The Best Christmas Special You've (Probably) Never Seen

The holidays are upon us again, and we're being inundated with Christmas imagery and messages. But, forget all the stores and commercials and decorations. I'm talking about Christmas specials. Movies and television shows that have become as synonymous with Christmas as chestnuts and pine trees.

You can have your "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Rudolph, Frosty, Scrooge, the Grinch, Ralphie Parker and even the Griswolds. (Not that those shows and movies aren't great themselves). If we're talking Christmas shows, there's only one for me - "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas."

"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 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, and 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.

In its early years, "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas" was very well received. In 1981, it was nominated for four Emmy awards. Still, over the years the show faded out of the picture, robbing generations of a wonderful, heart-warming tale.

I've personally watched "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas" every year I can remember. And while not many people I talk to have actually seen it, anyone I've shown it to comes away loving it. So, here I'll give a brief recap of the show, hopefully encouraging all who read this to go out and find a copy (it's available on VHS and DVD). You won't be disappointed.

The story tells the tale of Emmet Otter and his Ma (Alice). Ma is a widow who keeps her and Emmet afloat by doing laundry for the rich folks of Frogtown Hollow, and by bartering with other local merchants. Emmet pitches in by doing odd jobs around town.

The show begins with an opening introduction from Kermit (depending on the version). As Kermit is acquainting us to the residents of Frogtown Hollow, we first meet the Riverbottom Gang, a nasty group of nefarious animals, lead by Chuck, an angry bear. The other members of the gang are a weasel, a rattlesnake, a lizard and a fish (he gets carried around in a bowl or bucket the whole show). Anyway, they steal Kermit's scarf and speed away in their backfiring jalopy. More on the Riverbottom Gang later.

Then, we meet Ma and Emmet, as they row their boat down the river to deliver laundry, en route to Waterville. (A quick side note on this scene - the backdrop is amazing, and the puppets are actually rowing the boat in real water. Pretty impressive for 1977.) So, they row along, interact with some Frogtown Hollow residents, sing some songs, and, eventually, arrive in Waterville. While there, Emmet sees a swell guitar with mother-of-pearl inlays that he'd die to have. Unfortunately, the guitar costs $40, and the Otters are pretty poor. At the music store we run into the Riverbottom gang again, who are trashing the store and playing - Gasp! - rock and roll music. (A side note to this scene, the fish of the gang spits out real water at a bear who crosses the gang's path. Again, impressive for 1977.)

Soon after the events in Waterville, winter has set in and frozen the river solid, which gives Ma and Emmet a chance to use Pa's old slide (A plastic sheet that goes down a hill onto the frozen river). This scene, although it looks cheesy by today's standards, is wonderful. The next day, Emmet goes to fix Old Lady Possum's fence with his friend, Wendell, while Ma gets a visit from her friend, Heddy Muskrat.

This is where both Otters find out about the big talent contest coming up in Waterville - with a grand prize of $50. Emmet and Wendell discuss it with their pals, Charlie and Harvey, and Heddy tells Ma about it. Emmet and Ma both realize that if they win the contest, they can buy a nice Christmas present for the other (Emmet wants to put a down payment on a piano for Ma, Ma wants to buy the guitar Emmet so covets).

So, Ma decides to enter as a singer, and the boys form a jug band. And here's where the story turns - in order for Ma to be able to afford a nice costume for the contest, she has to hock Emmett's tool chest, which he uses for his odd jobs. For Emmet to take part in the jugband, he has to make a washtub bass, thus he has to put a hole in Ma's washtub, which she uses for her laundry job. It's quite a conundrum for both, but they eventually decide to enter the contest, because that's what Pa would have done. In one last twist, both sneak away to enter, and neither knows the other is doing it.

Before we can get to the talent show, however, the boys need practice. As the newly formed "Frogtown Jubilee Jug Band" is rehearsing (with Emmet on washtub bass, Wendell blowing a jug, Harvey on kazoo and washboard, and Charlie playing cigar-box guitar), the Riverbottom Gang (now riding snowmobiles) shows up to taunt them.

At the talent contest, the boys are shocked when another entrant plays the song they intended to, "Barbecue" (one of the many great songs in this show). So, the boys scramble to rehearse a new song, "Brothers." As the jug band is waiting to go on stage, Emmet sees that Ma has entered the contest. Her singing blows him away, and he pretty much concedes victory right then and there. Then, the boys do their song, and Ma concedes victory to them. The contest should've ended there, but the judges allow a last-minute entrant - the Riverbottom Nightmare Band (yes, that pesky Riverbottom Gang again).

The Riverbottom Nightmare Band rocks the house (seriously, their song is better than most crap-rock you'll hear on the radio today), and wins the contest, leaving Ma, Emmet and the boys understandably dejected.

At this point, Ma and Emmet realize what the other had to do to enter the contest, but neither one cares. They know they made Pa proud. As Ma and the boys are walking home, they realize that their songs meld perfectly together, so they begin to sing them in harmony. Unbeknownst to them, a crowd gathers around to listen. Part of that crowd is Doc Bullfrog, one of the talent show's judges and the proprietor of the Riverside Rest, who says all they needed was each other and that they sounded great together. Because of this, he offers Ma and the boys a regular job singing for the restaurant's customers. Once Ma determines that they'll get paid regular when they play regular (and Doc adds that meals are on the house), the group accepts the job and begins work immediately.

In the end, everyone realizes that material possessions don't bring happiness. Love, family, friends and togetherness do.

So there you have it, the best Christmas special by far. Memorable characters, a great story, wonderful songs and a nice message. Even if you're not impressed by this recap, give it a view anyway. Mere words cannot do this show justice. It's Jim Henson at his best.

After just one viewing of "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas," it's sure to become a part of your holiday traditions. Pa took a chance on snake oil (you'll get that once you watch the show), so you should take a chance on this amazing Christmas tale.

And, remember, if you look to the good side,
fallin' down's a free ride,
slippin' and a-slidin' in the mud!
If your back is hurtin,'
I can say for certain,
I'll be there to treat you to a soothin' back rub!
When there ain't no hole in the washtub...