also an executive producer on the show, with Bob Kushnell (Anger Management) attached as a showrunner and Randall Einhorn (Wilfred) set to direct the pilot.
The presentation is being prepared for the TV upfronts for advertisers in May. And if all goes well, the new Muppet Show would go straight to series. ABC will probably have to do more than just film a new version of the show’s original introduction, right?
The premise of the presentation would reportedly have Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal and other regular cast members meeting at ABC Studios to discuss bringing back The Muppet Show. But the project won’t move forward unless Miss Piggy commits to be involved, and she’s reluctant to do so since her relationship with Kermit is in a rough patch. The plan also calls for two celebrity cameos, though those actors have yet to be cast.
The Muppet Show originally ran on syndicated television (produced in the U.K.) from 1976 to 1981 as a comedy-variety show, featuring a celebrity guest host. Three movies, including 1979’s The Muppet Movie, were spun off from the series through the mid-1980s. ABC produced a new series titled Muppets Tonight in 1996, which lasted 10 episodes. More recently, Disney revived with the franchise with two movies, 2008’s The Muppets and 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted.
