Muppets Now

Basically, Muppets Now fits nicely in the filler bin of the streaming business model -- the kind of show that would motivate relatively few people to subscribe, but given that it's a recognizable commodity, you might watch if you're getting Disney+ already.

Although there is plenty of entertainment along the way, Muppets Now! doesn’t quite hang together. The different Muppets don’t interact with each other as much as would be ideal. As ever, a lot rests on the gameness of the celebrities.

The segments are a little all over the place, some funnier than others. But what makes Muppets Now gel is that it lets the Muppets be chirpy entertainers. ... Maybe the saddest thing about Muppets Now is that the show doesn’t seem to know what to do with the Muppets’ main Muppet, Kermit the Frog.

It rarely feels improvised except maybe in Q&A interviews with celebs and in “Pepe’s Unbelievable Game Show.” After four episodes, it’s safe to say “Muppets Now” is only occasionally funny, and the recurring segments grow repetitive.

Obviously with more episodes, there will be the opportunity to get more Muppet involvement. It's perplexing that in only a six-episode season, the four episodes I've seen already settle into a sense of sameness. Good thing there's a lot to work with here.

The segments can be hit-or-miss. ... Overall, though, the sketches are pretty good. The larger problem is that there are usually just two Muppets in any sketch, and almost always in the same combination. In addition, Muppets Now barely has any backstage component to speak of.

The belief that this is a show, specifically, never gets off the ground, leaving everything to feel clunky; it’s the “hello there, fellow kids” of the Disney+ world. This isn’t to say “Muppets Now” is bad. It’s great to see these characters back in action. “Muppets Now” just isn’t a great use of their talents, as always.

The rigid adherence to the recurring segments means Animal, Fozzie Bear and many other staples barely show up, while a lot of attention is paid to the rather unsettling "Okey Dokey Kookin," in which the turkey host gobbles excitedly over dishes featuring chicken and pork and the Swedish Chef wraps a Muppet mole (yes, the mammal) in a tortilla.

Disney and Henson Co. might be on the right track with the Muppets. But judging from the early episodes, they may have to beef up the writing and deliver some blunt “notes” to the performers. For “Now,” they’re just not getting it done.

Like a YouTube channel, “Muppets Now” needs to figure out what it does best and proceed. This isn’t “America’s Funniest Muppet Videos.” It’s “The Miss Piggy Show” with a few distracting bits thrown in for surprise.