It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to haunt the mansion and give all the guests a fright. That's essentially the motifs laid down by the Muppets Haunted Mansion on Disney+, and it's definitely a scream. Not only do Jim Henson's friends of fur and felt give a great performance, but they know how to deliver some fan service as well.
Fans of both the ride and the Muppets will find plenty to love, and many easter eggs have already been discovered by the fanbase, such as those at toughpigs.com. Still, there's something to be said about the various Muppet cameos mixing and mingling in the backgrounds. Simply put, fans of any level will walk away happy.
A Familiar Furry Friend
The only human living character featured in the Haunted Mansion canon is the Caretaker, quaking in his boots and accompanied by his emaciated dog. Casual fans will find the shaggy, blonde pooch adorably nervous, but hardcore Muppet fans will notice something vaguely familiar about him.
While it's easy to mistake the Caretaker's dog as Sprocket from Fraggle Rock just dyed a different color, it's actually the dog from Tale of the Bunny Picnic, a semi-forgotten Jim Henson special. It might be the same model or maybe a distant relation, but the resemblance is definitely there.
Dead Tom And Real Old Tom
A recurring gag in the special is the appearance of a mummy and a skeleton that appear to sing "Dun-dun-dun!" for a dramatic/comedic effect. It's a gag, but it's also a reference to an absolute classic in Muppet lore.
Anyone who's seen Muppet Treasure Island can instantly recognize the puppets from their former roles as Real Old Tom and Dead Tom from Long John Silver's crew of buccaneers. Honestly, there's perhaps no better way to welcome the two back into the furry fold of the Muppets.
Mahna Manah Holding The Candles
While he and his two pink backup singers don't make a physical appearance in the special, Mahna Mahna and the Snowths appear as candelabras in the Haunted Mansion's famous Stretching Room. Not exactly fearsome enough for gargoyles, but a great easter egg for those deep into Muppet lore.
There are a lot of clever design choices throughout the Muppetized version of the manor, from Kermit's eyes on the gate to Beaker's face on the wallpaper, but this is one major detail that's sure to make fans go "Ah-ha!"
The Electric Mayhem From Regions Beyond
While it might have been a better decision to have them do a rock cover of "Grim Grinning Ghosts," watching Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem materialize to offer their music from regions beyond is a great melding of the fandoms. Especially when Muppet fans notice that they're also wearing similar outfits to the ones they wore for The Muppet Christmas Carol.
They might not have the biggest roles in the supporting cast, but no Muppet outing would be complete without them. Someone has to provide a solid set of tunes.
Wayne And Wanda In The Ballroom
Muppet fans get two easter eggs for the price of one with this appearance. Given the location and characters in question, there was perhaps no better use for Wayne and Wanda than in this spoof of the mansion's iconic ballroom scene.
For those unfamiliar with the original Muppet Show, Wayne and Wanda were a prominent fixture in the ballroom sketches, during which the dancers would all crack jokes mid-waltz. That motif is used to a perfect degree as Wayne, Wanda, and the rest of the ghostly Muppets bring an old classic back from the dead.
Bunsen And Beaker As Statues
The dynamic duo of Beaker and Bunsen might not appear as much as they could have in the special, but apparently budget cuts are to blame. Even so, the image of them as a pair of ghostwriter statues from the hallway scene in the original Disney ride was definitely a decent way to incorporate them into the ride.
That all being said, because of their notoriety with fans, it feels like the pair could have been used to a more comedic effect or a bigger supporting role. There was plenty of room for them in the ballroom sequence. Even appearing in a Doom Buggy or a Muppetized version would have been great.
Sam Eagle In The Architecture
Although Sam Eagle does appear as a full-on character in the ballroom scene, this fun little aesthetic choice is one of those design features that truly sells the fact that this is the Muppet's mansion and not the Disney haunted house alone. One of many Muppets that appear in the manor's decor, Sam's pointed profile fits perfectly in the endless hallway.
Even if this special didn't belong to Kermit and company, the shape of his face looks all too natural in the setting. The designers definitely had a great eye on this one.
Andy And Randy Spoof The Shining
Andy and Randy Pig are a pair of overlooked Muppets characters that really haven't had much of a career bump since Muppets Tonight, but it's nice to see them out and about. Being the only set of twins amongst the cast, there was only one way to perfectly use them for a comedic horror reference.
Since the only other famous haunted house with an endless hallway is the Overlook Hotel, the obvious choice was to have the pigs recreate the scene with the Grady girls from The Shining. A blink-and-you'll-miss-it gag, but one that works.
Statler And Waldorf In A Doom Buggy
If there's one image that perfectly captures the themes, messages, and motifs of The Muppets Haunted Mansion, it's that of a spectral Statler and Waldorf exchanging their theatre box for the iconic Haunted Mansion ride vehicle and heckling Fozzie's act from the great beyond. It's funny, it's a direct reference to the ride, and it's something that satisfies both fanbases.
The crotchety old men are a pair of fan favorites, and it's a wonder there hasn't been a special completely surrounding the pair and their frequent commentary. The idea of the two taking a Doom Buggy tour through the ride and making jokes and insults at the various ghosts and ghouls would be the ultimate way to see the special.