(Scene begins with a smartwatch screen and a finger as it taps the screen, and the 1994 American Gladiators plays as the scene cuts to a hand as it taps an app on his phone, as it opens a portal.)
(It cuts to James and the characters he’s played until it cut to his face and the credit of “James Faraci” is shown as it cuts to “The Last Of The Americans'” current iteration then slides away to different images of Paulo Fonseca, Brenda Fonseca, Rebecca Yaun, Nick Yaun and the characters they’ve played until it cut to their faces. The credits of “Paulo and Brenda Fonseca, Rebecca and Nick Yaun” are shown, then slide away to different images of Doug Yaun and Crosslyn Castillo, Nick Lopez and Jessica Lopez-Barkl, and the characters they’ve played, until it cuts to their faces.)
(After that, the credits “Doug Yaun and Crosslyn Castillo, Nick Lopez and Jessica Lopez-Barkl” are shown, as it then slides away to different images of Andrew Beach Eric Kurtzke, Renee Miller and Olivia Horvath. Following this, the credits of “Andrew Beach, Eric Kurtzke, Renee Miller, Olivia Horvath” are shown as the 0:00-0:21 mark of the theme song plays.)
(Everything becomes a swirl of reds, whites, and blues, as the credits “Produced by First Choice Entertainment Productions in association with Manic-Expression.com"; “Executive Producers: James Faraci, Paulo Fonseca, Brenda Fonseca, Rebecca Yaun, Nick Yaun, Eric Kurtzke, Renee Miller, Andrew Beach & Olivia Horvath”; “Editing by Eric Kurtzke and James Faraci”; “Written and Directed by James Faraci” are shown, as the 0:21-0:26 mark of the theme song plays.)
(We then see an image of James as he jumps through the portal and lands with half of his team on his right. The other half on his left is on a black background. Finally, the title “THE LAST OF THE AMERICANS” is shown Lazer etched into Titanium as the last six seconds of the American Gladiators 1994 theme song plays.)
(Cut to James in his office)
TLOTA:
I’m James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and the views that I’m about to express are that of my own and some of yours, and it goes to say we have a twofer this month, so let’s celebrate yet another “American Icon” (Cut to Guitar music like “American Idiot” plays as James Faraci and Paulo Fonseca on guitars, Andrew Beach on Bass Guitar, and Nick Lopez on the Drums and the set is like the set of “American Idiot” except the colors are Patriotically Red, White, and Blue)
James Faraci (Singing):
All year we’re cheering American Icons! (Guitars play the tune for three seconds.) Twelve months of heroes of Cinema! (Guitars play the tune for three seconds.) From John Wayne to Rocky Balboa (Guitars play the tune for three seconds.) Oh, hell yeah, we’re talking about them all! (The tune continues) [Chorus] Welcome to the two hundred and fiftieth, hoping we’ll see two fifty-one! And we can finally be Okay! Humans dream of a better tomorrow, knowing it won’t be hollow! For me that’s good enough! (Drums play and the music continues.) We’re going to show off the hard work! (Guitars play the tune for three seconds.) Even if it makes me look like a real jerk. (Guitars play the tune for three seconds.) Now everyone get ready to celebrate with us! (Guitars play the tune for three seconds.) And make sure you have a dose of common sense. (The tune continues) [Chorus] Welcome to the two hundred and fiftieth, hoping we’ll see two fifty-one! And we can finally be Okay! Humans dream of a better tomorrow, knowing it won’t be hollow! For me that’s good enough! (Drums play and the music continues with a guitar solo.) All year we’re cheering American Icons! Twelve months of heroes of Cinema! Information about them will be a lot, you’re going to know whether you like or not [Chorus] Welcome to the two hundred and fiftieth, hoping we’ll see two fifty-one! And we can finally be Okay! Humans dream of a better tomorrow, knowing it won’t be hollow! For me that’s good enough! (Drums play and the music continues and concludes and the words “Americans Icons” are put up in different styles of text. The scene cuts to all the Muppet TV series as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
