‘The Muppets Mayhem’ Breaks The Streak Of Disappointing Muppet TV Ventures

While 2011’s Oscar-winning The Muppets revival promised a new glorious era for Jim Henson’s creations, Kermit, Miss Piggy and co. have since struggled to recapture such magic, particularly on the small screen. Their eponymous ABC show, a more adult-oriented mockumentary which unwisely substituted their usual warmth for misjudged snark, was canceled after a single season. Likewise, their first Disney+ vehicle Muppets Now, a much sweeter yet still inessential throwback to their sketch show beginnings. So can America’s favorite live-action puppets finally avoid TV executives’ axe for the first time since the mid-1990s? 

Well, their latest Disney+ original, The Muppets Mayhem, certainly brings something new to the fuzzy-felted table. You won’t find any of the usual suspects here, for one thing. As its title suggests, the ten-part series shifts the focus entirely to The Muppet Show’s house band, Electric Mayhem, allowing periphery characters such as free-spirited bassist Janice (David Rudman), incomprehensible trumpeter Lips (Peter Linz) and spaced-out saxophonist Zoot (Dave Goelz) the long overdue chance to shine. 

Co-created by Adam F. Goldberg, no stranger to oddball families as the man behind recently departed The Goldbergs, has stated that part of the six-piece’s appeal was he could do anything with them. And he wasn’t kidding. One episode centers on a Joshua Tree excursion to overcome writers’ block in which the Muppets experience a psychedelic trip induced by stale marshmallows. Who knows what youngsters will make of the scene where bassist Floyd (Matt Vogel) converses with a vision of ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic while frontman Dr. Teeth (Bill Barretta) gets trapped in a wall of piano keys?

There’s also an origins story explaining how the latter got his name which concludes at a dental convention named CavityCon, a lengthy sequence in which a Minecraft version of The Muppets are attacked by an army of Beliebers and Little Monsters, and an homage to The Beatles’ documentary Get Back boasting a cameo from Peter Jackson himself. 

Ah yes, the cameos. The Muppets are famed for giving celebrities the opportunity to show that hey, they can take a joke like us normal folk, too. But The Muppets Mayhem appears to be aiming for a world record. In the opener alone, we get Ryan Seacrest presenting a star-studded Behind the Music-esque catch-up, Danny Trejo taking an accidental house makeover in surprisingly good spirits and an impromptu house party attended by Billy Corgan, a man not exactly renowned for his jovial, fun-loving nature. 

Some famous faces barely pop in for more than a second. Blink and you’ll no doubt miss appearances from Rachel Bloom, Jack McBrayer and Nicole Byer during a superfan uprising. Others enjoy more notable screentime. Dutch DJ Zedd serves up one of the best visual jokes, Animal’s bafflement at an LED drum pad, as the band’s potential new producer. Shock jock Charlemagne Tha God presides over the radio interview in which the future of the group is thrown into question. And get ready to see Morgan Freeman like you’ve never seen him before.

It’s unlikely many viewers will know each passing celeb by name, or indeed understand all the gags. Much of the humor seems aimed at those old enough to remember the nostalgic footage of the Mayhem and Sir Elton John airing first time around (“I once dated Crosby, Stills and Nash. Young was too old”). However, there’s just as many one-liners for the generation raised on social media: see the eighth episode where the Muppets must contend with Twitter beefs, Instagram influencers and attempts to turn Animal (Eric Jacobson) into a TikTok sensation. There’s also a remarkably niche quip about Yoga Hosers, the nepo baby movie even guest Kevin Smith has probably forgotten about.

While all this sounds like the show has simply thrown everything at the wall to see what sticks, there is a cohesive story which neatly ties all the organized chaos together. Although they’ve established a reputation as the nation’s favorite live band (Lil Nas X, Chris Stapleton and Tommy Lee all praise their stage prowess), the Mayhem have never actually hit the studio together. But when junior A&R Nora (Lilly Singh) discovers they still owe the struggling Waxtown Records an album (or else pay back their missing $428,000 advance), the motley crew must finally put their talents on record. 

Of course, it’s never in any doubt that Lilly will be able to cajole the famously relaxed Mayhem (“they don’t do anything before 2pm”) in time for their Hollywood Bowl finale. Still, the show has a lot of fun testing her patience: see the inspired scene where the band reel through an array of intros and endings without any actual middles. 

Although there are occasional forays into EDM, Disney pop and even mumblerap, the music itself largely leans toward the retro. Alongside renditions of “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Have a Little Faith in Me” and their very own “Can You Picture That,” the Mayhem also perform several originals penned by hitmaker Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera, Pink) which echo the classic ‘70s rock that’s helped Daisy Jones and the Six to become one of this year’s breakout streaming hits. “Their new sound is the old sound,” summarizes Moog (Tahj Mowry), a longtime fan/friend just as determined to woo Nora as to help with her mission.

Although Mowry and Singh both give appealing performances, the former drawing upon his signature cheeky chappy persona and the latter displaying the kind of charm that made her rise from YouTuber to network chat show host seem inevitable. Every time the action switches to the less compelling human drama, though, be it the love triangle also involving Anders Holm’s tech bro JJ or Nora’s fractured relationship with influencer sister Hannah (Saara Chaudry), you’re left counting down the seconds until the Muppets and their crazy antics re-enter the fray. 

None more so than Penny (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph), the brilliantly irascible, pink-haired, New Yoiker who’s essentially the Muppet incarnation of Joey’s agent Estelle in Friends. The only notable new addition to the puppet cast, the Waxtown owner fits in so seamlessly you only hope she sticks around regardless of the show’s future. 

In a way, The Muppets Mayhem mirrors its titular band perfectly. It’s unfocused, grounded in the past and, like its drummer, prone to wild swings — but it’s almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Although Statler and Waldorf would no doubt disagree, it’s also a Muppets TV show which deserves to break the recent curse.

Jon O’Brien (@jonobrien81) is a freelance entertainment and sports writer from the North West of England. His work has appeared in the likes of Billboard, Vulture, Grammy Awards, New Scientist, Paste, i-D and The Guardian.