The plot of this episode is a meta-message from the production staff, as while the show-within-a-show "Up Late with Miss Piggy" underwent a network-mandated retooling, so too did The Muppets. (2015) itself. The network demanded that they "soften" the show, toning down what they viewed as the "meanness" of the stories and characters. Denise, Kermit's controversial new girlfriend (following his publicly-announced breakup with Miss Piggy) was written out of the show. A new opening sequence was even produced starting here, which ended with Miss Piggy giving the forlorn Kermit a beverage rather than taking his, as had been the case in the original opening. The retooling was not successful, as ratings slipped even further beginning with this episode, the first in the series' history to not attain at least a 1/4 rating/share.
Miss Piggy's "young, hip" look is a direct take on one of the outfits Miley Cyrus wore at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (2013).