Happy Easter! - The Tale of the Bunny Picnic

HBO, 1986

Voices of Steve Whitmire, Richard Hunt, Jim Henson, and Louise Gold

Directed by Jim Henson and David G Hiller

Music by Philip Balsam; Lyrics by Dennis Lee

This cable special is the closest Jim Henson got to doing something for Easter. He wanted to make another holiday program with realistic animals after the success of Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas on HBO in 1977. While that one was a bit gritty and bittersweet, he went with something a little more aimed at children here. This special also introduced Bean Bunny, who would later appear on the 80's version of Muppet Babies and still occasionally turns up in Muppet media to this day. How does this charming story of rabbits who learn compassion when they find out the dog who ruins their picnic isn't as bad as he seems look now? Let's begin with the bunnies singing about the beginning of spring and find out...

The Story: Bean Bunny (Whitmire) is known for his wild imagination and his goofy attempts to dream he's something else. He wants to help set up for the big spring Bunny Picnic, but his older brother Lugsy (Hunt) keeps telling him he's too little. He wanders off into the lettuce patch to daydream when he's chased out by the farmer's dog (Henson). Horrified, Bean tries to tell everyone what he saw, but they think it's just another imaginative story. 

It isn't until the dog attacks the Picnic that the bunnies finally admit Bean wasn't just imagining things. The rabbits try everything they can think of to shake him, until Bean comes up with an idea based on a puppet show put on by the Storyteller Bunny (Ron Mueck). That seems to do the trick, at least until the dog catches on. Bean escapes and saves his brother...but when they see the dog being abused by the mean farmer who owns him (Martin P. Robinson), they realize who the real villain is and decide to teach the bullying farmer a lesson.

The Song and Dance: Considering the sugary reputation this special in general and Bean Bunny in particular have, this was a lot better than I thought it would be. The songs are catchy, and Bean is a lot of fun, especially some of his wilder daydreams! I also like that the bad guy isn't who you think it's going to be. The dog is set up to be the villain until mid-way through, when you realize he's as scared as the rabbits and is just following orders. The ending with how they help him actually ends up being rather sweet. 

The Numbers: We open with the bunnies enthusiastically greeting the warmer weather in "Hello Sunshine." Poor Bean laments that no one will let people do anything special "When You're Little." The dog tells the bunnies "Run, Bunny, Run," because he's coming after them. The Storyteller encourages the bunnies to "Follow Me" as he sets up his puppet show. Bean's parents sing "The Bunny's Lullaby" to put their frightened children to sleep that night. The bunnies empower each other to help the dog and attack the farmer with "Drum of Time." "Hello Sunshine" reappears during the credits after we find out who the narrator was.

Trivia: The special originally opened with a live-action segment as Jim Henson explained what inspired the story. That has been cut from most current copies available, including the ones on video and YouTube. 

What I Don't Like: While it's not quite as cutesy as it's reputation would have it, it's still a lot more child-oriented and sweet than the gritty Emmett Otter or the slightly darker and wackier Muppet fairy tales. Those adorable bunnies may be just a little too precious, with their huge black button eyes, chubby cheeks, and breathless speeches. It's notable that, though this did well enough on cable and has turned up sporadically thereafter on HBO and video, it's not one of the better-known specials. Only Bean is even mildly remembered today.

The Big Finale: Charming and adorable springtime viewing for you and your younger children; older kids and teens may find it a tad too sugary. 

Home Media: As mentioned, the only place you can find this at press time is YouTube. 

YouTube

Family Fun Saturday - Muppet Musicians of Bremen

Robert Laurence Productions/The Jim Henson Company, 1972

Voices of Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and Phyllis Marshall

Directed by Jim Henson

Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo

Our final Family Fun Saturday review returns to the Muppet well one more time. This is the last of the three Tales from Muppetland specials that Jim Henson developed before he started working on The Muppet Show. This one is slightly more realistic and less romantic, despite the talking animals. It almost seems like a comic preview for Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas five years later, which also had more realistic-looking animal puppets. How does the German folk tale of three unwanted animals who form a band, then accidentally scare off robbers look now? Let's begin with Kermit as he introduces us to our music-playing quartet, and that they weren't always as happy as they are now, and find out...

The Story: After years of faithful service, the old donkey Leroy (Nick Nichols) runs away from his owner, the grouchy thief Mordecai (Francois Klanfer), when Mordecai tries to kill him. The instruments Mordecai stole that he accidentally runs off with inspires him to become a traveling musician. Three other older animals, TR the Rooster (Nelson), Rover Joe the hound dog (Klanfer), and Catgut the cat (Marshall), also join him after their robber owners throw them out. When they come upon a little house in the Lousiana bayou, they think it's the home of a charming family...but it's really their former masters divvying up their spoils. The animals think they're saving a family, but they really end up scaring the thieves off and discovering they make a nice musical family on their own.

The Song and Dance: I give this one credit for going with a more unique and slightly more realistic story than the fantasy specials. The Grimm's fairy tale "The Musicians of Bremen" isn't often adapted for the screen in North America, even in animated or puppet form. Klanfer, Nichols, and Marshall are hilarious whether they're playing music, singing the blues, or dodging their obnoxious or less-than-brilliant owners, and Rasposo's music is almost a catchy as his songs for The Frog Prince. 

The Numbers: We open with the animals briefly playing an instrumental Dixieland number under Kermit's narration before we meet Leroy. He sings the first version of "I'm a Traveling Musician," which is reprised and added to as he's joined by more animals. TD laments "The Cock-a-Doodle-Doodle Blues" to the chickens in the farm before he leaves. Catgut has similar complaints to the rats on the farm as she claims "You've Got to Know Your Friends." Leroy claims that the people living in the old shack are "A Family Together." The others think they see "A Family Together," too...but it's really the robbers fighting over their stolen goods.

Trivia: The animals would be used in other Henson projects, including the special Muppet Show: Sex and Violence and The Muppet Show. 

What I Don't Like: This is a bit simpler than Frog Prince or The Muppet Show. It lacks the heartwarming sequences of Emmett Otter or the romance of Frog Prince. It also lacks the humans - this is an all-puppet project. Kermit is the only familiar face - no later Muppets appear - and unlike Frog Prince, he's only on in the beginning. 

The Big Finale: If your kids love animal projects and/or the Muppets, they'll have a wonderful time with the four best animal musicians in the bayou.

Home Media: Alas, this is YouTube-only at the moment. 

YouTube

Family Fun Saturday - The Frog Prince (1971)

Robert Laurence Productions/The Jim Henson Company, 1971

Voices of Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, and Richard Hunt

Directed by Jim Henson

Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo

We end the month as we began it, with the Muppets. This time, we jump way far back, to when Jim Henson was trying to prove that his felt characters could be more than commercial announcers or filler between variety show numbers. This is the second of three fairy tale-based specials Henson did featuring Kermit, and probably the best-received of the three. It was so popular, four of the Muppets used in this special would go on to appear on The Muppet Show three years later. Does it still cast a spell today? Let's begin with our narrator Kermit the Frog (Henson) by the well and find out...

The Story: Sir Robin the Brave (Gordon Thomson) is turned into a frog by the wicked witch Taminella (Jerry Juhl). Kermit and his friends by the well in the castle garden don't believe him, even when he tells them he can't swim. He has to befriend a princess and get her to kiss him, and the lovely Melora (Trudy Young) would seem to be the perfect candidate. Trouble is, she too is under a spell. Her words are twisted backwards by the evil woman who claims to be her father King Rupert (Henson)'s sister. Robin recognizes her as Taminella, who wants to take Melora's throne on her birthday and become queen. Robin and Kermit try to translate Melora's backwards warnings and dodge Taminella's big, dumb ogre Sweetums (Carl Banas).

