A Muppet Family Christmas — A warm Yuletide special, A Muppet Family Christmas pairs the Muppet gang with the perennial favorite Sesame Street cast for a holiday celebration. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie's childh... more »ood farmhouse on Christmas Eve becomes the backdrop for a medley of holiday tunes--eight in all--ranging from the Muppet band's rousing "Jingle Bell Rock" to Big Bird's sweet rendition of "The Christmas Song." Though the script meanders in part, the 42-minute program shines as a musical revue, seasoned with quick-witted interludes by the culinary comedic Swedish Chef, slapstick odd couple Ernie and Bert, and the diva-like escapades of Miss Piggy. While lacking the irresistible sizzle of The Muppet Movie, the show's finale, which includes Kermit and Piggy under the mistletoe and a cameo appearance by Jim Henson, proves that nothing can dim the Muppets' appeal. --Lynn Gibson Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Originally a special for HBO, this Jim Henson production (he also directed) was one of the first real forays into the more realistic, less vaudevillian direction for the Muppets. It also included Frank Oz (Muppeteer), Paul Williams (songs), and Jerry Juhl (script), some of the Muppet Show's usual suspects. Emmet Otter and his jug band are trying out in the local talent show, but they face fierce competition from a gang of toughs, the Riverbottom Gang and their rock band. Perhaps the most notable thing is the creation of a sense of poverty and want that suffuses the little production. Even Emmet's mother, who sacrifices her washtub to further Emmet's cause, gets in the act. Fine Christmas viewing for all ages. --Keith Simanton« less
Dan J. from CIRCLEVILLE, OH Reviewed on 11/4/2012...
Anyone interested in either one of these titles WITHOUT the edits? Send an e-mail to dan611Logan@yahoo.com
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Two Classics, sadly mangled
Jason Krug | Indianapolis, IN United States | 12/28/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I was thrilled to receive these two old favorites for Christmas. Then, I watched them. For A Muppet Family Christmas, the video has been remastered and the picture is quite clear, but there are HUGE edits, entire scenes cut out, that not only remove the best part of the show, but make the whole experience choppy (see other reviews under "A Muppet Family Christmas" sold separately). Emmet Otter is, as near as I remember, fully intact, but the audio remastering has left the lyrics during the musical numbers nearly impossible to discern, even if you know them by heart. If you've got either of these taped off of TV from some time in the past, I would encourage you to borrow a second VCR and record them over onto a fresh tape to last you another 15 or so years. Maybe they'll have brought out a good version of these shows by then."
Emmett Otters Jugband Christmas
Kevin M. Mccormick | 11/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We've been waiting for this one on DVD, it's a tradition in our house. A family must have, an everybody must see! A holiday classic now in clear crisp Henson artistic expression."
Classic Jim Henson
Avid book reader | USA | 10/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The new COLLECTOR'S EDITION of Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas has all the original muppet magic. The new A Muppet Family Christmas has put back in the missing scenes taken out a few years ago. It is well worth the Christmas holiday to enjoy these two classics with your family.
"
Well - are the deleted scenes back in or not???
Kevin M. Mccormick | Hamden, CT USA | 12/17/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"One review says that the deleted scenes have been put back into the Muppet Family Christmas. I would certainly buy this movie, but only if that were the case. But then I read another review that says that scenes have still been cut. I noticed that the length of the movie is still the same (42 mins.) and thus I tend to think that the the deleted scenes were not restored. If the scenes have been restored, my review would be 5 stars!!!"