By James Field | TV | April 12, 2023 |
By James Field | TV | April 12, 2023 |
It’s been well-established that I’m a big fan of everything Muppet. From the original Muppet Show and classic movies to Jason Segel’s reboot, from Fraggle Rock to The Happytime Murders, they vary in quality but my love for them does not. Except for the ABC The Muppets. It was bad; mechanical, cynical, and honestly just not any fun. So when I heard about The Muppets Mayhem coming to Disney+ this spring, my mood could best be described as cautiously optimistic. With a focus on the legendary rock-funk band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, it treads fresh territory. At the same time, it’s got the same Office-like vibe of The Muppets, and several of the same writers and directors.
But here we are a month out, and Disney+ dropped a trailer that adds to my expectations. The Electric Mayhem’s influence has spanned decades and genres, inspiring artists from Tommy Lee to Lil Nas X. Unfortunately, they never actually recorded an album. Now, with the help of Nora (Lilly Singh), Gary (Tahj Mowry), and a slew of guest stars including Weird Al, Kevin Smith, and Danny Trejo, they’ll get it done. That’s if they can navigate the new musical landscape and social media craze despite decades of what I have to assume is some pretty heavy drug abuse.
From creators Adam F. Goldberg, Jeff Yorkes, and Bill Barretta, and with veteran Muppet actors like Dave Goelz onboard, I remain optimistic. And I appreciate celebrities who play along with the Muppets. It doesn’t guarantee they’re not secretly jerks but it’s a good sign, similar to whether or not dogs like them. All 10 episodes of The Muppets Mayhem drop on Disney+ on May 10.