I watched the first trailer for ‘The Muppet Show’ — and it looks like the inspirational, celebrational, muppetsational comeback fans have been waiting for when it comes to Disney+

I'm old enough to remember the confusion over a certain puppet when The Muppet Show first aired in 1976. While excited that it would feature a cast of Muppet characters, I was confused because only one, Kermit the Frog, was instantly recognizable to me. Where were Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Bert and Ernie? Other than Kermit, these Sesame Street stars lacked the creative freedom necessary to launch and stage a weekly comedy show, one that ran for five seasons, and that is returning as if dethawed from cryofreeze on Disney+.

The special, which airs on February 4, got its first official trailer on Friday (January 23, 2026). It's a time warp of sorts, in that the cast of Muppet characters, sets, and even joke setups appear unchanged from the original. However, there's also a winking acknowledgement that this special, which ...