Category Archives: Other Disney + Shows

The Muppet Show S1 E4, E5, E6

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Guest: Ruth Buzzi

Guest: Rita Moreno

Guest: Jim Nabors

Tonight, we came back to The Muppet Show for some more first season fun. Three celebrities on these shows included Ruth Buzzi, Rita Moreno and Jim Nabors. All three had songs including “Too Good to be True” (that Buzzi sung with Sweetums), “Fever” from Moreno and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” (Nabors).

There are some weird things during these three episodes. One was Miss Piggy’s voice. I know they were not set on who was voicing her but it was weird during this first season to hear Piggy talk in her actual voice and then, the next scene, she spoke differently. Frank Oz was the long time Piggy voice performer, but there were sometimes that she was voiced by Richard Hunt.

Gopher showed up for the first time in episode 5, with an introduction. It was strange because he was in the first four episodes too. He kept using the joke about his uncle owning the theater, and using it to manipulate Kermit. Obviously, the original writing of these shows were not in the correct order.

Wayne and Wanda made their way into all three of these episodes. None of those numbers reached their conclusion.

Episode five featured a classic running joke with the backstage phone and Fozzie. The Muppet Show was notorious for their running jokes and this one was solid. Kermit even called it out so the audience understood the idea of a running joke (which they even had some people ran past).

There were a couple of acts that we see for the first time like Veterinarian’s Hospital and Marvin Suggs and his Muppetphones.

We got At the Dance in all of the episodes with the silly jokes. They deliver these lines with such a straight delivery that even some of the bad jokes turn out funny.

These Muppet Shows are great to revisit. The most iconic moment of these three episodes was the “Apache dance” routine that Rita Moreno did with her Muppet partner where she beat him up badly.

All seasons of the Muppet Show can be seen on Disney +.

The Muppet Show S1 E2, E3

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Guest: Connie Stevens

Disney + gives me an option to skip the intro, but it will never be done. The opening theme is one of the best and most entertaining themes of all time. It is just like X-Men ’97, I will always watch the theme song.

The second episode the series has another classic song that I loved, which was “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady” sung by Kermit. That was the opening act in the show.

There was a running gag with Fozzie kept overhearing Gonzo asking people about his “Teddy Bear,” which is old and ratty, and Fozzie believed that they were all referring to him.

Ernie and Bert made a guest appearance from Sesame Street so Bert could sing a song with guest Connie Stevens (“Some Enchanted Evening”). Connie had sung Teenager in Love earlier in the episode with the back-up group, The Mutations, (Not the Temptations).

There was a cool version of “Ain’t Misbehavin'” sung by Floyd. I have a feeling this was one of those acts included in the British show replacing commericals.

Guest: Joel Grey

Episode three would have been the first place I saw Joel Grey, Broadway legend and EYG Hall of Famer. Grey did two songs, a version of Willkommen from Cabaret and Razzle Dazzle from Chicago. Both were great performances.

Fozzie was involved in the running backstage story again, which was that Fozzie was working on his act of telling a joke over any topic mentioned. He was becoming annoying backstage, but he wound up nailing it onstage after Statler and Waldorf tossed out the topic “anemia.”

Rowlf portrayed Sherlock Holmes in a skit about a murder. It was a cute bit.

Wayne and Wanda made their debut as a singing group, doing Stormy Weather. Wayne and Wanda would start their regular act where something horrible that wrecked their act here. Wayne and Wanda made a cameo appearance in the Connie Stevens episode but did not sing.

Love the Muppet Show and I am excited about continuing this rewatch.

The Muppet Show S1 E1

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Guest: Juliet Prowse

One of the goals for the summer is to finish the rewatch of the Agents of Shield, which I am preparing to start season six. However, I could use a couple of new shows to rewatch for the site, and I decided that Disney + would have yet another great show that would fit that need perfectly.

The Muppet Show.

