Hollywood has been hit by another celebrity breakup. This time it’s Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
The news was broken ahead of the premiere of their new show. Miss Piggy released a statement via Twitter that can be read below.
The “breakup” was part of ABC’s The Muppets panel at the TCAs. More details on what the show will look like were discussed as well. In addition to the drama of their breakup being explored, the show will focus more on the private lives of The Muppets characters.
Executive producers Bill Prady and Bob Kushell said the show will have a mockumentary style. It will revolve around the behind the scenes happenings of the late night talk show within a show Up Late with Miss Piggy. Additionally the lives and personal problems of Miss Piggy, Kermit, Fozzie Bear and other favorite Muppet characters will be explored, according to Variety.
The show will be able to incorporate musical acts and guest stars through the lens of the talk show. Reese Witherspoon and Imagine Dragons are already lined up to be guests on the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Don’t expect the new series to look like previous versions of The Muppets that are strictly portrayed as a variety show. This time around there will be more focus on the characters.
Speaking on the similarities between the new series and the 1970’s Muppet Show Prady said, “The goal here is to be exactly the same and completely different. We will honor ‘The Muppet Show’ (legacy) more rigorously than has been done before but at the same time do something contemporary.”
The contemporary focus will not include a discussion of modern politics though, as Prady believes that would make the show irrelevant in coming years. The Muppets was ordered to series based on a 10 minute presentation of the show alone. When ABC previewed the series at Comic-Con it received a standing ovation.
Randall Einhorn and Bill Barretta (who voices Swedish Chef, Pepe the King Prawn and Rowlf), join Prady and Kushell as executive producers. Barretta will voice act in the series along with Dave Goelz (Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Gonzo and Waldorf), Steve Whitmire (Beaker, Kermit, Rizzo and Statler) and Eric Jacobson (Animal, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and Sam Eagle), according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Muppets is coming to ABC this fall on Tuesday nights.