Fozzie Bear surprises his mother on Christmas Eve by bringing the entire Muppet gang to her farm to celebrate the holidays. Doc and his dog Sprocket, who had planned a quiet Christmas, end up joining the Muppets in their holiday activities and preparations. The Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock regulars join the festivities, but to Kermit's dismay, the only one missing is Miss Piggy, who has been caught in a snowstorm.
Richard Hunt
as Scooter / Janice / Statler / Beaker / Gladys the Cow / Two-Headed Monster / Snowman (voice)
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Reviews
Absolutely essential Christmas offering. I watched this for the first time in at least 14 years, and yet I recalled every scene. It was such a charming experience to sit through this again. Fozzie and the Muppets head to his grandmother's house for Christmas. Before you know it, the Sesame Street gang and the Fraggles show up. What might have been an overcrowded crossover works due to the hilarious sketches. The scenes between the Turkey and the Swedish Chef are perfect examples of the Muppets' weird and rowdy wit. Common themes such as friendship and family are covered, but The Muppets always have a way of making these sweet, rather than sickly.
When I was 11, I first saw this special (on the VHS release that is). And that was back in 1999-2000. I couldn't stop watching this special! Then I acquired the DVD in 2001. Then I found out my mother taped it when it aired on Nickelodeon in 1992. I was shocked to find out that the DVDs that I had been watching all this time had been edited because the music rights had been only secured for television, and not for home video release. If only they could acquire the full rights to all the songs and re-release the original special that only aired in 1987 and 1988. How could they just think about money, rather than this priceless Christmas gem? ANYWAY, I love "Muppet Family Christmas." It features practically every Muppet known to man, from Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rowlf, Miss Piggy, Animal and the rest, to the cast of Sesame Street. Even Doc, Sprocket the dog, and the Fraggles make an appearance! Most of the Muppets in this special don't even exist anymore. Fozzie decides to surprise his mother at the farmhouse for Christmas, who was going to spend the holidays in Malibu. It's not only Fozzie who shows up, but all of the Muppets! Soon a blizzard hits. All the Muppets are safe and warm (and definitely crowded) inside the farmhouse except for Miss Piggy, who has been doing last minute shopping, and hasn't gotten there yet, and Kermit had been worried sick. But Doc decides to go out in the blizzard and search for her. Then Kermit and Robin discover a Fraggle hole in the basement, and it leads them into Fraggle Rock, and they meet some Fraggles. The Fraggles tell them about their Christmases, how they've been exchanging a Fraggle Pebble 37 times. They give it to Kermit, who gives it to Robin, (who later gives it to Grover.) Miss Piggy finally arrives, and makes her entrance (and slips on the icy patch, which had been a running gag throughout the whole show) And the Muppets sing a medley of carols, which sums up the holiday goodness of this wonderful special.I am lucky that my mother taped this, probably the last time it ever aired on TV during the holidays. Had I not watched that tape, I would be watching the edited version! All the edits still do make the show make sense, except for one--when the Muppets are watching home movies of their very first Christmas together, (look out for a special live-action Muppet Babies cameo,) it shows them singing Santa Clause is coming to Town, and right after, Animal bursts through the screen. Yet in the edited version, it cuts right to Animal bursting through the screen, and Doc saying "boy, that was fun!" How could it be fun if it was like, two seconds??? LOL.Fortunately, if you're lucky, you will have an old VHS tape with the original airing (or the 1989 "almost uncut" edit.) Back in the wonderful Jim Henson era of the Muppets. He even makes a cameo appearance!
This is def the best Christmas movie of all time. I watch it many times each December and a few years back even got the DVD. I was heart broken though to find out that although there are a few small scenes on the DVD that weren't in the TV version that I have taped the DVD actually cut on 2 whole songs... and good songs at that!Whoever owns the rights to this movie HAS to release it on DVD again with all the scenes in it.I've toyed around with the idea of loading the whole movie onto my macbook and edit together my own master version but I simply don't have the time :(
I just wish they'd re-release this on DVD. Can only find originals and copies on ebay for over $45. My copy on VHS is good but you just don't get the clarity that you see on DVD. I love the fact that Muppets meet the Sesame Street gang. Have watched this every season since my kids were toddlers and that was over 20 years ago. How does the public change the marketing of movies. Or is this a Jim Henson glitch? Wish I could find out. Just not ready to spend the big bucks on ebay. The story line is a blizzard on Fozzie's farm and Miss Piggy is on her way to the festivities. It's just comical to see the "cook" see the size of Big Bird and think "how do I roast That". Just an all round great holiday film.
