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| CHARACTERS • HOME VIDEO SOUNDTRACK • MORE | |
| Released | Nov. 29, 2002 |
| Duration | 88 minutes |
| Director | Kirk Thatcher |
| Written by | Jim Lewis and Tom Martin |
| Music | Christopher Klatman, Davitt Sigerson and Mark Watters |
| Studio | NBC Studios / The Jim Henson Company / MGM Home Entertainment |
| Rated | PG for mild thematic elements[1] (for DVD release) |
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the Muppets' first full-length TV movie, is loosely based on the classic film It's a Wonderful Life. The film first aired on NBC in November 2002.
Synopsis[]
Rachel Bitterman dreams of tearing down The Muppet Theatre and turning it into Club Dot, a nightclub where she can sell overpriced drinks to rave monkeys. So when Mr. Bitterman dies and she inherits Bitterman Bank, Ms. Bitterman changes the term of the Muppets' loan so that the final payment is due before their annual Christmas show, Moulin Scrooge. When Fozzie loses the loan money, the gang looks to Kermit for guidance. But when a desperate Kermit wishes he had never been born, an angel named Daniel is sent to show him what the world would look like without him. Kermit must learn how important he really is to his friends to be returned home in time to see if he can save the theater.
Promotion[]
The movie was promoted by a guest appearance of Kermit and Miss Piggy on The Late Late Show.
In addition, Kermit unveiled seven windows at Macy's on November 22, 2002, for promotional purposes. The windows depicted scenes from the movie, as well as other holiday scenes with the Muppets.
Further, Kermit also unveiled a new Kermit plush, which was based on the new Kermit balloon that premiered at that year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. An exclusive Kermit Christmas ornament was sold as well.
The Muppets also made a number of television appearances to promote the special:
- Kermit on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, November 14, 2002
- Miss Piggy on Rove Live, November 25, 2003
- Kermit on Hannity & Colmes, November 27, 2002
- Kermit on Today, November 29, 2002
- Miss Piggy on Live! with Regis and Kelly, November 29, 2002
- Kermit and Miss Piggy on The Wayne Brady Show, 2002
- NBC's Funniest Outtakes 2
Notes[]
- References to The Muppet Movie include:
- Kermit passes by a statue erected in his honor, the caption of which reads "For the lovers, the dreamers, and you," a quote from "Rainbow Connection."
- Kermit finds out that without him, Doc Hopper's French Fried Frog Legs would have become a very successful enterprise.
- In Miss Piggy's apartment is a framed photo of her as Miss Bogen County.
- Characters making their comeback appearances include:
- Rowlf, performed by Bill Barretta, speaks his first full lines ("Hey, Kermit!" and "Yeah! Heh, heh. Oh!") since Jim Henson's death. Rowlf had a brief vocal muttering ("Oh Yeah.") in episode 102 of Muppets Tonight but did not speak at all in The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island or Muppets from Space (apart from "Eugh!" in the latter).
- Scooter, performed by Brian Henson, also makes his first major appearance since Richard Hunt's death. In 1999, Scooter had one line in Muppets From Space.
- Janice, performed by Brian Henson, also speaks for the first time since Hunt's death. She had made silent appearances in The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island.
- Beauregard appears in the background of many scenes in the film. Beauregard does not have any lines, but Kermit yells "Beauregard!" as he returns to the theater, happy to be alive.
- This film marked the first major performance of Eric Jacobson in the roles of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal. Kevin Clash performed Sam the Eagle, but Jacobson would later take over that role as well.
- Jerry Nelson was ill during filming, so his characters were puppeteered by others and later dubbed by Nelson. The exception was Lew Zealand, who was performed by Bill Barretta.
- Within the alternate universe in which Kermit had never been born, a poster for "Farm Fresh Bacon" can be seen on Miss Piggy's fridge.
- An early working title was "He's a Wonderful Frog."[2]
- In the "Moulin Scrooge" sequence, Bunsen and Beaker dress as they did in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Deleted Scenes[]
Over 30 minutes of footage was cut from the original broadcast of this film. Many of the deleted scenes were included as special features on the DVD release, most appeared as part of the 20-minute documentary Inside Pepe's Studio. Deleted scenes included the following:
- The Santa Claus hired for the Christmas show claims to be the real Santa and leaves, so Kermit has Bobo fill in.
- A sequence in "Moulin Scrooge" in which Sam the Eagle portrayed Baron Von Scrooge.
- An extended interview between Carson Daly and Kermit, where Kermit explains that the Muppets inherited the theater from Scooter's uncle.
- Joe Snow melting in the dystopia which is life without Kermit.
- A scene with Snoop Dogg (this scene was not included in any home movie releases).
- A suggestive scene with Pepe and Rachel Bitterman was trimmed (this scene was not in the DVD release).[3]
- A short scene in which Rachel Bitterman was complaining about an expensive Christmas present.