The Song and Dance: This is by far my favorite, not only of the Muppet fairy tale specials, but of the specials Henson did before he developed The Muppet Show. Robin and Sweetums were so adorable and hilarious respectively, they've been used in Muppet shows and films ever since. Raposo's songs are a delight, too, especially Young singing with Robin the Frog (Nelson) and Sweetums' noisy number. Nice costumes too, on Muppet and human alike. I like that Kermit's a little more involved with this than he would be with The Muppet Musicians of Bremen and the later Christmas specials, too. 

The Numbers: We open with the "Frog Chant" from the frogs at the well and the chorus. Robin explains what happened to him to turn him from "Sir Robin the Brave" into a little frog. Kermit and his friends insist that it's great to be "Frogs." Robin interprets Melora's turned around "N'I'm Ineteen" ("I'm Nineteen") in a charming duet. After he gets into the castle, Robin is almost stomped on by Sweetums, until he manages to insist "Sleep, Sweetums." "Sweetums," for his part, isn't happy with having been manipulated and just wants his frog dinner. "Anthems of Joy" is the happy ending, as Melora and Robin embrace, the people of the country are glad to have the right queen, King Rupert is happy for his daughter, and Kermit misses his froggy friend.

Trivia: Robin and Sweetums aren't the only Muppets from this special who would turn up on The Muppet Show. Featherstone and King Rupert made occasional appearances in royalty-themed skits during the first season. 

What I Don't Like: While we do get Robin and Sweetums here along with Kermit, don't expect the rest of the Muppet gang like Piggy or Fozzie. This came out three years before that show debuted. Young's adorable as the Princess, but what little we see of Thomson is a bit stiff for a dashing prince. Frankly, Taminella is more annoying than she is threatening. How the king fell for her, I will never know. 

The Big Finale: If you're a fan of the Muppets or of fairy tales like me, this is worth swimming a well for if you can find it.

Home Media: Alas, at press time, it can only be found on out-of-print videos and a blurry copy on Dailymotion. 

Dailymotion

Happy New Year! - Sesame Street Stays Up Late

PBS, 1993

Voices of Carol Spinney, Kevin Clash, Martin P. Robinson, and Fran Brill

Directed by Chuck Vinson

Music and Lyrics by various

Let's kick off 2026 with a look at one of Sesame Street's lesser-known specials. Though Big Bird was still the focus of most stories at this point, with the death of Jim Henson and the need to recast many of his characters (like Ernie), other Muppets and puppeteers stepped up to the spotlight. Elmo was just being built up as a major character when this special debuted. Sesame Street had been evolving at this point as well, with new adult human characters, a new set, and new Muppets like the just-debuted Rosita and Zoe. How is all this reflected in this look at how countries around the world celebrate the New Year? Let's get to Sesame Street, where Big Bird is announcing that it's time to party, and find out...

The Story: As most of the adults go out for the New Year, the kids and Muppets of Sesame Street remain behind for a party of their own. Gina (Alison Bartlett) and tap-dancing wunderkind Savion (Savion Glover) keep an eye on them and help them with preparations. Oscar the Grouch (Spinney) is trying to get through to his family long-distance and isn't too happy with Ernestine the Telephone Operator's (Lily Tomlin) constant chatter. He tells a nervous Telly the Monster (Robinson) that if the year ends, so will everything else. Telly does everything he can to keep the New Year party from happening. 

Meanwhile, Elmo (Clash), Prairie Dawn (Brill), and the Muppet News Network do reports on New Year's Eve celebrations around the world. The reports from Norway, Germany, Israel, and Portugal come direct from those countries' versions of Sesame Street and their own Muppet characters. Elmo's "cousin" Pepe (Clash) helps Rosita (Carmen Osbahr) with the reports on the New Year's fiesta in Mexico, while Elmo's cousin Elmo-noske (Clash) reports from Japan. 

The Song and Dance: This is so sweet. For one thing, the only countries whose New Year's customs I knew anything about before I saw this were Mexico and Israel. It really is fascinating to learn about New Year's celebrations in other parts of the world. I liked seeing the Muppets from other versions of Sesame Street, too. From the Oscar-like Moiske Oofnik and huge, sweet Kippi in Israel to pretty kitty Tita in Portugal, I love seeing how different cultures represent puppetry and kid-friendly characters. Elmo makes for an adorable and hilarious host (and generally doesn't hog the spotlight as much as he would later in the 90's and 2000's), and Prairie Dawn's on-the-spot reporting on Sesame Street is funny, too. Telly's story, on the other hand, is handled with marvelous sensitivity for younger kids who may not understand what New Year's is really about and might be nervous about the noise and the idea of the year ending. There's also the cute side plot with Big Bird spending the special trying to wake up Snuffy before midnight.

The Numbers: We open with Big Bird's announcement to the kids on the Street that "We're Going to Stay Up Late and Party." Rosita and Pepito join the children of Mexico to perform a "Mexican Folk Song" as they make their pinata. "Oshagatu" is the song for the children of Japan as they fly kites and enjoy their day of freedom. "Bashanah Habaah" is the joyous number celebrating the Jewish New Year and its unique customs. The children and Muppets of Germany go from house to house asking for treats in the "Rummel Pot Song." Max Mekker, Alfa, and Bjarne Betjent from the Norwegian Sesame Street join the children of Lillehammer, Norway in the kid amusement park Lilleputhammer for the lovely "It's New Year's Eve." Oscar finally connects with his family in a brief "New Year's Chorale for Six Grouches." Big Bird gently reminds everyone that it's the "Faces That I Love" that make New Year's special.

Trivia: Known on VHS and some older streaming copies as Sesame Street Celebrates Around the World. 

There's a couple of references to the Olympics in the Norway segment. Lillehammer, Norway would host the Winter Olympics in 1994.

This was one of the first appearances of Ernie since Jim Henson's death in 1989. He was voiced in his brief appearance here by Steve Whitmire. 

What I Don't Like: First of all, while Elmo doesn't take over this special to the degree that he would dominate the show later in the 90's, there's still a lot of him here. If you're not a fan of him, you may not be into this.  Second, this is an older Muppet special. Some younger kids may wonder where more recent characters like Julia or Abby Cadabba are. The "around the corner" set where most of this takes place was retired in 1998, along with the characters who inhabited it. Most kids watching Sesame Street nowadays may not even know they existed. 

The Big Finale: If your kids are fans of Elmo or Big Bird, or you remember this from when you were a kid, this remains a charming look at holiday customs in other parts of the world and here in the US.

Home Media: Streaming is your best bet for this one, usually under the "Celebrates Around the World" title. The DVD is currently hard to find and pricey.

DVD

Amazon Prime

Merry Christmas! - The Christmas Toy

ABC, 1986

Voices of Dave Golez, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, and Brian Henson

Directed by Eric Till

Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss

This year, we celebrate Christmas and New Year's with the Muppets in two very different lesser-known Muppet and Sesame Street specials. The Christmas Toy was Jim Henson's second shot at a holiday special after the more subdued Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas on cable. Christmas Toy goes in the opposite direction, with a more traditional holiday story in bright primaries revolving around toys and holiday friendship. How does this Muppet toy story look now, after other animated tales of playthings have come and gone? Let's begin with Kermit the Frog dressed as Santa goes down the chimney and introduces us to the Jones family and the residents of the playroom and find out...

The Story: Rugby Tiger (Golez) is little Jamie's (Marsha Moreau) favorite toy that she got for Christmas last year. When he hears it's Christmas Eve, he thinks he'll be opened and found by Jamie again. Trouble is, if toys are found out of place, they're frozen permanently. Rugby and Mew the Cat Toy (Whitmire) go downstairs to climb into a box so Jamie can open him, but it's not that easy. Jamie does have a new big toy this year, Meteora the Space Queen (Camille Bonora), who thinks they're aliens. Meanwhile, Apple the Rag Doll (Mullen) convinces Cruiser the Cab Driver (Henson), Belmont the nervous ride-on horse (Richard Hunt), and Bleep the Robot (Rob Mills) to help her rescue Rugby and keep him from getting them all frozen. Rugby ends up learning a lesson in real friendship when Mew not only helps him convince Meteora to get back in the box, but sacrifices himself to save the others, too.

