Where Have the Muppets Gone?

These aren’t my Muppets.

Imagine my (mild) surprise earlier this evening when, casually flipping through the channels, I discovered Letters to Santa: A Muppets Christmas – NBC’s new Muppet mess… er, “special.”

I wish I hadn’t watched.

Granted, it’s been a verrrry long time since I last tuned in to see Kermit and the gang (and childhood nostalgia may be clouding my judgment just slightly), but I don’t remember the Muppets ever being this generically, insufferably saccharine. Ick.

Sure, they occasionally had a message and could often be slightly cornball, but all of that was usually leavened with a solid dose of mischief. See the accompanying clips of Statler and Waldorf (the bitter, sarcastic balcony dwellers from The Muppet Show) below if your memory needs refreshing.

Balcony Clips 1

Balcony Clips 2

Milton Berle v. Statler and Waldorf