Here’s Who We Want to Guest Host ‘The Muppet Show’ If It’s Revived

ABC and Disney don’t seem to know what to do with The Muppets. They’ve often seem unconcerned with the legendary characters they own and unable to build upon the ambition and heart of the late great Jim Henson. Mercifully, the entertainment industry is populated by Muppet stans and they’ve taken on the mantle with gusto. Seth Rogen and Sabrina Carpenter helped to usher in a new day of The Muppet Show in 2026 with a one-off special that reminded us there’s still a lot of juice in the tank. It was a sublimely executed affair, made by people who clearly love The Muppets and wanted to do them justice. Audiences seemed on board too, including younger ones who don’t have Muppet Treasure Island memorized (Cabin Fever!)

So, surely ABC will be smart about this and greenlight a whole new season of the series? Come on, we live in the darkest time and need this badly. The potential remains limitless and it feels like we have the best folks in place to pull it off. With that in mind, let us try to will it into existence and offer some helpful suggestions for who would be our dream guest hosts for the next generation of The Muppet Show!

DANIEL CRAIG

Did you see the Beignet Blanc sketch? We love a straight man who descends into buffoonery, and Daniel Craig’s CSI: KFC turn in the Knives Out franchise is already so Muppety that getting him on stage with the real thing should be a foregone conclusion. We know that the former 007 is secretly a goblin freak character actor who loves a silly accent, and I’m sure he’d have a blast bouncing off of Sam the Eagle. Just make sure he wears that lovely stripey romper suit again.

PAUL F TOMPKINS

One of the undisputed kings of American improv comedy, and the best-dressed comic in the game, Paul F. Tompkins was born to guest-host The Muppet Show (and also be on Taskmaster, so can someone make that happen?) He’s quick witted, goofy, up for anything, has hardcore musical theatre kid energy (listen to him sing ‘Vampire’ by Olivia Rodrigo), and has experience of working with the felted ones. A lot of the best episodes of the classic show had guest hosts who weren’t necessarily A-Listers, at least to Americans, so why not let in an enduring favourite of comedy who has more than earned the opportunity to get in front of the biggest audience possible?

This pick is also a stand-in for about 16 Dropout comedians I’d kill to see hang out with the Muppets. Brennan Lee Mulligan and Jacob Wysocki double-teaming against Gonzo and Rizzo? You can have that idea for free, Disney!

JANELLE JAMES

Are the Muppets Philadelphia-adjacent enough to get an Abbott Elementary crossover? That opens up a lot of existential questions - is Gritty a Muppet? - but if we can’t get that then at least let Janelle James be the scene-stealing queen of the night with the gang. The diva-off against Miss Piggy would be legendary, and so would the dance-offs.

ARIANA GRANDE

Now that Ariana is in her Serious Actress mode, I feel it’s worth remembering that comedy is way more her thing than drama. She’s a consistently strong SNL host and has a surprisingly strong cadre of impressions in her roster, from Judy Garland to Celine Dion. Since the film industry doesn’t make the kind of classic What’s Up Doc?, style screwball comedies she was born to play, we should let her hang with the Muppets. Sabrina Carpenter showed her how it’s done, but Ariana would be on another level. Give her that variety show and let her unleash her inner Barbra!

THE TASKMASTER DUO

I imagine everyone just feels like a Muppet when standing next to the mighty Greg Davies, and little Alex Horne could use some emotional support from Kermit and company. They’ve got their own Statler and Waldorf-style duo dynamic going on, albeit one where Alex is far more beleaguered and Greg only wishes he could fling his minion off the balcony and into a crowd of penguins. I’d love to see Greg lording it up backstage, stomping on tiny desks like Godzilla, while Alex and The Horne Section jam with Dr. Teeth. Plus, imagine some of the Muppets being asked to do infuriating tasks like, ‘throw this potato into the hole’ or ‘fart.’ We welcome this absolute casserole.

CHRISTINE BARANSKI

I was so utterly convinced that Baranski had already done something Muppets-related that I didn’t believe Google when it told me she hadn’t. That seems off, right? You’re telling me that this legendary icon of scathing, martini-fuelled one-liners and unrushed glamour hasn’t stood toe to toe with Miss Piggy for Kermit’s hand? We’ve been denied the chance to see her get her Elaine Stritch on in Muppet land, and I think that’s offensive. Don’t you want to see The Gilded Age with the Muppets? Or, even better, Mamma Mia 3?

CHAPPELL ROAN

One of my favourite episodes of the show is the Elton John one, where the legendary singer’s flamboyance meets its match in the muppets (and some singing crocodiles in need of a snack.) I rewatch John singing ‘Bennie and the Jets’ with the full cast all the damn time. Talk about an instant dopamine rush. Which singer is destined to follow in those footsteps in terms of technicolour drama and singalong glory? We could name a few, certainly, but my heart belongs to Chappell. Imagine her singing ‘Good Luck, Babe’ with Miss Piggy, or teaching the ‘Hot To Go’ dance to the chickens. And the wardrobe would be sublime.

COLE ESCOLA

The Oh, Mary playwright and actor is one of the creatives behind the upcoming Miss Piggy movie, produced by Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence, so they’re primed for some sweet corporate synergy. Escola’s brand of demon twink vaudeville absurdity is clearly inspired by the Muppets, or at least they share a lot of DNA in terms of influence. Their work is at its best when it goes off on unexpected directions that veer into weird and occasionally nightmarish. Really, they already live in another realm of existence and that’s one where everyone is made of felt.

ALAN CUMMING

Two words: Muppet Traitors. The jokes write themselves. Plus Alan Cumming is a musical theatre king, a snappy dresser, a lover of a good double entendre, and he’s game for anything. Let him be the tartaned master of ceremonies as Fozzie Bear accuses the Swedish Chef of acting suspiciously at the last group meeting.