New Muppets Show, THE MUPPETS MAYHEM, to Release on Disney+ in May
By Movieguide® Contributor
Disney revealed on Tuesday that the newest Muppets series, THE MUPPETS MAYHEM, will release to Disney+ on May 10th.
The series follows The Electric Mayhem Band, led by Dr. Teeth and the drummer Animal, as they try to record their first-ever studio album. Online personality Lilly Singh will prominently feature on the show as human music executive Nora Singh who helps the band achieve their dream.
The Muppet franchise has made Movieguide® approved content for a long time, earning the Movieguide® Award for Best Movie for Families in 1993 with THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. THE MUPPETS (2011) was also nominated as one of the Ten Best Movies for Families the year it came out and MUPPETS MOST WANTED made the list in 2015.
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THE MUPPETS MAYHEM was written and executive produced by Adam F. Goldberg (THE GOLDBERGS) alongside Bill Baretta (THE MUPPETS, MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION) and co-executive produced by Jeff Yorkes.
Baretta stars as the band’s frontman Dr. Teeth, Eric Jacobson plays Animal, Dave Goelz is sax player Zoot, David Rudman voices vocalist and guitarist Janice, Peter Linz is trumpet player Lips, and Matt Vogel is bass player Floyd Pepper.
Michael Bostick, Kris Eber and the Muppets Studio’s David Lightbody and Leigh Slaughter also serve as executive producers. The show will include original music by executive producer and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Linda Perry.
Movieguide® previously reported on THE MUPPETS MAYHEM:
Disney+ announced production will finally begin on the comedy series THE MUPPETS MAYHEM. With Lilly Singh in the lead “human” role, this latest Muppets reboot will land on Disney+, joining all five seasons of the original THE MUPPET SHOW and MUPPETS NOW, an unscripted original series.
The Muppets franchise is a favorite among Movieguide® audiences, when as far back as 1993 THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL won the Movieguide® Award for Best Movie for Families. In 2011, THE MUPPETS was nominated as one of The Ten Best 2011 Movies for Families at the Movieguide® Awards. MUPPETS MOST WANTED received the same honor in 2015.
THE MUPPETS MAYHEM will be “…fresh, fun, musical and of course, hilarious. We couldn’t be happier to be the studio that is helping them get the band back together,” says Jonnie Davis, President of ABC Signature. As reported by Deadline:
Developed and written by THE GOLDBERGS creator Adam F. Goldberg, Muppets veteran Bill Barretta and Jeff Yorkes, the series will follow The Electric Mayhem Band as they go on an epic musical journey to finally record their first studio album. Singh will play the (human) lead role of Nora, a driven junior A&R executive tasked with managing and wrangling the mayhem that is The Electric Mayhem Band. With the help of Nora, the old-school Muppet band comes face to face with the current-day music scene as they try to finally go platinum.
The Disney Branded Television series, produced by ABC Signature and The Muppets Studio for Disney+, had been in the works for a while under Goldberg’s overall deal with ABC Signature. The Muppets Mayhem quietly was greenlighted weeks ago contingent on closing deals with the Muppets performers, which took a while.
However, while many of the previous MUPPETS iterations were family-oriented, this new reboot may not be acceptable for children. Lilly Singh initially rose to fame on her YouTube channel and then her late-night talk show, A LITTLE LATE WITH LILLY SINGH. The online personality says she is bisexual, so parents should be extra cautious for any added sexual references in MUPPETS MAYHEM.
The franchise previously came under fire for an episode of THE MUPPET BABIES when Gonzo dressed up like a princess.
As Movieguide® previously reported:
Since Gonzo’s first appearance on the MUPPETS in 1976, the male character had a passion for stunts. However, the new MUPPET BABIES introduced a new version of Gonzo, who turned into “Gonzorella” after wearing the glass shoe.
When the group asks why Gonzo never told them his true identity, the character says he was afraid because they “expected [him] to look a certain way.”
Political commentator and author Candace Owens responded to the episode on Twitter.
“I can’t believe I’m tweeting this but.. they are pushing the trans agenda on children via muppet babies,” Candace Owens tweeted. “This is sick and PERVERTED. Everyone should be disturbed by predatory cartoons meant to usher children into gender dysphoria.”
“Bring back manly muppets, anyone?” she added.
Movieguide® has yet to review MUPPETS MAYHEM and cannot officially advise on its content.