THE MUPPET SHOW TV Special

Here's the decision. The Muppets are back on television, and by the source's lights they've come back in full form — funny, whimsical, nostalgic, with the top-notch quality the franchise has always delivered. If you grew up with Kermit and Miss Piggy, this half-hour is a warm reunion, and it introduces a whole new generation to the gang.

But this reboot isn't quite the spotless family fare some parents expect from the brand. Woven through the comedy are references to drinking and dating relationships — including two or so mentions of affairs — plus a "kink" gag, light profanity, some slapstick, a couple of Eastern spiritual references, and a closing bit about a male Muppet in a tutu. None of it is heavy, but it adds up to a show that wants a parent nearby for the youngest viewers.

So: if your kids are around ten and up, or you're an adult chasing that Muppet nostalgia, settle in and enjoy. If you're choosing purely safe viewing for little ones, watch it first.

The Muppet gang reunites at their old theatre to put on a show for a live studio audience. Kermit runs the whole operation, with his longtime helper Scooter at his side, and — as Kermit tells it — a lot is riding on the night going well.

Then the trouble starts: the lovable frog has booked way too many guests. Pop star Sabrina Carpenter arrives as the musical guest, and the beloved faces are all here — Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie and a whole host of others. How Kermit juggles the overstuffed lineup is the fun we'll leave for you.

Four stars, and the source is confident about them. This is the Muppets doing what the Muppets do best: funny, whimsical, interactive entertainment with the top-notch production quality fans have come to expect from the franchise. The nostalgia lands, and the show delivers.

Sabrina Carpenter serves as the live musical guest, and the review credits her with an entertaining turn and a nice rapport with the Muppet characters. As a pilot special reintroducing a storied program to a new generation, it does its job with charm and confidence. If you loved the original, this reboot is built to please you.

At heart, this special is kind. The source finds a light moral worldview running through it — one that extols friendship, kindness, teamwork and cooperation. Those are values worth cheering, and they're the show's dominant note.

A few threads pull the other way. There are references to drinking and to dating relationships, including two or so mentions of having an affair, and one sexual reference built around the word "kink." A closing gag — unseen — has a male Muppet wearing a tutu. And the special dips into some alternative spiritual practices, with talk of one's "aura" and "chakra" energy, plus a brief mention of Hell as a place of punishment. These are light touches rather than the show's substance, but they're why the youngest viewers want a parent close.

One note on the guest booking. The source observes that Sabrina Carpenter is known off-screen for provocative, overtly sexual concert appearances and risqué lyrics — and then happily reports that none of that content shows up in her Muppet Show performance. Weigh the casting as you will; the review is clear that what's on screen stays clean.

The show's best instinct is its oldest: that we're made for one another, to help and to belong. Scripture roots that longing deeper still — "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).

The Muppets are back, and they're as funny and warm as ever — a four-star reunion with sweet messages about friendship and kindness. A few grown-up winks keep it from being fully hands-off for the little ones. So here's our answer, the same one we opened with: worth the trip — ages 10 and up. Watching with younger kids? Preview it first, and check our latest family-friendly picks.