The Muppets - anybody ?

[BertiWooster]

Given the recent post below on the subject of comedy - would anyone like to see a return to the screen of the Muppet show ?

Afterall , here is a show that will always be current , given that it's subject would be present day politicians etc .

It topped a recent poll of shows that the public would wish to see back on the television .

Incidentally , I cant beleive it's been 30 years since it left our screens - where has the time gone ?

[4getmenot]

I thought I heard it was coming back. and did they do repeats on tv then because I used to watch it on a sunday night I;m only just 30

[China Doll]

I'd quite like it to come back, I loved it as a child. I'd also like to see Spitting Image come back too.

[Gromit]

I like the Muppets, both the TV shows and the films, but I do not see any point in bringing it back. The show is primarily aimed at children. The people who answered the poll will be 45 year olds.

They haven't really left our screens as they have continued on the big screen, the last Movie being Muppets in Space (1999) and the made for television film The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005).

I expect most of the people saying bring it back will 40 somethings, would watch half of the first episode and then complain it is not as good as it was.

[BertiWooster]

Oh dear - it looks like i'm getting the Muppets muxed up with Spitting image , with respect to the second paragraph of my post , regarding politicians

[Gromit]

Spitting Image would probably work with new puppets and writers, but the Government and shadow Government are so bland and anonymous, that I think the programme would be a lot harder to make present day.

[anotheoldgit]

Didn't they recently have a similar programme on TV, can't remember what it was called, but it was not half as good as 'Spitting Image'.

Must disagree partly with Gromit regarding the Goverment/Opposition being bland and anonymous. Yes that is true regarding the Opposition they all look the same to me, but the Labour lot now there are some characters for you.

[sp1814]

I think the progamme AOG is referring to was 'Headcases'.

Rather than using foam latex dummies, it went computer generated animation.

I watched a couple episodes, but thought the writing was a bit 'flabby' (apart from the Robert Mugabe sketches).

The problem with bringing back the Muppets is that since Frank Oz has moved onto bigger things, and the sad death of Jim Henson, none of the Muppets sound 'right'.

[Gromit]

AOG

Public cannot identify bland Labour Cabinet Ministers

[4getmenot]

still surely only about 20 years since it left our screens

[naomi24]

Berti, if you're talking about puppets and politicians, you were probably right the first time! Muppets! :o)

[anotheoldgit]

So you think that 40 people from the City of Manchester, are a good cross section of opinion from the UK?

You are really scraping the barrel for your links lately Gromit, so as to try and prove your points.

A little more thorough research needed, perhaps?

[Gromit]

AOG

Are you after your job back with Waldorf and Statler?

[jno]

The Muppets wasn't a kids' show, it was aimed at a broad family audience (does such a thing still exist?) and screened in prime time. Sesame Street was for children, as was the spinoff Muppet Babies. That's not to say the Muppets would go down as well now, but I can't see why they shouldn't as the format, about putting on a variety show, is pretty adaptable.

As long as they don't swear.

I've always thought Miss Piggy's 'Pretentious? Moi?' is the funniest two-word joke in the language.

(The funniest one-word joke is 'lysdexia'.)

As for Spitting Image, I don't know - that depends a lot on the quality of the writing rather than the quality of the puppets. Have I Got News for You, Rory Bremner etc cover a lot of the same ground.