Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas


Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is a 1977 television special directed by Jim Henson, based on the 1971 children's book of the same name by Russell Hoban, itself inspired by "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. The special features characters from Hoban's novel, in a teleplay adapted by Jerry Juhl, beginning with an introduction by Kermit the Frog, who tells the story of Emmet Otter and his widowed Ma, a poor family of otters who struggle to get Christmas presents for the other as a result of their financial situation. The special was produced by The Jim Henson Company and first premiered on CBC Television on December 4, 1977.
The special received positive reviews from critics and audiences, and would later be syndicated in the years that followed with airings on HBO in 1978 and ABC in 1980. In 2019, it was announced that a film remake of Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas was in the works to be directed by Bret McKenzie.

Production

In 1977, Muppets creator Jim Henson produced a one-hour television adaptation of the story video taped in Toronto. The special first premiered on CBC on December 4, 1977, with a U.S. premiere the following year on the fledgling HBO on December 17, 1978. The special later aired on ABC and Nickelodeon in the 1990s. The special features several original songs written by songwriter Paul Williams.
The special utilizes a number of different puppetry methods. The main puppets used are the usual Muppet hand puppets, but the characters are frequently represented by marionettes as well. It also utilizes the bunraku and Black Theater techniques. This is also one of the first Muppet productions to use radio control puppet effects, designed by Faz Fazakas.
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas also featured extensively platformed-up sets, all created with great attention to detail. Jim Henson explained:
The original special featured an introduction by Kermit the Frog, who also narrated certain scenes, and made an appearance near the end delivering closing remarks. The Jim Henson Company sold the rights to the Muppets to The Walt Disney Company in 2004, and Kermit's scenes and narrations were thus omitted from the special's 2005 DVD.
The special's 2018 Blu-ray and DVD releases reinstate Kermit's scenes, but not his narrations.

Plot

Kermit the Frog is introducing the story of Emmet Otter when he is interrupted by the Riverbottom Gang, a group of hoodlums, who insult him and steal his scarf. The scene then shifts to a river featuring Emmet and his widowed Ma, who scrape by on the small amount of money Ma gets from doing laundry and Emmet gets from doing odd jobs around their community in Frogtown Hollow. Emmet and Ma are kind to their neighbors, despite often being cheated out of what they deserve for the work they do. While window shopping in nearby Waterville, Ma and Emmet wistfully reflect on Pa's life, and his unsuccessful snake oil venture. As Christmas approaches, they each hear of a talent contest with a grand prize of $50, and separately decide to enter, so they can afford to surprise the other with a present: Ma, a fine guitar for Emmet, and Emmet, a piano for Ma. However, they must sacrifice each other's livelihood to be able to perform. Ma hocks Emmet's tools for dress fabric while Emmet turns Ma's washtub into a washtub bass for a jug band, each convincing themselves it is what Pa would have done. Emmet assembles Wendell Porcupine, Harvey Beaver, and Charlie Muskrat as the Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band.
Emmet and Ma each perform well, only to be defeated by the last-minute entry of the Riverbottom Gang as a rock and roll band called The Nightmare. However, as Ma and Emmet's band walk home together, disappointed, Ma realizes their two songs could fit together, and as they sing, they are overheard by Doc Bullfrog, one of the talent show judges, who hires them to play regularly in his restaurant. Emmet and Ma decide they will be happier performing together than with the thankless work they had been doing before, and Kermit concludes the special with Emmet, Ma, and the gang playing in front of Doc and his customers.

