The Muppets is getting ready for its return to ABC, but fans will see a different series during the next five episodes. Many fans were not thrilled with the more adult feel of the series, and ABC was also disappointed by the tone the series took.

A new showrunner was brought in to change things, and Paul Lee addressed the press about The Muppets at the Winter TCA’s over the weekend. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he said:

“Expectations were very high, but we didn’t quite feel that it had the joy, the laughter and the heart that we were looking for.”

Kristin Newman is the new woman in charge of the series, and she spoke about the changes she is trying to make to the series in an interview with HitFix. She said:

“More heart, more zaniness. I wanted to see the Muppets getting to perform sketches and bits on “Up Late with Miss Piggy,” so we could use the fact that a late night show is really the modern version of a variety show, and getting to see the Muppets doing sketches and bits of things like they used to do. Not the old ones, but modern versions of them: Fallon-esque and Kimmel-esque sort of bits.”

She is also bringing in a human villain for the group to take on together, and fans will also see a happier Miss Piggy. She will realize some things about her life during a trip, and Kermit will take notice of her new attitude.

The Muppets will return to ABC on February 2nd. Are you a fan of the series? Are you excited for the changes ahead? Tell us what you think.