There are few shows that will trigger the nostalgia for me like the Muppet Show. I remember being in 2nd grade and going home to watch the first Muppet Show. I did not know anyone except Kermit, but I grew to love the cast of characters.

This episode had a couple of classic songs: “Mah Nà Mah Nà” and “Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear”– both of which are personal favorites from the show. “Mah Nà Mah Nà” in particular is a song that will get stuck in my head very easily.

The Muppet Choir’s rendition of “Temptation” was a lot of fun too as we basically see Miss Piggy groping Kermit.

Juliet Prowse did a beautiful dance routine to “Solace” alongside six Green Gazelles.

Gonzo tried to eat a rubber tire, Statler and Waldorf were their cranky old selves, and Scooter’s dog Muppy tried to manipulate Kermit into changing the name of the show to the Muppy Show.

This rewatch is going to be a lot of fun.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair

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I used to like Malcolm in the Middle, though I never would say that I loved it. It was something that I watched when it was originally on ABC. I knew that there was going to be a new series featuring the returning cast on Hulu/Disney + and i was somewhat interested, but I had not gone out of my way to watch it. It came out in April and I saw it on Disney + a few times, but just never got around to watching it.

Finally, tonight I had an open evening and with only four episodes of the show to watch, I decided that I would finally watch it.

Overall, I am glad I did. However, I would not say that I loved it. There were parts that bugged me, and I am not sure I would have continued if it were a longer series. I do think that this was just the right amount of episodes at four.

The show did tell a specific story centered around Lois and Hal’s 40th wedding anniversary. Again, parts of the storyline was great and other parts were cringe. The final episode had a spectacular conclusion that was emotional and heartfelt and made everything else feel better.

I want to say immediately that I really found Leah, the daughter of Malcolm, played by Keeley Karsten, to be remarkably charming and a perfect fit for the role. The show cleverly gave Leah the ability to talk to the screen like Malcolm could do, narrating much of what was going on. It is obviously a trait passed along from father to daughter.

It was very funny, and well in character, that Malcolm had not ever told Hal and Lois that he had had a daughter, and so when they crashed his home because Malcolm had been avoiding the question about attending Lois & Hal’s big party, all of Malcolm’s lies came crashing down.

I am not sure how I felt about the whole Hal story arc of these episodes, but there is no denying that he came out a better person in the end. I was torn about the whole drug trip he went on (reminded me very much of the trip taken by Mayor Tom on Widow’s Bay), but there were some very funny moments within it.

I was sure that the role of Francis had been recast, but, according to IMDB, it was Christopher Masterson playing the role. I was shocked. I thought that the recast was very similar to Francis, but that it was clearly not him. I was in err on that. Turned out the only recast of the kids was Dewey, who was now played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark instead of Erik Per Sullivan.

Jane Kaczmarek was giving me Candace Bergen feels as she returned to her multiple Emmy nominated role. You’ve got to appreciate how committed Bryan Cranston is to playing Hal, because he is clearly willing to do anything. They really work together as well.

I was very much split on the Malcolm/Lois confrontation in the men’s room. The toilet humor just did not work for me. I have never been a fan of this style of humor. I thought the writing of the scene between the two characters was outstanding though.

Some of the other characters from the show looked rough. I am not sure if that was intended or if the actors had had tough lives. I would hate to speculate on any of them. I am glad that they were here.

The revival of this show was hit and miss for me, but I am glad that I watched it and I might even watch another show, if they did any more.

The Muppet Show (2026 special)

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Love it.

This is exactly what I was hoping for when I heard that there would be a Muppet Show special on Disney +. A show full of nostalgia and fond memories of a show of the past filled with humor and music of the present.

A show with voices that are different, but still familiar. With guest stars that are as happy to be there as I am watching.

I did not know much about Sabrina Carpenter, but she fit right in to the guest role. She had a beautiful voice and sang well with both Kermit and Miss Piggy on the song “Islands in the Stream.”

