The Muppet Show
Kermit the Frog is the manager of a cabaret-style theatre house, which invariably has more drama behind the stage than on it. He has to contend with wannabe-comedian bears, the smothering advances of Miss Piggy, crabby regular theatre patrons, homicidal chefs, livestock, not to mention making the weekly guest star feel welcome.
Richard reviewed
November 3, 2025•
Saw it on TV somewhere in the ’80s and it felt like chaos had a curtain call, with felt, feathers and a jazz band that never played the same tune twice.
Kermit the Frog runs a vaudeville style theatre where every week is a new guest star, a new disaster and a new reason to panic backstage. Miss Piggy is dramatic, Fozzie’s jokes are criminal, and Gonzo… well, Gonzo’s just Gonzo.
The Swedish Chef throws food, Statler and Waldorf heckle from the balcony and somehow, the show always goes on.
The tone? Anarchic, warm and brilliantly meta.
It’s a variety show that parodies variety shows, with musical numbers, sketches and backstage drama that feels like a puppet version of 30 Rock decades before 30 Rock existed. And the guest stars? Everyone from Elton John to Rudolf Nureyev, each game to be roasted, slimed, or serenaded by chickens.
Watching it again feels like stepping into a world where silliness was sacred and satire wore googly eyes.
And if you saw it dubbed on German or Dutch TV in the ’80s, you probably remember the surreal joy of hearing Kermit introduce “unser heutiger Stargast” before chaos erupted.