Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas is a 1977 Christmas special created by Jim Henson, based on a book by Russell and Lillian Hoban. The special originally aired on HBO.
While it uses Muppets, it does not feature any of the major Muppet characters except for Kermit the Frog, who introduces the story. (Due to legal issues, he does not show up in all releases, particularly the Hit Entertainment DVD.) It features songs composed by Paul Williams and performed by veteran voice talents Jerry Nelson (Emmet), Marilyn Sokol (Ma), and Frank Oz (Chuck).
Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas was a children's story by Russell Hoban first published in 1969. It was later made into a TV Christmas special by Jim Henson. The plot is reminiscent of The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry.
The story tells about Emmet Otter and his widowed mother, who each want to buy the other something special for Christmas. They each are aware that the other wants something very particular and, unfortunately, very expensive.
Emmet entertains his friends' idea of putting together a jug band and entering the local talent contest, which has a prize of $50. To do this, though, he has to punch a hole in the bottom of his mother's metal washtub to make a washtub bass. Emmet's mother, meanwhile, takes the tool chest Emmet inherited from his father and pawns it to buy fabric for a new dress, so that she might also enter the talent contest. Neither is aware of the other's intentions or actions.
Also entering in the talent show at the extreme last minute is the Riverbottom Gang, who have put together a rock group called 'The River Bottom Nightmare Band'. There are some run-ins between everyone leading up to the big event. Unfortunately, although Emmet's mother and the Jug Band get an excellent reception from the talent show audience, the Riverbottom Gang wins the contest.
On the way home from the event, Emmet's mother consoles herself by humming while one of Emmet's friends plays the same tune on a kazoo. Suddenly, she realizes that their talents could work together and they improvise a duet with their songs. As it happens, they are in earshot of Doc Bullfrog and his restaurant patrons; the proprietor is so impressed at the group's talent that he hires them on the spot as regular entertainers for the business.
The original special was produced for HBO in 1977. It ran on that station yearly until 1979. In 1980, a heavily edited version began airing on ABC. This new version featured shortening of some songs and scenes, but also expands other scenes and songs. It also features the addition of a voice-over by Kermit the Frog. This ABC-edited version also began being aired on HBO in 1981. Because the later edit aired on ABC and HBO through the 80s, it is the more-widely known version of the special. The original 1977 version is currently available on DVD (with "missing" material available as special features).
The DVD also reveals the existence of a "lost" song that was recorded, but never actually used in the special: a song called "I Was Born in the Trunk". The song was written for the talent show scene and was performed by the music store owner (who in a previous scene was desperately trying to get the Riverbottom Gang to leave her store). Although the song wasn't used, she can be seen backstage in her costume when Harrison Fox is directing the contestants to their dressing rooms.
In 1981, Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas was nominated for 4 Emmy awards:
Jim Henson used many of the same techniques from the special in The Muppet Movie. Paul Williams interview. Songfacts. Retrieved July 11 2007.
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 $50! So, Ma gets a song ready, and Emmet forms a jug-band with his friends. But the Riverbottom Gang, a bunch of rich kids with killer electric band equipment are going to be tough competition. Written by Kathy Li
Emmit and Ma otter.They are poor,without a father,and want to get something very special for Christmas.For Emmit,he sees a used guitar for 40$ while they are in the city,and Ma wants to make his Christmas a special one.But Emmit wants to buy Ma something special too.They enter in a talent contest,and have to take something from each other in order to get in.Emmit puts a hole in the washtub to join a Jugband,and Ma has to sell Pa's tool chest to buy fabric for a dress.Only one can win...can either of them? Written by myfilm83
