SATV, Kathmandu, Feb.05: Miss Piggy, her paramour Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, and Fozzie have reunited for the one-off show to mark its 50th birthday, after their beloved film outings such as Muppet Christmas Carol.

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter, comedian Maya Rudolph and actor Seth Rogen - who is behind the 30-minute special - star in the show, released on Wednesday.

Critics have said the chaotic puppet stage show is "silly" and "joyous" - but there are concerns too about Kermit's new voice and how the special will translate for a new generation of viewers.

While it's been brought up to date for 2026, veteran performers also take part - including Dave Goelz, the original actor portraying Gonzo and Dr Bunsen Honeydew.

Ben Dowell, writing in The Times, says the revival "clearly has an eye on us oldies introducing our young charges to the magic".

He praises the "deft deployment of slightly risque jokes" as well as a Bridgerton spoof starring Miss Piggy, saying it's a "return to basics, and all the more joyous for it".

There is a running joke where Manchild singer Carpenter has stolen Miss Piggy's look and is facing legal action - with the two wearing near-identical outfits during the skits.

Carpenter is "gamely playing along", says Dowell, who gives the show four stars.

The Telegraph's Anita Singh notes "the fidelity to the original is practically unheard of in the world of TV", leading to feelings of "joy and a fuzzy nostalgia".

Her four-star review says Rogen has "lovingly recreated" his childhood favourite, created of course by Jim Henson - adding that her 10-year-old son enjoyed the show but found it "a bit random".

She ponders whether its home on Disney+ will mean it gets a big audience, adding: "But let's just wallow in nostalgia."

In the Guardian, Lucy Mangan is more measured in her three-star review, saying: "They've tried. You can feel it. They want to make it good for us... But, as Thomas Wolfe so rightly said, you can't go home again."

She says "it's fine" and "probably even good" if you aren't familiar with the original, but parts are drab and Kermit - now played by Matt Vogel - sounds "jarringly different".

"It puts the magic even further out of reach," says Mangan.

Her Guardian colleague Rhik Samadder enjoys the "subversive" nature of The Muppets however, and the show-within-a-show.

"In 30 minutes, I laughed more than I can count," he said.