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{{title
  
{{title
 
|image=title-mfc.jpg
  
|image=title-mfc.jpg
−
|director=Peter Harris<br />{{w|Eric Till}}
 +
|director=Peter Harris<br>{{w|Eric Till}}
 
|writer={{w|Jerry Juhl}}
  
|writer={{w|Jerry Juhl}}
 
|release=December 16, 1987
  
|release=December 16, 1987
 
|runtime=48 minutes {{S|(uncut)}}<br>42 minutes {{S|(edited)}}
  
|runtime=48 minutes {{S|(uncut)}}<br>42 minutes {{S|(edited)}}
−
|available=VHS<br />DVD}}
 +
|available=VHS<br>DVD}}
 
{{Quote|They're weirdos, Fozzie... but, they're ''nice'' weirdos.|Emily Bear summing up the Muppets}}
  
{{Quote|They're weirdos, Fozzie... but, they're ''nice'' weirdos.|Emily Bear summing up the Muppets}}
−
'''''A Muppet Family Christmas''''' is a [[Christmas]] television special starring {{W|The Muppets|the Muppets}}, first aired on {{W|American Broadcasting Company|ABC}} on December 16, 1987. It is the only Christmas special to feature characters from ''[[w:c:muppet:Sesame Street|Sesame Street]]'', ''[[w:c:muppet:The Muppet Show|The Muppet Show]]'', and ''[[w:c:muppet:Fraggle Rock|Fraggle Rock]]'' all together, and also the last Muppet Christmas special with which [[Jim Henson]] was involved prior to his death in 1990. It won an award from the Writers' Guild of America in 1989, and was also nominated for the 1988 {{w|Primetime Emmy Award}} for Outstanding Children's Program.
 +
'''''A Muppet Family Christmas''''' is a [[Christmas]] television special starring {{W|the Muppets}}, first aired on {{W|American Broadcasting Company|ABC}} on December 16, 1987. It is the only Christmas special to feature characters from ''[[w:c:muppet:Sesame Street|Sesame Street]]'', ''[[w:c:muppet:The Muppet Show|The Muppet Show]]'', and ''[[w:c:muppet:Fraggle Rock|Fraggle Rock]]'' all together, and also the last Muppet Christmas special with which [[Jim Henson]] was involved prior to his death in 1990. It won an award from the Writers' Guild of America in 1989, and was also nominated for the 1988 {{w|Primetime Emmy Award}} for Outstanding Children's Program.
   
 
==Synopsis==
  
==Synopsis==
−
[[File:KermitSingWeNeedALittleChristmas.jpg|thumb|250px|Kermit, Gonzo, and Fozzie singing "We Need a Little Christmas".]]
 +
[[File:KermitSingWeNeedALittleChristmas.jpg|thumb|250px|Kermit, Gonzo, and Fozzie sing "We Need a Little Christmas".]]
−
The special opens with most of ''The Muppet Show'' cast driving through a blizzard in a pickup truck, singing "[[We Need a Little Christmas]]". They have decided to spend Christmas at the old farm where [[Fozzie Bear]]'s mother, Mrs. Emily Bear, lives. And since she loves surprises, they have not called to tell her they were coming. Unbeknownst to them, Mrs. Bear is planning to spend Christmas in Malibu, and to make sure her farmhouse stays in one piece while she's gone, she has rented it to [[Doc (Fraggle Rock)|Doc]] and [[Sprocket]]. Considering how much Sprocket keeps trying to alert him of something on their show, Doc is looking forward to having "a nice, quiet Christmas" in the countryside.
 +
The special opens with most of ''The Muppet Show'' gang driving through a blizzard in a pickup truck, singing "[[We Need a Little Christmas]]". They have decided to spend Christmas at the old farm where [[Fozzie Bear]]'s mother, [[Emily Bear|Emily]], lives. And since she apparently loves surprises, Fozzie has not called his mother to tell her they were coming. Unbeknownst to them, Emily is planning to spend Christmas in Malibu, and has rented her house to [[Doc (Fraggle Rock)|Doc]] and [[Sprocket]]. Doc is looking forward to having "a nice, quiet Christmas" in the countryside.
   
 
[[File:MFC-Doc_and_Sprocket_Arrive_at_Emily_Bears_House.jpg|thumb|250px|Doc and Sprocket arrive at the farmhouse.]]
  
[[File:MFC-Doc_and_Sprocket_Arrive_at_Emily_Bears_House.jpg|thumb|250px|Doc and Sprocket arrive at the farmhouse.]]
−
Immediately following Doc and Sprocket's arrival, the Muppets themselves show up, slipping on an icy patch at the door. Emily is pleasantly surprised with the appearance of her cub and "his weirdo friends", despite the fact that she now has to cancel her trip to Malibu, and willingly allows them to stay. Doc, on the other hand, is a bit peeved that the house he rented has just gotten so many unexpected visitors, and asks Sprocket if they're "anything like these Fraggles you keep telling me about." Then the telephone rings, and [[Animal]] answers it. It is [[Miss Piggy]], calling to tell [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] that she has a photo session underway and needs to get it done before she can join them.
 +
Immediately following Doc and Sprocket's arrival, the Muppets themselves show up, with most of them slipping on an icy patch at the door. Emily is pleasantly surprised with the appearance of Fozzie and "his weirdo friends", despite the fact that she now has to cancel her trip, and willingly allows them to stay. Doc, on the other hand, is a bit peeved that the house he rented has just gotten so many unexpected visitors, and asks Sprocket if they're "anything like these Fraggles you keep telling me about." Then the telephone rings, and [[Animal]] answers it; it is [[Miss Piggy]], calling to tell [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] that she has a photo session underway and needs to get it done before she can join them.
   
 
[[File:JingleBellRock_in_MuppetFamilyChristmas.jpg|thumb|250px|The Electric Mayhem performs "Jingle Bell Rock".]]
  
[[File:JingleBellRock_in_MuppetFamilyChristmas.jpg|thumb|250px|The Electric Mayhem performs "Jingle Bell Rock".]]
−
[[The Swedish Chef]] shows up, telling Fozzie he's here to cook the Christmas turkey. Immediately following that, [[Gonzo]] greets a real live Muppet turkey, who was apparently convinced by the Swedish Chef to come, claiming it to be a nice vacation. Gonzo tries to tell the Christmas Turkey that this is a dangerous place for him to be, but the Turkey is assured that he will not end up in the oven. Meanwhile, after Kermit helps clear the kitchen so the Chef can work in there, he and his nephew Robin start singing "[[Jingle Bells]]", which suddenly segues into the Electric Mayhem performing "[[Jingle Bell Rock]]".
 +
[[The Swedish Chef]] shows up, telling Fozzie he's here to cook the Christmas turkey. Immediately following that, [[Gonzo]] greets a real live Muppet turkey, who was apparently convinced by the Swedish Chef to come, claiming it to be a nice vacation. Gonzo tries to tell him that this is a dangerous place for him to be, but the Turkey is certain that he will not end up in the oven. After Kermit helps clear the kitchen so the Swedish Chef can work in there, he and his nephew, [[Robin the Frog|Robin]], start singing "[[Jingle Bells (song)|Jingle Bells]]", which suddenly segues into the Electric Mayhem performing "[[Jingle Bell Rock (song)|Jingle Bell Rock]]".
   
−
[[File:Rowlf_and_Fozzie.jpg|thumb|250px|Rowlf arrives at the farmhouse while Fozzie is building a snowman.]]
 +
[[File:Rowlf_and_Fozzie.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Rowlf the Dog|Rowlf]] arrives at the farmhouse while Fozzie is building a snowman.]]
−
Later, Fozzie is outside building a snowman while some of the other Muppets chop down a tree to bring inside when [[Rowlf the Dog]] shows up (and slips on the icy patch). He engages in a friendly conversation with Sprocket, and then sits down to Emily's out-of-tune piano and starts playing "[[Sleigh Ride]]". Fozzie starts singing along, during which the snowman he's building comes to life and starts a comedy act with the bear. When they get a positive reaction from some woodland creatures watching their act, Fozzie runs inside to try to tell Kermit about his new act with the Snowman, slipping on the icy patch on the way in. But Kermit doesn't get a chance to see the act, for he then puts up with another phone call from Piggy. This time, she's doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. Meanwhile, the Swedish Chef has been tricked by the Christmas Turkey into believing that Sprocket is an even bigger turkey. Doc corrects the Chef on which animal is which, and then the Turkey begins hitting on Gonzo's girlfriend, Camilla the Chicken.
 +
Later, Fozzie is outside building a snowman while some of the other Muppets chop down a tree to bring inside when [[Rowlf the Dog]] shows up (and slips on the icy patch). He engages in a friendly conversation with Sprocket, and then sits down to Emily's out-of-tune piano and starts playing "[[Sleigh Ride]]". Fozzie starts singing along, during which the snowman he's building comes to life and starts a comedy act with him. When they get a positive reaction from some woodland creatures watching their act, Fozzie runs inside to try to tell Kermit about it, slipping on the icy patch on the way in. Before Kermit can see it, though, he gets another phone call from Miss Piggy, who's doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. Meanwhile, the Swedish Chef has been tricked by the Christmas Turkey into believing that Sprocket is an even bigger turkey. Doc corrects the Swedish Chef on which animal is which, and then the Turkey begins flirting with Gonzo's girlfriend, Camilla the Chicken.
   