Seth Rogan, one of the executive producers, made a funny appearance as did Maya Rudolph. I liked how they had interspersed humans into the audience along with the typical Muppet characters. Maya was in the crowd and fit right into the weirdness of the show.

I was hooked immediately, from the slow walk of Kermit into the theater, to Ralph’s piano version of Rainbow Connection as background music to the absolutely wonderful theme song that I unabashedly sang along with and played twice.

This year is the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show and this special was a way to help celebrate that momentous occasion.

My favorite song was the “Blinding Lights” version performed by Rizzo the rat. The finale with all of the Muppets doing “Don’t Stop Me Now” from Queen was another highlight.

I hope this does gangbusters for Disney + because this is an IP that Disney owns that has been woefully underused over the years. The Muppets are back in the perfect place for them. Where it all started. Where they can “play the music” and “light the lights.”

Raise that curtain. It’s The Muppet Show…

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 E8

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“The Fleece Works its Magic Too Well”

The Sea of Monsters came to a conclusion with the second season of the Disney + show. Percy, Annabeth and Grover make their way back to camp in an attempt to stop Luke from burning the camp to the ground.

Of course, Percy wound up getting his ass kicked by Luke.

I am not sure how I felt about this final battle. It felt as if it had gaps in the story that just did not make sense or seemed to happen off screen. The ending of the whole thing felt a little anticlimactic.

I did like the use of Tyson saving Percy like a Deus ex machina. Percy really got brutally battered. I am not sure whether or not using the Fleece on the tree was a good thing. It brought back Thalia, but the end of that battle was lacking in my opinion.

I really enjoy Walker Scobell in this role. I think he does an admirable job as Percy Jackson. I enjoy the chemistry between the three main characters. Luke makes an interesting villain.

We got a new Zeus after the death of Lance Reddick. It was Courtney B. Vance, but he did not seem like Courtney B. Vance. I did not recognize him until I looked up the actor playing the role.

Honestly, I felt this episode was a touch of a letdown after a solid season. I am still anxious to see a season three, which is supposedly being filmed right now.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 E7

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“I Go Down with the Ship”

The penultimate episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 was fire as Percy and Clarisse went to reclaim the Golden Fleece and to save Annabeth, although the order of those events were up for debate.

Within this episode, we got a great Percy vs Luke battle, Annabeth and Clarisse flexing against some low level villains, and we get to hear Chronos’s voice as he continued with his machinations in his attempt to return.

I will say, Percy getting stabbed by Luke just as the elevator closed was dramatic, but, in the end, it was anticlimactic because Percy just used the Fleece. It took most of the dramatic tension out of it.

Percy’s mom made her return as they needed a ride. There was a funny interaction with her and a normal at a store. It was fun.

Clarisse had the fleece and headed back to the camp on Blackjack. There was a good moment between Clarisse and Percy as he gave her the Fleece that he had retrieved from the sarcophagus of Chronos.

Everything is pointing to a major showdown next episode.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 E6

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“Nobody Gets the Fleece”

Big episode this week…

  • Percy and Annabeth arrive on Polyphemus’s island.
  • They find where Grover and Clarisse are being held
  • Tyson is saved from drowning
  • Luke showed up to island
  • Tyson vs. Polyphemus
  • Annabeth nearly gets killed by Polyphemus
  • Grover discovered the truth Golden Fleece
  • Percy has to give the Fleece to Luke to save Annabeth’s life (his great flaw from a couple of episodes ago)
  • Tyson and Percy reunited in a big hug!
  • Luke took off with an unconscious Annabeth and the Golden Fleece.
  • Percy, Grover, Clarisse and Tyson prepared to pursue them on hippocampi, one of which was named Rainbow.

I kept expecting the episode to end during several of the cliffhangers, but it went through to a spot where our foursome prepared to ride the hippocampi and pursue Luke.