The Song and Dance: This charming special is faster-paced and more high-energy than Emmett Otter, but just as much fun. Golez revels in playing the hilariously egotistical Rugby, who thinks that just because he's Jessie's favorite toy means he'll stay that way forever. Whitmire is adorable as Mew, who remains a loyal friend despite Rugby insulting him about being a cat toy. The songs are really catchy too, with "Try the Impossible" and the heartbreaking "Together at Christmas" the standouts. I love the bright color palate on the toys, the deep blacks and glittering silvers and golds of Meteora and the tree in the living room, and some of the gags, especially when they try to get Meteora back in the box!

The Numbers: We open with a big chorus routine for the toys, as we're introduced to their world in the play room and how "Toys Love to Play." "I Was the Greatest Christmas Toy" is Rugby's recollection of the year before and how it made him feel like a big star. Apple reprises it briefly in the living room when she remembers it, too...but she felt left out when Jamie said Rugby was now her favorite. Apple tells Belmont and the other toys to "Try the Impossible" as she rounds up a posse to rescue Rugby and Mew. Rugby coaxes Metora back into the box by singing "The Song of Meteora," telling her how much she'll be adored the next day. Mew already adores her and occasionally adds his besotted asides. "Together at Christmas" is Rugby's sad song to Mew downstairs after he's been frozen. Kermit the Frog joins the toys to reprise it for the finale in the play room.

Trivia: This would be spun off into a series in the 90's, The Secret Life of Toys. 

The copy currently on DVD deletes the opening and closing intros with Kermit the Frog. (Fortunately, most streaming copies are uncut and retain Kermit.) 

What I Don't Like: The story itself is nothing new, and is even less original after all of the Toy Story films have come and gone. In fact, this has a lot in common with the Toy Story movies, including a space-themed protagonist who doesn't believe they're a toy, a favorite toy who is jealous of the space toy, and the general idea of toys coming to life. The special mostly focuses on Rugby, Mew, and their relationship, with a little of Apple and Belmont in the rescue sequence. I'd love to learn more about the other toys, especially wise old teddy Balthazar (Jerry Nelson), super-cool Cruiser, and the fashion doll who, in a running gag, keeps missing all the action because she's constantly changing clothes to fit the mood. 

The Big Finale: A charming special with some great songs and delightful characters that's well worth checking out with your kids this holiday weekend, especially if any of them are big Toy Story or Muppet Show fans. 

Home Media: The DVD is currently expensive, and as mentioned, is missing the opening and closing segments with Kermit anyway. You're better off looking for this one on streaming. 

DVD

Amazon Prime

Family Fun Saturday - Muppets Most Wanted

Disney, 2014

Starring The Muppets, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tiny Fey

Directed by James Bobin

Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie and others

The Muppets were riding high after the enormous success of The Muppets. All of a sudden, they were back, seen everywhere from YouTube to the Disney Parks. Trouble was, they couldn't seem to hang on to that momentum. It took three years for Disney to develop another script for them, and when it came out, though it got some critical praise, it didn't do quite as well at the box office as the first film. Did it deserve that fate, or is there more to this goofy crime caper than meets the eye? Let's begin with the Muppets declaring that what we're about to see is a sequel and find out...

The Story: After their successes in The Muppets, the Muppets really don't know what to do next. Enter theatrical manager Dominic Badguy (Gervais), who convinces them to go on a world tour. Turns out he has more in mind for this than sampling the local customs and cuisine. Kermit is ambushed by Constantine, who is his exact double with a spot on his chin. Constantine glues a spot on Kermit's chin and has him arrested and sent to a prison camp in Russia. Nadya (Fey), the head of the camp, insists on him running the prison talent show.

Meanwhile, Walter, Fozzie, and Animal start to get suspicious when "Kermit" lets the Muppets do whatever act they want, turning their shows into even more chaos than usual. Not to mention, they keep playing shows next to museums that are robbed the next day. Constantine and Dominic have been using their shows to rob artworks from museums, including one that could lead them to the British Crown Jewels. Constantine has also proposed to Miss Piggy...but she's beginning to wonder if this is really her frog. Not to mention, FBI agents Sam the Eagle and Napoleon (Burrell) think the Muppets are involved with the thefts and are after them as well.

The Song and Dance: I give them credit for not only going with a more original story this time, but putting more focus on the Muppets themselves. One of my biggest problems with the first movie was it focused a little too much on the humans and not enough on the Muppets. Here, though Gervais, Burrell, and especially Fey are having a lot of fun as the art thief, not-so-super spy, and devoted Russian prison guard, it's the Muppets who really take center stage. Some great costumes and cinematography, too, especially the actual shots at the real Tower of London.

The Numbers: Though we do get a bit of the previous film's "Life's a Happy Song" in the opening, this segways into the massive spoof of sequels and opening numbers in movies, appropriately titled "Let's Do a Sequel." Constantine and Dominic both claim "I'm Number One" as they relate their complicated art theft plot. We get a bit of "The Muppet Show Theme" at each stop, re-written and staged in the appropriate language. "The Big House" is Kermit's big chorus number for the talent show at the Gulag. "I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo In Malibu)" is Constantine and Dominic telling the Muppets that they'll give them everything they ever wanted...for a price. 

"Macarena" is Piggy's big, outrageous Spanish number, complete with her in a lacy mantilla. "Interrogation Song" begins with Napoleon and Sam questioning the Muppets, and ends with them concluding that they're all too dumb to mastermind anything more complicated than their numbers for the show. "End of the Road" is an attempt at a big, dramatic number for the prisoners at the Gulag. It's a bit...off-putting, to say the least. Their "I Hope I Get It" is only slightly less weird. The Penguins think they have the "Moves Like Jagger." Piggy's "My Heart Will Go On" at the piano is disrupted by Constantine's sudden proposal of marriage. Piggy and the other Muppets wonder in London how "Something So Right" can feel so off. 

Kermit finally escapes the Gulag via the number "Working On the Coal Mine." The finale at the Gulag gives us a slightly re-written "Together Again" from Muppets Take Manhattan, this time with the Muppets and prisoners joining in.

What I Don't Like: Ok, this is weird even by Muppet standards. It feels like they're throwing together bits and pieces of everything from Muppets Take Manhattan to The Pink Panther and seeing if they'll stick. The new music, while not bad, isn't quite as catchy as the previous movie...and the wacky caper plot lacks the sheer heart of the relationship between Walter and his brother in the previous movie as well. Plus, see the previous movie's complaint about every Muppet project after Jim Henson's death being scrutinized for how it treats the characters.

The Big Finale: While not quite at the heights of the previous film, it's certainly far from terrible, and deserved better than it got at the box office in 2014. Fun for families, older kids, Muppet fans, and fans of the previous film. 

Home Media: Easily found on all formats, including Disney Plus with a subscription. 

DVD

Blu-Ray

Disney Plus

Family Fun Saturday - The Muppets

Disney, 2011

Starring James Segal, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, and The Muppet Performers

Directed by James Bobin

Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie

Though Disney bought the Muppets in 2004, they didn't really do much with them until Segal came to them with a script in 2008. Even then, it wasn't until 2010 that it all really came together. The Muppet Company had been trying for years to do another Muppet movie, but cute ideas like The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! never came to pass. When this came out, it was a massive hit, suddenly throwing the Muppets back into the limelight much as they are in the film. Was this renewed attention deserved, or should this show be left back in the 70's? Let's start with the close relationship between Gary (Segal) and his Muppet brother Walter (voice of Peter Lintz) through the years and find out...

