5 Things That Need to Be on ABC's The Muppets or Else

After 17 years away from the small screen, The Muppets are returning to TV this fall on ABC. We already know how the show is gonna be different from the classic '70s variety series -- a mockumentary format with the gang putting on a late-night show -- and while we're sure executive producers Bill Prady and Bob Kushell have some great ideas up their puppet sleeves, here are five things that should -- nay, need -- to be on the show.

1. Jim Parsons
This is obvious. The Muppets comes from Prady, who also created The Big Bang Theory, which stars Parsons, who was Human Walter in The Muppets film.

2. Jason Segel
Speaking of The Muppets movie, Segel, a lifelong Muppets worshipper, is the man who kick-started the felt comeback four years ago, so it's only right that he gets a nod somehow. Plus, he and Kermit already have a great rapport.

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3. Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais
The Muppets is spoofing the very type of inside-baseball, satirical/mockumentary shows that the Muppets Most Wanted co-stars each created. Surely, they can help write some jokes, plot some pranks and work on their night cheese.

4. Flashbacks
Since The Muppets is supposed to be in the vein of 30 Rock, we better get some hilarious flashback cutaways. Like we said, we'd pay to see Piggy and Gonzo doing regional theater.

5. Lady Gaga
This one will have Miss Piggy refining her karate chops, but Kermit and Gaga go way back, and it's safe to say that she's probably as obsessed with the amphibian as his longtime porcine love. Gaga took him as her plus-one to the 2009 Video Music Awards, literally wore a coat of Kermits (which Piggy dismissed as "faux frogs" because "I've had the real Kermit wrapped around my neck"), made a cameo in Muppets Most Wanted, and they furthered their rainbow connection with a duet of "Gypsy" on her 2013 holiday special. But, like in Oz, there might be room for only one diva on their late-night show, and that's moi.