The Muppets and Disney+ are gearing up to release their newest television special, Muppets Haunted Mansion, on October 8th. This 50 minute long episode has a cast of surprise guest stars with catchy songs and spooky visuals right in time for Halloween.

The Muppets are one of the most iconic comedy ensembles that appeal to all ages, whether for educational purposes, younger audiences, or entertainment and nostalgia. They were created by Jim Henson in 1955 but were acquired by Disney in 2004 to increase their entertainment reach. The Muppets have been continuously and reliably successful since their introduction to television and are recognized as a staple to pop culture. 

The Muppets have released over 25 television specials as of now, which don’t even include their feature-length films or other television cameos. The majority of their specials have been Christmas-themed, but their most recent episode released in 2013, was a Thanksgiving special titled Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular. 

The month of October, aka Halloween season, is meant for spooks and surprises, but doing this thoughtfully for kids to enjoy at a comfortable level of scary is a challenging task. Muppets Haunted Mansion combines mild spooks that are suitable for children and humor that reaches every viewer. The special follows two popular muppets, Gonzo and Pepe, as they survive the night among ghosts and ghouls in one of the scariest mansions of their time. As some background for those who don’t know, Gonzo, also recognized as “Gonzo the Great,” is a world-renowned fearless daredevil and performance artist with exceptional talents in the field of tricks. Gonzo was invited on a challenge to spend a single night at the Haunted Mansion on Halloween and brought along his friend, Pepe the King Prawn, a romantic chef from Spain. 

The expedition is first explained over the phone to Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy as they attend a Halloween party dressed as each other, wishing their friends were there to join them. The special gets right to the point, only brushing over the party that Gonzo and Pepe are going to miss for an invitation to this so-called “Haunted Mansion” in the first 4 minutes. Gonzo and Pepe are driven up to the mansion for the first time by a special guest and hearse driver, Yvette Nicole Brown. Upon arriving, they are greeted by a singing caretaker, Darren Criss, who shows them just how haunted the mansion they are about to enter is. To continue adding to the list of stars, Will Arnett, as the Ghost Host, lets Gonzo and Pepe in the mansion’s front doors and follows them around. 

The two experience many different rooms in the mansion, either together or individually, but they always find their way back to each other. The ghosts of the mansion range from newly designed muppets to previously well-known ones that the spirits of the mansion take the form of. These individual stages of the night are accompanied by original music, creative new characters, and even more surprising celebrity guests. 

Muppets Haunted Mansion is meant to be inspired by the Disney Haunted Mansion attractions from the Disney Parks franchise, which means that the special contains many easter eggs for the avid Disney Theme Park enthusiasts and creates an experience in which the audience can be immersed in the story. For those that have no knowledge of the theme park attractions, the episode itself contains many fourth wall breaks and sing-along moments so that the interactiveness of the story continues. 

Above all else, the most important question is, will Gonzo and Pepe make it through the night?

You’ll have to figure out for yourself on October 8th, but in the meantime, check out the trailer below and get excited for the spooks to come!