‘The Muppet Show’ Special Got Viewership & Emmys – Where Is The Disney+ Series Order?

The Muppet Show has become the unlikely flag bearer for The Disney Company at the 2026 Emmy Awards. The Disney+ special won the most trophies of any program across the Disney portfolio, four, after the first two ceremonies last weekend, accounting for more than a quarter of the company’s overall haul with an excellent 67% conversion of its six nomination.

With no Disney series among the top contenders in the categories awarded on the Sept. 14 main telecast, it is safe to say that The Muppet Show will be the top Emmy performer for the company this year.

The variety special, which premiered on February 4, has been a top ratings performer too. Back in February, Disney touted a multi-platform viewership of nearly 8 million within eight days of The Muppet Show‘s airing on ABC and launch on Disney+, with the official Muppets account calling the special “a smash-hit.”

The Muppet Show, featuring the beloved Muppets ensemble, executive producer Seth Rogen and special guest stars Sabrina Carpenter and Maya Rudolph, had been intended as a backdoor pilot which, in success, would spawn a new Muppet Show television series. The setup was jokingly alluded to in the special by Kermit who says, “It’s the return of The Muppet Show back on the very stage where it all started, and then ended, and is maybe starting again, depending on how tonight goes.”

Seven months, millions of views and four Emmys later, there has been no pickup, begging the question: what more does the backdoor pilot need to do to get a series order?

According to sources, it is not for the lack of trying, and the reasons have been creative.

The Muppet Show revival comes from three main production entities, 20th Television, The Muppets Studio and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Point Grey Pictures, which has been driving the effort to bring Kermit & Co. back.

I hear there have been difficulties cracking a premise for an ongoing Muppet Show series that Disney (Disney+ and 20th TV), The Muppets Studio and Point Grey will all be on board for.

There are no active series conversations about at the moment, sources said.

That could change if the Emmy wins give the process new momentum and motivates all sides to find a winning series format.

Until then, the Muppets special will be known for getting Grammy winner Carpenter halfway to EGOT. (As an executive producer, she was recognized in Outstanding Variety Special, Pre-Recorded.)