−
[[Scooter]] finds an old home movie of the first Christmas the Muppets ever spent together, so the Muppets sit down to watch it. The footage, based on ''[[w:c:muppet:Muppet Babies|Muppet Babies]]'', shows the baby versions of Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo singing "[[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (song)|Santa Claus is Coming to Town]]", all the while the fully-grown characters give comments. At the end, when the baby Animal rips through a gift box in the film, the fully-grown Animal tears through the screen.
 +
[[Scooter]] finds an old home movie of the first Christmas the Muppets ever spent together, so they sit down to watch it. The footage shows Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo, [[w:c:muppet:Muppet Babies|when they were babies]], singing "[[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (song)|Santa Claus is Coming to Town]]". At the end, when Baby Animal rips through a gift box, the grown Animal tears through the screen.
   
−
[[File:MFCSS.jpg|thumb|250px|The gang from ''Sesame Street'' shows up.]]
 +
[[File:MFCSS.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Sesame Street'' gang shows up.]]
−
Right after the film ends, Gonzo catches sight of the Christmas Turkey flirting with Camilla and picks a fight with him. But then Kermit barges in on the argument and brings them outside. There, they see that the entire Muppet cast from ''Sesame Street'' coming up, performing a short medley consisting of "[[Here We Come A-Caroling]]" and "[[Deck the Halls (song)|Deck the Halls]]" (with the exception of [[Oscar the Grouch]], who naturally refuses to sing along). Once they finish singing, they all come inside.
 +
Right after the film ends, Gonzo catches sight of the Turkey flirting with Camilla and picks a fight with him. But then Kermit barges in on it and brings them outside. There, they see that the entire ''Sesame Street'' gang has arrived and is singing a short medley consisting of "[[Here We Come A-Caroling]]" and "[[Deck the Halls (song)|Deck the Halls]]" ([[Oscar the Grouch]] naturally refuses to sing along). Once they finish, they all come inside.
   
−
During this, the Swedish Chef manages to nab the Turkey, who tries to get out of being cooked by claiming he's a different animal altogether, but the Chef isn't fooled this time and proceeds with the fitting. But the Turkey manages to save himself by pointing out [[Big Bird]], whom the Chef decides would make an even better Christmas dinner. At that moment, the Muppet Newscaster appears on TV to report about a terrible blizzard forming outside, saying that barometers will be falling sharply; he then literally gets attacked by falling barometers. Scooter looks outside and sees that the Newscaster is right, and [[Count Von Count]] starts trying to count as many snowflakes as he can while Kermit becomes more worried about Miss Piggy.
 +
During this, the Swedish Chef manages to nab the Turkey, who tries to get out of being cooked by claiming he's a different animal altogether, but the Swedish Chef isn't fooled this time and proceeds with the fitting. But the Turkey manages to save himself by pointing out [[Big Bird]], whom the Swedish Chef decides would make an even better Christmas dinner. At that moment, the Muppet Newscaster appears on TV to report about a terrible blizzard forming outside, saying that barometers will be falling sharply; he then literally gets attacked by them. Scooter looks outside and comments that he is right, and [[Count Von Count]] starts trying to count as many snowflakes as he can while Kermit becomes more worried about Miss Piggy.
   
−
Later, Fozzie and his mom are figuring out the sleeping arrangements for all the guests, while Oscar decides to let [[Rizzo the Rat]] spend the night in his trash can. Then Janice brings out some Christmas cookies she just baked, only for [[Cookie Monster]] to gobble them all. The ''Sesame Street'' characters then perform their Christmas pageant, ''[[The Night Before Christmas]]'', in which [[Ernie and Bert|Ernie]] provides the narration while [[Ernie and Bert|Bert]] has to play the mother mentioned in the story. After [[Grover]] pops in as the mouse who is not stirring (literally, he is holding a mixing bowl and his hand is not touching the spoon), Ernie signals for the sleigh being pulled by the reindeer, all played by monster Muppets such as [[Herry Monster]] and [[Elmo]], and the Two-Headed Monster appears as [[Santa Claus|St. Nick]] (to which [[Sam the Eagle]] replies, "Is ''nothing'' sacred?").
 +
Later, Fozzie and Emily are figuring out the sleeping arrangements for all the guests, while Oscar decides to let [[Rizzo the Rat]] spend the night in his trash can. Then [[Janice]] brings out some Christmas cookies she just baked, only for [[Cookie Monster]] to gobble them all up. The ''Sesame Street'' gang then performs their Christmas pageant, ''[[The Night Before Christmas]]'', in which [[Ernie and Bert|Ernie]] provides the narration while [[Ernie and Bert|Bert]] has to play the mother mentioned in the story. After [[Grover]] pops in as the mouse who is not stirring (literally, he is holding a mixing bowl and his hand is not touching the spoon), Ernie signals for the sleigh being pulled by the reindeer, all played by monster Muppets such as [[Herry Monster]] and [[Elmo]], and the Two-Headed Monster appears as [[Santa Claus]] (to which [[Sam the Eagle]] replies, "Is ''nothing'' sacred?").
   
−
Miss Piggy calls Kermit one more time to tell him that her limousine is stuck in the snowbank, so she's going to take a taxi cab to the farmhouse, in spite of the blizzard. Fozzie tries to cheer Kermit up by introducing him to the Snowman. In a piece of irony, the Snowman comes inside to warm up because it's so cold outside. Fozzie brings the Snowman in for the rest of the gang to see, but then sees [[Statler and Waldorf]], who are revealed to be friends of Fozzie's mom who visit her every Christmas. Fozzie and the Snowman try their best at their routine, but they keep getting interrupted by Statler and Waldorf's heckling, until finally the Snowman, realizing he's starting to melt, heads back outside.
 +
Miss Piggy calls Kermit one more time to tell him that her limousine is stuck in a snowbank, so she's going to take a taxi to the farmhouse, in spite of the blizzard. Fozzie tries to cheer Kermit up by showing his new act and takes him to meet the Snowman, but in a piece of irony, the Snowman himself comes inside to warm up because it's so cold outside. Fozzie brings him in for everyone to see, but then sees [[Statler and Waldorf]], who are revealed to be friends of Emily's who visit her every Christmas. Fozzie and the Snowman try their best at their routine, but they keep getting interrupted by Statler and Waldorf's heckling, until finally the Snowman, realizing he's starting to melt, heads back outside.
   
−
[[File:Christmas_Song_in_Muppet_Family_Christmas.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Big Bird]] and [[The Swedish Chef]] sing "[[The Christmas Song]]".]]
 +
[[File:Christmas_Song_in_Muppet_Family_Christmas.jpg|thumb|250px|Big Bird and the Swedish Chef sing "The Christmas Song".]]
−
The Swedish Chef calls Big Bird into the kitchen and starts shaking salt all over him. Big Bird, completely unaware of the Chef's intention to cook him, gives him a handful of homemade chocolate-covered birdseed. The Chef is touched by this gift, and he becomes even more touched when he and Big Bird sing "[[The Christmas Song]]", which moves him to tears so much that he instead opts to serve shredded wheat and cranberry sauce, which happens to be Big Bird's favorite. Meanwhile, Doc, having taken notice of how worried Kermit is about Miss Piggy, offers to go find her and help her get to the farmhouse, telling the frog that he's warmed up to the Muppets and now finds this better than the lonely vacation he and Sprocket would've had if they didn't show up.
 +
The Swedish Chef calls Big Bird into the kitchen and starts shaking salt all over him. Big Bird, completely unaware of the Swedish Chef's intention to cook him, gives him a bag of homemade chocolate-covered birdseed. He is touched by it, and he becomes even more touched when they sing "[[The Christmas Song (song)|The Christmas Song]]", which moves him to tears so much that he instead opts to serve shredded wheat and cranberry sauce, which happens to be Big Bird's favorite. Meanwhile, Doc, having taken notice of how worried Kermit is about Miss Piggy, offers to go find her and help her get to the farmhouse, telling Kermit that he's warmed up to the Muppets and now finds this better than the lonely vacation he and Sprocket would've had if they didn't show up.
   
