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All five seasons of Jim Henson’s classic variety show starring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and failed comedian Fozzie Bear are now available to stream. Disney noted that the fourth and fifth seasons “have never been shown on home entertainment before.” The show will join other Muppet media, including “The Muppet Movie” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” which is already on Disney +.
The streaming debut of “The Muppet Show”, arguably the brand’s most defining work, may not have the fanfare of a new Pixar movie like “Soul” or a new Marvel series Studios like “WandaVision”. And a 1976 series starring stars like Liza Minnelli and Gene Kelly is unlikely to gain the full frenetic attention of the Gen-Zers.
But the series premiere matters because it’s another showcase of the seemingly endless depth of Disney + ‘s library of content.
As streaming services try to figure out how to build their libraries to attract more subscribers, the already content-rich Disney + – a service that has everything from Mickey Mouse to Bart Simpson – gets even richer.
The Muppets are more nostalgic than some other brands, but they are still loved by a loyal following. Away from TV, the Muppets starred in movies, became internet memes, sang hit songs, won Oscars, and 3D, albeit rocky, theme park rides named after them.
They might not have the successful prowess of Star Wars or even Disney Animation, but in streaming, sometimes a recognizable name is all subscribers need to pay $ 6.99 per month. This is especially the case for one of streaming’s most important demographics: kids.
Children’s programming has been a focal point of streamers for years. The prevailing theory is that if the services have must-have content for kids, parents will need to sign up. Also, it might help build lifelong loyalty to service as the child grows – something Disney (Dis) knows it all, considering the number of adults who visit Disney World each year.
As streaming has proliferated, so has content for children. In just one example earlier this week, WarnerMedia, the parent company of CNN, announced that it would add more children’s programming to its streaming service, HBO Max.
The new shows and films will expand the children’s programming department’s already robust library – a library that also includes the Muppets through WarnerMedia’s partnership with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that makes “Sesame Street”.
Disney + didn’t really need “The Muppet Show” to attract paying customers: the service is approaching 100 million subscribers and has become the crown jewel of Disney’s entire media empire, currently under siege by the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet in the streaming world there isn’t too much content, especially when it comes to children’s titles. By adding “The Muppet Show,” Disney + is attempting to make a connection, rainbow or otherwise, that will reach out to old fans of the series and hopefully create new ones.
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