The Story: Walter, a Muppet among humans, is the ultimate Muppet Show fan. Gary adores him and can't deny him anything, even bringing him along to Los Angeles with him and his girlfriend of ten years Mary (Adams) to see the Muppet Studios. While there, Walter discovers a foul plot by greedy oil man Tex Richman (Cooper) to demolish the studio and drill for oil. He, Gary, and Mary tell Kermit (Steve Whitmire) at his mansion. 

Determined to earn the 10 million needed to save the Studios, Kermit, Gary, Walter, and Mary round up the remaining Muppets...except Miss Piggy, who is busy in Paris. Even when she returns, they still need to build the theater and find a celebrity host. Walter feels inadequate around all of his talented idols...and Mary feels neglected when Gary spends more time with Walter and goes home. Even when the show goes on, thanks to celebrity callers, Richman is determined to do everything he can to keep the Muppets off the air for good. It takes a concentrated effort from Gary, Mary, and every Muppet made to show Walter that he does, indeed, have a talent...and that family is more than a theater, it's shared experiences and a place we belong.

The Song and Dance: No wonder this was such a hit in 2011. It's utterly charming and hilariously self-aware, spoofing "put on a show" musicals, long-time relationships, brotherly love, and even the Muppets themselves. Segal knew what he was doing. His Gary is an adorable goofball, only wanting to make his brother happy, and Adams is hilarious as the fiancee who is getting tired of waiting for him to put her first. Lintz's Walter is the heart of the film, so totally devoted to his beloved idols, and yet nervous about fitting in having been born in a world where he was the only Muppet. Great location shooting around LA too, especially with Disney's own El Capitan Theater standing in for the Muppet Theater, and there's the very funny retro candy-colored "Smalltown" sets in the opening.

The Numbers: We see Walter and Gary grow up together and how Walter became the Muppets' biggest fan in an opening montage to the Paul Simon song "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard." Our first original song introduces Mary and Smalltown in a massive, cheery chorus spoof of opening numbers in musicals, "Life's a Happy Song." Kermit laments the breaking up of the Muppets and admits he misses his friends in "Pictures In My Mind." Fozzie's with the Muppet imitations "The Moopets" at Reno, singing a really weird version of "Rainbow Connection." "We Built This City" gives us a montage of the Muppets, Gary, and Walter repairing the Muppet Theater while Kermit tries to get those celebrity callers. 

Poor Mary, tired of being neglected, goes out for a "Me Party" at a local diner...which turns into a two-me party as Piggy joins in for a raucous disco spoof. Richman gives us a rap spoof of the ultimate wealthy bad guy in "Let's Talk About Me." Walter contemplates growing up in two words, and which one he belongs in, in the Oscar-winning "Man or Muppet?" We open the actual show with a recreation of "The Theme from The Muppet Show." Jack Black is right that a Muppet Barbershop Quartet of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a bit...odd. Camilla and her girls cluck "Forget You" in glittery costumes. We get a far more accurate "Rainbow Connection" reprise as all of the Muppets come together in a big finale in the theater. Outside, everyone reprises "Life's a Happy Song" after they see the throngs of Muppet fans. The credits end with one of the most infamous Muppet songs, the instrumental "Mah Na Mah Na."

Trivia: Look for Mickey Rooney, who knows a little something about "put on a show" musicals, during the opening "Life's a Happy Song" number. 

After finishing the movie, the filmmakers gave Jason Segal the Muppet version of himself to keep.

Walter was apparently named for Walt Disney.

What I Don't Like: Some major fans of the Muppets (including some Muppeteers) questioned how the Muppets themselves were handled, and how the humans ended up in the spotlight. Pretty much every Muppet project since the death of Jim Henson has come under scrutiny for not being like the originals, and this is no exception. There's a few beats that seem off and a little bit of off-color humor that is a bit out-of-place, especially during the "let's get everyone together" montage.

The Big Finale: No wonder this was so popular. This mostly manages to find a way to make the Muppets look fresh, while still respecting what made us love them in the first place. Highly recommended for Muppet fans like Walter and me and those looking for a fun musical for older elementary school kids. 

Home Media: Easily found on all formats, including Disney Plus with a subscription.

DVD

Blu-Ray

Disney Plus

Merry Christmas Eve! - Christmas Eve On Sesame Street

PBS, 1978

Starring Bob McGrath, Debbie Chen, Will Lee, and Roscoe Orman; Muppet Voices of Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Carroll Spinney, and Jerry Nelson

Directed by Jon Stone

Music and Lyrics by various

We celebrate the holidays in New York with the 70's cast of one of the most beloved children's shows on television. By the time this and the prime-time show A Special Sesame Street Christmas debuted in 1978, Sesame Street was an institution that taught children numbers, letters, and many life lessons via short clips, skits, cartoons, and its diverse cast of Muppets and humans. Many of the most famous Muppets and humans appear in this lovely special that was one of the big holiday offerings on PBS that season. Is it still as much fun over 45 years later? Let's head to a skating rink in New York City as the Muppets, their neighbors, and skaters from the professional show Holiday On Ice show their stuff and find out...

The Story: After the skating party, Oscar the Grouch (Spinney) tells Big Bird (Spinney) and little Patty (Chen) that if Santa can't get down those skinny New York chimneys, no one will get any presents! The duo spend the rest of their Christmas Eve trying to figure out how Santa does it. They ask Kermit the Frog (Henson), but his and Grover's (Oz) interviews of local kids don't produce the desired results. Having Mr. Snuffleupagus (Nelson) pose as Santa only ends with him stuck in a trash canister. Big Bird finallydecides to go to the roof and find out himself...but when Patty realizes he's gone, the entire neighborhood turns out to find him.

Elsewhere on Sesame Street, Bert and Ernie want to buy presents for each other, but they have no money. They turn to Mr. Hooper (Lee) to exchange the things they love most for them. Mr. Hooper, however, knows what they really want. Cookie Monster would love to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas...if he could stop eating the writing utensils!

The Song and Dance: This couldn't be a greater contrast between this and Special Sesame Street Christmas. Made by Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) on PBS with the regular cast and most of the regular Muppet characters of the time, it's heartwarming, adorable, and very funny rather than too cheesy or over-the-top. Spinney has the most fun as the wistful Big Bird, who just wants to know if Santa will get through, and the cynical Oscar. Ernie and Bert's side plot is just as sweet, especially if you're familiar with the famous O.Henry short story it's based on. Cookie Monster has a few good gags with him getting so into thinking about cookies and treats, he eats anything he could use to write Santa.

The Numbers: We open with the skating party and the Holiday On Ice ensemble. Full body puppets of Ernie, Bert, the Count, Oscar, and Cookie Monster show off, while a child helps Big Bird skate to the tune of "Feliz Navidad." "True Blue Miracle" is a chorus number, performed by all the human neighbors as they buy their trees and wreaths on the way home from the skating rink. Big Bird spends the song telling an unimpressed Oscar his ideas for how Santa gets down those chimneys. 

Bob Johnson (Bob McGrath) performs "Keep Christmas With You" as local kids do the song in sign language for his deaf girlfriend Linda (Linda Bove). Oscar's not a fan of holidays period, as he complains in "I Hate Christmas." Bert and Ernie sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" after they open their gifts and realize how much they mean to one another. The entire cast reprises "Keep Christmas With You" just before the end credits, after they find Big Bird. 

Trivia: This won an Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program in 1979. 

What I Don't Like: This might seem slow or corny compared to many children's holiday specials today. I'm not sure what younger children will think of this now. It was made well before the debut of such popular recent Muppets as Elmo, Julia, or Rosita. Most of the neighbors are very different, too. Maria's with David rather than Luis, Bob has a girlfriend, and there's Mr. Hooper, who has been gone for so long, many adults may not remember him, let alone their kids. 