 
[[File:Kermit_and_Robin_meet_the_Fraggles.jpg|thumb|250px|Kermit and Robin meet the Fraggles.]]
  
[[File:Kermit_and_Robin_meet_the_Fraggles.jpg|thumb|250px|Kermit and Robin meet the Fraggles.]]
−
After Doc leaves to find Miss Piggy, Kermit heads down to the cellar to find that his nephew, [[Robin the Frog|Robin]], has found a hole leading to Fraggle Rock. Robin has always wanted to meet the Fraggles, so Kermit goes in with him. In the cave, the frogs soon stumble upon the main characters of ''Fraggle Rock'' and wish them a Merry Christmas, and also explain the holiday to them because the Fraggles don't really know what it is. What the Fraggles ''do'' have, though, is a time when they give each other pebbles and pass them on to other Fraggles. They explain their ritual in a number called "Pass It On" (from the ''Fraggle Rock'' episode "The Perfect Blue Rollie"). Before the frogs head back upstairs, [[Boober Fraggle|Boober]] gives Robin the Fraggle pebble used in their demonstration.
 +
After Doc leaves to find Miss Piggy, Kermit heads down to the cellar to find that Robin has found a hole leading to Fraggle Rock. He has always wanted to meet the Fraggles, so Kermit goes in with him. In the cave, they soon stumble upon [[Gobo Fraggle]] and his friends, and wish them a Merry Christmas, and also explain the holiday to them because they don't really know what it is. What they ''do'' have, though, is a time when they give each other pebbles and pass them on to other Fraggles. Before Kermit and Robin head back upstairs, [[Boober Fraggle|Boober]] gives Robin the pebble used in their demonstration.
   
−
When Kermit and Robin return, they're just in time to witness Miss Piggy's arrival. They see her arriving with Doc, wearing a Mountie uniform, bringing Miss Piggy up on a sled and dog team. Piggy then begins to sing "[[(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays]]" as Kermit brings her in with the other Muppets singing along. Right as she finishes, though, she slips on the icy patch, taking Kermit down with her.
 +
When Kermit and Robin return, they're just in time to witness Miss Piggy's arrival. They see her arriving with Doc, wearing a Mountie uniform, bringing her up on a sled and dog team. She then begins to sing "[[(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays]]" as Kermit brings her in with the other Muppets singing along. Right as she finishes, though, she slips on the icy patch, taking him down with her.
   
 
[[File:MFCGroup.jpg|thumb|250px|The Muppets sing their Christmas caroling medley.]]
  
[[File:MFCGroup.jpg|thumb|250px|The Muppets sing their Christmas caroling medley.]]
−
With the entire Muppet menagerie all there, they proceed to sing a medley of Christmas songs, where everybody (except of course for Oscar) sings at least one line, including the Snowman and the forest critters outside. Over the course of the medley, the overhearing Fraggles come up to watch, during which we briefly see that Gobo's [[w:c:muppet:Uncle Traveling Matt|uncle Matt]] is also there. Once they finish singing, Fozzie's mom puts his stocking up on the mantle; Fozzie tells her that he's a grown bear and doesn't need to have his stocking hung, but allows her to put it up anyway. Kermit then presents Miss Piggy with his gift for her - a mink, though not what Piggy expects. She is at first surprised when she sees that Kermit has gotten her a live mink (named Maureen), but quickly warms up when the mink says she's her biggest fan. Then Robin gives the Fraggle pebble to Grover. Then Doc gives out presents dressed as Santa Claus while they all sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", during which [[Jim Henson]] himself appears, watching this from the kitchen. The special ends with Kermit returning Miss Piggy's affection under the mistletoe before saying "Merry Christmas" to the viewers.
 +
With the entire Muppet menagerie all there, they proceed to sing a medley of Christmas songs, where everybody (except Oscar, of course) sings at least one line, including the Snowman and the forest critters outside. Over the course of the medley, the overhearing Fraggles come up to watch, during which we briefly see that Gobo's [[w:c:muppet:Uncle Traveling Matt|Uncle Traveling Matt]] is also there. Once they finish singing, Emily puts Fozzie's stocking up on the mantle; he tells her that he's a grown bear and doesn't need to have it hung, but allows her to put it up anyway. Kermit then presents Miss Piggy with his gift for her - a mink named Maureen, though not what she expects. She is at first surprised when she sees that he has gotten her a live mink, but quickly warms up when Maureen says she's her biggest fan. Then Robin gives the Fraggle pebble to Grover. Then Doc gives out presents dressed as Santa Claus while they all sing "[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas (song)|We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]", during which [[Jim Henson]] himself appears, watching this from the kitchen. The special ends with Kermit returning Miss Piggy's affection under the mistletoe before saying "Merry Christmas" to the viewers.
   
 
==Songs==
  
==Songs==
 
*"[[We Need a Little Christmas]]"
  
*"[[We Need a Little Christmas]]"
−
*"[[Jingle Bells]]"
 +
*"[[Jingle Bells (song)|Jingle Bells]]"
−
*"[[Jingle Bell Rock]]"
 +
*"[[Jingle Bell Rock (song)|Jingle Bell Rock]]"
 
*"[[Sleigh Ride]]"
  
*"[[Sleigh Ride]]"
 
*"[[Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (song)|Santa Claus is Coming to Town]]"
  
*"[[Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (song)|Santa Claus is Coming to Town]]"
 
*"[[Here We Come A-Caroling]]"
  
*"[[Here We Come A-Caroling]]"
 
*"[[Deck the Halls (song)|Deck the Halls]]"
  
*"[[Deck the Halls (song)|Deck the Halls]]"
−
*"[[The Christmas Song]]"
 +
*"[[The Christmas Song (song)|The Christmas Song]]"
 
*"[[Pass It On]]"
  
*"[[Pass It On]]"
 
*"[[(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays]]"
  
*"[[(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays]]"
Line 61: Line 61:
 
**"[[I Saw Three Ships]]"
  
**"[[I Saw Three Ships]]"
 
**"[[Good King Wenceslas]]"
  
**"[[Good King Wenceslas]]"
−
**"[[The Holly and the Ivy]]"
 +
**"[[The Holly and the Ivy (song)|The Holly and the Ivy]]"
 
**"[[I'll Be Home for Christmas (song)|I'll Be Home for Christmas]]"
  
**"[[I'll Be Home for Christmas (song)|I'll Be Home for Christmas]]"
 
**"Happy Holidays" (reprise)
  
**"Happy Holidays" (reprise)
Line 69: Line 69:
 
**"[[It's in Every One of Us]]"
  
**"[[It's in Every One of Us]]"
 
**"[[Together at Christmas]]"
  
**"[[Together at Christmas]]"
−
*"[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]"
 +
*"[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas (song)|We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]"
   
−
"We Need a Little Christmas" and the "Jingle Bells"/"Jingle Bell Rock" medley are notably featured on the album ''[[Nick at Nite: A Classic Cartoon Christmas]]''.
 +
"We Need a Little Christmas" and the "Jingle Bells"/"Jingle Bell Rock" medley were featured on the album ''[[Nick at Nite: A Classic Cartoon Christmas]]''.
   
 
==Broadcast history and availability==
  
==Broadcast history and availability==
−
''A Muppet Family Christmas'' first aired on ABC on December 16, 1987. ABC aired the special again on December 2, 1988. It was then re-edited and aired on {{w|NBC}} as an episode of ''{{w|Walt Disney anthology television series|The Magical World of Disney}}'' on December 24, 1989. It was aired on {{w|Nickelodeon}} as an installment of ''[[w:c:muppet:Muppet Matinee|Muppet Matinee]]'' from 1992 to 1994, and later on the {{w|Odyssey Network}} in 1999 and 2000, and the {{w|Hallmark Channel}} in 2001.
 +
''A Muppet Family Christmas'' first aired on ABC on December 16, 1987. ABC aired the special again on December 2, 1988. It was then re-edited and aired on {{w|NBC}} as an episode of ''{{w|Walt Disney anthology television series|The Magical World of Disney}}'' on December 24, 1989. It was aired on {{w|Nickelodeon}} from 1992 to 1997, and later on the {{w|Odyssey Network}} in 1999 and 2000, and the {{w|Hallmark Channel}} in 2001.
   
