"The Muppets," which used to be a well-loved puppet show for kids, is no longer suitable for children ages two to 11 after it underwent a modern remake that now accommodates adult-themed content.
The Parent Television Council (PTC) recently conducted a study that showed that children who still watch the show are exposed to inappropriate content every three minutes and 38 seconds. The findings are based on the first four episodes of the show.
The stars of the show—Kermit and Miss Pigg—even deliver spiel after spiel filled with sexual innuendos. Miss Piggy, in particular, talks about having plastic surgery on her breasts and buttocks, while her former beau Kermit considers "cross-promoting" with a female character.
In the fourth episode, the Muppet characters even went on a drinking binge at a bar, therefore sending the wrong message to children about drinking beer, wine, and other hard liquor.
PTC President Tim Winter is strongly encouraging parents to keep their children off "The Muppets" and instead provide them with other viewing material.
"It is a tragedy that one of the most iconic children's television shows in history, 'The Muppets,' would be so filled with adult content—sexual innuendoes, sexual references, drugs and alcohol, to be exact—that it would become too toxic for children," he said. "Our research shows that 'The Muppets' isn't a show for kids, yet it was supposedly created for families to watch together. Perhaps that's why ratings for the show have continued to sink every week."
Winter said there are actually still millions of young children who are attracted to "The Muppets," and kids still think that the show is designed for them. They are therefore urging the ABC network to "rethink the dangerous direction of this programme" and bring it back to its former glory.
