For once, diminutive pop star Sabrina Carpenter might be the tallest person in the room.
On Wednesday, the Grammy-winning singer will host the 50th anniversary special of “The Muppet Show” on Disney+. For viewers unfamiliar with the Muppets, it might seem odd to pair a notoriously raunchy celebrity on a show with puppets. But one Muppet expert says it’s actually a great fit.
“Bringing on Sabrina Carpenter as a host really does gesture that this is not a kids’ show, but she’s part of the Disney family,” said Shilpa Davé, an associate professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and a lifelong fan of Jim Henson’s characters.
Today, Carpenter might be better known for her tongue-in-cheek music, but she got her start in the entertainment industry as a child on Disney’s “Girl Meets World.”
Disney bought the Muppets in 2004. While audiences today might know the Muppets from children’s programming like “Sesame Street,” Muppets creator Jim Henson made “The Muppet Show” for adults.
“It was based on a variety show format, and it was really geared toward an older audience,” Davé said.
Carpenter’s popularity with young women may help Disney target the coveted 18- to 24-year-old audience. Nostalgic viewers viewing the new special may be introduced to Carpenter’s music for the first time. And her cheeky, slapstick sense of humor could be compatible with the Muppets’ universe.
Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen star in the show’s 50th anniversary special, set to air Wednesday on Disney+.
“It’s physical, it’s innuendo, it’s clever. … It’s going to have a PG, or a PG-13 rating,” Davé said.
When “The Muppet Show” initially aired, a wide array of celebrity guests appeared on the show. Folk singers like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez performed, as well as rock star Alice Cooper and “the Queen of Motown,” Diana Ross. Comedians Steve Martin and Bob Hope guest-starred. Even model and actress Brooke Shields has a Muppets credit.
“The variety show was all about bringing on whoever was popular,” she said. “You had crossovers from all different industries, from all different backgrounds.”
If the anniversary special turns into a full-blown series reboot, Davé said she expects the trend of celebrity guests that appeal to a younger audience to continue, with one notable exception.
“I don’t think they’ll bring on influencers. Will one of the ‘Real Housewives’ appear? That is a guest they might bring on. With Stephen Colbert’s show getting canceled, something like ‘The Muppets Show’ could fill the void,” Davé said.
The variety show format might have been what drew comedian Seth Rogen to the reboot, Davé said. Rogen, known for acting in “Superbad” and “Pineapple Express,” is listed as an executive producer of the special, in addition to a guest star.
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