 
===Home video releases===
  
===Home video releases===
−
In the United States, the special was released, in [[#Edits|edited form]], on VHS by {{w|Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Buena Vista Home Video}} (under the Jim Henson Video label) in 1994, and then by {{w|Sony Pictures|Columbia TriStar}} in 1998. It made its DVD debut in 2001. The special is now owned by [[The Walt Disney Company]] as a result of Disney's acquisition of the Muppet franchise in 2004, but it has not been released on video since then (the reason being that Disney does not own ''Sesame Street'' and ''Fraggle Rock'', and would need permission from {{W|Sesame Workshop}} and {{W|The Jim Henson Company}} to release the special).
 +
In the United States, the special was released, in [[#Edits|edited form]], on VHS by {{w|Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Buena Vista Home Video}} (under the Jim Henson Video label) in 1994, and then by {{w|Sony Pictures|Columbia TriStar}} in 1998. It made its DVD debut in 2001. It is now owned by [[The Walt Disney Company]] as a result of Disney's acquisition of the Muppet franchise in 2004, but it has not been released on video since then (the reason being that Disney does not own ''Sesame Street'' and ''Fraggle Rock'', and would need permission from {{w|Sesame Workshop}} and {{w|The Jim Henson Company}} to release the special).
   
 
====US releases====
  
====US releases====
−
<gallery widths="200" spacing="small" captionalign="center" position="center" bordercolor="transparent" hideaddbutton="true">
 +
<gallery widths="200" spacing="small" bordercolor="transparent" hideaddbutton="true">
 
MFC-1995-jimhensonvideo.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS|Buena Vista Home Video<br />May 19, 1995}}
  
MFC-1995-jimhensonvideo.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS|Buena Vista Home Video<br />May 19, 1995}}
−
ColumbiaTriStar1996MuppetFamilyXmasVHS.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS|Columbia Tri-Star Home Video/Jim Henson Home Entertainment<br />September 29, 1998}}
 +
ColumbiaTriStar1996MuppetFamilyXmasVHS.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS|Columbia Tri-Star Home Video/[[w:c:muppet:Jim Henson Home Entertainment|Jim Henson Home Entertainment]]<br />September 29, 1998}}
 
AMFCDVD.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD|Columbia Tri-Star Home Entertainment/Jim Henson Home Entertainment<br />November 6, 2001}}
  
AMFCDVD.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD|Columbia Tri-Star Home Entertainment/Jim Henson Home Entertainment<br />November 6, 2001}}
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   
 
====International releases====
  
====International releases====
−
<gallery widths="200" spacing="small" captionalign="center" position="center" bordercolor="transparent" hideaddbutton="true">
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<gallery widths="200" spacing="small" bordercolor="transparent" hideaddbutton="true">
 
AMFC JH Palace.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (United Kingdom)|Palace<br>1988?}}
  
AMFC JH Palace.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (United Kingdom)|Palace<br>1988?}}
−
AMuppetFamilyChristmas-VHS-UK-1994.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (United Kingdom)|Walt Disney Home Video<br>1994}}
 +
AMuppetFamilyChristmas-VHS-UK-1994.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (United Kingdom)|Walt Disney Home Video/Jim Henson Video<br>1994}}
 
Muppetsfeiernweihnachten-vhs.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (Germany)|Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Jim Henson Home Entertainment<br>2000}}
  
Muppetsfeiernweihnachten-vhs.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (Germany)|Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Jim Henson Home Entertainment<br>2000}}
 
Amfc french DVD.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD (France)|''Spécial Noël''<br>G.C.T.H.V.<br>2002<br>Part of a box set with ''[[Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas]]''.}}
  
Amfc french DVD.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD (France)|''Spécial Noël''<br>G.C.T.H.V.<br>2002<br>Part of a box set with ''[[Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas]]''.}}
−
Unecom pt dvd.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD (Portugal)|New Age Entertainment<br>2002}}
 +
Unecom pt dvd.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD (Portugal)|New Age Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company<br>2002}}
 
Mfcccukvhs.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (United Kingdom)|Jim Henson Home Entertainment/Cinema Club<br>2003<br>Reissue of Columbia Tri-Star release.}}
  
Mfcccukvhs.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS (United Kingdom)|Jim Henson Home Entertainment/Cinema Club<br>2003<br>Reissue of Columbia Tri-Star release.}}
 
AMFC2003UKDVD.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD (United Kingdom)|Columbia TriStar and Jim Henson<br>2003}}
  
AMFC2003UKDVD.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD (United Kingdom)|Columbia TriStar and Jim Henson<br>2003}}
Line 101: Line 101:
 
===Edits===
  
===Edits===
 
[[File:Thesnowmanandfozzie.jpg|thumb|250px]]
  
[[File:Thesnowmanandfozzie.jpg|thumb|250px]]
−
[[File:MuppetFamilyChristmas-MuppetBabies.jpg|thumb|250px|In one of the scenes that was cut from the NTSC video releases, the Muppets watch home movies of the first Christmas they spent together.]]
 +
[[File:MuppetFamilyChristmas-MuppetBabies.jpg|thumb|250px|In one of the scenes that was cut from the NTSC video releases, the Muppets watch a home movie of the first Christmas they spent together.]]
 
When the special originally aired, the full rights to the songs were only secured for television. As a result, commercial video releases of the special in the US cut out several scenes. These scenes, however, are retained on the PAL video releases, as the US song rights are different than for other countries. All video releases derive from the 1989 edit, which contains less incidental music, and puts dissolves between scenes that originally faded to and from black for commercial breaks. (NBC added their own fades when airing the special.) Among the scenes that were cut from the NTSC video releases:
  
When the special originally aired, the full rights to the songs were only secured for television. As a result, commercial video releases of the special in the US cut out several scenes. These scenes, however, are retained on the PAL video releases, as the US song rights are different than for other countries. All video releases derive from the 1989 edit, which contains less incidental music, and puts dissolves between scenes that originally faded to and from black for commercial breaks. (NBC added their own fades when airing the special.) Among the scenes that were cut from the NTSC video releases:
   
 
* Fozzie and the Snowman rehearsing their comedy act while singing "Sleigh Ride".
  
* Fozzie and the Snowman rehearsing their comedy act while singing "Sleigh Ride".
−
* The Muppets watching the home movies of their first Christmas together. In the edited version, Animal seems to rip through the screen immediately after they start watching.
 +
* The Muppets watching the home movie of their first Christmas together. In the edited version, Animal seems to rip through the screen immediately after they start watching.
 
* Miss Piggy's performance of "Home for the Holidays". This, unfortunately, meant cutting out the topper to the icy patch running gag.
  
* Miss Piggy's performance of "Home for the Holidays". This, unfortunately, meant cutting out the topper to the icy patch running gag.
 
* The original 1987 airing had a brief 5-second shot of Fozzie and Elmo turning on the Christmas lights; this was cut in all subsequent broadcasts as well as the PAL DVD.
  
* The original 1987 airing had a brief 5-second shot of Fozzie and Elmo turning on the Christmas lights; this was cut in all subsequent broadcasts as well as the PAL DVD.
 
* In the caroling medley at the end, Kermit and Miss Piggy singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", and Statler and Waldorf singing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas" are skipped.
  
* In the caroling medley at the end, Kermit and Miss Piggy singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", and Statler and Waldorf singing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas" are skipped.
−
* The scene with Fozzie and his mom hanging stockings was removed from later TV broadcasts and the video releases. Henson remastered the special in the 1990s for television reruns, and had to cut this scene to make room for commercials.
 +
* The scene with Fozzie and Emily hanging stockings was removed from later TV broadcasts and the video releases. Henson remastered the special in the 1990s for television reruns, and had to cut this scene to make room for commercials.
   
 
Other edits that have been made to the special outside of the NTSC video releases include:
  
Other edits that have been made to the special outside of the NTSC video releases include:
   
−
* The logo seen at the beginning was added for the home video releases. In the original cut of the special, the logo is seen over Ma Bear's farmhouse at the end of the song "We Need a Little Christmas." However, it was slightly reworked for future television airings. This brief musical interlude was edited from the master and the logo was reinserted separately.
 +
* The logo appearing in the very shot was something that was added for the home video releases. In the original cut of the special, the title card is seen over Emily's farmhouse at the end of "We Need a Little Christmas." However, it was slightly reworked for future television airings. This brief musical interlude was edited from the master and the logo was reinserted separately.
−
* The original 1987 airing featured a bumper in between holiday commercials with Kermit, in front of a Christmas tree, saying "''A Muppet Family Christmas'' will return in a moment," as Fozzie is seen behind Kermit playing with two little stuffed animal bears as if they were puppets.
 +
* The original 1987 airing featured a bumper in between commercials with Kermit, in front of a Christmas tree, saying "''A Muppet Family Christmas'' will return in a moment," as Fozzie is seen behind him playing with two little stuffed animal bears as if they were puppets.
−
* The ABC airing had sponsor bumpers for {{W|Playskool}} and {{W|Toys "R" Us}}, plus a silent title bumper.
 +
* The ABC airing had sponsor bumpers for {{w|Playskool}} and {{w|Toys "R" Us}}, plus a silent title bumper.
−
* The ABC, NBC, and DVD versions all have different end credits. The ABC broadcasts had the copyright information right below Jim Henson's name on the last credit. NBC's broadcasts had a completely different font, and has Henson and Disney logos after it. The DVD version is similar to the ABC one, but does not have the original copyright title, and cuts to a Henson logo.
 +
* The ABC, NBC, and DVD versions all had slightly different end credits sequences. The ABC broadcasts had the copyright information right below Henson's name on the last credit. NBC's broadcasts had a completely different font, and had both the Henson and Disney logos after it. The DVD version is similar to the ABC one, but does not have the original copyright title, and cuts to a Henson logo.
 
