The Muppets are back — and audiences are showing up in a big way.
The Muppet Show revival special, which premiered on Disney+ and ABC on February 4, pulled in 3.07 million viewers during its Wednesday night timeslot on ABC, according to Nielsen overnight ratings via Programming Insider. More importantly, it earned a 0.52 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic — the highest of any show that night across all broadcast networks.
The Muppets Won Wednesday Night Where It Counts
While NBC’s Chicago Fire pulled more total viewers (5.55 million), The Muppet Show dominated the key advertising demographic that networks care about most. The 0.52 rating in Adults 18-49 beat everything else on the night, including Chicago Fire (0.34), Shifting Gears (0.39), and The Masked Singer (0.20).
The special also performed exceptionally well with younger audiences, earning a 0.37 rating in Adults 18-34 and a 0.33 rating in Persons 12-34 — numbers that suggest The Muppets’ appeal extends well beyond nostalgia.
A Global Streaming Hit
The success isn’t limited to broadcast. According to Screen Rant, The Muppet Show is trending in 26 countries on Disney+ and ranks as the most-watched series in 20 of those countries, including Australia, Germany, Belgium, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Critics are equally enthusiastic. The special holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, with a 97% audience score — matching the perfect critical rating of the original series that ran from 1976 to 1981.
What Is The Muppet Show Special?
The 32-minute special, directed by Alex Timbers, serves as a revival of the original variety show format that made The Muppets household names 50 years ago. Kermit the Frog returns as host and showrunner, trying to keep the chaos under control as sketch comedy, musical numbers, and backstage antics unfold.
The special features Sabrina Carpenter as the guest star, performing “Manchild” alongside the Muppet chickens in the opening number. Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph also make guest appearances, with Rogen and Carpenter serving as executive producers.
If successful, the special could serve as a backdoor pilot for a full series revival on Disney+ — and based on these numbers, the Muppets’ chances of returning for more look strong.
What This Means for Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The timing of The Muppet Show’s success is particularly relevant for theme park fans. Disney announced in November 2024 that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be re-themed to feature The Muppets. The coaster is set to close permanently on March 2, 2026, with the Muppets version expected to open in summer 2026.
The re-theme comes as Muppet*Vision 3D, which has been a Hollywood Studios staple since 1991, is closing to make way for new development. Rather than lose The Muppets from the park entirely, Disney is giving them a major new home on one of the park’s most popular attractions.
With the TV special generating this kind of buzz and viewership, the decision to bet big on The Muppets at Hollywood Studios looks well-timed.
The Muppet Show is now streaming on Disney+.
