Muppets Now is a brand new show coming to Disney+ which will portray these iconic puppets in a way that they’ve never been seen before. This slightly improvised, faux-reality show will be completely different from anything The Muppets have done previously.
While the franchise usually turns out some of Disney’s best live-action films, this show has to be treated like a different brand. In order to stand out, all the rules must be broken and new creative decisions have to be made to make the series feel completely fresh and innovative. There are a few ways in which Muppets Now can set itself apart.
Original Story
Many of the previous Muppet movies are actually based on pre-existing material. Treasure Island, A Christmas Carol and The Wizard Of Oz all come to mind when thinking about past films.
While it’s not fair to say that all of the films and shows follow these trends, it certainly makes up a large part of the brand. There needs to be a completely original story here that distances itself from these remakes.
Improvisation
The concept for this show seems to be that the cast behind the characters will be using some of their improvisation talents. This is something the show should definitely lean into.
There are not many other projects starring Kermit and co. that actually include improvisation as one of the comedy techniques. This could lead to some of the scenes being even more hilarious.
Teenage Audience
The Muppets can sometimes struggle with its audience. The last show it produced was aimed at a slightly older demographic and unfortunately, failed, getting canceled by ABC after only one season.
In the past, the shows and films have of course bee aimed at younger audiences, with jokes that adults would enjoy. Perhaps somewhere in the middle, with a teenage audience, would be the best demographic for this show.
TV Format
The franchise has mostly functioned in the film format, or in a weekly show that comes off as a live theatre production. There’s been a couple of examples of changing this formula.
For this series, they definitely need to make it feel like an ongoing show. The same methods have been used again and again and this is an opportunity to work with the limitations and benefits of serial TV without stepping on other Jim Henson creations.
Short Episode Run
The last show from the brand saw a 16 episode run, which meant that many of the stories felt like they were actually filler. Since Disney+ can do any run they want, they need to shorten it.
It appears that the first season will consist of only 6 episodes which is a real creative benefit, especially since they are testing out this concept for the first time.
New Characters
Previous movies have introduced some new characters, but it’s usually only one per film; even then this is a rarity. This new show could rapidly expand the world they live in.
There’s an opportunity here to bring in a variety of new characters, each with different personalities for a new generation of fans. This way the product doesn’t feel a little stale.
Less Human Interaction
The humans usually play quite a large part in these stories, but to feel really different that needs to change. It’s actually more interesting to see the various Muppets interacting with one another.
They have such strong characteristics that it’s fun to combine them in amusing situations, where they have to work together to figure out a solution; rather than having a human come and solve it.
Don’t Rely On Mockumentary Style
The last TV show on ABC saw a mockumentary style utilized for the duration of the series. This didn’t really work and came off as a little gimmicky.
In order to move away from the tone of that series, it’s best that Disney+ treats this almost as if it’s a one camera sit-com. This could bring back the same vibe as other classics such as Friends.
Different Leads
The show often relies on Kermit and Miss Piggy as the two core leads. But this has been overdone, with other characters ready to step into the spotlight, perhaps for the first time in the history of this long-running Disney brand.
It sounds like Scooter could be playing a big part in the show, but it would be exciting to see other characters featured more heavily within the plot. Perhaps characters who never get that opportunity.
Cameos As Part Of The Narrative
Celebrity cameos are a big part of this brand, but they often don’t play into the overall story. However, since these episodes are all about the celebrities the characters meet, perhaps they should play into the plot more.
This means that these appearances aren’t just cheap cameos but actually designed to be a part of the story, highlighting new aspects to the characters that fans are already so familiar with.
