It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) (TV)

Director:

Kirk R. Thatcher

Writers (WGA):

Tom Martin (written by) and
Jim Lewis (written by)

Release Date:

29 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Musical

Tagline:

More holiday fun then humanly possible!

Plot:

On Christmas Eve, an angel petitions God to send help for Kermit the Frog who has lost all hope after losing the Muppet Theatre.

Plot Keywords:

The Muppets | Christmas | Angel | Theatre People | Despair

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit / Rizzo the Rat / Beaker / Bean Bunny / Mr. Poodlepants / Statler - Assistant (voice)
Dave Goelz	...	The Great Gonzo / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Waldorf (voice)
Bill Barretta	...	Pepe the Prawn / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf the Dog / Swedish Chef / Johnny Fiama / Bobo the Bear / Howard / Lew Zealand (voice)
Eric Jacobson	...	Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Yoda (voice)
David Arquette	...	Daniel
Joan Cusack	...	Rachel Bitterman
Matthew Lillard	...	Luc Fromage
William H. Macy	...	Glenn
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Daniel's 'Boss'
Carson Daly	...	Himself - Cameo Appearance
Kelly Ripa	...	Herself
Joe Rogan	...	Himself - Cameo Appearance
Molly Shannon	...	Herself - Cameo Appearance
Robert Smigel	...	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (voice) (as Triumph The Insult Dog)
Zach Braff	...	Dr. John 'J.D.' Dorian
Sarah Chalke	...	Dr. Elliot Reid
Neil Flynn	...	The Janitor
John C. McGinley	...	Dr. Perry Cox
Judy Reyes	...	Nurse Carla Espinosa
Bill Lawrence	...	Himself - 'Scrubs' Producer
Mel Brooks	...	Joe Snow (voice)
Brian Henson	...	Scooter / Sal Manilla / Janice / Muppet Performer (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Robin the Frog / Statler / Announcer / Pops / Floyd Pepper / Kid #1 / Muppet Performer (voice)
Kevin Clash	...	Sam the Eagle / Muppet Performer (voice)
Alice Dinnean	...	Muppet Performer (as Alice Dinnean-Vernon)
Allan Trautman	...	Muppet Performer
Geoff Redknap	...	Muppet Performer / Sweetums Suit Performer (as Geoff Rednap)
Denise Cheshire	...	Muppet Performer
Drew Massey	...	Muppet Performer
Adam Behr	...	Muppet Performer
Gordon Robertson	...	Muppet Performer
John Henson	...	Muppet Performer / Sweetums
Dawn Lewis	...	Fear Factor Contestant
Colin Foo	...	Security Guard
Yee Jee Tso	...	Angel 1
Dan Joffre	...	Angel 2
Jonathan Bruce	...	Fat Angel
Cameron McDonald	...	Safari Animal Tracker
Darrell Lee-Izeard	...	Thin Angel (as Darrell Izeard)
Chantal Strand	...	Nancy Nut-What
Robin Mossley	...	Nicki Nut-What
Dan Payne	...	Handsome Executive
Dave 'Squatch' Ward	...	Sally Ann Santa
Julia Arkos	...	Sally Ann Representative
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Briana Forbes	...	Muppet performer (not credited)
John Kennedy	...	Sam the Eagle (assistant)
Jon Stewart	...	Himself (scenes deleted)
Fozzie Bear	...	Himself (uncredited)
Marci Dacus	...	Fear Factor Contestant (uncredited)
Kermit the Frog	...	Himself (uncredited)
Ray Galletti	...	Club Dot Guy (uncredited)
Conan Graham	...	Executive Assistant (uncredited)
Miss Piggy	...	Herself (uncredited)
Lawrence Trilling	...	Himself (uncredited)
Sisi Wang	...	Old Muppet's Date (uncredited)

Directed by
Kirk R. Thatcher

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Martin		(written by) and
Jim Lewis		(written by)

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	producer
Bill Barretta	....	co-producer
Juliet Blake	....	executive producer
Warren Carr	....	producer
Ruth Caruso	....	co-producer
Brian Henson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Watters

Cinematography by
Tony Westman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gregg Featherman

Production Design by
Michael S. Bolton		(as Michael Bolton)

Art Direction by
James Steuart		(as Jim Steuart)

