The Muppets (2015)

The Muppets is a primetime television show produced by ABC Studios and the Muppets Studio. The series premiered on ABC on September 22, 2015. The series features the Muppet characters in a mockumentary-style series going behind the scenes of Miss Piggy's new late-night talk show, Up Late with Miss Piggy. The series focuses on the Muppets' private lives, including the tempestuous relationship between Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog.
The core Muppet characters each have a role to play in the Up Late with Miss Piggy production team. Kermit is the executive producer, Fozzie Bear is Miss Piggy's co-host, and the house band is Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Gonzo is the show's head writer, with Rizzo the Rat and Pepe the King Prawn also part of the writing staff.
Backstage, Scooter is the Talent Coordinator, Bobo the Bear is the stage manager, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker handle the props, Uncle Deadly is in charge of wardrobe, and the Swedish Chef runs craft services.
Additionally, Sam the Eagle is in charge of standards and practices for the network, and Denise works for ABC's marketing. (Denise also happens to be Kermit's new girlfriend, which causes friction between the show's producer and the host.)
Rowlf the Dog owns a bar across the street from the studio, where the Muppets unwind after a stressful day working on the show.
==Official synopsis==
“The Muppets” return to prime time with a contemporary, documentary-style show that, for the first time ever, will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires; a more adult Muppet show, for kids of all ages.Disney - ABC Press Site
==Development==
In spring 2015, ABC produced a short pilot presentation for the series. Bill Prady (Miss Piggy's Hollywood, The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson, The Big Bang Theory) and Bob Kushell (The Simpsons, 3rd Rock from the Sun) served as co-writers and as executive producers along with director Randall Einhorn (The Office, Survivor) and Muppeteer Bill Barretta.
The 10-minute pilot presentation was shown to ABC executives to sell the show, which received a standing ovation.The Muppets Revival Is Happening and Here’s the First Photo by James Hibberd and Natalie Abrams / Entertainment Weekly This reel is the source of the first trailer and production photos released to market the series. At San Diego Comic-Con, Bill Prady reported that the pilot was not meant to be seen by the public, but the audience at the panel was treated to a viewing of the full 10 minutes. Ten days later, ABC released the full presentation on their YouTube channel.
On May 7, 2015, ABC officially announced that the series had been picked up for the fall 2015 television season.Variety "‘The Muppets,’ Comedy from ‘Community’ Star Ken Jeong Among ABC Orders" by Elizabeth Wagmeister, May 7, 2015 Production on the first season began in July with the first table read on the 24thMatt Vogel on Facebook and filming started on the 31st.The Muppets on Facebook The show opened the network's fall Tuesday-night lineup, airing at 8PM Eastern (7PM Central).Entertainment Weekly. ABC's fall schedule: 'Muppets' open Tuesdays
On October 29, 2015, ABC announced that the show had been picked-up for a full season by extending the initial order to 16 episodes. On November 4, 2015, it was reported that Bob Kushell had stepped down from the show as a showrunner; Kristin Newman (Galavant, How I Met Your Mother, That '70s Show) replaced him. The show began a hiatus after the tenth episode to go through a retooling and returned to the ABC line-up on February 2, 2016.http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2015/11/04/the-muppets-showrunner-steps-down-series-to-reboot-in-spring/http://www.toughpigs.com/feb-2-return/
On May 12, 2016, it was announced that the show had been cancelled and would not be returning for a second season.Entertainment Weekly, May 12, 2016
==Promotion==
:see The Muppets (2015) promotion
In August 2015, the stars of other ABC shows appeared in a series of promos with the Muppets to help promote the new series -- celebrities included Nathan Fillion (Castle), Kerry Washington, Joshua Malina and Scott Foley (Scandal), Patricia Heaton and Eden Sher (The Middle), Constance Wu and Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat), Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson (Black-ish), Clark Gregg and Ming-Na Wen (Agents of SHIELD), Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs), and Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken).
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==Distribution==
Domestically, The Muppets aired on ABC from September 22, 2015 to March 1, 2016. Unusual for a series produced in the United States, each episode actually premiered one night before the domestic broadcast via Citytv in Canada.
Other foreign markets included Sky 1 in the United Kingdom and Canal Sony in Latin America (Los Muppets).
The series was available to purchase from a number of digital vendors, and was made available in full on Disney+ upon launch in November 2019. No release on physical media was ever produced.
==Awards==
It was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour or Less).http://www.toughpigs.com/the-muppets-emmy/ It lost to the Amazon series Transparent. At the 2016 Kids' Choice Awards the series won for "Favorite Family TV Show."
==Sources==
==External links==
*Official site
*Official Facebook page
*Official Twitter account
*Official Hulu page
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