The Muppets Take Manhattan

The Muppets secretly met at Pete's restaurant to discuss whether they were holding Kermit back from achieving his Broadway dreams. They believed their presence was hindering his success, so they fabricated job offers to give him freedom to pursue Manhattan Melodies on his own. This painful deception was meant to be a selfless act, though it left Kermit feeling abandoned.

Earlier in the film, audience members specifically urged Kermit to take the show to Broadway, hinting at his potential without the group.

Kermit received a message from Bernard Crawford's office indicating his son Ronnie wanted to produce Manhattan Melodies. Excited by this breakthrough, Kermit rushed out to find Bernard but was struck by a car while crossing the street. The impact caused him to lose all memory of his identity and friends, leading to his hospitalization.

Kermit's earlier desperate attempts to attract producers had been repeatedly rejected, making this sudden interest seem too good to be true.

Miss Piggy remained in Manhattan because she mistakenly believed Kermit was developing a romantic relationship with Jenny. Her jealousy caused her to tail him secretly rather than depart with the rest of the group. This misunderstanding stems from seeing Kermit work closely with Jenny to attract producers.

The tension between Kermit and Miss Piggy is established early, with Piggy's possessive nature creating recurring comedic conflicts.

After being discharged from the hospital with no memory, Kermit wandered into an ad agency completely by chance. When he helped the three frog executives develop a soap advertising tagline, they were impressed and offered him a job. This provided him with a new purpose while his memory remained lost.

Kermit's creative talents were previously shown when he helped pitch Manhattan Melodies to producers.

Despite claiming to have job offers across the country, the Muppets couldn't go through with the deception. Their love for Kermit and their shared dream of performing Manhattan Melodies together drove them to return to New York. They arrived desperate to find Kermit while simultaneously preparing for the show that was set to debut in two weeks.

The emotional farewell scene showed how difficult it was for the Muppets to leave Kermit, hinting they would reconsider their decision.

At the theater during the premiere, Miss Piggy made a heartfelt attempt to jog Kermit's memory by expressing her love for him. When Kermit mockingly dismissed the idea of romance between a frog and a pig, Piggy became frustrated and punched him. The impact of the punch triggered Kermit's memory to return, leading to an emotional reunion with all his friends.

Piggy's traditional method of expressing affection through karate chops was established earlier in the film.

Kermit and Jenny enlisted the help of rat cooks from Pete's kitchen to create buzz at a high-profile restaurant. The rats prepared food to attract attention from producers, but this creative marketing attempt, like all of Kermit's previous efforts, fell flat. The subplot demonstrates Kermit's desperation to succeed and his willingness to try unconventional methods.

Earlier attempts included impersonating an old friend of a producer, showing Kermit's escalating creative desperation.

Ronnie Crawford, the son of prominent Broadway producer Bernard Crawford, saw potential in Manhattan Melodies and wanted to produce it. This explains why Bernard's office contacted Kermit about the opportunity. However, the specific reason Ronnie was interested is not detailed in the film, though the show's earlier success at college suggests its quality attracted attention.

Manhattan Melodies was described as a hit among college audiences, demonstrating its appeal.

After being abandoned by his friends and feeling lost in the massive city, Kermit climbed to the top of the Empire State Building seeking inspiration. There, he made a public vow to succeed and reunite with his friends, demonstrating his determination despite feeling alone in Manhattan.

The film establishes Kermit as the natural leader who keeps the group focused on their Broadway dream.