Muppet performers

Songs

The special features several original songs penned by songwriter Paul Williams. Williams had previously worked with the Muppets on The Muppet Show and collaborated with the Muppets by writing the songs for The Muppet Movie and The Muppet Christmas Carol. The song "Brothers in Our World" was later covered by My Morning Jacket for the Muppets cover album Muppets: The Green Album.
On November 2, 2018, Varese Sarabande Records released the soundtrack on CD and LP.
  1. "The Bathing Suit That Grandma Wore" – 2:43
  2. "Jam Session – 1:07
  3. "Ain't No Hole in the Washtub – 2:11
  4. "When the River Meets the Sea – 2:30
  5. "Bar-B-Que – 1:39
  6. "Carrots the Dancing Horse – 0:51
  7. "Bar-B-Que – 0:36
  8. "Dancing Rabbit Act – 0:44
  9. "Squirrel Acrobatic Act – 0:39
  10. "Our World – 1:51
  11. "Brothers – 2:03
  12. "Riverbottom Nightmare Band – 2:42
  13. "Our World-Brothers – 2:13
  14. "Our World-Brothers Club Reprise – 0:50
  15. "When the River Meets the Sea Reprise – 2:32
  16. "Born in a Trunk – 1:09

Releases

The special was released on CED videodisc in 1981, alongside "The Muppet Musicians of Bremen" as part of the "Tales from Muppetland" videodisc.
In 2005, HIT Entertainment released a "Collector's Edition" DVD which featured several deleted or alternate scenes, as well as a "lost" song that was recorded, but never actually used in the special. Called "I Was Born in the Trunk", the song was written for the talent show scene and was performed by the Waterville music store owner. Due to the sale of the Muppets to Disney a year earlier, Kermit's scenes and narrations were omitted from this release.
On Saturday, December 12, 2015, a remastered version of the special's 1980 release had its cable channel debut alongside remastered The Bells of Fraggle Rock on ABC Family during its 25 Days of Christmas programming block. A 40th Anniversary DVD of the special was released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on October 10, 2017, followed by a Blu-ray release on December 18, 2018. For the 2015 airing, as well as the subsequent DVD and Blu-ray releases, Kermit's introduction and closing scenes were restored.
In 2017, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the special, musician Matt Surowiec produced an officially licensed "tribute" album featuring all-new covers of Paul Williams' original songs from the special.
In 2022, the special, with Kermit's introduction and ending but not his other narrations, was made available for streaming on Peacock.
In 2025, Shout! Studios made the special available for free on YouTube.

Reception

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas received very positive reviews from critics. John J. O'Connor gave the special a very positive review in The New York Times on December 15, 1980, for its ABC airing: "Jim Henson and the Muppets are on a dazzling winning streak these days... Mr. Henson has produced and directed one of the most charming Christmas specials of the last several years... Once again, Mr. Henson's creations verge on the marvelous, perfectly capturing the Wind in the Willows aspects of Emmet Otter's story... These really are the nicest folk on the river – and on prime-time television." Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 100% based on 8 reviews, with an average score of 8.4/10.

Awards

Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas was nominated for four Emmy Awards in 1981:
  • Outstanding Children's Program, David Lazer and Jim Henson
  • Outstanding Individual Achievement – Children's Programming, Calista Hendrickson and Sherry Ammott
  • Outstanding Individual Achievement – Children's Programming, Paul Williams for the song "When The River Meets the Sea".
  • Outstanding Individual Achievement – Children's Programming, Tom Wright

In popular culture

In Walt Disney's 2016 film Zootopia, Officer Hopps was tasked with finding a missing mammal from Chief Bogo's priority case file, one Emmet Otterton.
The Hallmark Channel's 2025 film The More The Merrier sees an ER doctor taking charge of a new hire on December 24th. Trying to get to know him, she asks his favorite holiday film, which he laughingly admits is Emmet Otter.

Later appearances

Film adaptation

On October 21, 2019, it was announced that Bret McKenzie is writing the script and songs for a film adaptation of the TV special, which will be produced by The Jim Henson Company, Pacific Electric Picture Company, and Snoot Entertainment.

Stage adaptation

In December 2008, a musical stage adaptation of the TV special was performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. The adaptation was developed by Goodspeed Musicals and The Jim Henson Company.