After the failure of the more older audience-leaning The Muppets on ABC, the popular puppets are being returned to format for a more typical tone and variety format. In this, the Muppets are hosting a bunch of viral videos with the framing device of Scooter (performed by David Rudman) editing and downloading them. It's no original Muppet Show, but it's generally entertaining.
On average, the segments are fun. The Swedish Chef (Bill Barretta) in particular remains as funny as he ever was. Doctor Bunsen Honeydew (Dave Goelz, the last OG Muppet performer) and Beaker (Rudman) have become modern day Bill Nyes. Rather than do the regular made-up science experiment gags, here they're infotaining as they perform actual science experiments. They're surprisingly engaging as things are set on fire, launched, etc.. This show carries over the one element from The Muppets: Uncle Deadly (Matt Vogel) as Miss Piggy's sarcastic personal assistant. He works wonderfully off of her; the one Muppet who understands her enough that he can push buttons without evoking her wrath. Scooter also serves as a great straight man having to deal with everyone else's eccentricities.
There's also a pretty healthy heaping of guest star appearances throughout.
However, this show could've been stronger. Unlike the Muppet Show or even Muppets Tonight, which constantly came up with new material, Muppets Now basically uses the same limited number of sketches. Plus, there are very few attempts at new Muppet characters, preferring to coast with what they've got. Going back to Muppets Tonight, they may not have quite nailed the Muppet Show formula, but at least they experimented with new faces. Also, you barely see some of the more popular Muppets, such as Kermit (Vogel), Fozzie (Eric Jacobson), Animal (Jacobson), and Gonzo (Goelz). Rizzo's not even in this. First they ditch him in the recent Muppet films and now this. What's with the Rizzo hate?!
Though this doesn't go far as the The Muppets, there is a negativity. Sure, in the Muppet Show, characters would get hit, blown up, eaten, etc., but they mostly felt like a good group. Here, a lot of characters feel more selfish. Honeydew has always been self-involved in his pursuit of science, but here he seems intentionally cruel to Beaker. Miss Piggy (Jacobson) gets more skits than any other character, which was a mistake. She works better when she's not the one in charge. When she is, it's just a bunch of poorly written ego jokes. She's not quite as toxic as in The Muppets, but she can still be unbearable. Also, the sidelined Muppets all seem to be the nicer ones.
At six episodes, this is a quick watch. I think your kids will have a good time. As for adult Muppet fans, I can't say this this is required viewing. I'd rank this above The Muppets but a little below Muppets Tonight, which left more of an impression and at least gave us Pepe the Prawn.
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