The Muppets, a staple of the small screen, big screen, and every screen possible. While they worked on “Sesame Street,” They had their own show that debuted fifty years ago and while it lasted five years, it ended on its own terms it wasn’t cancelled, Jim ended it after 100 episodes, and since then, with shows like “Muppet Babies,” “The Jim Henson Hour,” “Muppets Tonight,” “The Muppets,” and “Muppets Now” trying to keep the Muppets relevant in our modern culture, however with the changing times it seems that the fans were and are wanting to see more of what made The Muppets...The Muppets. And while The Muppets were doing well with the other shows that I did mention already and others I didn’t, and their films ranged from Iconic classics like “The Muppet Movie” and “The Great Muppet Caper” to not as great like “Kermit’s Swamp Years,” people still wanted to see more, and yet it feels like the nostalgia for what they loved never really went away, so much so that Seth Rogen worked with The Muppet Studios and produced a semi-continuation/ celebrational episode/ backdoor pilot for a revival (Cut to James)
TLOTA:
And what have been the results since it aired? (Show the latest updates on the special, as the news says it won four Emmys, and the news that there is no plan for the show; cut to James physically.) Okay, I get it, just because the fans loved it and want to see more, Disney’s response is “Go F Ourselves!” SAME TO YOU! When you have success, brace yourselves; you EMBRACE IT! YOU GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT! IT’S NOT THAT HARD A CONCEPT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT SUCCEEDS ON NETWORK AND ON YOUR STREAMING SERVICE! (Cut to the Opening Credit Title Card and clips of “The Muppet Show (2026)” as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
Released in February of THIS YEAR! “The Muppet Show” is a great reminder of what I loved about the Muppets and The Muppet Show as a whole. The Main Guest Star and the Special Guest Stars that are in the show as well are perfectly cast, and they give out great performances; the writing is Quality done right, and even the musical numbers with and without the Main Guest Star are AWESOME TO THE INFINITE POWER! But does this deserve to be a one-and-done episode? Or does this deserve to be a full-fledged series again? (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
And since I am going to be babysitting my great-nieces for the next couple of hours, let’s not waste any time. This is “The Muppet Show (2026)” (Cut to “The Muppet Show (2026)” as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
We open as the sets light up and the music gives the feeling of magic returning. (Cut to James physically.)
TLOTA:
And to be honest I’m feeling that magic.
(Cut to “The Muppet Show (2026)” as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
We then find Kermit looking over old photos of Guests past, including Debbie Harry from “Blondie,” Harry Belafonte, Steve Martin, and Elton John, just to name a few. Symbolically knowing the show’s past, Kermit passes Pops and sits down to enjoy Rowlf’s Piano playing when Rowlf reminds Kermit the show is about to start. Kermit informs Scooter to let the main guest star know that it’s showtime, and the main guest star is... Sabrina Carpenter (Show the Sabrina Carpenter opening as she is sharing the room with Miss Piggy.) This is going to end with one of them getting knocked out and dragged into the alleyway we then go to the opening and...(Show the opening of the show as it cuts to James as he watches with joy in his face. Cut back to the opening as it continues; the scene cuts back to James as he looked as a kid. Cut to the rest of the opening. Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
Wow! That took me back quite a few years! (Cut to “The Muppet Show (2026)” as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
We then get Kermit’s opening monologue, and yes Matt Vogel is still performing as Kermit in this, and for me it still doesn’t feel like Kermit. It sounds like Tom Servo is performing as Kermit. But its comforting to know that Waldorf and Statler are still up to their own levels of snark. We then open on Sabrina Carpenter’s performance of “Manchild,” and I have to admit, because I don’t listen to much modern music, but it’s not that bad. After that Kermit notices it's a bit crowded backstage. Scooter tells Kermit that they’re all acts they’re going to be on the show. But since the show is a half-hour long, Kermit is looking at cutting more than I’d have to say 95 percent of the acts. Of course. if that happens, Kermit is up that creek without a paddle and no canoe or life preservers, and I think Kermit can swim, but he’s swimming up Niagara Falls. Especially when the number that is cut is, unfortunately, Miss Piggy’s. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
And from what I have seen, heard and felt, cutting Miss Piggy from a performance is a physical death sentence. (Cut to “The Muppet Show (2026)” as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
