Kermit the Frog has had a longer career than most people realize today. Back in 1955, Jim Henson created his first Kermit the Frog character from his mom’s coat and a ping pong ball, thus sparking a long-term career of Muppet making and show business. Then there was The Muppet Show, in its original Henson Company creation, which debuted from 1976 to 1981. Fast forward 50 years, and the now-Disney-owned Muppets are releasing a special anniversary episode of The Muppet Show on Disney+ and ABC on February 4, 2026.
As The Muppet Show has always featured a special guest, this 50th anniversary episode features Singer and Actress Sabrina Carpenter. It is directed by Tony-winning Alex Timbers and produced by Point Grey Pictures, the production company of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The episode is billed as a pilot for a potential reboot and stays true to the original Henson characters in an updated form.
While Disney has attempted other shows involving the Muppets since their ownership takeover in 2004, they have only very recently agreed on this pilot of The Muppet Show. Because they are using the original Muppet characters, including Miss Piggy, Scooter, Gonzo, and Fozzy Bear, and not straying far from the original The Muppet Show format, it seems fair to expect a favorable rating from long-time Jim Henson fans.
For die-hard Jim Henson fans of the late ’70s and ’80s, it can be a bit of an adjustment not to hear Frank Oz as the voice of Miss Piggy and friends, but it is also appreciated that, after Jim Henson’s passing in 1990, Kermit the Frog’s voice was resurrected. Now Kermit the Frog is 70 years old, and while voiced by a few others over the years, his sweet, quirky personality still remains. As expected, Miss Piggy’s feisty and confident nature continues to dominate the theatrics in The Muppet Show’s 50-year anniversary episode.
So, now the question of whether a whole new season of The Muppet Show 2026 should air comes into play. Perhaps, given the struggles that Generations Z and A face, it would certainly make their world brighter to view life through Muppet eyes. The Muppets have always had a wonderfully positive message for those who believe in their dreams. Adults can certainly relate as well, so why not continue what Jim Henson started with the Muppets, accessing their biggest budgets yet? The Muppet revolution is on, and the more Muppet fan soldiers backing up Miss Piggy and friends, the better.
Encouraging the younger crowd to dive into the original episodes of The Muppet Show, Cryptic Rock thinks Disney’s The Muppet Show pilot 50th Anniversary episode is a fun time, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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