Unique air date: September 21, 1985
When ToughPigs editor-in-chief Joe Hennes instructed that we do that Little Muppet Monsters: 40 Years Later sequence, I eagerly signed up. I wished to put in writing one of many critiques for a easy purpose – I’d by no means truly seen the present earlier than. This appeared like the right excuse to lastly find time for it! So what did I consider Boo, Tug, Molly, and their numerous supporting penguins? Learn on to seek out out!
However first, let’s speak about what occurs in “Area Cowboys.” The earlier episode needed to set up that the Little Muppet Monsters are making a TV present within the basement. However now, with that setup out of the way in which, we be a part of their basement present already in manufacturing. To my shock, the present’s premise feels loads like that of The Jim Henson Hour later within the decade. The monsters are utilizing clips from a variety of completely different sources, identical to how Kermit pulls video feeds from throughout for MuppeTelevision.
Within the pitch reel for what grew to become The Jim Henson Hour, Jim describes that conceit as “the Muppet Present of the longer term.” Nobody makes use of that phrase right here, after all, however it actually does really feel like this was Jim’s first cross at creating a range present made up of video feeds. As an authorized Jim Henson Hour obsessive, it makes me so pleased to see the seeds of it right here.
We begin with Tug doing a Star Trek parody, delivering his Captain’s Log within the basement. Molly and Boo present up dressed as cowboys, and the three of them argue about whether or not they’re doing an area present or a Western. All through the episode, all of them preserve switching costumes between the 2 genres, lastly deciding to invent Firefly early as a substitute.
Alongside the way in which, they watch Fozzie (puppet), Pigs in Area (animated), Gonzo (puppet), Bunsen & Beaker (animated), and Kermit the (animated) personal eye. That listing of sketches was thrilling for me. Till I watched the primary episode in preparation for this text, I by no means knew that the Muppet Present characters appeared in new content material on Little Muppet Monsters. However right here they’re!
So it’s a real thrill to get new scenes with Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Dave Goelz as their basic characters. I received’t declare that that is their all-time finest materials, however these guys are professionals and it’s all the time a pleasure to observe them work. Fozzie’s doing extraordinarily dumb jokes a couple of cartoon rooster, however Frank provides it his all. The identical is true once we see Gonzo and Kermit later. These segments alone are sufficient to make the present worthwhile for any Muppet fan.
I did know in regards to the new characters, after all, however it’s actually enjoyable attending to know them. On the time, the casting of Richard Hunt (as Tug), Camille Bonora (as Molly), and David Rudman (as Boo) will need to have felt like an thrilling take a look at the longer term. Richard was the youngest of the unique core Muppet Present performers, and the opposite two had been up-and-coming puppeteers who had been simply beginning to make their mark.
Watching this for the primary time in 2025, it’s bittersweet to see the three of them collectively. We all know now that Richard Hunt died solely seven years later, and Camille Bonora stopped performing with the Muppets only a few years after that. David Rudman actually was the way forward for the Muppets, as he stays a core performer to at the present time. As you (an individual studying Robust Pigs) virtually actually know, he’s even taken over a lot of Richard Hunt’s characters. That makes it actually enjoyable to see them as brothers right here. Certainly, the three leads make for an enthralling trio, and I’d actually be pleased to have extra time with them.
I all the time knew that Little Muppet Monsters had animated segments that includes Pigs in Area and Detective Kermit, however I used to be stunned by how effectively I knew them. On this episode, each of these segments had been recycled in “Eight Flags Over the Nursery,” the sequence finale of Muppet Infants.
That episode occurs to be one of many ones I personal on VHS, and my youngsters have watched it dozens of occasions. So each of those cartoons are burned into my mind from all these repeated viewings. Neither of them may be very humorous – the animated segments are simply the worst factor about this present – however they’re simply previous mates at this level, so it was a nice shock to see them.
For some purpose, I had it in my head that these cartoons had been in Muppet Infants as a result of Little Muppet Monsters was canceled earlier than that they had an opportunity to include them into the sequence. Properly, no. That’s backwards. They shot a bunch of live-action footage for Little Muppet Monsters which they by no means had an opportunity to make use of (and which we’ll talk about in a few weeks), however they used all the completed animation.
So when these cartoons confirmed up on Muppet Infants six years later, they actually had been simply reruns. Because it seems, the later present solely used half of every cartoon. My son Miles watched this episode with me at the moment, and he was so excited to see how they acquired resolved. He by no means anticipated to see the ending of these tales, and this was like a buried treasure for him.
Truthfully, that’s how I really feel about Little Muppet Monsters on the whole. If the present is talked about by Muppet followers in any respect, it’s as a punchline. However it is a enjoyable, fascinating little present, and I’d suggest it to any Muppet fan.
Most Invaluable Muppet: Tug, the oldest sibling, is absolutely the lead character of the sequence, and it’s simple to see how he would have developed into an awesome one. He’s a genuinely caring older brother, however he’s additionally snarky and cocky about being in cost. It’s an awesome Richard Hunt efficiency, and it’s too dangerous he acquired so little to do.
Greatest Section: Gonzo’s Bizarre Stuff consists of Gonzo narrating silent movie footage as a result of “it’s even weirder than me!” This episode’s installment may be very quick, however I really like the thought a lot that I’m shouting it out anyway. They need to have made 1,000,000 of these. Get Dave Goelz to relate weird previous silent clips proper now! It isn’t too late!
Weakest Section: The Muppet Labs phase is only a common Bunsen & Beaker premise, besides they’re animated. Animation permits Pigs in Area to do extra sophisticated tales than on The Muppet Present, and Kermit, P.I. is a complete new premise. However that is simply common previous Muppet Labs, besides animated. It’s not disagreeable, however it could have been a lot nicer to see the puppets as a substitute.
Most Prophetic Cultural Second: Tug convinces the cows to hitch of their play by asking them to “do it for Clint Eastwood.” Fifteen years after this, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in a film about getting older astronauts. The title of that film? Area Cowboys, the identical as this episode!
Dumbest Joke That I Laughed at Anyway: The mops from “Ragg Mopp” play aliens, which isn’t actually a joke, however I guffawed in delight.
Most Astonishing Cameo: Within the theme track of all three episodes, there’s a shot of the Electrical Mayhem watching the present. All of them look so excited, and Dr. Tooth says “That’s all proper” out loud. On this one, we get a fast shot of Janice and Floyd reacting to the image being the other way up. I really like that Little Muppet Monsters is the Electrical Mayhem’s favourite present for some purpose!
One Extra Factor: The episode opens with Child Kermit as Indiana Jones, who appears immediately into the digital camera and says “Would you guys thoughts if I modify the title to . . .” after which the theme track begins up, containing the lyrics “Muppet Infants and Little Monsters too!” It’s a cute bit, and it in all probability would have been enjoyable to see what variations they did on it if the present had continued.
Click on right here to be recycled for the Muppet Infants finale on the Robust Pigs Discord!
by Anthony Strand