- A dig at Irish rowdiness was also dropped (this scene wasn't included in the DVD release).[3]
- A scene at a prison that is presented as a news report, which announces that the criminal Pepe the King Prawn has escaped, with Bill Barretta as a newsman and Kirk Thatcher as a guard (this scene was an Easter Egg on the MGM DVD release and a non-Easter egg on the Universal release, and may have shown what had happened to Pepe in the world in which Kermit was never born).
- An alternate finale scene which had Glenn starting an angel teaching class, while bragging he had been supportive of Daniel all the way through (this scene was an Easter Egg on the MGM DVD release and a non-Easter egg on the Universal release).
Edits[]
- When this film aired on The CW, the following scenes were removed:
- the entire "Crocodile Hunter" parody sequence.
- Kermit showing the NBC logo on his foot.
- The scenes featuring Scooter cage dancing and Statler and Waldorf at the bar were cut out in the Universal Kids airing.
- When this film aired on Freeform, the NBC chimes when Daniel punches in the access code to The Boss's office and Kermit showing the NBC logo are removed. The opening titles were slightly edited as well to remove the mention of NBC.
Cast[]
- Muppet Performers
- Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, Brian Henson, Jerry Nelson, Kevin Clash, John Kennedy, Alice Dinnean, Allan Trautman, Geoff Redknap, Denise Cheshire, Drew Massey, Adam Behr, Gordon Robertson, John Henson
- Human Cast
- David Arquette as Daniel
- Joan Cusack as Rachel Bitterman
- Matthew Lillard as Luc Fromage
- William H. Macy as Glenn
- Whoopi Goldberg as The Boss
- Carson Daly as Himself
- Kelly Ripa as Herself
- Joe Rogan as Himself
- Molly Shannon as Herself
- Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog as Himself
- Zach Braff as Himself/Dr. John "J.D." Dorian
- Sarah Chalke as Herself/Dr. Elliot Reid
- Neil Flynn as Himself/Janitor
- John C. McGinley as Himself/Dr. Perry Cox
- Judy Reyes as Herself/Nurse Carla Espinosa
- Bill Lawrence as Himself
- Mel Brooks as the voice of Joe Snow
- Dawn Lewis as Fear Factor Contestant
- Colin Foo as Security Guard
- Yee Jee Tso as Angel 1
- Dan Joffre as Angel 2
- Jonathan Bruce as Fat Angel
- Cameron McDonald as Safari Animal Tracker
- Chantal Strand as Nancy Nut-What
- Robin Mossley as Nicki Nut-What
- Dan Payne as Handsome Executive
- Dave "Squatch" Ward as Sally Ann Santa
- Julia Arkos as Sally Ann Representative
- Jay Brazeau as Santa Claus (uncredited, deleted scene)
Muppet Cast[]
- Muppet Characters
- Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat, Pepe the King Prawn, Statler and Waldorf, Robin the Frog, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Johnny Fiama, Sal Minella, Sweetums, Scooter, Sam the Eagle, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Zoot, Janice, Animal, Lew Zealand, Rowlf the Dog, Bobo the Bear, Howard Tubman, Joe Snow, Yoda Muppet, Larry, Eugene, Pops
- Background Characters
- Crazy Harry, Beauregard, Bossmen, Bean Bunny, Mr. Poodlepants, Elvises, Zippity Zap, Rats, Chickens, Penguins, Frogs, Doreen the Camel, Maxine, Foo-Foo, Denise, Shirley, Gimley's Boss, Wesley, Billy, Chip, Whatnots, Cirque Du So Lamé performers, Muppets Tonight bass player
- Picture Characters
Additional Crew[]
- Executive Producers: Juliet Blake, Brian Henson
- Produced by: Martin G. Baker, Warren Carr
- Co-Producers: Bill Barretta, Ruth Caruso
- Costume Designer: Polly Smith
- Editor: Gregg Featherman
- Production Designer: Michael Bolton
- Director of Photography: Tony Westerman, C.S.C.
- Executive Consultant: Tom Martin
- Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Jane Gootnick, Tom Newby, Andrea Detwiler, Ed Christie, Mary Brehmer, Ann Marie Holdgruen, Brad Elliot, Joan Parkinson, Paul Hartis, Tim Miller
- Digital Characters and Visual Effects by Jim Henson's Creature Shop: Clare Burgess, Nick Lloyd, Hal Bertram, Adrian Banton, Dusan Strugar, Alan Latteri, Jason Bielski
- Executive in Charge of Production: Ritamarie Peruggi
- Loop Group Voices: Sandy Fox, Kathleen Gati, Lauri Johnson, Mona Marshall, Lia Sargent, Jerry Gelb, Michael Gough, Lex Lang, Danny Mann
Sources[]
See also[]
- It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (video)
- It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie deleted scenes
- Similarities between It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and The Muppets