The Muppets have always been a masterclass in ensemble comedy. Sure, Kermit is the beating heart, Miss Piggy brings the diva energy, and Fozzie is always there to aggressively force a punchline. But any true fan knows that the real magic lies in the deep bench of supporting weirdos—the monsters, musicians, rats, pigs, chickens, and whatever exactly Gonzo is.
Disney+ has already blessed us with some incredible modern Muppet projects, including Muppets Haunted Mansion, Muppets Now, The Muppets Mayhem, and the nostalgic Muppet Show special event that brought the gang back to their original theatre roots alongside stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Seth Rogen, and Maya Rudolph.
But this raises a very important question: Who gets the spotlight next?
Here are 10 Muppets who have more than enough star power to carry a standalone Disney+ special.
1. Rowlf the Dog
Rowlf is easily one of the most underappreciated Muppets in the franchise’s history. He is incredibly funny, effortlessly musical, and possesses a wonderfully dry, laid-back wisdom.
The Pitch: Rowlf After Dark. Imagine a cozy, jazzy piano-bar variety hour. Celebrity guests could drop in for a duet, a casual sketch, or a surprisingly emotional, late-night chat. It would be low-key, nostalgic, and a genuinely charming change of pace for the streaming platform.
2. Scooter
For decades, Scooter has been the ultimate backstage MVP, ensuring everyone else makes it to their cue. Isn’t it time the long-suffering gofer gets his own moment to shine?
The Pitch: A real-time backstage thriller where Scooter is left completely in charge. Kermit is out sick, Miss Piggy is demanding an impossible dressing room upgrade, Gonzo is prepping a highly illegal stunt, and Fozzie has booked the wrong celebrity guest. Scooter has just 45 minutes to save the show from total collapse.
3. The Swedish Chef
A Disney+ cooking special starring the Swedish Chef would be an absolute masterclass in ridiculousness. In an era oversaturated with culinary shows, we desperately need one featuring flying utensils, explosive poultry, and a host whose instructions are completely incomprehensible.
The Pitch: The Swedish Chef’s Holiday Feast. A direct parody of high-end celebrity cooking shows. Guest chefs attempt to follow along with the Chef’s “process,” only to quickly realize there is no recipe, zero safety protocols, and a high probability that the kitchen will not survive the episode.
4. Uncle Deadly
With his spooky theatrical flair and a voice built for a haunted opera house, Uncle Deadly was practically engineered for a streaming special. Following the massive success of Muppets Haunted Mansion, Deadly is the obvious choice for the franchise’s next Halloween outing.
The Pitch: Uncle Deadly’s Theatre of Terror. A gothic, spooky anthology special where Deadly attempts to host a series of chilling Muppet ghost stories. Naturally, the terrifying atmosphere is constantly ruined by the rest of the cast’s inability to stay in character.
5. Pepe the King Prawn
Pepe is a notorious scene-stealer. He’s loud, wildly overconfident, delightfully sketchy, and always on the brink of a spectacular failure.
The Pitch: A fake reality-show format. Pepe decides it’s time to launch his own empire—maybe it’s a luxury travel agency, an overly dramatic dating show, or a questionable self-help seminar. The humor comes from Pepe believing he is the smartest guy in the room while the audience watches his entire operation implode.
6. Sam Eagle
Sam Eagle is the ultimate satirical weapon. Because he takes absolutely everything seriously, he is inherently hilarious in a universe built entirely on nonsense.
The Pitch: An “important cultural program” dedicated to the arts, history, or proper theatre etiquette. Sam tries to host a dignified, high-brow documentary, but the rest of the Muppets repeatedly hijack the production with slapstick comedy, rogue musical numbers, and, inevitably, chickens.
7. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker
A dedicated science special starring Bunsen and Beaker feels criminally overdue. Disney+ needs to unleash these two in a family-friendly educational format where absolutely nothing goes according to plan.
The Pitch: Muppet Labs: The Special. Every segment starts as a legitimate parody of a tech demo or science show before devolving into chaos. Beaker ends up shrinking, multiplying, catching fire, or turning invisible, while Bunsen remains cheerfully oblivious to his assistant’s suffering. Meep.
8. Statler and Waldorf
Statler and Waldorf shouldn’t get a special because they’d be great hosts—they should get one because they would absolutely despise doing it.
The Pitch: A hilarious, meta-commentary special. The iconic balcony hecklers are forced to review classic Muppet moments, complain about modern streaming services, and critique Hollywood reboots. Along the way, they accidentally become the stars of the exact kind of show they are trying to tear down. Grumpy, sharp, and brilliantly funny.
9. Camilla the Chicken
She might not speak English, but Camilla has undeniable stage presence. As Gonzo’s loyal companion, she has been a part of some of the strangest, most endearing moments in Muppet history.
The Pitch: Camilla: Behind the Beak. A deadpan mockumentary where the entire cast treats Camilla like an enigmatic, legendary artist with a deeply complex creative process. Gonzo provides tearful, emotional interviews about her genius, leading to absurd musical numbers and a celebration of Muppet romance.
10. Lew Zealand
Lew Zealand is a man whose entire existence is defined by throwing fish that act like boomerangs. It’s not just a bit; it’s a lifestyle.
The Pitch: A high-stakes mock sports documentary chronicling Lew’s journey to legitimize boomerang fish throwing on the world stage. Picture intense training montages, heated rivalries with other fish throwers, and an epic, entirely unnecessary championship finale. It would be weird, but weird is exactly where the Muppets excel.
Why Disney+ Needs to Take More Chances on the Muppets
The Muppets don’t always need a theatrical blockbuster or a multi-season series to capture our hearts. Often, a tight, focused special is the best way to let individual characters shine while allowing the franchise to experiment with wildly different genres.
These characters have already proven they can seamlessly transition into haunted house adventures, music documentaries, and modern streaming comedies. Giving Rowlf a piano, Uncle Deadly a haunted stage, or letting Sam Eagle aggressively defend American culture are easy wins. The talent is waiting in the wings—Disney+ just needs to raise the curtain.