The industry is stunned by the disappointing opening weekend for “Muppets Most Wanted,” but this is the price any franchise is destined to pay after tainting itself with divisive, partisan political positions.
Under the guidance of creator Jim Henson in the 1970’s and 80’s, Kermit, Fozzy, Animal, Ms. Piggy, Beaker, and the rest of the Muppets became American institutions through irreverence, a big and sincere beating heart, sharp writing, and an enormous amount of goodwill built up over the years on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and a series of box office hits. The Muppets might have commented on politics and current events, but they were never divisive or partisan.
That all changed with Disney’s “The Muppets,” a 2011 feature film meant to reboot the franchise.
“The Muppets” just weren’t the same.
It wasn’t just the low-brow bathroom humor in the new film, it was a hyper-political divisiveness we had never seen before. The Muppets turned Left and were now attacking Fox News, the energy business, and religious freedom.
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