The Song and Dance: If you have fond memories of seeing this one on TV or video in the 70's and 80's or have children who love Big Bird and won't mind the lack of recent characters, this sweet trip to Sesame Street during the holidays is very highly recommended. 

Home Media: It's on Amazon Prime and Max, but most streaming copies cut either the "Feliz Navidad" skating sequence or the end stinger with Cookie Monster after having eaten Olivia and Gordon's Christmas tree. You may be better off looking for this one on DVD, either solo or paired with the much later holiday special Elmo's Christmas Countdown.

DVD

DVD - Holiday Double Feature: Elmo's Christmas Countdown/Christmas Eve On Sesame Street

Amazon Prime

Family Fun Saturday - Muppet Treasure Island

Disney, 1996

Starring The Muppets, Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, and Billy Connolly

Directed by Brian Henson

Music by Barry Mann; Lyrics by Cynthia Weil

Muppet Christmas Carol wasn't a huge hit on release in November 1992, but it did well enough for Jim Henson Productions to consider a second adaptation of a classic British novel. This was hardly Disney's first go-around with Treasure Island. Their adaptation was their first live-action film in 1950. Robert Newton went over so well as roguish buccaneer Long John Silver, he was associated with the role for the rest of his life. Does the Muppet version reach the heights of that film and their previous movie, or should it be abandoned on a desert island? Let's begin over the credits as the infamous pirate Captain Flint buries his treasure and find out...

The Story: Young orphan Jim Hawkins (Bishop) and his peculiar friends Gonzo (Dave Golez) and Rizzo (Steve Whitmire) long to visit exotic places far from the inn where they work and demanding Mrs. Bluveridge (Jennifer Saunders). They get their chance when former pirate Billy Bones (Connolly) dies of a heart attack, leaving them the map that leads to Flint's treasure. They're barely able to dodge pirates after the map and get it to Squire Trelawney (Frank Oz), a sweet but rather clueless noble who talks to the little man in his finger. 

Trelawny and scientist Dr. Livensey (Golez) hire the sailing ship Hispaniola to get them to the island where the treasure is buried. Captain Smollett (Whitmire) and strict first mate Samuel Arrow (Oz) are trustworthy, but as Smollett points out, the rest of the crew is not. Jim does manage to befriend cook and former pirate Long John Silver (Curry) and his lobster Polly (Kevin Clash), who teaches him how to navigate by the stars and talks about his father to him. 

Silver, however, has ulterior motives. Jim and his two friends help Smollett avoid a mutiny, only for Jim to be captured by pirates and everyone else to be taken by pig natives. Turns out the natives are led by Smollet's old girlfriend Benjamina Gunn (Oz) and may be willing to help them find the treasure...if Silver and his crew don't get there first!

The Song and Dance: There's some very funny moments in this rip-roaring Muppet swashbuckler. I'm glad Fozzie and Sam have more to do in this one. They get some of the film's best lines as the silly squire who lets his thumb do the talking and the rules-obsessed first mate. In fact, this is probably Sam the Eagle's best role in any of the theatrical films, and one of Oz's best performances as the character. Curry's having an absolutely marvelous time as one of the most famous fictional buccaneers in history and milks his performance for all it's worth, especially after he outs himself as a pirate in the second half. Once again, terrific costumes and sets that (for the most part) accurately depicts seaside England and the Caribbean in the 1780's. 

Favorite Number: We open with "Shiver Me Timbers" under the credits as we see Flint and his men bury their treasure and what happened afterwards. Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo know they want "Something Better" than waiting on sailors at a seaside inn. Jim, Silver, Smollett, and the crew of the Hispaniola are excited to be "Sailing for Adventure" when they shove off. By the time they lose their wind mid-way through, they're all suffering from "Cabin Fever" in a wild Latin spoof that includes neon puff-sleeved shirts and sombreros. 

Even Silver flat-out says he wants to make the most of his big number with the pirate chorus as he encourages Jim to become "A Professional Pirate." Jim, of course, is having none of it. The natives get their own wacky chorus number, "Boom Shakalaka." as they prepare to roast the Hispaniola crew...until the head of their tribe gets a load of Smollett! Benjamina and Smollett are literally hanging by a limb when they sing the movie's big love ballad "Love Led Us Here." The movie ends with the Ziggy Marley reggae number "Love Power" over the credits as the tourist rats whom Rizzo brought on board retrieve the sunken treasure.

Trivia: Frank Oz was busy elsewhere, so that's Kevin Clash operating his usual Muppets. Oz dubbed his voice later. 

Tim Curry had been a huge Muppet fan for years. He relished working with them and later called Long John Silver one of his favorite roles.

Billy Connolly was proud to be the first person to die in a Muppet movie.

What I Don't Like: Due to this being a Muppet adaptation for children, this isn't quite as accurate book-wise as Christmas Carol was. Jim wasn't an orphan, for one thing. His mother was the one who ran the inn. Mr. Arrow really was pushed overboard, not just tricked. Benjamin Gunn was a former pirate who had been stranded on the island for so long, he'd gone crazy. 

While they got away with inserting Gonzo and Rizzo as narrators in Christmas Carol, they work less well as Jim's sidekicks here. Other than a scene where the pirates torture them to find out where the map is (and Gonzo enjoys it!), even they complain mid-way through the movie that they don't have much to do. Piggy's role as Benjamina is kind of shoehorned into the end to give her a better role than acting crazy. 

The Big Finale: I mildly prefer Christmas Carol, but this one has many charms as well for fans of Curry, pirate yarns, or the Muppets.

Home Media: Easily found on DVD and streaming, often for under $5. Disney Plus has it with a subscription.

DVD

Disney Plus

Family Fun Saturday - Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird

Warner Bros, 1985

Starring Carol Spinney, Jim Henson, Joe Flahtery, and Dave Thomas

Directed by Ken Kwapis

Music and Lyrics by various

Sesame Street began in 1969 as a way to use television to teach basic concepts to children. Thanks to the creative, fast-cutting sketches and the endearing Muppet and human characters teaching toddlers basic concepts, it became one of the first hits for the then-brand new Public Broadcasting System. By the early 80's, it was so popular, Jim Henson and Children's Television Worship turned it into the fourth Muppets film. How does Big Bird and the residents of Sesame Street look in this kid-oriented road trip? Let's begin, not on Sesame Street, but first with Oscar the Grouch and his "Grouch Anthem," and then with the Feathered Friends Board of Birds, and find out...

The Story: The Feathered Friends are charged with finding stray birds good homes. For some reason, gruff Miss Finch (Sally Kellerman) believes Big Bird (Spinney) should be with other birds. She encourages him to leave Sesame Street to live with the Dodo family in Ocean View, Illinois. This proves to be ill-advised all around. Big Bird doesn't fit in with the silly, unimaginative Dodos, who don't approve of him having non-bird friends. When they won't let Big Bird's best friend Mr. Snuffleupagus (Martin P. Robinson) visit because he isn't a bird, Big Bird runs away. 

When the word reaches Sesame Street, many of Big Bird's friends grab a car or plane and go after him. They're not the only ones who want him. Con-men carnival barkers Sid (Flahtery) and Sam Sleaze (Thomas) think Big Bird would be the perfect attraction for their low-rent carnival. After they trap Big Bird, it's up to two kids to reach the others and get them to rescue him.

The Song and Dance: I've loved this movie since it ran on cable a lot in the mid-80's. The movie is just as charming and witty as the earlier Henson films featuring the Muppet Show cast. There's a lot of creative puppetry here, including Bert (Frank Oz) and Ernie (Henson) in their bi-plane and the hilarious scene with Maria (Sonia Manzano) and Oscar (Spinney) starting a food fight at the Grouch diner the Don't Drop Inn. Along with Flahtery and Thomas as the hilariously obnoxious con-men, look for cameos by Chevy Chase, John Candy, Sandra Bernhard, Paul Bartel, country singer Waylon Jennings, and later voice actress Alyson Court as one of the kids in the farm sequence.