Set Decoration by
Linda Vipond

Costume Design by
Polly Smith
Sandra J. Blackie		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Sandy Cooper	....	key makeup artist
Harlow MacFarlane	....	special makeup effects artist
Charles Porlier	....	special makeup effects artist
Debra Wiebe	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Warren Carr	....	production manager
Annie Court	....	post-production supervisor
Drew Locke	....	unit manager: second unit
Ritamarie Peruggi	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred Frame	....	second unit director
Leann Harvey	....	trainee assistant director
Alexis Hinde	....	second assistant director: second unit
Patrice Leung	....	first assistant director
David Mills	....	first assistant director: second unit
Tracey Poirier	....	second assistant director
Patrick Stark	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Dave Conway	....	construction coordinator
Brian Epp	....	assistant property master
Phil Gough	....	property master: second unit
Kevin Griffin-Park	....	on-set dresser
Frank Haddad	....	greensman
Leesa Hanna	....	set dresser
Iesza Jessica Jordan	....	statue maker (as Iesza Snowdon)
John Marcynuk	....	set designer
Wendy McAllister	....	storyboard artist
Roxanne Methot	....	assistant art director
Beth Nelson	....	assistant set decorator
Kristin Shanski	....	assistant prop master (as Kristin Shanski Beaudin)
Christine Shaw	....	set dresser
Grant Swain	....	property master
Darcy Wyness	....	greensperson
Patrick Zahorodniuk	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Darren Brisker	....	sound recordist
Neil Cedar	....	adr recordist
Ryan Darden	....	assistant sound editor
Stephen Fitzmaurice	....	sound mixer (as Steven Fritzmaurice)
Richard C. Franklin	....	adr supervisor (as Rick Franklin)
Sara Kohlman	....	sound assistant
Carey Milbradt	....	foley recordist
Charles O'Shea	....	boom operator (as Charlie O'Shea)
Chris Ostler	....	sound recordist
Larry Stensvold	....	sound mixer
Richard Taylor	....	sound supervisor
Sarah Workhoven	....	adr assistant

Special Effects by
James G. Fisher	....	first assistant special effects (as Jim Fisher)
Brant McIlroy	....	special effects
Robert Yeager	....	special effects coordinator (as Rob Yeager)

Visual Effects by
Adrian Banton	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Hal Bertram	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jason Bielski	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Clare Burgess	....	line producer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Charlene Eberle Douglas	....	on-set visual effects coordinator (as Charlene Eberle)
Sean Feeney	....	visual effects producer
Alan Latteri	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Nick Lloyd	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Dusan Strugar	....	digital character and visual effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
John B. Anderson	....	senior shader writer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Adrian Banton	....	digital artist: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Hitesh Bharadia	....	matchmove supervisor/technical director: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Mike Connolly	....	digital compositor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
James Furlong	....	digital tracking: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Myf Hopkins	....	head of production: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Alberto Montañés	....	digital compositor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (uncredited)
Mike Pope	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Dan Sheerin	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Marny Eng	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adams	....	gaffer: second unit
Toby Armitt	....	second assistant camera
Trevor Butt	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Harvey Fedor	....	key grip
Niall Fraser	....	best boy electric
Rob Graham	....	video assist operator: second unit
Peter Grotek	....	dolly grip (as Pete Grotek)
Peter Grotek	....	key grip: second unit
Martin Hass	....	dolly grip
Colin Hudson	....	Steadicam operator
Simon Hunt	....	gaffer
Armin Matter	....	camera operator
Carl Pederson	....	video engineer
Randal Platt	....	director of photography: second unit
Brian Rose	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Charlie Schultz	....	best boy grip
Lance White	....	video assist
Keith Woods	....	rigging gaffer

Casting Department
Lynne Carrow	....	casting: Canada
Allison Cowitt	....	casting: US
Mike Fenton	....	casting: US
Ann Frederick	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessica Lythgoe-Green	....	costumer
Anthea Mallinson	....	costume dyer
Kurtis Reeves	....	costume supervisor: second unit
Heather Rupert	....	costume dyer

Editorial Department
Brian Anton	....	assistant editor
Frank Mazzaro	....	on-line editor
Leeanna Romero	....	post-production intern
Sati Tooray	....	colorist

Music Department
Michael Atwell	....	score recordist: Pro-Tools
Tim Bryson	....	additional mixes: score
Annmarie Crivelli	....	assistant to composer (as Annemarie Crivelli)
Audrey DeRoche	....	music coordinator (as Audrey deRoche)
Ross DeRoche	....	orchestra contractor (as Ross deRoche)
Ira Hearshen	....	orchestrator
Jimmy Hoyson	....	second score engineer
Robert Irving III	....	synthesizer programmer (as Robert Irving)
Andrew Kinney	....	orchestrator
Dino A. Moriana	....	music editor
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator
Bill Newlin	....	orchestrator
John Richards	....	score engineer
J. Eric Schmidt	....	orchestrator (as Eric Schmidt)
Nan Schwartz	....	orchestrator
Stephen James Taylor	....	orchestrator
Christopher Klatman	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ron James	....	transportation coordinator
Tony Johnson	....	transportation captain
Jason Wayne Spencer	....	driver: van

