I remember reading someone saying that when they went to go see The Muppets, the 2011 movie, they were looking around the theater only to discover more adults in the audience than kids. I noticed the same thing in 2007 when I saw The Simpsons movie on opening night. People grew up on the Muppets, watching them on Sesame Street and later on The Muppet Show, which some tend to forget was a TV show about a TV show.
The Muppets were doing meta-references and comedy before it was popular (and overused). The Muppet Movie, released in 1979, and The Great Muppet Theater, released in 1981, contained so many references about them being in a movie, you’d think it’s where Wade Wilson/Deadpool got his brand of humor. Jim Henson passed away on May 16, 1990 and some have felt the magic died with him. Movies like Muppet Chrismas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island are fondly remembered by Gen Xers and Millennials but Muppets Tonight and Muppets from Space seemed to show the cracks in the product.
Since Disney acquired the Muppets, they’re seems to be a few highs (the 2011 movie) and some lows (Muppets Haunted Mansion) and the failure of the 2015 show which tried to hard to appeal to more mature audiences. But The Muppets Mayhem, which is currently streaming on Disney-Plus is a return to true form of the yesteryear. I credit Disney for dropping all 10 episodes on the same day. Every episode of the show moves as such as great pace telling a story that it’s a shame to make people wait two or three months for the whole series.
I will have to say if you’re hoping to see Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang you remember, they’re mostly MIA. The entire focus of the show is on Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and their history. Developed by TV producer Adam F. Goldberg along with Bill Barretta (who performs Dr. Teeth), the show reveals that the Electric Mayhem has never recorded a record album and they are under a long-binding contractual obligation to do so.
A junior A&R executive Nora Signh (Lilly Singh) discovers this after she’s informed her employer Wax Town Records is shutting down. Unfortunately, Nora doesn’t know what she’s in store for as she has to deal with the Mayhem’s eccentric behavior and lack of direction. Even worse, her employer, Penny Waxman (performed by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) is a former girlfriend of Dr. Teeth.
So, Nora and her sister, Hannah (Saara Chuadry), and Mayhem superfan Gary “Moog” Moogski (Tahj Mowry) have to work on keeping the band, consisting of drummer Animal (Eric Jacobson), guitarists Floyd Pepper (Matt Vogel) and Janice (David Rudman), saxophonist Zoot (Dave Goelz) and trumpeter Lipps (Peter Linz) focused. Even worse, the Mayhem isn’t too keen on current events and technology. So getting them abreast of new thing is also an hurdle for Nora and the others.
There’s also a some drama in her life as she’s oblivious to how Moog is attracted to her while a former flame and colleague, JJ (Anders Holm), is now a wealthy app developer. The series does a great job at blending the Muppets’ stories with the humans that you feel like it’s not focusing on one over the other. Part of the joy of the Muppet Show was how it appealed to children and adults. Young kids may not have known who Joel Grey or Rita Moreno were but the parents could enjoy the show along with their kids. And many live actors have complimented the Muppeteers on how they were able to make it appear to seem the Muppets were just like living people.
I don’t want to reveal too much because the series is full of a lot of surprises, jokes and cameos by about three dozen actors, musicians and even film directors. In one episode, Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, pops up and there is a reference to his 1989 movie Meet the Feebles which is basically what an X-rated Muppet show would look like. The fact that the Muppets exist in the same universe as the Feebles is both funny and disturbing. But parents can be assured, this show is mostly for everyone.
I think the minds behind Muppets Mayhem know that young people have access to more than they did when they were young. All one has to do is Google Meet the Feebles and probably see a clip on YouTube. Barretta was also in the R-rated The Happytime Murders, directed by Brian Henson. Some people will like that all episodes are named after popular songs and albums such as “Break on Through,” “Virtual Insanity” and Exile on Main Street. Even more, it might introduce a younger generation to some of the other songs covered by Mayhem.
The end of the season does hint at a second season, but it’s unclear at this time if Disney will greenlight a second season. With the well reception this show has received, it will be foolish not to. The cast and crew were able to produce a series that was fun, wholesome, clever and exciting.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 