Big question: Can ‘The Muppets’ be saved?
ABC's new comedy is struggling despite its midseason makeover
February 9, 2016
It’s never easy to be tabbed the new season’s most-anticipated new show.
Even when you see normal ratings declines, you’re criticized for not living up to expectations.
And when your ratings fall as sharply as those of “The Muppets,” you not only get criticism but network intervention.
The show, which airs tonight at 8:30 p.m. on ABC, underwent a midseason makeover aimed at softening the program’s signature characters and making them more recognizable to those who grew up with previous incarnations of “The Muppets.”
Miss Piggy, for example, is less angry and mean to the Muppets who work on her show.
Instead, they have all come together against a new human character played by Utkarsh Ambudkar (“The Mindy Project”).
Perhaps most promising of all, the show has a lighter tone. While it was an interesting idea to saddle the perpetually sunny Muppets with real-life problems, the comedy had begun to feel more like a puppet drama.
Critics praised the redux, which debuted last week. Alas, it may take more time for viewers to follow.
“Muppets” set a series low last week, averaging a 0.7 adults 18-49 rating. That’s about a quarter of its debut rating last fall.
If the reboot can succeed in drawing in lapsed viewers, perhaps “Muppets” will return for a second season. But if numbers don’t improve, this could be curtains for Piggy and her crew.
A look at this week’s top TV draws |
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
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Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
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8 p.m. |
TV One |
Series premiere. New sitcom starring LeToya Luckett and Wendy Raquel Robinson.
|
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8 p.m. |
CBS |
“NCIS” (D) |
The team looks into the killing of a deep sea diver. |
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9 p.m. |
Showtime |
“Inside the NFL” (S) |
Season finale. A final analysis of Super Bowl 50 and the 2015 NFL season. |
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10 p.m. |
NBC |
“Chicago Fire” (D) |
Chili’s behavior becomes concerning, while Casey builds support as an alderman candidate. |
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10 p.m. |
FX |
“The People v. O.J. Simpson” (D) |
The show’s second episode includes the infamous white Bronco car chase. |
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10:30 p.m. |
Comedy Central |
Series premiere. The comedian tackles a number of different topics, beginning with dating. |
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10
|
||||||
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|||
8 p.m. |
Fox |
“American Idol” (R) |
Half of the season’s final 24 singers perform.
|
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8 p.m. |
ESPN |
“NBA Basketball” (S) |
The final game before the All-Star break for both the Lakers and Cavaliers.
|
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8:30 p.m. |
Fox Sports 1 |
“Soccer” (S) |
An international friendly between Mexico and Senegal in Miami. |
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9 p.m. |
ABC |
“Modern Family” (C) |
Gloria tries to learn how to play golf so she can spend more time with Jay. |
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10 p.m. |
MTV |
“The Challenge” (R) |
The remaining three teams begin the final challenge of the season. |
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10 p.m. |
USA |
“Suits” (D) |
Mike and Harvey argue over what strategy they should take at trial. |
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
|
||||||
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|||
8 p.m. |
Bravo |
“Inside the Actors Studio” (T) |
Cast members of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” guest.
|
|||
8 p.m. |
TNT |
“NBA Basketball” (S) |
The Pelicans take on the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
|
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9 p.m. |
ABC |
“Scandal” (D) |
It’s six months after the breakup, and Olivia and Fitz deal with it in different ways. |
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9 p.m. |
Lifetime |
“Project Runway All Stars” (R) |
Season premiere. Thirteen contestants from past seasons take part in the fifth season of “All Stars.” |
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9 p.m.
|
PBS
|
“Democratic Presidential Debate” (N)
|
The Democratic candidates debate in Milwaukee.
|
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10 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Shades of Blue” (D)
|
Wozniak thinks that Saperstein might be the informant.
|
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12
|
||||||
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|||
8 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown” (A)
|
The 1975 special, followed by the 2002 production “A Charlie Brown Valentine.”
|
|||
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“The Amazing Race” (R)
|
Season premiere. The reality show’s 28th season includes teams made up of social media personalities.
|
|||
8 p.m.
|
CW
|
“The Vampire Diaries” (D)
|
Damon goes out of control while under Julian’s influence.
|
|||
9 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Shark Tank” (R)
|
Pitches include a new sweetener that tastes like honey.
|
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9 p.m.
|
TNT
|
“NBA Basketball” (S)
|
The NBA Rising Stars Challenge, featuring the best young players in the game.
|
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10 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Blue Bloods” (D)
|
A number of different women admit to killing their boss, but only one is the real killer.
|
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13
|
||||||
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|||
3 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Third round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
|
|||
8 p.m. |
Fox |
“NASCAR Racing” (S) |
The preseason Sprint Unlimited from Daytona International Speedway.
|
|||
8 p.m.
|
Lifetime
|
“Wrong Swipe” (M)
|
A young woman starts using a dating app and begins receiving disturbing messages from someone in her neighborhood.
|
|||
9 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Republican Debate” (N)
|
The Republican presidential candidates take part in yet another debate.
|
|||
9 p.m.
|
Hallmark Channel
|
“Valentine Ever After” (M)
|
Two women are forced to stay in Wyoming to perform community service after getting into a bar fight.
|
|||
11:30 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Saturday Night Live” (C)
|
Melissa McCarthy hosts, with musical guest Kanye West.
|
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14
|
||||||
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|||
11 a.m. |
NBCSN |
“Premier League Soccer” (S) |
Manchester City hosts Tottenham.
|
|||
1 p.m. |
CBS |
“College Basketball” (S) |
Good Big Ten matchup between Indiana and Michigan.
|
|||
1 p.m. |
Fox |
“NASCAR Racing” (S) |
Live coverage of qualifying for the Daytona 500.
|
|||
3 p.m. |
CBS |
“PGA Golf” (S) |
Final round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, won last year by Brandt Snedeker.
|
|||
8 p.m. |
ABC |
“The Bachelor” (S) |
Looking at some of the most memorable moments from the reality show’s 20 seasons.
|
|||
9 p.m. |
AMC |
“The Walking Dead” (D) |
The zombie drama returns for the second half of its sixth season.
|
|||
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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Tags: abc, muppets, new comedies, the muppets, the muppets canceled, tuesday tv this week, tv this week
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