The Muppets have always known how to break the internet
The Muppet Show special returned to the Muppet Theatre on Feb. 4 for a one-night event on Disney+ and ABC and promptly took over feeds. The original series, which ran from 1976 to 1981, pioneered the variety format with vaudeville silliness, celebrity guests, and backstage chaos anchored by Kermit the Frog.
The new special revives that spirit with familiar faces — Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Statler and Waldorf — plus contemporary guests including Maya Rudolph, Seth Rogen (who also serve as executive producers), and Sabrina Carpenter. Online attention has clustered around a few standout clips.
Rizzo’s cover of The Weeknd’s "Blinding Lights," staged on rat-infested streets, quickly spread across feeds. Sabrina Carpenter’s performance of "Manchild," which leans into the show’s absurdity and features a flock of chickens on backup vocals, has also circulated widely.