Music on TV - Week of 11.14.11: The Muppets

Kermit and Miss Piggy visits Fallon Wednesday while Animal sits in with The Roots on Friday. (credit: Disney)

In this day and age, anything of past cultural significance won't be gone for too long before it's swept back up into the current zietgeist and swallowed whole again. Sadly, most re-visits to our childhood end up falling short (The A-Team) or set new standards for 'epic fail' (David E. Kelly's infamous Wonder Woman). I think that's why there's so much excitement about the release in theaters next week of The Muppets. It's about as 'can't miss' as they come, with Muppets fanatics Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller (Get Him to the Greek) writing and The Flight of the Conchords co-creator James Bobin directing.

While everyone is shining a spotlight (deservedly so) on actor/writer Jason Segel for saving the Muppets from obscurity, I've been geeking out on the fact that Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie was brought in to write the original songs for the film. Despite original Muppets songwriter Paul Williams' small stature, these shoes are pretty big to fill, and McKenzie was a brave (and, we'll soon be saying, smart) choice by the new Muppets team to make for the 2011 version of the franchise. This week, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon had two nights of Muppet appearances, the first being Kermit and Miss Piggy (Wednesday) and then Animal sits in on the drums with The Roots (Friday) and hopefully, they'll be showing off some of McKenzie's work.

It may seem odd to many that individuals who have made their mark in very adult comedy -- like Segel, Stoller, Bobin and McKenzie have -- be tasked with Disney's revisit to Jim Henson's creation. But when you think about The Muppet Show (1976-1981) as the bridge from Sesame Street to Saturday Night Live, it makes a bit more sense. Jim Henson longed to break out of the children's entertainment pigeonhole, and The Muppet Show provided just that. This former 8-13 year old (my age during its run) can attest that it certainly still appealed to children, and Henson's 'adult' humor was just enough in reach for our young comedic minds to stretch to.

*The Muppet Show in a sense, got its start on both programs. Kermit on Sesame Street, and Muppets appeared in every SNL episode in the legendary sketch comedy's inaugural season (1975).

Picks for the week
Monday, November 14
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Belle Brigade
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Kooks
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Fidlar
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Miranda Lambert
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Biffy Clyro
Tuesday, November 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Christina Perri
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Drake
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Mariachi el Bronx
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Patrick Stump
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Tony Bennett
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Mastodon
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Chris Isaak
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Tony Bennett
TBS: Conan: Childish Gambino
Wednesday, November 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Miranda Lambert
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Lykke Li
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Wale
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Michael Stipe, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Trentemoller
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Carole King and Louise Goffin
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Miranda Lambert
TBS: Conan: Pegi Young
Thursday, November 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: John Fogerty
DOCUMENTARY: Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam: The Kominas, AL-Thawra, The Secret Trial Five
E: Chelsea Lately: Miranda Lambert
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Static Jacks
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Gym Class Heroes
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: We Were Promised Jetpacks
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Jimmy Cliff
Friday, November 18
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Grouplove
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Mariachi el Bronx
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tom Morello and Ben Harper
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Animal of The Muppets
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Saturday, November 19
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Florence and the Machine
PBS: Austin City Limits: Americana Music Festival with Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Gregg Allman, Jim Lauderdale, Robert Plant & The Band of Joy, Elizabeth Cook, Justin Townes Earle, and Amos Lee.
VH1CLASSIC: Metal Evolution: Blue Cheer, KISS, Aerosmith, Van Halen
Sunday, November 20
HDNET: HDNET Concert Series: Alanis Morissette (REPEAT)
HDNET Concert Series: Blondie (at the 2010 Isle of Wight Festival)