Favorite Number: We open with Oscar the Grouch leading us in "The Grouch Anthem." The whole number is ridiculously random and is never referred to again, but it's so funny, it's hard to complain. The title song from the TV show introduces the expanded Sesame Street set, as Big Bird skates by, greeting all his friends. Turkey truck driver Jennings reminds Big Bird that there "Ain't No Road Too Long" as he and the Sesame Street residents sing about getting where they want to go in the film's best number. 

"One Little Star" becomes a touching trio for Big Bird, Olivia, and Snuffy as each wish they were together. Big Bird and the two farm kids Floyd (Benjamin Barrett) and Ruthie (Court) go about their chores on an "Easy Goin' Day." Bert spies Big Bird while they're in the plane, but Ernie would rather do tricks and sing about how it's an "Upside-Down World" while scaring Big Bird silly. "I'm So Blue" is Big Bird's sad ballad at the carnival when he's an exhibition and thinks he'll never get home. It's so heartbreaking, even Sid Sleaze bawls. 

Trivia: The film was actually made in Canada to save money, including the expanded Sesame Street set. 

When filming the "Upside-Down World" number, Jim Henson and Frank Oz were actually in an airplane 18 feet off the ground.

Jim Henson and Richard Hunt's last theatrical Muppet film.

When the Count is counting credits in the end, he says "Hi Mom." He's referring to Joan Ganz Cooney, the creator of Sesame Street and the then-head of Children's Television Workshop. 

This was a minor flop in the summer of 1985. Competition included Back to the Future, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Weird Science, and The Black Cauldron. 

What I Don't Like: I'm not sure how kids today would feel about this one. Yeah, Big Bird is still around, but Elmo is only seen very briefly leaning out a window in the finale, and obviously, it lacks newer characters like Rosita and Abby Cadabba. Miss Finch not only seems silly, chasing Big Bird across the country, but her change of heart in the end is too abrupt to be believable. This has a very odd feel to it. It's really more like the Muppet films that preceded it than the show it's based on. I think that works with it being a film, but those expecting it to be more like the non-linear show may be a bit surprised. There's also a few sad or scary moments that you may need to hold your toddler's hand for and explain that it'll all come out fine in the end.

The Big Finale: I've loved this movie since I first saw it on cable as a kid. If your little ones don't mind the lack of newer characters and can handle some of the darker moments, they may enjoy it just as much as I did in the 80's. 

Home Media: Easy to find anywhere. Several streaming services currently have it for free with ads, including Tubi.

DVD

Tubi

Merry Christmas! - A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

NBC, 2008

Starring The Muppets, Nathan Lane, Madison Pettis, and Jane Krakowski

Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher

Music and Lyrics by Paul Williams

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope you're all having a music-filled holiday. Having enjoyed Muppet Haunted Mansion back in October, I thought I'd take a look at an earlier Muppet holiday special. How does this compare to the earlier shows and later films? Let's start in the very real New York City, as the Muppets prepare to send their gift lists to Santa at their local post office, and find out...

The Story: After a mix-up at the post office, Gonzo (Dave Golez) discovers three letters ended up in his coat pocket. One is from his young neighbor Claire (Pettis), who is disappointed all her friends are going away for the holidays. Determined to make sure the letters make it to Santa, he recruits Kermit (Steve Whitmire) and Fozzie (Eric Jacobson) to help. 

The Song and Dance: Sweet special gets quite a bit of help from its surprisingly realistic production. The opening sequences in front of the post office was filmed in the real New York, and that's the actual mayor at the time, Michael Bloomberg, whom Piggy demands to make the line move faster. Uma Thurman and Nathan Lane have some very funny moments as a gorgeous airline clerk who sells the Muppets tickets to the North Pole and a bullying security guard who is on Santa's Naughty List. 

Favorite Number: Jesse L. Martin pops up as a postal clerk to sing about how important "Delivering Christmas" on time is for the post office...right before Gonzo accidentally speeds up the package conveyor belt. Gonzo, Kermit, and Fozzie each admit "I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus" when they're at the North Pole and learn they've missed Santa. The Muppets join Claire and her mother (Krakowski) at their home in the finale to realize that what Claire really wanted was "My Best Christmas Yet."

What I Don't Like: Short and cute...maybe a little too short. I actually wish they'd fleshed this out a bit more, maybe done more with their North Pole travels and when they arrived. Miss Piggy in particular only shows up at the beginning and the end and is sorely missed. The four songs are cute, but not especially memorable, and not even up to the ones in the later two Disney-backed films. 

The Big Finale: Not as memorable as some other Muppet programming, this is still enjoyable enough for Muppet fans and families to run before Santa arrives on Christmas Eve or as kids wait for dinner on Christmas Day. 

Home Media: The DVD is out of print, but it's easily found on streaming, including Disney Plus with a subscription.

DVD

Disney Plus

Family Fun Saturday - Muppets Haunted Mansion

Disney, 2021

Starring The Muppets, Will Arnett, Darren Criss, and Tarji P. Henson

Directed by Kirk Thatcher

Music by Ed Mitchell & Steve Morell; Lyrics by Kirk Thatcher, Bill Baretta, and Kelly Younger

The idea of the Muppets doing a Halloween special goes back a long way. It was originally announced in the early 90's as the first in a series of holiday TV specials. That eventually evolved into the short-lived show Muppets Tonight in 1996. There was a second attempt in 2009, but it was ultimately scrapped to focus on the 2011 movie. Disney finally found a way to get the Muppets into horror around 2020 - corporate synergy. How well do the Muppets combine with the "Grim Grinning Ghosts" of one of the most venerable dark rides at the Disney Parks, the Haunted Mansion? Let's start on a dark and stormy road as Gonzo and Pepe the Prawn take a ride to one of the spookiest houses ever and find out...

The Story: Gonzo (Dave Goelz) and Pepe the Prawn (Bill Baretta) duck out of the Muppets' annual Halloween party in order to spend a night facing their fears in a mansion once owned by Gonzo's idol, The Great MacGuffin. The caretaker (Criss) they meet in the cemetery outside the mansion's gates insists they won't make the night. Pepe, who is terrified of all the ghosts, singing pig-faced crystal balls, and staring busts they encounter, wonders if he's right. He feels a lot better when he encounters the beautiful bride Constance Hatchaway (Henson) and immediately falls for her...but there's six ghosts in the room with a warning about her sudden odd attraction to crustaceans. Gonzo, however, is determined to follow the Ghost Host (Arnett) and find out just what there is to be afraid of in Room 999.

The Song and Dance: If you know anything about the Muppets' recent endeavors or the ride this is based on, you'll have a scary good time with this one. Baretta and Henson are especially funny in their big tango number as Constance desperately attempts to make Pepe her next victim, and Arnett's having a blast as the mysterious man who knows more about the Mansion and its occupants than he'll admit. There's some decent special effects, too, especially with Piggy in the crystal ball and at the dinner with all of the Muppets as "Happy Ghosts." Look for cameos by not only various Muppets, but some of those "grim grinning ghosts" from the theme park ride, too. 

Favorite Number:  Criss and several Muppet ghosts and busts perform "Rest In Peace" (and part of the original theme "Grim Grinning Ghosts") as they introduce Gonzo and Pepe to the Mansion and try to warn them away. Constance lures Pepe in with the "Tie the Knot Tango" as her previous husbands (including Walter from the Disney Muppets films) remember how she did the same to them, then did them in. The Electric Mayhem begin and end the film with the 70's rock hit "Dancing In the Moonlight," the latter version with the cast and Muppets joining in. 

Trivia: One of Ed Asner's last appearances before his death in August 2021. The special is dedicated to him.

