Picture from Consequence of Sound
The trailer for a new television series starring The Muppets appeared online today, or at least grabbed my attention for the first time today and I don't know whether to be happy about it or not. I'm not really sure who is being catered for these days whenever an attempt is made to generate interest in Kermit and company, the Disney Store sometimes launches a range of cuddly toys and plastic drinking receptacles (cleverly avoiding use of the word 'beaker' for obvious reasons) for children yet the children of today can't really be that bothered can they? As I have previously written, the output of The Muppets over the years following Jim Henson's death has consisted of weak television specials and straight-to-DVD efforts. When we went to the cinema to watch The Muppets Mandi and myself noticed that the audience was made up of parents who had dragged their kids along to try and interest them. What I wrote last year summed up the feeling around the latest regeneration of the franchise in the hands of Disney.
This new series announced today (trailer) is playing on the fact that it will be more adult orientated than previous efforts, although it is worth noting that The Muppet Show in the 1970s wasn't intended as a children's series in the first place. It was broadcast on a Sunday night and was aimed at a grown up audience, watching the first series on DVD proves this. Jim Henson had trouble pitching the show in America because he was associated too closely with Sesame Street and people thought he was trying to push another series for kids.
Something that troubles me is the feeling that the trailer might be the best thing about the series, similar to watching a film trailer containing all the jokes. Aside from the realisation that it has taken nearly forty years to finally deliver the 'bears shit in the woods' joke it might be that a whole series won't be sustainable. Maybe a one-off special would have been a better idea, or perhaps this trailer would have worked as a spoof to be included on The Muppet YouTube channel alongside such gems as the classic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' video.
Time will tell I suppose and I really hope that the new series works because The Muppets deserve to be back on prime-time television, however I do remember how patchy the 1990s reboot Muppets Tonight was so I will reserve judgement until I have seen it.
No podcast this week.
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May housekeeping
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