I do hope Percy is able to step to the forefront in the last couple of episodes of the series because it does seem like all of the supporting characters are having moments this season with Percy kind of being in the background.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 E5

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“We Check In to C.C.’s Spa and Resort“

The fifth episode was a solid episode. Percy and Annabeth had to face Circe, the witch. However, I liked the way they confronted Circe. It was more psychological than physical.

We also got to see Polyphemus the cyclops for the first time as Clarisse met up with Grover and Polyphemus showed us that he was not the bumbling idiot that cyclopes are usually portrayed.

Percy and Annabeth having to sail past the sirens in order to make it past the Sea of Monsters, and Annabeth has to overcome their spell.

This was a lot of fun and worked well with the characters in the story. Tyson’s disappearance from last episode’s storm is still a mystery, but I will not buy that he is dead by seeing it off-screen.

It had a ton of great visuals. The sirens looked great. The cameo from Blackbeard was funny.

With Percy and Annabeth approaching the island, the confrontation with Polyphemus is clearly on the horizon (literally).

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 E4

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“Clarisse Blows Up Everything”

Into the Sea of Monsters… and what a cliffhanger.

Percy Jackson, Annabeth and Tyson were confronted by Clarisse and her crew of dead sailors from the Underworld. After a tense standoff, they decided to work together, with Clarisse taking the role of captain, since it is her quest.

Things do not go well for the quest as they have to face the choice of either Scylla and Charybdis in order to get past them and continue their search for the Golden Fleece.

Clarisse changes the plan in mid-execution, heading off to fight the monsters using her cool on board laser canons (that looked more like something on the Millennium Falcon).

The end of the episode saw the ship starting to tear apart and getting pulled into the vortex.

There are some good flashbacks to Annabeth’s past with Luke and where they met Grover.

There were some really strong special effects for this too. Very impressive for a Disney + show.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 E3

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“We Board the Princess Andromeda”

The third episode of Percy Jackson’s second season dropped recently on Disney +, and it continues to be a fun ride, filled with a lot of Green mythological goodness.

Based on the Sea of Monsters book, this episode brings Percy face to face with Luke once again. The ship that Hermes sent Percy aboard last episode, turned out to be Luke’s very own vessel. Thanks a lot Lin-Manuel.

We got a return for Adam Copeland (formerly Edge in the WWE, now Cope in AEW) as Ares. Ares backed Clarisse, who decided to head after the Golden Fleece on her own. Ares provided her with a crew of undead seamen, who were in no rush to accept Clarisse as captain… that is… until they were. She gave a speech and turned all of their thoughts around. It felt a little weird.

The Great Prophecy has been weighing down Annabeth, but Percy has been letting her keep the secret. He told her he did not need to know. Of course, she ended up telling him that he could be the demi-god that destroys the age of the Gods.

Big news. This was a solid episode with the interactions between Percy and Luke and Annabeth.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 E1, E2

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“I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals”

“Demon Pigeons Attack”

The first two episodes of the second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians dropped on Disney + this past week. Last season, Percy Jackson was a surprise show for me. I had only intended on watching the first episode or so but it was such a good time that I looked forward to it every week.

Now, season two is here with a two-episode premiere.

Following the basic structure of the book The Sea of Monsters (although there are some apparent differences from the book), season two kicked off with some solid drama. Percy and Annabelle made it back to camp, Percy brought along Tyson, a cyclops, he had met at his school (turns out to be another child of Poseidon), and they started on a quest for the Golden Fleece.

Grover is in trouble, connected to the location of the Fleece. The dreams between him and Percy were important.

New head of the camp, Tantalus, was a big jerk. He was played by Timothy Simons, who I recognized, but could not place. He has been in several things including Veep. It was nice to see Lin-Manuel Miranda back in episode two as Hermes.

The confrontation with Percy and Tantalus at the end of episode two was exciting and it will set up the story moving forward.