* On Nickelodeon, the following edits were made:
  
* On Nickelodeon, the following edits were made:
 
** The music that played before Rowlf arrives at the farmhouse is cut.
  
** The music that played before Rowlf arrives at the farmhouse is cut.
−
** The Turkey meeting Camilla is cut (the scene fades to black after the turkey says, "This is starting to be fun").
 +
** The Turkey meeting Camilla is cut (the scene fades to black after he says, "This is startin' to be fun").
−
** When Fozzie and his mom check off a list of who is sleeping where, a shot of a fireplace is shown over their beginning dialogue (originally, they were onscreen the whole time they were checking off sleeping arrangements).
 +
** When Fozzie and Emily check off a list of the sleeping arrangements, a shot of a fireplace is shown over their beginning dialogue (originally, they were onscreen the whole time they were checking off sleeping arrangements).
−
** A shot of the tree is shown over dialogue of Fozzie getting ready to tell everybody that his mother has an announcement, as opposed to him being seen (this followed Fozzie and Elmo turning on the Christmas lights in the original version).
 +
** A shot of the tree is shown over dialogue of Fozzie getting ready to tell everybody that Emily has an announcement, as opposed to him being seen (this followed him and Elmo turning on the Christmas lights in the original version).
   
 
==Cast==
  
==Cast==
−
[[File:Jimhenson-christmas.jpg|thumb|250px|A promotional photo featuring Jim Henson with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, and Gobo Fraggle.]]
 +
[[File:Jimhenson-christmas.jpg|thumb|250px|A promotional photo featuring [[Jim Henson]] with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, and Gobo Fraggle.]]
 
[[File:MFCCLose.jpg|thumb|250px|The closing shot of the special.]]
  
[[File:MFCCLose.jpg|thumb|250px|The closing shot of the special.]]
 
{| class="wikitable"
  
{| class="wikitable"
Line 131: Line 131:
 
|-valign="top"
  
|-valign="top"
 
| [[Jim Henson]]
  
| [[Jim Henson]]
−
| [[Kermit the Frog]]<br />[[Rowlf the Dog]]<br />[[The Swedish Chef]]<br />[[Ernie and Bert|Ernie]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Guy Smiley|Guy Smiley]]<br />[[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:The Newsman|The Newsman]]<br />Himself
 +
| [[Kermit the Frog]]<br />[[Rowlf the Dog]]<br />[[Dr. Teeth]]<br />[[The Swedish Chef]]<br />[[Ernie and Bert|Ernie]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Guy Smiley|Guy Smiley]]<br />[[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:The Newsman|The Newsman]]<br />Himself
 
|-valign="top"
  
|-valign="top"
 
| [[Frank Oz]]
  
| [[Frank Oz]]
Line 140: Line 140:
 
|-valign="top"
  
|-valign="top"
 
| [[Richard Hunt]]
  
| [[Richard Hunt]]
−
| [[Scooter]]<br />[[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]]<br />[[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker|Beaker]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Gladys the Cow|Gladys the Cow]]<br />The Snowman<br />[[w:c:muppet:Janice|Janice]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Two-Headed Monster|Two-Headed Monster]]
 +
| [[Scooter]]<br />[[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]]<br />[[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker|Beaker]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Gladys the Cow|Gladys the Cow]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:The Snowman|The Snowman]]<br />[[Janice]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Two-Headed Monster|Two-Headed Monster]]
 
|-valign="top"
  
|-valign="top"
−
| {{w|Steve Whitmire}}
 +
| [[Steve Whitmire]]
 
| [[Rizzo the Rat]]<br />[[Sprocket]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:The Christmas Turkey|The Christmas Turkey]]<br />[[Wembley Fraggle]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Lips|Lips]]
  
| [[Rizzo the Rat]]<br />[[Sprocket]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:The Christmas Turkey|The Christmas Turkey]]<br />[[Wembley Fraggle]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Lips|Lips]]
 
|-valign="top"
  
|-valign="top"
Line 149: Line 149:
 
|-valign="top"
  
|-valign="top"
 
| [[Jerry Nelson]]
  
| [[Jerry Nelson]]
−
| [[Robin the Frog|Robin]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Ma Bear|Emily "Ma" Bear]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Camilla the Chicken|Camilla the Chicken]]<br />[[Count Von Count]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Sgt. Floyd Pepper|Sgt. Floyd Pepper]]<br />[[Herry Monster]]<br />[[Gobo Fraggle]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Crazy Harry|Crazy Harry]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Lew Zealand|Lew Zealand]]<br />Two-Headed Monster
 +
| [[Robin the Frog|Robin]]<br />[[Emily Bear]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Camilla the Chicken|Camilla the Chicken]]<br />[[Count Von Count]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Sgt. Floyd Pepper|Sgt. Floyd Pepper]]<br />[[Herry Monster]]<br />[[Gobo Fraggle]]<br />[[w:c:muppet:Two-Headed Monster|Two-Headed Monster]]
 
|-valign="top"
  
|-valign="top"
 
| {{w|Karen Prell}}
  
| {{w|Karen Prell}}
Line 163: Line 163:
 
| Miss Piggy's Cameraman
  
| Miss Piggy's Cameraman
 
|}
  
|}
−
Note: Foo-Foo, Link Hogthrob, Marvin Suggs, a Muppaphone, Louis Kazagger, Pops, Crazy Harry, Bobby Benson, Nigel, Chester Rat, Masterson Rat, Tatooey Rat, Yolanda Rat, Billy the Bear, Sherlock Hemlock, Biff, Sully, Forgetful Jones, Prairie Dawn, Simon Soundman, Fred the Wonder Horse, [[Elmo]], Clancy, Old McDougal, Osvaldo, el Gruñón, Big Jeffy, Gary Grouch, Large Marvin Fraggle, and various Penguins, Chickens, Rabbits, Deer, Raccoons, Squirrels, Anything Muppets, Monsters, and Fraggles appear, but do not have speaking parts.
 +
Note: [[w:c:muppet:Lew Zealand|Lew Zealand]], [[w:c:muppet:Foo-Foo|Foo-Foo]], [[w:c:muppet:Link Hogthrob|Link Hogthrob]], [[w:c:muppet:Marvin Suggs|Marvin Suggs]], a [[w:c:muppet:The Muppaphone|Muppaphone]], [[w:c:muppet:Louis Kazagger|Louis Kazagger]], [[w:c:muppet:Pops|Pops]], [[w:c:muppet:Crazy Harry|Crazy Harry]], [[w:c:muppet:Bobby Benson|Bobby Benson]], [[w:c:muppet:Nigel|Nigel]], [[w:c:muppet:Chester Rat|Chester Rat]], [[w:c:muppet:Masterson Rat|Masterson Rat]], [[w:c:muppet:Tatooey Rat|Tatooey Rat]], [[w:c:muppet:Yolanda Rat|Yolanda Rat]], [[w:c:muppet:Billy the Bear|Billy the Bear]], [[w:c:muppet:Sherlock Hemlock|Sherlock Hemlock]], [[w:c:muppet:Biff|Biff]], [[w:c:muppet:Sully|Sully]], [[w:c:muppet:Forgetful Jones|Forgetful Jones]], [[w:c:muppet:Prairie Dawn|Prairie Dawn]], [[w:c:muppet:Simon Soundman|Simon Soundman]], [[w:c:muppet:Fred the Wonder Horse|Fred the Wonder Horse]], [[Elmo]], [[w:c:muppet:Clancy|Clancy]], [[w:c:muppet:Old McDougal|Old McDougal]], [[w:c:muppet:Osvaldo, el Gruñón|Osvaldo, el Gruñón]], [[w:c:muppet:Big Jeffy|Big Jeffy]], [[w:c:muppet:Gary Grouch|Gary Grouch]], [[w:c:muppet:Large Marvin Fraggle|Large Marvin Fraggle]], and various Penguins, Chickens, Rabbits, Deer, Raccoons, Squirrels, Anything Muppets, Monsters, and Fraggles appear, but do not have speaking parts.
   
