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The Muppets have always known how to break the internet

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The Internet loves comeback tours, but this love you The one with puppet wool and impeccable comic timing. case in point: The Muppet Show The special, which returned to the Muppet Theater on Feb. 4 for a one-night run on Disney+ and ABC — and immediately took over everyone’s feeds.

seriously. I didn’t know I needed Rizzo the Rat’s cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” until I saw it, and now I never want to live in a world without it.

The Muppet Show The original ran from 1976 to 1981, leading a variety format with a mix of vaudeville silliness, celebrity guest spots, and backstage chaos due to the constant calmness of Kermit the Frog. The new special revives that feeling with all the familiar faces, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and Statler and Waldorf, plus an array of contemporary guests from Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen (who also serves as executive producers) to pop star Sabrina Carpenter.

But it’s the clips that really sent fans and group chats into a frenzy, proof that the Muppets understand how to navigate the Internet better than most human celebrities.

Leading the group is a truly unexpected cover: Rizzo performing The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” on rat-filled streets. The contrast between the catchy, synth-pop hit and Rizzo’s on-the-nose bravado is instant comedy, and social media has embraced it wholeheartedly.

Then there’s Sabrina Carpenter’s performance of “Manchild”, which is becoming widely broadcast for its playful integration into the Muppet universe. Rather than feeling like a standard guest slot, the performance leans into the absurdity of the show, giving Carpenter a chance to grapple with the chaos around him – including a flock of chickens on backup vocals.

And then there’s the press run. Kermit and Miss Piggy have been appearing together in interviews (including one hilarious episode). Vanity Fair‘s lie detector test), joking around like a couple who have been married, divorced, remarried, and media-trained for decades. Their chemistry seems untouched by time.

Long before algorithms and engagement metrics, Kermit and company mastered the art of capturing attention. So, in fact, the Muppets were created for masculinity long before the concept of masculinity existed. Internet is their latest phase.





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