What I Don't Like: First of all, there's a lot of complaints out there - as there are about any Muppet project made after Jim Henson's death in 1989 - about the current Muppet voices not sounding like or being as good as the originals. I'm more concerned with message about facing your fears being pushed a bit too hard. It comes off as overdone and cliched, especially in the second half after Gonzo and Pepe separate. 

The Big Finale: The complaints about the voices aside, if you or your kids love mildly spooky horror or are fans of the more recent Muppet ventures, you'll want to jump in a car with Staler and Waldorf and enjoy the ride. 

Home Media: Currently a Disney Plus exclusive.

Disney Plus

Family Fun Saturday - The Muppets Take Manhattan

Tri-Star, 1984

Starring The Muppets, Louis Zorich, Julianna Donald, and Lonny Price

Directed by Frank Oz

Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss

This would be the third and final Muppet feature-length film released during Jim Henson's lifetime. He worked on this one and The Dark Crystal at the same time, turning the directing reigns to this one over to his dear friend Oz. How does this love letter to the gritty Big Apple of the 1980's and "put on a show" backstage films look now? Let's begin at Danhurst College with their well-received senior show and find out...

The Story: That show is such a hit, the Muppets take it to Broadway. It doesn't go terribly well at first. Every producer in town looks at them like they're crazier than usual, and they almost get taken by a con-artist trying to swindle them out of their money. They all finally give up and leave town...except Kermit, who recruits a group of enterprising rats he meets at a diner and Jenny (Donald), the sweet daughter of the diner's owner (Zorich), to help him get the word out on their show. 

Piggy's not happy about sharing her Kermit, leading to a noisy chase with a mugger in Central Park. Even after they reconcile, Kermit still wants to sell the show. The day he does finally get young producer Ronnie Crawford (Price) interested, he suddenly disappears after a car accident. Now the Muppets have to search every nook and cranny in New York for their green buddy, before the show goes on without him.

The Song and Dance: This has been my favorite Muppet movie since it came out. Kermit and Piggy get some great gags, from Kermit's attempt to start a whispering campaign with the rats under the tables at Sardi's Restaurant to Piggy's "make-over" from Joan Rivers that somehow degenerates into the two smearing makeup on each other and screaming at the top of their lungs. Location shooting in the real New York, including Central Park and the actual Sardi's, adds to the authenticity. There's even a cameo from the mayor of New York at the time, Ed Kotch, during the "find Kermit" montage. 

Favorite Number: "Together Again" opens and closes the movie. The opening number has all of the Muppets in pastel suits, with a basic city backdrop as they perform. This is swapped for a number in front of the curtain in spangled tuxedoes when they finally make it to Broadway. Dr. Teeth insists that "You Can't Take No For an Answer" as every producer in New York slams their doors in the Muppets' faces. Don't be surprised if you shed a few tears during "Saying Goodbye" as the Muppets each go their separate ways. It's a truly emotional and heart-wrenching sequence. Rizzo and the Muppet rats do their own version of diner cooking, complete with swimming in the coffee and skating on the griddles, in the non-vocal "Rat Scat (Somethin' Cookin')." 

The big one here is "I'm Gonna Always Love You," Piggy's dream sequence in the park. This is the number that introduced the Muppet Babies (in their only big-screen appearances) to audiences. The number proved to be so popular (including in a music video), it lead to the creation of the Muppet Babies cartoon later that year...and yeah, I can see why. The Muppet Babies, especially Piggy, are adorable and huggable, and it's so funny watching Baby Rolf pound away on his toy piano and Baby Fozzie play with his rubber chicken. 

Trivia: One of three Muppet films currently owned by Sony/Columbia rather than Disney. (The other two are Muppets In Space and the direct-to-home-media Kermit's Swamp Years.)

What I Don't Like: Even more than the other two original Muppet films, the story is a mass of cliches from every backstage movie you ever saw. Kermit's disappearance in the second half adds a touch of spoof melodrama that doesn't really jive with the first half. And as with the first Muppet film, you may need to know something about the pop culture (and New York culture) of the mid-80's to understand many of the jokes and celebrity cameos. 

The Big Finale: Fast-paced and fun for Muppet fans or the whole family. (Just have tissues on hand for "Saying Goodbye.")

Home Media: Easy to find on DVD and streaming. The DVD usually shows up for under five dollars; the movie can often be seen streaming for free. It's currently free on Tubi and Amazon Prime. 

DVD

Tubi

Family Fun Extra - The Muppet Movie

Associated Film Distribution, 1979

Voices of Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, and Dave Golez

Directed by James Frawley

Music and Lyrics by Paul Williams

Like the Peanuts a decade earlier, the Muppets came to movies via television. The Muppet Show was a huge hit throughout most of the 70's, enough for Jim Henson to consider expanding his empire to the big screen. Is the first feature-length Muppet film as much fun as the show, or should it be left on the back roads? Let's head to a screening for this very film with the Muppets and find out...

The Story: The movie tells the (supposed) origins of the Muppets and how they met. Kermit begins in a Florida swamp, but he hits the road when a lost Hollywood agent (Dom DeLouise) tells him that a famous producer is holding auditions for performers to become rich and famous. He starts across the country on a bicycle, but after that's ruined, hitches a ride with frustrated bear comedian Fozzie (Oz), whom he encounters at a bar. They gradually pick up other Muppets on the way, including Gonzo (Golez) and his chicken girlfriend Camilla (Jerry Nelson) on the road, Miss Piggy (Oz) from a county fair, and Rolf the Dog (Henson) from a lounge. All the while, fried frog legs magnate Doc Hopper (Charles Durning) is following them with his nerdy assistant Max, hoping to make Kermit the spokes-frog for his restaurant franchise no matter what. 

The Song and Dance: Jim Henson and their crew opted to do some experimenting on bringing the Muppets to the big screen. The ones usually sited are Kermit in the beginning, playing the banjo surrounded by water, and him on the bicycle a few minutes later. There's also Gonzo on the balloons, Fozzie driving the Studebaker, and Animal's "big" finale, to name a few "how did the do that?" moments.

The wider screen and increased emphasis on special effects haven't dulled the Muppets' lovable personalities. They come across as just as fun and believable on the big screen as they do on the small one, from sensible Kermit to Fozzie's bad jokes and insecurities to "tougher than she looks" Piggy. You could spend a whole viewing just looking for all the goofy running gags and checking out the random cameos that pop up everywhere. As the two largest human parts, Durning has a lot of fun as the obsessive restaurant owner, and Austin Pendleton is adorable as his nerdy - and more sympathetic - assistant Max. There's also Mel Brooks as a mad scientist and Steve Martin as an extremely sarcastic waiter. 

Favorite Number: By far the most famous song from this one is the gentle ballad "The Rainbow Connection." It not only helps to show off those effects I mentioned earlier (this is the one set in the swamp), but it perfectly encapsulates the Muppets' - and Jim Henson's - positive philosophy. Kermit and Fozzie hit the road in a number that has fun with driving gags, "Movin' Right Along." "Can You Picture That?" is a lively routine for the Electric Mayhem when the band helps Fozzie and Kermit evade Doc Hopper by painting their vehicle. Gonzo gets the movie's best slow number, the lovely "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" during the group's interlude in the desert after their car breaks down.

Trivia: So, how did they film that opening sequence in the swamp? Jim Henson sat in a metal container with a tube to breathe and a rubber hose that allowed him to see what was going on and operate Kermit. It took them five days to get that scene down. An overhead crane worked Kermit during the bicycle scene. 

The Studebaker driven by Fozzie (and a man in the back seat) is now on display at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. 

This was the final film of beloved ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his most famous creation, Charlie McCarthy. The movie is dedicated to Bergen.

What I Don't Like: The cameos, ranging from Telly Salvalvas to Madeline Kahn to Richard Pryor and Bob Hope, are fun to see, but they may also be confusing for those who aren't familiar with the pop culture of the late 70's. Not to mention, later Muppet films would have much stronger plots (with a bit more pathos) than this.

