Duncan Day-Myron

It was a mastermind idea from one of the most creative minds in television history: a show within a show, bringing all the drama, hubbub and lunacy of working behind the scenes of a live show to the small screen. Egos, insanity, drama queens and a litany of guest stars all barely managed by a level-headed, over-worked and under-sexed showrunner. Hilarious, topical, and made television history immediately. I am talking, of course, of The Muppet Show.

The Muppet Show was perhaps Jim Henson’s finest achievement. While Sesame Street was far more popular, Fraggle Rock was far weirder, and the Dark Crystal scared the living shit out of children around the world, nothing Henson touched during his life had the wit or charm of The Muppet Show. None of the hundreds of characters who have walked down Sesame Street were as memorable as Kermit, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Animal or the rest of The Muppet Show’s rogue’s gallery.

Clearly, no one knows this more than Tina Fey.

30 Rock is one of the best shows on television. The characters are equal parts comically absurd and morally reprehensible. It is clever, consistent, and occasionally profound. It doesn’t have a laugh track. It is everything Two and a Half Men is not. But, as I rewatched each of the 77 episodes of it this past week (Totaling approximately 25 hours of my life. Don’t judge me.) I realized something: It is The Muppet Show. Again. Still awesome, but still, in many regards, the same. Muppet Show Redux.

Let’s just run through some of the characters before you can disagree. Liz Lemon is Kermit the Frog. He is male and green, she is female and not green. Those are their only differences. The average plot of a 30 Rock episode usually includes Liz having issues with Jenna Maroney wanting attention, Tracy Jordan being certifiably insane, and her being romantically stiffed by a Special Guest Star. Replace Jenna with Miss Piggy, Tracy with Gonzo, and Special Guest Star with Special Guest Star and you now have the majority of Muppet Show episodes. Kermit even chased after Ethel freakin’ Mermen. She is his Dennis Duffy.

Still not convinced?

Scooter is a ‘gofer’ who runs around putting out fires and thanklessly cleaning up after the rest of the cast. Kenneth is the same thing. Fozzie Bear is a loveable but hairy wisecracking funny man. Frank is the same thing. Bob the Eagle is an unapproachable, ultra-American who tries to censor the Muppet Show. Jack Donaghy is the same thing (but also so, so much more).

I’m not trying to disparage 30 Rock at all. I would never. It’s impossible that Fey and company aren’t aware of the eerie similarities considering the references the show has made to its conceptual predecessor: Kenneth sees the world as if everyone is a Muppet, and when filmed in HD, he himself is a Muppet; and Jenna was shown as having been pitted against Miss Piggy in a ‘who wore it better?’ section of a gossip magazine. (She lost.)

30 Rock is three episodes away from completing its fourth season, which fills my heart with sadness. But, upon further consideration, there are six perfectly good seasons of Jim Henson’s 30 Rock prequel available.

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