‘The Muppet Show’ Returns for 50th Anniversary Special with Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen

It’s time to play the music—it’s time to light the lights. After more than four decades, The Muppet Show is making a triumphant one-night return to its iconic stage in a brand-new special event premiering February 4, 2026, simultaneously on ABC and Disney+. Timed to celebrate the beloved variety series’ 50th anniversary, the special brings back Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and the chaotic Muppet ensemble for an evening of music, comedy sketches, and signature mayhem.

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Pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter stars as the very special guest, sharing the spotlight—and a glamorous dance number—with Miss Piggy in scenes highlighted in the newly released teaser. Longtime Muppets fan Carpenter, who famously “arrested” Piggy in a playful stunt during her Short n’ Sweet tour, calls the diva porker an “icon” while preparing backstage. Meanwhile, executive producer Seth Rogen appears on-screen, confessing to Fozzie Bear that performing with the Muppets has “always been a dream of mine”—only for Fozzie to quip, “Got any other dreams?”

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Kermit sets the tone in the teaser: “It’s the return of ‘The Muppet Show,’ back on the very stage where it all started, and then ended, and is maybe starting again, depending on how tonight goes.” That cheeky line underscores the special’s status as a potential backdoor pilot—if viewer response is strong, it could pave the way for a full series revival.

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Produced by 20th Television, Disney Branded Television, The Muppets Studio, and Seth Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures, the special is directed by Alex Timbers (known for Broadway hits and John Mulaney specials). Executive producers include Timbers, Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Alex McAtee, David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter, Michael Steinbach, Carpenter herself, Albertina Rizzo, Matt Vogel (Kermit’s current performer), and Eric Jacobson (Miss Piggy, Fozzie).

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The original Muppet Show (1976-1981) revolutionized variety television with its blend of puppetry, celebrity guests (from Elton John to Johnny Cash), and irreverent humor, earning Emmys, a Grammy, a Peabody, and global acclaim. Time magazine once dubbed it “the most popular television entertainment now being produced on Earth.” All five seasons are streaming on Disney+, with enhanced availability planned around the special.

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Fans have buzzed since the project’s September 2025 announcement, with the teaser—debuted during New Year’s Rockin’ Eve—amplifying excitement. Carpenter’s involvement bridges generations, while Rogen’s comedic sensibility aligns perfectly with the Muppets’ anarchic charm.

Whether this one-off sparks a full comeback remains to be seen, but on February 4, the curtain rises once more. As Kermit would say: Hi-ho!