A year ago this week, The Muppets Mayhem arrived on Disney+. This series told the story of The Electric Mayhem recording their first album after being on tour for decades. Of course, Dr. Teeth and the rest of the band have their own unique approach to, well, everything. This means that creating an album isn’t as easy as it should be. This led to some moments of humor, heart, and of course music!
Sadly, last fall it was announced that The Muppets Mayhem would not be receiving a second season. Fans were understandably disappointed. After all, the lead up to The Muppets Mayhem really was a lot of fun. It spurred on the imagination of the possibilities of what could be coming. This had really started in 2016 with the performance of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem at the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. That performance got fans talking and wishing for more.
More is what ended up happening, in a completely unexpected ways. It first came in the form of The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World Resort. Kermit and friends shared two stories from the revolutionary war, the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and the Declaration of Independence. Liberty Square would come to a stand still as The Muppets brought these historic moments in American history to life in a humorous way. These were fantastic show that displayed the personality of the Muppets and really were a perfect fit for them in the Disney theme parks.
Muppets Take On the Bowl, The Parks, and Disney+
A year later, fans got even more Muppets in the form of Muppets Take the Bowl. Fans were able to see a recreation of The Muppet Show live. This was shown first at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017 and then a year later a version of the show called The Muppets Take the O2 came to London. Both of these shows allowed Muppets fans to see The Muppets perform live with some recognizable segments, songs, and of course characters. For many fans, it was a dream come true getting to see this happen.
Fast forward to 2021 and things seemed to really be happening again. For Muppets fans, this was exciting. This was a time when things like Muppets Haunted Mansion arrived on Disney+ and The Muppets Christmas Caroling Coach arrived at Disneyland. For those who attended that year’s after-hours-ticketed Christmas event, this was easily the best thing that was offered! It seemed like things were happening with the Muppets and the possibilities were endless.
Mayhem Is Coming
Can You Picture That?
The next year at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Muppet excitement grew even more. The Muppets Mayhem was on the horizon and they were available for anyone who wanted to see them! In one panel, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem performed Can You Picture That ahead of the arrival of the series the following year.
Meet the Muppets
Out on the D23 floor, another panel allowed fans to quite literally “meet the Muppets.” In this case, it was Animal, Floyd, and Janice who were on hand. They were joined by Tahj Mowry, who plays Moog in The Muppets Mayhem. This panel, perhaps more than anything else, brought more hope for what this new series could be. The Muppets were exactly what fans would hope they would be. Animal even went off script and decided to cause some mayhem in the middle of this panel when he decided it was time for a game of tag. This led to fans getting to see Animal up close and personal as he ran out into the crowd. As fans geeked out, it also was realized that this show was allowing The Muppets to have fun, be themselves, and play. This looked very much like a winning formula!
Chatting With the Band
The following spring, it was almost time for The Muppets Mayhem to arrive on Disney+. There was a level of excitement for what was coming from The Muppets that really hadn’t been seen in quite some time. Yes, there had been projects to be excited about. However, this felt bigger. It wasn’t a movie, but it had the weight of one. The Electric Mayhem went on a press tour to promote the show. This led to some wonderful Muppet moments as well. Daps Magic was one of the outlets that had the honor of interviewing The Electric Mayhem. It was a VERY exciting day for Daps Magic.
While the excitement was building for The Muppets Mayhem, other Muppets were making appearances in the Disney theme parks for video segments. This was roughly around the same time. Fozzie Bear went on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland, Kermit and Animal visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom for Earth Day. This reminded fans of how much The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History was loved and how more Muppets in the parks would be a great thing!
Mayhem Arrives
On May 10, 2023, The Muppets Mayhem arrived on Disney+. Along with the series being released, the soundtrack was released as well. Not only could fans listen to it on music streaming services, but also on vinyl! The level of Muppet excitement that had been building in the previous years reached a peak! There was talk of a potential Muppetverse. As fans watched the show and discovered how much they loved it, the hope for more grew! This was a fantastic time to be a Muppets fan in recent years!
Later in the year, a new holiday party was announced for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Holidays in Hollywood show featured Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog. Fans were delighted to see their return. With MuppetVision 3D just across the park, it seemed like a perfect place for the duo to make an appearance. The duo returned to the stage this year when Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrated its 35th anniversary.
Looking Forward
A year later, sadly there are no new Muppet series or movies on the horizon. There is a new documentary about Jim Henson that looks like it will be incredible. The Muppet Movie is returning to theaters for its 45th anniversary as well. However, there isn’t anything publicly announced for fans to look forward to. The good thing is, that there is still reason to have hope. In August, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be full of announcements about different businesses that are a part of The Walt Disney Company. This could include The Muppets (here’s hoping).
Recipe for Success
This would be a fantastic time for more of The Muppets. It doesn’t have to be in a specific format or with a specific group of characters. There could be more exploration of characters that haven’t been in the spotlight previously as much. There could be more of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, and the rest of the gang. What exactly is offered moving forward really doesn’t matter as much as how it is done. The Muppets are at their best when they have several elements included in their equation for success.
Fun
First off, they need to be having fun. It is very easy to see on screen (or in person) when The Muppets are having fun. Just like when one can hear a smile through a telephone, fans can see when the cast and crew of The Muppets are having fun during their performances. While this isn’t the only thing needed for a successful Muppet production, it does seem to be a crucial one.
Zany
Second, things need to be a bit zany. There has to be those things that just wouldn’t normally happen anywhere else but happens with The Muppets. This can be found in the core of how The Muppets are made up themselves. After all, where else would you find a frog that has a pig for a girlfriend, a frog for a best friend, who also happens to play the banjo. They go on random adventures together that one normally wouldn’t expect with puppets. Maybe this is sailing a ship, driving a car, making a movie, creating a show, or even being shot out of a canon. The zaniness should also continue to the dialogue, and it generally does. Some of this comes simply from the Muppet performers getting to play, as seen at D23 when Animal ran off to play tag in the crowd.
Heart
Third, there has to be heart. The best Muppets always have heart, one way or another. Quite often, the best Muppet offerings are about pursuing a dream with loved ones. The relationships that come together to overcome whatever obstacles the Muppets face are something that people relate to and aspire to experience. They attempt to show kindness to each other, often with some challenges and mistakes along the way. They show a common purpose where ultimately kindness wins out. These ultimately lead to heartwarming moments in a variety of different Muppet shows and movies through the years.
Diversity
Diversity is also a very important part of The Muppets. The Muppets are made up of a wide range of different characters and personalities. They look different, have different interests, and have different ways of interacting with each other. These differences are what make the Muppets interesting. They also often lead to some humorous moments. Perhaps most importantly though, when they come together and celebrate these differences, they provide hope! Everyone wants to be a part of a group or tribe that loves them. The Muppets show that no matter how different a person can be, they are loved and their differences are valued.
Story
Finally, it has to be a good story. A solid story with the other elements of this equation leads to a magical performance from The Muppets. The story needs a good plot, characters, conflict, and resolution. Personally, I think there should also be a musical element as well! An entire book could be written and has been, about what makes for a good story. At the end of the day, however, it should entertain and be true to The Muppets.
More Muppets
With it being nearly halfway through 2024, it’s time to play the music and light the lights. When there are more Muppet projects to look forward to, fans get the joy of anticipating what is next. They also get that joy that comes from The Muppets as they share messages of friendship and coming together to do something special. Everybody wants to be a part of something special and The Muppets remind people that this is always possible. The last ten years were a very exciting time for Muppets fans, it’s time to make the next ten years even more exciting!
