Even in the Muppets' world, the only female host on late night isn’t human

At this rate, The Muppets suggests, we’ll have a lady pig host a late-night show before a human woman gets another chance.

On Tuesday night’s episode of the ABC sitcom, Kermit sets up Miss Piggy with Josh Groban as her date to the People’s Choice Awards. The singer and talk-show host quickly become an item.

But Piggy’s new beau proves to be an unwelcome influence on set when his suggestions (the band goes acoustic; scholar Reza Aslan makes a guest appearance) turn the show into a snoozefest.

To bring his ex-girlfriend back to reality, producer Kermit cleverly adds a conspicuous “Josh Groban Presents” to the Up Late with Miss Piggy billboard on the studio lot.

The frog lays it on thick: “Piggy, the best part is that, even though you’re the only female host on late night, it shows you’re brave enough to say: ‘I can’t do it without a man!’” Oof.

That’s right: Even in this fictional world where puppets are sentient beings who eat, breathe, date, and enjoy successful careers in show business, Miss Piggy remains the only non-dude on late night.

Anyway, Groban gets dumped, and Miss Piggy’s creative control is gloriously restored.

In real life, Samantha Bee’s Full Frontal comes to TBS in January. Until then, we’ll be staring longingly at this tweet:

Molly Fitzpatrick is senior editor of Fusion’s Pop & Culture section. Her interests include movies about movies, TV shows about TV shows, and movies about TV shows, but not so much TV shows about movies.