Fozzie stops by and has to tell Seth Rogen, the executive producer, that his bit is cut for time’s sake and, if it makes it past this one episode, might become a running gag. We then get a Gonzo The Great stunt as he goes backward on Smart Skates midway through his sketch. We then cut to a sketch that would’ve been hilarious in the Original series and again might be in the new one if Disney does something with this show besides this episode, called “Pigs In Wigs,” as we see Miss Piggy in a Ballroom Sketch that goes south faster than someone saying something wrong to Miss Piggy’s face. We then see Rizzo and the Rats perform “Blinding Lights,” which was awesome because, again, most modern music, not a fan of. After that, Scooter has to tell Miss Piggy that one of her numbers has been cut from the show, which goes about as well as you’d expect, and Kermit feels the Wrath of Miss Piggy! (Show the moment Miss Piggy Karate chops the door and it lands on Kermit!) While Sabrina Carpenter manages to quickly quell Miss Piggy, we then meet Maya Rudolph, who bores the daylights out of the poor Muppet next to her. But that doesn’t last long, as we see the return of Muppet Labs. (Show the Muppets Labs sketch as Beaker’s eyes begin to multiply and fire out at the audience. Cut to James as he starts seeing eyeballs come his way, and he starts swinging a Baseball bat. Cut to Olivia, Renee, Eric, and Andrew as they swing away at the eyeballs with pickleball rackets. Cut to Paulo Fonseca, Brenda Fonseca, Nick Yaun, and Rebecca Yaun as they fend off the eyeballs with tennis racquets. Cut to Doug Yaun, Crosslyn Castillo, Nick Lopez, and Jessica Lopez-Barkl fending off the eyeballs with Captain America’s Shield, Lightsabers, and a kitchen sink, then cut to Maya Rudolph accidentally swallowing an eyeball. Cut to “The Muppet Show (2026)” as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
After that Eye-Yi-Yi moment, backstage drifts further into chaos. Janice tries to relax Kermit, but that doesn’t last long, as it appears that Maya Rudolph died choking on an eyeball, which gets dislodged at the right time to revive her. After the musical number, it turns to Miss Piggy and Sabrina Carpenter for the Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers classic “Island In The Stream.” Meanwhile, it looks like everyone backstage is getting ready to revolt and make frog legs out of Kermit, until Kermit has an idea that saves his backside. (Show the ending sketch as everyone comes on stage and sings “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and Seth lamenting that his sketch was cut, then the ending.) And with that, this special ends with Kermit thanking Sabrina Carpenter as Gonzo continues his recitations, and Kermit lets us know that we’ll see him and the rest of the Muppets on “The Muppet Show.” (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
And Lord willing and the crick don’t rise, the show will go on! (Cut to clips of “The Muppet Show (2026)” as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
So that was “The Muppet Show (2026)” and it recaptured the magic of the original series without a question about it. The acts were amazing, the backstage story was hilarious, and the music- while again not much of a fan of modern music- I enjoyed it. I loved Sabrina Carpenter's ability to be herself, and I can’t forget Miss Piggy stealing the show. This recaptured that moment when I was a kid and I saw them for the first time, and I loved every second of the show. If you have seen it, watch it again; if you haven’t, then watch it for the first time and see what The Muppets can do. (Show the orchestra as they close out the show and Zoot’s saxophone blows an eyeball out. Cut to James physically.)
TLOTA: Well, The American Icons will continue October 1st, just before Monstertober in Canada and... (A knock on the door is heard.) Excuse me, I have three little kids to take care of. (James walks out of the studio to see Miss Piggy in the driveway just as Madison and Mallory come up with their kids) Uh, Miss Piggy, my nieces Madison and Mallory and their kids.
Miss Piggy: Oh hello kiddies! Kissy, Kissy! I’m sorry about this, but this needs to happen to your Uncle Jimmy (Miss Piggy HAI-YAH! Karate Chops James up into the sky, and they all look up as James shouts, “I’M JAMES FARACI THE LAST OF THE AMERICANS AND THAT’S MY OPINION!” As he shouts, he goes higher into the sky, and as he disappears into the ionosphere, there’s a ding. Fade to Black)
