The 16 School Days of Christmas: Add more Muppets to your holiday viewing traditions

Most people know the classic Christmas movie A Muppet Christmas Carol, but there are two other classic Jim Henson Christmas movies that few know, but are worth a watch. 

Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas is a straight-to-TV Christmas special from 1977 that was produced by The Jim Henson Company. It is about a poor Otter mother and son who both have to take big risks to join a talent show to buy each other Christmas presents. 

The movie is heartwarming and charming. It has great themes and morals, and it has a cozy Christmas feeling. 

It also has a lovable band of characters including Ma, Emmet, and Emmet’s friends. The bond between Ma and Emmet is truly heartwarming and embodies the spirit of Christmas. 

There are many heartfelt scenes, such as Emmet and Ma cutting down the Christmas branch, or remembering Pa, who had died. But there are also some humorous scenes, including those featuring the Riverbottom Nightmare Band, who are antagonists but also act as the primary comic relief.  

Music is a central part of the movie, so there is an amazing soundtrack. There is a mix of upbeat and slower songs and they really enhance the story being told. Emmet Otter is a little-known Christmas classic that more people should appreciate. 

Another underrated straight-to-TV Jim Henson Christmas special is the Muppet Family Christmas. In this special, the Muppets plan to surprise Fozzy’s mom by going to her house for Christmas, and Miss Piggy is stuck in a snowstorm trying to make it to the farmhouse. 

This movie has all the humor and charm of a regular Muppets movie. It has all the classic Muppets characters as well as characters from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock. The jokes are funny and charming. 

There are plenty of humorous scenes including Miss Piggy getting stuck in a snowstorm as well as Fozzy and his snowman’s comedy show. There are also heartwarming scenes, such as when the Fraggles give the “giving pebble” to Robin, Kermit’s nephew. 

The soundtrack is also very good, with classic Christmas songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as well as original songs like “Pass It On,” sung by the Fraggles. 

Both movies are worth adding to families’ Christmas movie watch list this year.