Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (TV 1977)

A poor otter family risks everything for the chance to win the cash prize of a talent contest for Christmas.

Director:

Jim Henson

Writers:

Lillian Hoban (book), Russell Hoban (book),

Stars:

Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Marilyn Sokol

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jerry Nelson	...	Emmet Otter / Weasel / Doc Bullfrog / Melissa Rabbit / Yancy Woodchuck (voice)
Frank Oz	...	Chuck (voice)
Marilyn Sokol	...	Ma Otter (voice)
Dave Goelz	...	Wendel / Pop-eyed Catfish / Will Possum (voice)
Richard Hunt	...	Charlie / Lizard / George Rabbit (voice)
Eren Ozker	...	Gretchen Fox / Hetty Muskrat / Mrs. Mink / Old Lady Possum (voice)

Storyline

Emmet Otter and his Ma are dirt-poor, but very happy and good singers. But as Christmas is around the corner, both of them want to get something special for each other. And the talent show prize is $50! So, Ma gets a song ready, and Emmet forms a jug-band with his friends. But the Riverbottom Gang, a bunch of rich kids with killer electric band equipment are going to be tough competition.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | otter | jug band | battle of the bands | surrealism | 

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Taglines:

A Merry Musical Treat For The Whole Family!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Henson Associates (HA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the documentary about the making of the show on the DVD, singer/composer Paul Williams says that when Jim Henson asked him to write the songs for it, Henson explained that the show as going to be a "trial run" for a proposed Muppet movie to check out whether the Henson company could handle certain technical tasks needed to produce a full-length theatrical feature. When The Muppet Movie came out two years later, Williams also wrote the songs used in that film.

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Quotes

Chuck: Look at the birds up in the tree.
Harvey: We're not birds, we're a jug band!

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Connections

Followed by Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (1995)

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Soundtracks

"When The River Meets The Sea"
Written by Paul Williams

User Reviews

The Best of Jim Henson's films

The brilliance of Jim Henson was that he could make schmaltz without seeming schmaltzy. This is an unabashedly sentimental movie (as one would expect a Christmas special to be) and it succeeds in drawing you into its sentiment, but it never loses that quirky edge that made his Muppets so much more interesting than most programming directed (ostensibly) at children. Who else could pull off making the antagonist an evil teddy bear who sings in a heavy metal band? Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is my favorite Muppet movie.