Other crew
Mary Brehmer	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Sophie Brodovitch	....	script coordinator
Brittan Brown	....	post-production accountant
Edward G. Christie	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop (as Ed Christie)
Ric De Groot	....	assistant accountant (as Ric Degroot)
Andrea Detwiler	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Brad Elliott	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop (as Brad Elliot)
Sandy Fox	....	loop group voice
Kathleen Gati	....	loop group voice
Jerry Gelb	....	loop group voice
Alexander Glua	....	production assistant
Jane Gootnick	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Catherine Gordon	....	assistant accountant
Michael Gough	....	loop group voice
Teresa Gough	....	assistant location manager
Paul Hartis	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
James Hibbard	....	choreographer
Ann Marie Holdgruen	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Lauri Johnson	....	loop group voice
Lorne Kostyshin	....	craft service
Lana Krotenko	....	script supervisor: second unit
Lex Lang	....	loop group voice
Stephanie Leavitt	....	assistant to producers
Laura Livingstone	....	production coordinator
Danny Mann	....	loop group voice
Mona Marshall	....	loop group voice
Tom Martin	....	executive consultant
David M. McLoughlin	....	office assistant (as Dave McLoughlin)
Robert Milicevic	....	set security
Tim Miller	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Kelly Moon	....	script supervisor
Robert Murdoch	....	location manager
Tom Newby	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Joan Parkinson	....	Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop
Karen Pelrine	....	second assistant coordinator: second unit
Michael Roberts	....	production accountant
Lia Sargent	....	loop group voice
Adrienne Sol	....	assistant production coordinator
Rhonda Taylor	....	assistant to director
Mike Atwater	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Simon Bright	....	key production assistant (uncredited)
Raimey Casiro	....	key production assistant (uncredited)
Allison Chretien	....	set supervisor (uncredited)
Suzanne Cross	....	trainee assistant location manager (uncredited)
Ian Doig	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Grace MacLeod	....	cat trainer (uncredited)
Jason Wayne Spencer	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (presents) (as NBC)
• Jim Henson Company, The (presents)
• Jim Henson Productions

Distributors

• MGM International TV Distribution (2002-) (worldwide) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2002) (USA) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Chum Television (200?) (Canada) (TV)
• Disney Channel (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Premiere (2004) (Germany) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (digital character and visual effects by)

Other Companies

• Complete Post  on-line editing
• DGC  acknowledgment (as DGC Directors Guild of Canada)
• Deroche Music  music preparation (as deRoche Music, Inc.)
• Directors Guild of America (DGA)  acknowledgment
• Ear Whacks!  loop group casting
• Endemol Entertainment  copyright owner: "Fear Factor" appears courtesy of (as Endemol USA)
• Freaky Beats and Eats  catering
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 669  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E. 669 International Photographers Canada)
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 891  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E. 891 Motion Picture Technicians)
• NBC Studios  copyright owner: "Last Call With Carson Daly" appears courtesy of
• Panavision  camera equipment (as Panavision)
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures  dailies
• Technicolor Creative Services  post-production audio
• Touchstone Television  copyright owner: "Scrubs" appears courtesy of
• Union of B.C. Performers  acknowledgment (as UBCP)
• Westwind Media  post-production audio
• William F. White International  lighting equipment (as William F. White Ltd.)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements

Runtime:

100 min | Netherlands:85 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:G | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Lion's Gate Studios, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Jerry Nelson was sick during some of the production of this film, and only was able to spend limited time performing (he performed a lot of his Statler scenes, and some Robin scenes), some scenes were dubbed (Pops, the Announcer and Floyd were all dubbed), or performed by someone else (Bill Barretta performs Lew Zealand).

Goofs:

Continuity: Kermit's hand shifts on and off the back of the bench between shots during Gonzo's song in the alternate universe

Quotes:

Fozzie:Where's Ms. Bitterman's office? I gotta get this money up to her!
Security Guard:Let me think. If I was a bear, I'd store my honey in a tree somewhere...
Fozzie:No, not honey! Money! I gotta see Ms. Bitterman so I can give her her MO-NEY!
Security Guard:Oh, Ms. Bitterman's laundry. She's on the 17th floor. I'll call her to tell her you're coming.
Fozzie:Thank you!
Security Guard:Gesundheit.
[Cut to Ms. Bitterman's office. She answers the phone]
Rachel Bitterman:Hello?
[pause]
Rachel Bitterman:No! That can't be! Stop him!
[...]

Movie Connections:

References "SpongeBob SquarePants" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Lacrimosa

Not bad, but a little lacking.

As I watch this movie, I am reminded of the original Muppet Show, and how much it made me laugh. Of course, I was all of nine years old. If the risque jokes that were in this movie were in the original show, I certainly didn't get them. Likewise, a handful of gags were meant only for mom and dad. Besides, the kids would not have gotten them anyway. Pepe getting a permit to open a topless joint. (Kermit is never with shirt, in case you missed that joke.) Miss Piggy asking Kermit to sleep with her (in French, again, only for those mature enough to understand it.) Those a just a couple of examples of adult humor that seem to mire this Muppet holiday offering. Once they got past that, it was really quite funny. This is not a bad movie by any standards. However, I feel that the crew was too busy trying to capture their former audience, and didn't spend enough time concerning themselves with their real target audience... ...the nine year old kid watching television.