Disney cancels beloved TV show despite rave reviews as fans rage ‘what a waste!’
DISNEY+ has cancelled The Muppets Mayhem, the latest series in the Muppet-verse, after just one season despite rave reviews from critics and protests from fans.
Fans are raging against the streamer for taking the Muppet series off air.
After buying the rights to The Muppets in 2004, Disney has done very little with Jim Henson’s beloved characters, besides giving them a short-lived show on ABC from 2015 to 2016 and a six-part unscripted series called Muppets Now in 2020.
The shows were enough to prove their long-lasting popularity, though, and in May 2023 the Muppets returned for a new series on Disney+ called The Muppets Mayhem. It followed the Muppet rock band, Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, as they embarked on a journey to make their first studio album and go platinum.
Mayhem, which featured fan-favourite characters like Dr Teeth, Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Janice, Lips, Zoot, and Animal, received rave-reviews.
Critic EJ Dickson praised the Disney+ series in a review for Rolling Stone. “Since their debut on The Muppet Show in the 1970s, the Muppets have been able to seamlessly appeal to audiences of all ages… Add The Muppets Mayhem, a sharp yet warm-hearted new series from Disney+, to the list,” she gushed.
Many other critics thoroughly enjoyed the series, too, and they collectively gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, while it boasts an even higher audience rating of 96%. With numbers like that, it makes no sense to cancel the show. But sadly, Disney+ did just that.
After just one season, The Muppets Mayhem came to an end, and fans were understandably devastated.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan commented: “This sucks! Can’t have anything good anymore.”
Another said: “Thank you so much for this wonderful show!! Truly reflected the heart of Jim Henson. I’m so sad it’s gone.”
“What a shame… some of the best writing & most fun to come out of a Disney+ show. Mr Henson would’ve been proud,” added a third fan.
Meanwhile, a fourth fan raged that the show’s cancellation was such “a waste.”
However, when creator Adam F. Goldberg announced the show’s cancellation, he hinted that it wasn’t the end for The Muppets.
He said: “Mayhem was truly the most joyful and collaborative experience of my career.
“From day one all I’ve cared about is creating a Muppet-verse and YES I am already cooking up more Muppets with Bill Baretta and Jeff Yorkes. IT’S HAPPENING!!!”
Speaking on behalf of his fellow co-creators, he added: “We love the Mayhem, but think about what could be next for Kermit & the gang! We sure are!”
Responding to the sad but hopeful announcement, one fan said: “Sad for the cancellation, but excited for the future projects! Keep the Muppet wheels going! Mayhem got the tone right.”
“I’m so sorry Muppets Mayhem is over, but I am still glad that the Muppet-verse is still happening. Let’s go!!” another added.
While no further details have been revealed, here’s hoping that there are future Muppets projects in the works.
The Muppets Mayhem is available to stream on Disney+.