WATCH A Muppet Family Christmas

April 7, 2012 / Ilovemup / One comment

A Muppet Family Christmas is a 1987 Christmas television special starring Jim Henson’s Muppets.

A Muppet Family Christmas title card, 1989 version

This is one of the very few Muppet productions to feature Muppets associated with all four of the major Muppet franchises: The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock and Muppet Babies (who are seen as actual puppets here instead of cartoon counterparts).

The plot involves Jerome “Doc” Crystal and his dog Sprocket (from Fraggle Rock) escaping life on the seashore to spend Christmas in the forest. The country house he chooses to stay at happens to be owned and operated by Fozzie Bear’s mother, who is renting the house to Doc because she is going to Malibu for Christmas. When Fozzie comes home for Christmas—bringing all his Muppet friends with him—everyone gets snowed in and chaos, hilarity and sentiment normally associated with The Muppet Show ensues, much to Doc’s chagrin who was hoping to spend a ‘nice, quiet Christmas.’ Fozzie’s mother is also disappointed because she has to call off her vacation to cater to her son and her friends. While all the muppets, including Swedish Chef and Rowlf the dog who arrive later, are all present and accounted for, Miss Piggy is still in the city for a photo shoot and shopping trip, which worries Kermit. As Christmas Eve progresses, Doc starts to warm up to the Muppet crew and soon the farm house is paid a visit by the Sesame Street characters who are also going to be staying for Christmas. However, as night falls, a wicked snowstorm kicks up while Miss Piggy is still in the city who is trying to brave the elements to get to the farm house, but to no avail. Doc sees how worried Kermit is and offers to go look for her. Afterwards, Robin alerts Kermit to a Fraggle Hole in the cellar, where they venture into it and meet the gang from Fraggle Rock, where Robin receives a pebble that’s been a present 37 times. After they leave, they see that the snowstorm has died down and soon everyone sees Doc and Miss Piggy being pulled by a dog carriage and Doc in a Mountie costume. Soon after all the Muppets are reunited, they partake in the annual carolfest, in which also attracts the attention of the fraggles. After the carols, Kermit gives Miss Piggy a mink, who is her biggest fan. Robin also gives Grover his fraggle pebble. Soon afterwards, Doc reappears dressed as Santa and gives everyone presents. Jim Henson makes a brief cameo with Sprocket in the kitchen and the film ends with Kermit and Miss Piggy kissing under the mistletoe

Scenes omitted in North American DVD and VHS release

The snowman and Fozzie joke and sing the song “Sleigh Ride” when hearing Rowlf inside playing the piano.
The home movie featuring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and Scooter as babies singing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” with baby Rowlf playing a toy piano.
The Muppets sing “Home for the Holidays,” after Miss Piggy’s grand belated arrival, then later “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” during the final medley.
Fozzie tells his mother, Emily Bear, that he is too old to have a stocking hung for him, then changes his mind.