Glad this one is back before Walker Scobell is too much of an adult to play this role. He sure grew a ton from season one. Like the Stranger Things kids…

Doctor Who S2 E8

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“The Reality War”

I am very sad. Ncuti Gatwa had his final episode as The Doctor as the character regenerates after a huge battle with the Roni, Omega and an attempt to save Poppy, the little girl who turned out to be the real daughter of Belinda.

The action packed episode was thrilling and Ncuti Gatwa showed off his original variation of the Doctor.

We also got a cameo from a former Doctor, the thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker.

I know Ncuti Gatwa had his opposition among the Who fans, but I am here to say that I am now a fan of Doctor Who and it is 100% because of the work of Ncuti Gatwa. He has been the most amazing performer, with more emotion and energy than many action show leads. The Doctor was an original concept and Ncuti Gatwa feels like a breath of fresh air.

From the BBC, this is the statement made by Ncuti Gatwa after the end of this season:

“You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it.”

He added: “There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.”

Gatwa thanked “Whoniverse” fans for “welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience.

“I’ve loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have.

“I’ll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.”

Billie Piper appeared on the screen when the Doctor regenerated. I see that Piper was a former companion for the Christopher Eccleston and then David Tennant versions. The BBC article does imply that she may not have been officially cast as The Doctor yet.

Thank you, Ncuti Gatwa for one of the most human Doctors that we have seen yet. I will miss that tear rolling down your face seemingly every episode. Good luck with everything in your future. You will always be my Doctor.

Doctor Who S2 E7

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“Wish World”

It is May 24th, a date that has been of major significance in season two of Disney +’s Doctor Who. Exactly what the significance of that date is still a bit of a mystery (outside of it being the meta date that the finale was scheduled for on Disney +).

Last week, we saw a post credit scene where we see Mrs. Flood bigenerate into a second woman and it is revealed that she was The Rani, the last surviving Time-Lady.

And this episode started off with The Doctor and Belinda seemingly happily married in a world that felt unreal. There was a definite flavor of Doctor Who meets WandaVision in this episode.

Conrad returned as the man who was installed by Rani as the god-like being of Wish World. Still, even Conrad felt as if he were being manipulated by Rani.

As the Doctor slowly regained his memory, bizarre things were happening all over the place. We saw the return again of Ruby, who is always a welcome sight.

This episode was weird and wild, mostly setting up the big part two next week. They also mentioned Omega, who they said was the first time lord, one who created the Time Lords in the first place. This is a villain that apparently was around in 1972.

This episode did feel like it was here just for set-up, and not its own penultimate episode of the second season. I am looking forward to seeing how this wraps up, especially since the rumors are that Ncuti Gatwa will not be back for another season.

Doctor Who S2 E6

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“The Interstellar Song Contest”

We are just a week away from the May 24, 2025 date that has been causing trouble for The Doctor and Belinda this entire season. In the latest episode of the show, we learn (from a hologram of Graham Norton, of all things) that May 24, 2025 is the day that the earth is destroyed.

We saw a side to the Doctor that we have never seen before. Ice inside his heart… causing him to be vindictive toward Kid, our antagonist of this episode whose plan would see the deaths of 3 trillion people across the universe. While one could understand the anger directed toward such a terrorist, hearing those vicious words of violence and vengeance come out of the Doctor’s mouth was difficult to hear.

It shook Belinda as she heard him make his threats. It scared her and it scared the Doctor too.

There are some really fun moments in this episode, including a creative use of a confetti canon as well as two extraordinary skilled men in Gary and Mike.

Hey there Mrs. Flood, what’s up……????? Um, are you Bi-generating? Are there two of you now? “The definite article, you might say.” I guess she is coming for The Doctor now.

Was that Susan? The Doctor’s long missing, long mentioned granddaughter? Will she play a role in what is to come? I expect so.

We are heading into the two-part finale coming up of season two. I will say this every week, but I absolutely love Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor.