As one of the last of the analogue crossover generation, I am not a digital native.

I use the internet like a boomer – constantly falling for AI deepfakes and scrolling through YouTube shorts. I keep my ringtone loud and struggle to understand most memes.

So it may not surprise you to know that what I find most funny on the internet doesn’t come from post-post ironic TikTok or Twitter accounts. It is literally just clips from the Muppets.

Enjoy!

1. Kermit on the set of Oklahoma!

Let’s begin with some top-shelf Muppetry. This has every ingredient for a timeless Muppet clip: old-timey showbiz, Kermit trying his best to keep things together and a cracking interpretation of a classic song.

I also love Kermit’s little directing outfit and little megaphone. His directing style very much mirrors my own. Who doesn’t love a dancing cow?

2. Gonzo guilt

A snippet of some early more avant-garde muppets. This is simple Muppet absurdity at its finest. Poor Gonzy – I feel his shame.

3. What a weird stupid dog you got there

Oscar the Grouch heckling a small dog – what more do you people want? Also, for the connoisseurs out there, isn’t it interesting to see an orange Grouch? What’s that about?

4. Muppets McGarry’s sausage

Even in the early black-and-white days the Muppets knew what they were doing. They had a winning comedic recipe from the start, it worked, and the rest is history. I salute you, Muppets.

5. Miss Piggy sings Never on Sunday

Muppets go Greek. This is only cultural appropriation I’ll stand for. And, in their defence, this is EXACTLY what Greece is like.

6. Gonzo sings to Camilla

Gonzo and Camilla is truly one the great love stories of modern times. He loves her so much. All men can learn from a love so true it crosses species borders.

7. Larry David attacks Elmo on live TV

OK, so this is a bit off-ramp in my curation but I couldn’t resist. “Somebody had to do it!” Larry David calls off camera – he’s not wrong. The subsequent backlash and apology are so, so good.

8. Muppets sing Mozart

As someone who directs opera for a living, this isn’t far from what most of my work looks like. In fact, I fear exposing one of the main influences for my craft. The fact that they kept the correct Italian is genius – I don’t fully understand who the target market for this sketch is except me.

9. Johnny Cash and Miss Piggy

The quality of musical performers in The Muppet Show was truly astounding. I am, of course, referring to Miss Piggy.

10. Muppets sing My Way

So this isn’t exactly funny; rather I find it incredibly moving. Gonzo is leaving The Muppet Show to start a new life. The Muppets give him a farewell singing My Way. No jokes. No gags. Just beautiful cinematography and a wonderful I’m hittin’ the road outfit.

God bless you, Gonzo – you are my life coach.

• Constantine Costi is an award-winning director and writer working across opera and film. His documentary The Golden Spurtle will be released in UK cinemas on 12 September and in Australia later this year