Bob Kushell is exiting ABC’s “The Muppets” as showrunner, TheWrap has learned.
Kushell’s exit comes amid reports that the executive producer clashed with co-creator Bill Prady on the creative direction of the series. No official replacement showrunner has yet been named.
The news comes after the network gave the freshman comedy an additional three episode order last week, bringing the total number of episodes for the first season to 16. The show’s most recent outing scored a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49 and an average of 4.5 million viewers during its half-hour run.
The latest TV adaptation of the Jim Henson franchise follows Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppet gang as they produce the fictional late-night talk show “Up Late with Miss Piggy.”
Randall Einhorn, Bill Barretta, Debbie McClellan and Kyle Laughlin also serve as executive producers on the series from ABC Studios and The Muppets Studio.