 
==Gallery==
  
==Gallery==
Line 169: Line 169:
 
Ma's House.jpg|The exterior of Emily Bear's farmhouse.
  
Ma's House.jpg|The exterior of Emily Bear's farmhouse.
 
myweekxmasmore65.jpg|"Come in!"
  
myweekxmasmore65.jpg|"Come in!"
  +
Fozzie greets his mother.jpg|Fozzie greeting his mother.
  +
Doc asking Sprocket.jpg|"Tell me, Sprocket, are [the Muppets] anything like these Fraggles you keep telling me about?"
  +
Fozzie introducing Kermit.jpg|Fozzie introduces his mother to Kermit.
  +
Piggy calling Kermit.jpg|Miss Piggy calls Kermit to tell him she's going to be a little late.
  +
Swedish Chef arrives.jpg|The Swedish Chef arrives to cook the Christmas Turkey.
  +
Gonzo_tries_to_warn_the_turkey.jpg|"Listen, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Take a walk, fly south for the winter, anything!"
 
Kermit and Robin Sing Jingle Bells.jpg|Kermit and Robin sing "Jingle Bells".
  
Kermit and Robin Sing Jingle Bells.jpg|Kermit and Robin sing "Jingle Bells".
−
Fozzie with the snowman.jpg|Fozzie and the snowman performing.
 +
Fozzie with the snowman.jpg|Fozzie and the Snowman performing their comedy act...
  +
Fozzie singing Sleigh Ride.jpg|...and singing "Sleigh Ride".
  +
Kermit_gets_another_call.jpg|Kermit gets another call from Miss Piggy.
 
Miss Piggy buying Kermit's present.jpg|Miss Piggy finds the perfect present for Kermit.
  
Miss Piggy buying Kermit's present.jpg|Miss Piggy finds the perfect present for Kermit.
  +
Swedish Chef thinks Sprocket is a turkey.jpg|"I don't care if the turkey says the dog is a turkey; the dog is not the turkey, the turkey's the turkey, you turkey!"
 
The_Muppet_Babies'_First_Christmas.jpg|The Muppet Babies' first Christmas.
  
The_Muppet_Babies'_First_Christmas.jpg|The Muppet Babies' first Christmas.
 
Animal_Surprising_His_Friends.jpg|Baby Animal surprising his friends.
  
Animal_Surprising_His_Friends.jpg|Baby Animal surprising his friends.
  +
Gonzo_vs_Turkey.jpg|Gonzo and the Christmas Turkey get in a fight.
⚫
Herry_&amp;_Friends_As_Reindeer.jpg|The ''Sesame Street'' monsters as Santa's reindeer.
  
  +
Doc meets Ernie and Bert.jpg|Doc meets Ernie and Bert.
  +
Turkey tricking Chef again.jpg|The Christmas Turkey convinces the Chef that he should cook Big Bird instead.
  +
Kermit_looking_out_window.jpg|Kermit becomes worried for Miss Piggy's safety.
  +
Grover_as_the_mouse.jpg|Ernie, Bert, and Grover performing their Christmas play.
  ⚫
Herry_&_Friends_As_Reindeer.jpg|The ''Sesame Street'' monsters as Santa's reindeer.
 
Two-Headed Monster as Santa.jpg|The Two-Headed Monster as Santa.
  
Two-Headed Monster as Santa.jpg|The Two-Headed Monster as Santa.
  +
The storm is getting worse.jpg|The blizzard outside is getting worse.
 
myweekxmasmore96.jpg|"Taxi!"
  
myweekxmasmore96.jpg|"Taxi!"
 
Snowman_Freezing.jpg|"Can I come in and warm up?"
  
Snowman_Freezing.jpg|"Can I come in and warm up?"
  +
Statler and Waldorf.jpg|"We'd love to see your act!"<br>"In fact, we'd hate to miss your act!"<br>"In fact, we'd love to hate your act!"
 
Mfc02.jpg|"[Statler and Waldorf are] friends of mine, Fozzie. They come visit me every Christmas."
  
Mfc02.jpg|"[Statler and Waldorf are] friends of mine, Fozzie. They come visit me every Christmas."
−
MFCsnowman2.jpg|Fozzie is distressed about Statler and Waldorf heckling him and the snowman.
 +
MFCsnowman2.jpg|Fozzie is distressed about Statler and Waldorf heckling him and the Snowman.
 
myweekxmasmoreb02.jpg|"Search me. More small talk, I think."
  
myweekxmasmoreb02.jpg|"Search me. More small talk, I think."
−
myweekxmasmoreb03.jpg|Kermit and Robin looking at the snowstorm outside.
 +
myweekxmasmoreb03.jpg|Kermit and Robin looking at the blizzard outside.
−
Swedish Chef pleased.jpg|The Swedish Chef singing "The Christmas Song".
 +
Swedish Chef pleased.jpg|The Swedish Chef sings "The Christmas Song" with Big Bird...
  +
Chef_changes_dinner_plans.jpg|...and ultimately decides to make shredded wheat and cranberry sauce instead.
−
A Muppet Family Christmas 176.jpg
  
  +
A Muppet Family Christmas 176.jpg|Kermit tells Beauregard that he's worried about Miss Piggy.
 
myweekxmasmoreb107.jpg|"OK! When I yell three, hit it!"
  
myweekxmasmoreb107.jpg|"OK! When I yell three, hit it!"
 
Doc with Kermit.jpg|Doc offers to go look for Miss Piggy.
  
Doc with Kermit.jpg|Doc offers to go look for Miss Piggy.
 
Ma's Basement.jpg|Kermit heading down into the basement.
  
Ma's Basement.jpg|Kermit heading down into the basement.
 
myweekxmasmoreb110.jpg|Kermit and Robin exploring Fraggle Rock.
  
myweekxmasmoreb110.jpg|Kermit and Robin exploring Fraggle Rock.
  +
Kermit_and_Robin_down_in_Fraggle_Rock.jpg|Gobo Fraggle and his pals meet the frogs.
 
Miss_Piggy_Riding_On_Dogsled.jpg|Miss Piggy arrives with a dog sled team.
  
Miss_Piggy_Riding_On_Dogsled.jpg|Miss Piggy arrives with a dog sled team.
 
Kermit_says_that_Piggy_knows_how_to_make_an_entrance.jpg|"If there's one thing Piggy knows, it's how to make an entrance!"
  
Kermit_says_that_Piggy_knows_how_to_make_an_entrance.jpg|"If there's one thing Piggy knows, it's how to make an entrance!"
 
myweekxmasmoreb119.jpg|"For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home."
  
myweekxmasmoreb119.jpg|"For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home."
 
Emily & Friends Surprised.jpg|"Careful of the icy patch!"
  
Emily & Friends Surprised.jpg|"Careful of the icy patch!"
−
myweekxmasmoreb121.jpg|"They're weirdos, Fozzie... but, they're ''nice'' weirdos."
 +
myweekxmasmoreb121.jpg|"They're weirdos, Fozzie...but they're ''nice'' weirdos."
 
myweekxmasmoreb125.jpg|The Fraggles overhear the Muppets singing.
  
myweekxmasmoreb125.jpg|The Fraggles overhear the Muppets singing.
 
myweekxmasmoreb126.jpg|Uncle Traveling Matt's cameo.
  
myweekxmasmoreb126.jpg|Uncle Traveling Matt's cameo.
 
HaveYourselfAMerryLitteChristmas in MuppetFamilyChristmas.jpg|Kermit and Miss Piggy sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".
  
HaveYourselfAMerryLitteChristmas in MuppetFamilyChristmas.jpg|Kermit and Miss Piggy sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".
  +
Song-CarolingCaroling.jpg|The Snowman and the woodland animals sing "Caroling, Caroling".
−
MFCStocking.jpg|Ma hangs Fozzie's stocking on the mantle.
 +
MFCStocking.jpg|Emily hangs Fozzie's stocking on the mantle.
 
myweekxmasmoreb136.jpg|Robin gives the Fraggle pebble to Grover.
  
myweekxmasmoreb136.jpg|Robin gives the Fraggle pebble to Grover.
 
Doc as Santa.jpg|Doc as Santa.
  
Doc as Santa.jpg|Doc as Santa.
−
Jimchristmas.jpg|Jim Henson's cameo appearance.
 +
Jimchristmas.jpg|Jim Henson's cameo.
 
myweekxmasmoreb139.jpg|"Uh-oh. Mistletoe."
  
myweekxmasmoreb139.jpg|"Uh-oh. Mistletoe."
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   
−
==External links ==
 +
==External links==
 
* {{Interwiki|muppet|Muppet Wiki}}
  
* {{Interwiki|muppet|Muppet Wiki}}
 
* {{imdb title|0251282}}
  
* {{imdb title|0251282}}

Revision as of 23:46, 3 June 2020

“ They're weirdos, Fozzie... but, they're nice weirdos. ”

— Emily Bear summing up the Muppets

A Muppet Family Christmas is a Christmas television special starring the Muppets, first aired on ABC on December 16, 1987. It is the only Christmas special to feature characters from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and Fraggle Rock all together, and also the last Muppet Christmas special with which Jim Henson was involved prior to his death in 1990. It won an award from the Writers' Guild of America in 1989, and was also nominated for the 1988 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program.