The Big Finale: An obvious must for Muppet fans; also fun for families looking for a laid-back musical for the entire crew.

Home Media: As the first and one of the most popular of the Muppet films, this is easily found in all major formats, often for under 5 dollars.

DVD

Blu-Ray

Amazon Prime (buy only)

Family Fun Extra - The Great Muppet Caper

Universal/ITC, 1981
Starring The Muppets, Diana Rigg, and Charles Grodin
Directed by Jim Henson
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo

Even the Muppets got in on the musical fashion stories in this comic mystery, their second movie. While it didn't do as well as their first, The Muppet Movie, at the time, it's just as well-regarded today. Let's take a hot air balloon with Fozzie, Kermit, and Gonzo to see how well this musical spoof holds up nowadays...

The Story: Kermit and Fozzie are reporters for The Daily Chronicle, and Gonzo's a photographer. They're so caught up in Gonzo's chicken obsession and the movie's opening number, they miss British fashion designer Lady Holiday (Rigg) having her jewels stolen right behind them. Their boss at the Chronicle (Jack Warden) fires them, but they convince him to send them to London to cover the case.

They go to Lady Holiday's fashion house for an interview, only to run into modeling hopeful Miss Piggy. Piggy lies and tells them that she's Lady Holiday to get a date with Kermit. The date goes well, until Lady Holiday's diamond necklace is stolen. Her jealous brother Nicky (Grodin) is the real thief, with the help of three of her models. When he frames Miss Piggy at his sister's fashion show, the other Muppets leap into action to clear her name.

The Song and Dance: Along with Christmas Carol and The Muppets Take Manhattan, this is my favorite Muppet movie. There's enough fourth walls broken in this movie to start a brick store. I'm a mystery fan to begin with and I love the riff on detective stories and heist capers. Rigg and especially Grodin are having a great time as the elegant but exasperated fashionista and her dastardly brother with a thing for pigs. Look for the scene where Piggy bursts into the Mallory Gallery on a motorcycle and saves the day, and Peter Faulk telling Kermit a long, rambling story ala his most famous character Columbo.

(And once again, I love the fashions here. I still have a weakness for the Victorian-esque ruffly gowns of my early childhood. Most of Lady Holiday's designs seem to be either Victorian or 50's influenced, with huge flowered hats, tons of lace and ruffles, big skirts, and pastels.)

Favorite Number: "The First Time It Happens" was nominated for an Oscar, and it turns into a great parody of 30's Eleanor Powell-style numbers, including Piggy getting a tap solo (in glass slippers!). Piggy also figures into the infamous Esther Williams spoof, with Grodin singing tenor (dubbed, as Piggy points out later), complete with synchronized swimmers and Piggy rising up out of the water in a sparkling pedestal at the end.

My personal favorite song from this one is "Couldn't We Ride?" Henson one-ups having Kermit ride a bike in the original movie by putting all of the Muppets (but Statler and Waldorf) on bikes. It still looks good to this day, and is the cutest song in the movie.

What I Don't Like: The music isn't bad, but it's not quite as memorable as in the original film. There's occasionally a little too much focus on humans Rigg and Grodin, and maybe not as much focus as you'd like on the Muppets. While the cameos include Robert Morley, Peter Ustinov, and John Cleese along with Faulk, there's not as many of them as the other Muppet films, nor are they as recognizable. The story can occasionally get a little complicated for a Muppet movie, and the mystery is slightly more mature for them and may confuse younger kids.

The Big Finale: I'm surprised this one didn't do better in 1981. People may have been expecting a looser story ala The Muppet Movie and more cameos, but it's actually aged pretty well. If you've got slightly older kids or are a fan of the Muppets, this wacky heist tale is definitely worth robbing a diamond for.

Home Media: The Kermit's 50th Anniversary DVD that I have features both the widescreen and fullscreen versions; unlike Christmas Carol, there's really no difference between the two, other than the screen size.  It can also be found on a couple of streaming platforms.

DVD
Amazon Prime

Family Fun Saturday - The Muppet Christmas Carol

Disney, 1992
Starring Michael Caine; Voices of Brian Henson, Dave Golez, and Frank Oz
Directed by Brian Henson
Music and Lyrics by Paul Williams

This was the first Muppet film made after the death of Jim Henson in 1989; Richard Hunt, the long-time voice of Scooter and Janice, had also passed away in the interim. No one was sure whether to go forward with it. It was only did mildly well during December 1992 (competitors that holiday season included Home Alone 2 and Aladdin), but has since become popular with families and fans of both the Muppets and A Christmas Carol. Let's once again head to Victorian London, this time populated by more than a few unusual creatures, to see how well this version holds up now...

The Story: Once again, we have Ebeneezer Scrooge (Caine) throwing around evictions like they're water on Christmas Eve. His staff includes several rats and Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog), who can't talk Scrooge into more coal, but do manage to get him to give them Christmas off. A blue furry Charles Dickens (Gonzo) and his rat buddy Rizzo follow Scrooge as he returns home, where he first encounters his former partners Jacob and Robert Marley (Statler and Waldorf). They're laden with chains and cash boxes from their years of greed, and tell him that three ghosts will haunt him that night to help him avoid their fate. Dickens and his rodent friend follow Scrooge through his sad past and a happier present...but even they won't venture into a spooky Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge finally realizes just how important friendship and family is, whether your friends are human or felt.

The Song and Dance: Michael Caine makes a fine Scrooge here. He works well with the Muppets, never looking down on them or seeing them as anything less than real. Gonzo and Rizzo are hilarious as the story's narrators and have most of the movie's best lines. The running gag with Rizzo and food is cute, especially in the beginning, when he and Gonzo have to jump a fence, and then he goes back for his jelly beans. Piggy makes a perfect Mrs. Cratchit, too. Her piglets Belinda and Bettina are just too adorable - like mother, like daughters!

I've always loved the mix of CGI and practical effects in this one. The Ghost of Christmas Past still looks incredible. In fact, I think it's one of, if not my favorite version of the first ghost. In the book, Dickens describes the Ghost of Christmas Past as a changing, flowing, timeless being of light, and that certainly describes the ethereal creature they came up with. Even today, it's still quite impressive. The Marley Brothers are the appropriate mix of goofy and menacing, as are the spiders who stand in as the scavengers in the Future segment. The London sets and Muppets on the streets are appropriately grungy and dirty for the time period, and the costumes, on felt and humans alike, are spot-on as well.

Favorite Number: Kermit's best moment is the sweet "One More Sleep 'Til Christmas," first as he and the rats close the counting house, then as he heads home. He, Robin, and the Cratchit family also get to sing the lovely "Bless Us All." The Ghost of Christmas Present leads my favorite song from this film, the boisterous "It Feels Like Christmas," as he leads Scrooge through a London that's alive with good will and some fun dancing.

What I Don't Like: I own the DVD release with the extended fullscreen version, and that's the one that was released on video as well. I have no idea why the bosses at Disney cut the solo ballad for Scrooge's fiancee "When Love Is Gone." They claimed it was too slow for kids, but it didn't bother me in 1992, and it doesn't now. If anything, it gives more meat to a scene that seems too rushed without it, not to mention the song is heard again in the finale.

In fact, I kind of wish they'd done more with the past sequence. Both Scrooge's back story as a neglected child and his relationship with Belle are given short shrift, probably because they couldn't find room for Muppets in them.

The Big Finale: Even in it's cut general release version, this is still a charming musical Christmas Carol that the whole family can enjoy. If you have young kids who aren't up to darker retellings of this story or are a big Muppet fan, this is one of the better Muppet movies and is highly recommended.

Home Media: As one of the most popular Muppet movies and a holiday favorite of many, this is easily found in most formats, both disc and streaming.

DVD
Blu-Ray
Amazon Prime