Beginning with the 2011 film The Muppets, the Disney Studios has been stuck on the question of whether or not the Muppets (specifically the Kermit-Fozzie-Gonzo ensemble, not the Sesame Street or Fraggle Rock franchises) are still relevant. And while the question itself seems to have launched the creative team into a third wave of inspiration, it is at it's own core irrelevant.
The Muppets have never been relevant; in the sense that they're timeless characters, existing outside the scope of such nonsense like relevancy. Historically, the Muppets have always been cool, and somehow always not. Jim Henson's placement in the grand-grand proscenium stage is on par with Chuck Jones and Dr. Seuss. His creations are the embodiment of the human soul, funneled through a simplistic yet accessible medium. And that reflection may fall out of favor with the masses for a while, but it will never go away.
But what about the new series?
You know what's funny? My people (the Monty Python reciting nerds) tend to be highly opinionated whenever something sacred to them gets revisited. For reference see the hatred lobbed at Maleficent, or the boycotting of The Looney Tunes Show, or the dubbing of a Miyazaki film. So I'm about to say something blasphemous, but this is the best TV series the Muppets have ever done.
"WHAT? Moreso than the infallible The Muppet Show? When did Bob Iger buy out your blog, you heathen?" Well to answer your second question first and only, I'm not knocking the original series or suggesting it's any less great than it is. Likewise, The Muppets couldn't be the wonderful new show that it's become without the classic material as a basis.
But, this is to the naysayers, have you watched the old show lately? Pick any episode (not the flawless Alice Cooper one) and do a full survey of what happens. There's always some great stuff, but there's also some weaker material. Most of the humor involves puns, and typically has a character or two being eaten.
Jim Henson intended for the show to appeal to an adult audience, and in a way he succeeded. But you could also make the case that he missed the mark a little. Adults connect with it, but they do so through their inner child. Whenever The Muppet Show re-airs, it's always for the kid's block. Whether or not he wanted to be, Jim was naturally attuned toward a specific sensibility with his comedy.
So when The Muppets was announced as an adult sitcom, it's understandable how people became a bit apprehensive. Was this going to be Avenue Q: the Series? Or was it going to be another Muppets Tonight, sort of playing at the original show without really recapturing the old spark. Thankfully, The Muppets is neither. It's its own thing.
To start with, the Muppets are at their best when they can just be themselves. The characters are so strong, you can just do a thirty minute Q&A with any one of them and it's golden. Here, the slapstick is toned down and the puns are almost non-existent in favor of a more sophisticated brand of humor that focuses on those characters and stems from within the situations. And whereas in the original show where the Muppets were usually tools to make the human guest shine, here the opposite is true. It works.
Some criticism has been lobbed at the early episodes for having too much angry/mean spirited humor. I understand where that opinion is coming from, but I respectfully disagree. It's important for a show like this to be able to develop their pre-existing characters, and the easiest way to accomplish this is by pushing them to their breaking point. And while it's not good to keep them there, it helps to clear the palette.
So what's good about the show? Well practically everything. The pacing, for one. There's never a moment of dead space. Kermit and Piggy's relationship is probably at it's most layered here. Muppeteer Eric Jacobson has always known how to balance Piggy's rough edges with her soft side. Fozzie took a bit longer, but Jacobson has clearly figured the bear's emotional vocabulary out in this incarnation.
Other characters have managed to grow in unexpected ways. Scooter was always a bit of a blank slate, but he really comes into his own in The Muppets. His scenes with Chelsea Handler (Of all people!) feel incredibly natural. Not what I was predicting. There are other supporting players like the Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew who only get momentary beats of reveal, but they're solid ones. And it's refreshing to peek behind the clownish exteriors, albeit briefly.
If there's one character who could claim the 'breakout' title, it's Uncle Deadly. He's given one of the most dominant personalities of the batch, and it was a stroke of genius to place him in the most direct contact with Piggy, but to also allow for their collective diva traits to compliment each other as opposed to clashing.
Sam the Eagle is a traditionally difficult fit, but the current production team has found some really interesting uses for him. This time around he seems less prematurely defeated. And his bizarre attraction to Janis is probably doomed, but strangely intriguing.
Bobo. What can I say? Bill Barretta is brilliant as this character. It's not fair to say that Bobo is coming into his own here, because he's always been sharp. But I have to point out that I'd never noticed prior to this series how deadpan this bear is. Think about that in terms of a puppet. Almost always, a puppeteer has to exaggerate to the point of weight loss to get a character to emote. Barretta can pull some of the most laugh out loud moments through this bear's blank stares and mumbles.
Barretta has also revived Jim Henson's Rowlf in full glory. Rowlf is the oldest Muppet star, and the character closest to Jim's actual presence. There's something magical about Kermit (and Gonzo in one episode) seeking out Rowlf for spiritual guidance. The dog is due for a comeback in a big way, and I love how he's treated with a certain 'one of us, but kind of not' respect. And Rowlf's utterance of the word 'damn' in one scene strangely didn't bother me.
So are there any weaknesses? A couple of nitpicks I suppose. Robin's voice stood out as not really working for me. Johnny Fiama and Sal are noticeably absent. But really the big one for me is how diminished Gonzo's presence is. Back in the nineties, Gonzo practically held the Muppets together. There's one purely Gonzo-centric episode, and it's probably my favorite of the whole series. Here's hoping the next film is The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made finally.
The bottom line: if you already hate this series on principle, there's nothing I can say to sway you. On the other hand, if you've missed checking it out and still have reservations, by all means give it a chance. The 'adult' factor has nothing to do with Family Guy jokes like I was fearing. It's about the complexity of emotions relating to breakups, self doubt, and workplace stress. The Muppets have spent their existences preparing to handle those nuances. It's a fresh canvas for them to paint on, and in the end it's a beautiful exhibit.
No comments:
Post a Comment