Synopsis

KermitSingWeNeedALittleChristmas

Kermit, Gonzo, and Fozzie sing "We Need a Little Christmas".

The special opens with most of The Muppet Show gang driving through a blizzard in a pickup truck, singing "We Need a Little Christmas". They have decided to spend Christmas at the old farm where Fozzie Bear's mother, Emily, lives. And since she apparently loves surprises, Fozzie has not called his mother to tell her they were coming. Unbeknownst to them, Emily is planning to spend Christmas in Malibu, and has rented her house to Doc and Sprocket. Doc is looking forward to having "a nice, quiet Christmas" in the countryside.

MFC-Doc and Sprocket Arrive at Emily Bears House

Doc and Sprocket arrive at the farmhouse.

Immediately following Doc and Sprocket's arrival, the Muppets themselves show up, with most of them slipping on an icy patch at the door. Emily is pleasantly surprised with the appearance of Fozzie and "his weirdo friends", despite the fact that she now has to cancel her trip, and willingly allows them to stay. Doc, on the other hand, is a bit peeved that the house he rented has just gotten so many unexpected visitors, and asks Sprocket if they're "anything like these Fraggles you keep telling me about." Then the telephone rings, and Animal answers it; it is Miss Piggy, calling to tell Kermit that she has a photo session underway and needs to get it done before she can join them.

JingleBellRock in MuppetFamilyChristmas

The Electric Mayhem performs "Jingle Bell Rock".

The Swedish Chef shows up, telling Fozzie he's here to cook the Christmas turkey. Immediately following that, Gonzo greets a real live Muppet turkey, who was apparently convinced by the Swedish Chef to come, claiming it to be a nice vacation. Gonzo tries to tell him that this is a dangerous place for him to be, but the Turkey is certain that he will not end up in the oven. After Kermit helps clear the kitchen so the Swedish Chef can work in there, he and his nephew, Robin, start singing "Jingle Bells", which suddenly segues into the Electric Mayhem performing "Jingle Bell Rock".

Rowlf and Fozzie

Rowlf arrives at the farmhouse while Fozzie is building a snowman.

Later, Fozzie is outside building a snowman while some of the other Muppets chop down a tree to bring inside when Rowlf the Dog shows up (and slips on the icy patch). He engages in a friendly conversation with Sprocket, and then sits down to Emily's out-of-tune piano and starts playing "Sleigh Ride". Fozzie starts singing along, during which the snowman he's building comes to life and starts a comedy act with him. When they get a positive reaction from some woodland creatures watching their act, Fozzie runs inside to try to tell Kermit about it, slipping on the icy patch on the way in. Before Kermit can see it, though, he gets another phone call from Miss Piggy, who's doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. Meanwhile, the Swedish Chef has been tricked by the Christmas Turkey into believing that Sprocket is an even bigger turkey. Doc corrects the Swedish Chef on which animal is which, and then the Turkey begins flirting with Gonzo's girlfriend, Camilla the Chicken.

Scooter finds an old home movie of the first Christmas the Muppets ever spent together, so they sit down to watch it. The footage shows Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo, when they were babies, singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". At the end, when Baby Animal rips through a gift box, the grown Animal tears through the screen.

MFCSS

The Sesame Street gang shows up.

Right after the film ends, Gonzo catches sight of the Turkey flirting with Camilla and picks a fight with him. But then Kermit barges in on it and brings them outside. There, they see that the entire Sesame Street gang has arrived and is singing a short medley consisting of "Here We Come A-Caroling" and "Deck the Halls" (Oscar the Grouch naturally refuses to sing along). Once they finish, they all come inside.

During this, the Swedish Chef manages to nab the Turkey, who tries to get out of being cooked by claiming he's a different animal altogether, but the Swedish Chef isn't fooled this time and proceeds with the fitting. But the Turkey manages to save himself by pointing out Big Bird, whom the Swedish Chef decides would make an even better Christmas dinner. At that moment, the Muppet Newscaster appears on TV to report about a terrible blizzard forming outside, saying that barometers will be falling sharply; he then literally gets attacked by them. Scooter looks outside and comments that he is right, and Count Von Count starts trying to count as many snowflakes as he can while Kermit becomes more worried about Miss Piggy.

Later, Fozzie and Emily are figuring out the sleeping arrangements for all the guests, while Oscar decides to let Rizzo the Rat spend the night in his trash can. Then Janice brings out some Christmas cookies she just baked, only for Cookie Monster to gobble them all up. The Sesame Street gang then performs their Christmas pageant, The Night Before Christmas, in which Ernie provides the narration while Bert has to play the mother mentioned in the story. After Grover pops in as the mouse who is not stirring (literally, he is holding a mixing bowl and his hand is not touching the spoon), Ernie signals for the sleigh being pulled by the reindeer, all played by monster Muppets such as Herry Monster and Elmo, and the Two-Headed Monster appears as Santa Claus (to which Sam the Eagle replies, "Is nothing sacred?").

Miss Piggy calls Kermit one more time to tell him that her limousine is stuck in a snowbank, so she's going to take a taxi to the farmhouse, in spite of the blizzard. Fozzie tries to cheer Kermit up by showing his new act and takes him to meet the Snowman, but in a piece of irony, the Snowman himself comes inside to warm up because it's so cold outside. Fozzie brings him in for everyone to see, but then sees Statler and Waldorf, who are revealed to be friends of Emily's who visit her every Christmas. Fozzie and the Snowman try their best at their routine, but they keep getting interrupted by Statler and Waldorf's heckling, until finally the Snowman, realizing he's starting to melt, heads back outside.

Christmas Song in Muppet Family Christmas

Big Bird and the Swedish Chef sing "The Christmas Song".

The Swedish Chef calls Big Bird into the kitchen and starts shaking salt all over him. Big Bird, completely unaware of the Swedish Chef's intention to cook him, gives him a bag of homemade chocolate-covered birdseed. He is touched by it, and he becomes even more touched when they sing "The Christmas Song", which moves him to tears so much that he instead opts to serve shredded wheat and cranberry sauce, which happens to be Big Bird's favorite. Meanwhile, Doc, having taken notice of how worried Kermit is about Miss Piggy, offers to go find her and help her get to the farmhouse, telling Kermit that he's warmed up to the Muppets and now finds this better than the lonely vacation he and Sprocket would've had if they didn't show up.

Kermit and Robin meet the Fraggles

Kermit and Robin meet the Fraggles.

After Doc leaves to find Miss Piggy, Kermit heads down to the cellar to find that Robin has found a hole leading to Fraggle Rock. He has always wanted to meet the Fraggles, so Kermit goes in with him. In the cave, they soon stumble upon Gobo Fraggle and his friends, and wish them a Merry Christmas, and also explain the holiday to them because they don't really know what it is. What they do have, though, is a time when they give each other pebbles and pass them on to other Fraggles. Before Kermit and Robin head back upstairs, Boober gives Robin the pebble used in their demonstration.

When Kermit and Robin return, they're just in time to witness Miss Piggy's arrival. They see her arriving with Doc, wearing a Mountie uniform, bringing her up on a sled and dog team. She then begins to sing "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" as Kermit brings her in with the other Muppets singing along. Right as she finishes, though, she slips on the icy patch, taking him down with her.

MFCGroup

The Muppets sing their Christmas caroling medley.

With the entire Muppet menagerie all there, they proceed to sing a medley of Christmas songs, where everybody (except Oscar, of course) sings at least one line, including the Snowman and the forest critters outside. Over the course of the medley, the overhearing Fraggles come up to watch, during which we briefly see that Gobo's Uncle Traveling Matt is also there. Once they finish singing, Emily puts Fozzie's stocking up on the mantle; he tells her that he's a grown bear and doesn't need to have it hung, but allows her to put it up anyway. Kermit then presents Miss Piggy with his gift for her - a mink named Maureen, though not what she expects. She is at first surprised when she sees that he has gotten her a live mink, but quickly warms up when Maureen says she's her biggest fan. Then Robin gives the Fraggle pebble to Grover. Then Doc gives out presents dressed as Santa Claus while they all sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", during which Jim Henson himself appears, watching this from the kitchen. The special ends with Kermit returning Miss Piggy's affection under the mistletoe before saying "Merry Christmas" to the viewers.

