The Muppets's lack of success on TV after The Muppet Show.

[VG_Addict]

I’ve been getting into The Muppets lately, and I just realized that none of the shows after The Muppet Show were nearly as successful, with the exception of Muppet Babies.

Why haven’t the post-Muppet Show shows been as successful? Is it because the Muppets are a product of their time? Kids today probably have no idea what a variety show even is, which is what the Muppet Show was making fun of. And yes, I know the Muppets were originally intended for general audiences, like Looney Tunes, but also like Looney Tunes, they’re now marketed toward kids.

[CaptHayfever]

There have been variety shows for kids all along, most prominently All That.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[VG_Addict]

^ All That isn't a variety show. It's a sketch comedy show.

[Sim Kid]

Though All That always ended with some band performance. I think Sesame Street is closer to a variety show than All That.

I do notice that The Muppets tends to rely a LOT on reference humour and celebrity-comedy. Ie, "look at this celebrity guest!" or "Special guest - this person!"
It's been a staple of adult comedy since SNL and further codified by stuff like South Park and Aladdin.

Like sure it made a lot of the audience laugh, and this is my opinion on reference humour and all...
...but reference humour & celebrity comedy ages horribly. Seriously how many people actually get even half those jokes the Genie in Aladdin said other than "Robin Williams does funny voices"? >.>;
It's very much a product of the time. And it doesn't age well, which maybe makes people think Muppets were also a product of the 80s. Even though they kinda started on Sesame Street.

[VG_Addict]

The fact that the Muppets haven't interacted with other Disney-owned properties like MCU or Star Wars proves Disney has no idea how to handle the franchise. It would be entertaining and would give corporate synergy.

[CaptHayfever]

^Wait what?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Sim Kid]

Yeah, Disney owns Muppets - have since 2004. They kinda worked with Muppets for awhile - remember Bear in the Big Blue House?

I don't know if crossovers are what we need, crossovers often don't have much beyond novelty. Like sure, I know a parody of Disney owned IPs could provide some laughs.

[VG_Addict]

^Wait what?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

I just think it would be cool.

[CaptHayfever]

^^I knew that. I was "wait what" -ing the idea that the lack of a crossover "proves" Disney doesn't know what to do with the Muppets.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Sim Kid]

True, I'm sure I'd like to see something with Muppets besides "Look! We're crossing over with STar Wars or the MCU!"

They'd look so... alien in Star Wars or the MCU. Like, it'd fit better if they did a parody.

[VG_Addict]

Some say Disney ruined The Muppets, and while they certainly haven't helped, the franchise was on a downward spiral even before Disney bought them.