Songs

"We Need a Little Christmas" and the "Jingle Bells"/"Jingle Bell Rock" medley were featured on the album Nick at Nite: A Classic Cartoon Christmas.

Broadcast history and availability

A Muppet Family Christmas first aired on ABC on December 16, 1987. ABC aired the special again on December 2, 1988. It was then re-edited and aired on NBC as an episode of The Magical World of Disney on December 24, 1989. It was aired on Nickelodeon from 1992 to 1997, and later on the Odyssey Network in 1999 and 2000, and the Hallmark Channel in 2001.

Home video releases

In the United States, the special was released, in edited form, on VHS by Buena Vista Home Video (under the Jim Henson Video label) in 1994, and then by Columbia TriStar in 1998. It made its DVD debut in 2001. It is now owned by The Walt Disney Company as a result of Disney's acquisition of the Muppet franchise in 2004, but it has not been released on video since then (the reason being that Disney does not own Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock, and would need permission from Sesame Workshop and The Jim Henson Company to release the special).

US releases

International releases

Edits

Thesnowmanandfozzie
MuppetFamilyChristmas-MuppetBabies

In one of the scenes that was cut from the NTSC video releases, the Muppets watch a home movie of the first Christmas they spent together.

When the special originally aired, the full rights to the songs were only secured for television. As a result, commercial video releases of the special in the US cut out several scenes. These scenes, however, are retained on the PAL video releases, as the US song rights are different than for other countries. All video releases derive from the 1989 edit, which contains less incidental music, and puts dissolves between scenes that originally faded to and from black for commercial breaks. (NBC added their own fades when airing the special.) Among the scenes that were cut from the NTSC video releases:

  • Fozzie and the Snowman rehearsing their comedy act while singing "Sleigh Ride".
  • The Muppets watching the home movie of their first Christmas together. In the edited version, Animal seems to rip through the screen immediately after they start watching.
  • Miss Piggy's performance of "Home for the Holidays". This, unfortunately, meant cutting out the topper to the icy patch running gag.
  • The original 1987 airing had a brief 5-second shot of Fozzie and Elmo turning on the Christmas lights; this was cut in all subsequent broadcasts as well as the PAL DVD.
  • In the caroling medley at the end, Kermit and Miss Piggy singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", and Statler and Waldorf singing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas" are skipped.
  • The scene with Fozzie and Emily hanging stockings was removed from later TV broadcasts and the video releases. Henson remastered the special in the 1990s for television reruns, and had to cut this scene to make room for commercials.

Other edits that have been made to the special outside of the NTSC video releases include:

  • The logo appearing in the very shot was something that was added for the home video releases. In the original cut of the special, the title card is seen over Emily's farmhouse at the end of "We Need a Little Christmas." However, it was slightly reworked for future television airings. This brief musical interlude was edited from the master and the logo was reinserted separately.
  • The original 1987 airing featured a bumper in between commercials with Kermit, in front of a Christmas tree, saying "A Muppet Family Christmas will return in a moment," as Fozzie is seen behind him playing with two little stuffed animal bears as if they were puppets.
  • The ABC airing had sponsor bumpers for Playskool and Toys "R" Us, plus a silent title bumper.
  • The ABC, NBC, and DVD versions all had slightly different end credits sequences. The ABC broadcasts had the copyright information right below Henson's name on the last credit. NBC's broadcasts had a completely different font, and had both the Henson and Disney logos after it. The DVD version is similar to the ABC one, but does not have the original copyright title, and cuts to a Henson logo.
  • On Nickelodeon, the following edits were made:
    • The music that played before Rowlf arrives at the farmhouse is cut.
    • The Turkey meeting Camilla is cut (the scene fades to black after he says, "This is startin' to be fun").
    • When Fozzie and Emily check off a list of the sleeping arrangements, a shot of a fireplace is shown over their beginning dialogue (originally, they were onscreen the whole time they were checking off sleeping arrangements).
    • A shot of the tree is shown over dialogue of Fozzie getting ready to tell everybody that Emily has an announcement, as opposed to him being seen (this followed him and Elmo turning on the Christmas lights in the original version).

Cast

Jimhenson-christmas

A promotional photo featuring Jim Henson with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, and Gobo Fraggle.

MFCCLose

The closing shot of the special.

Actor / Muppeteer Character
Jim Henson Kermit the Frog
Rowlf the Dog
Dr. Teeth
The Swedish Chef
Ernie
Guy Smiley
Waldorf
The Newsman
Himself
Frank Oz Fozzie Bear
Animal
Miss Piggy
Bert
Grover
Cookie Monster
Sam the Eagle
Dave Goelz Gonzo
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
Boober Fraggle
Zoot
Beauregard
Uncle Traveling Matt
Richard Hunt Scooter
Statler
Beaker
Gladys the Cow
The Snowman
Janice
Two-Headed Monster
Steve Whitmire Rizzo the Rat
Sprocket
The Christmas Turkey
Wembley Fraggle
Lips
Caroll Spinney Big Bird
Oscar the Grouch
Jerry Nelson Robin
Emily Bear
Camilla the Chicken
Count Von Count
Sgt. Floyd Pepper
Herry Monster
Gobo Fraggle
Two-Headed Monster
Karen Prell Red Fraggle
Maureen the Mink
Kathryn Mullen Mokey Fraggle
Gerry Parkes Doc
David Rudman Miss Piggy's Cameraman

Note: Lew Zealand, Foo-Foo, Link Hogthrob, Marvin Suggs, a Muppaphone, Louis Kazagger, Pops, Crazy Harry, Bobby Benson, Nigel, Chester Rat, Masterson Rat, Tatooey Rat, Yolanda Rat, Billy the Bear, Sherlock Hemlock, Biff, Sully, Forgetful Jones, Prairie Dawn, Simon Soundman, Fred the Wonder Horse, Elmo, Clancy, Old McDougal, Osvaldo, el Gruñón, Big Jeffy, Gary Grouch, Large Marvin Fraggle, and various Penguins, Chickens, Rabbits, Deer, Raccoons, Squirrels, Anything Muppets, Monsters, and Fraggles appear, but do not have speaking parts.

Gallery

External links

Jim Henson Productions and Related Shows
Specials
Sesame Street and related shows Christmas Eve on Sesame Street • A Special Sesame Street Christmas • Elmo Saves Christmas • Elmo's World: Happy Holidays! • A Sesame Street Christmas Carol • Elmo's Christmas Countdown • "Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten" • "Christmas Special (Barrio Sésamo)" • Christmas with Ernie & Bert • "Jul med Jeppe, Marie og Elmo" • "A Christmas Present in Summer" • "Boot" • "Monster Monster Day" • Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas • "A Furchester Christmas" • "Holiday at Hooper’s" • Sesame Street: The Nutcracker Starring Elmo & Tango • "Yip Yip Tree Tree" / "The Snowman Scarecrow"
The Muppets John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together • A Muppet Family Christmas • The Muppet Christmas Carol • It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie • "Christmas (From the Balcony)" • A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa • "Ringing of the Bells" • Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular • "Single All the Way" • "Ho Ho Ho!" • "Christmas" (Muppet Moments) • "Santa Claus" (Muppet Moments) • "A Very Muppet Babies Christmas" / "Summer's Super Fabulous Holiday Surprise" • "It's a Wonderful Elf-bot" / "A Merry Litter Christmas"
Other shows and specials The Jimmy Dean Show: Episode 114 • The Jimmy Dean Show: Episode 214 • The Jimmy Dean Show: Episode 314 • Santa Claus Routine with Arthur Godfrey • Christmas Reindeers • The Great Santa Claus Switch • Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas • "The Bells of Fraggle Rock" • The Christmas Toy • "Refrigerator Day" • Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree • "Mrs. Zabarelli's Holiday Baton" • "The Siberian Tiger and the Reindeer" • "A Berry Bear Christmas" • "Holidays" • "Hooblebumper Box Day" • "Oh Christmas Tree" • "Sid's Holiday Adventure" • "Cretaceous Conifers" • "Don's Winter Wish" • "The Annoying Orange Generic Holiday Special" • "Orange Carol" • "Joy to the World (Pajanimals)" • "War on Christmas (No, You Shut Up!)" • "A New York Christmas to Remember" • "A Song For Everyone" • "The Holiday Tree" • "Whitebeard/Coral Day" • "Traditions on Ice" • "Night of the Lights"
Albums
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street • Merry Christmas from Sesame Street • John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together • A Sesame Street Christmas • Elmo Saves Christmas: Holiday Favorites • A Green and Red Christmas • Bob! from Sesame Street: Christmas Sing Along • Holiday Classics . It's Christmas Time
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