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'''''A Christmas Together''''' is a television special starring [[John Denver]] and the Muppets. Based on [[A Christmas Together (album)|the album of the same name]], this one hour [[Christmas]] special was originally produced for [[ABC]] and aired on December 5, [[1979]].
 
'''''A Christmas Together''''' is a television special starring [[John Denver]] and the Muppets. Based on [[A Christmas Together (album)|the album of the same name]], this one hour [[Christmas]] special was originally produced for [[ABC]] and aired on December 5, [[1979]].
   
βˆ’
Highlights include:
+
==Highlights==
 
*Denver and the Muppets sing "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas]]."
 
*Denver and the Muppets sing "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas]]."
 
*Denver sings "[[The Pleasure of Your Company]]."
 
*Denver sings "[[The Pleasure of Your Company]]."
  +
*John tells the tale of [[Alfie the Christmas Tree]] before singing "[[It's in Every One of Us]]"
 
*[[Kermit the Frog]] and Denver reminisce about past Christmases with their friends and families, and sing "[[The Christmas Wish]]."
 
*[[Kermit the Frog]] and Denver reminisce about past Christmases with their friends and families, and sing "[[The Christmas Wish]]."
 
*[[Miss Piggy]] confronts Denver in her dressing room about their presumably mutual attraction.
 
*[[Miss Piggy]] confronts Denver in her dressing room about their presumably mutual attraction.
 
*Denver and [[Rowlf the Dog]] sing "[[Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas]]."
 
*Denver and [[Rowlf the Dog]] sing "[[Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas]]."
βˆ’
*Miss Piggy, as a doll named Fifi, sings "[[I Will Wait for You]]" to Denver, who plays a wooden soldier trying to stay in step with a line of marching soldiers.
+
*Miss Piggy, as a doll named Fifi, sings "[[I Will Wait for You]]" to Denver, who plays a wooden soldier trying to stay in step with a line of marching soldiers, while singing "[[Camaraderie]]".
 
*The cast sings "[[The Peace Carol]]."
 
*The cast sings "[[The Peace Carol]]."
βˆ’
*Denver recites the story of [[Jesus Christ Muppet|Jesus]]' birth.
+
*Denver recites the story of [[Jesus Christ Muppet|Jesus]]' birth ("[[The First Noel]]" / "[[We Three Kings]]" / "[[Joy to the World (Watts)|Joy to the World]]").
   
 
The program concludes with Denver and the Muppets singing "Stille Nacht," and children in the audience join in for the English version, "[[Silent Night]]."
 
The program concludes with Denver and the Muppets singing "Stille Nacht," and children in the audience join in for the English version, "[[Silent Night]]."
   
βˆ’
<gallery spacing=small widths=200 position=center captionalign=center>
+
<gallery spacing=small widths=200 orientation=landscape>
 
Image:Twelvedays.jpg|"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
 
Image:Twelvedays.jpg|"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
 
Image:Myweekxmas05.jpg|Cast meeting
 
Image:Myweekxmas05.jpg|Cast meeting
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Image:Myweekxmas07.jpg|John visits Miss Piggy's dressing room
 
Image:Myweekxmas07.jpg|John visits Miss Piggy's dressing room
 
Image:Myweekxmas08.jpg|"The Christmas Wish"
 
Image:Myweekxmas08.jpg|"The Christmas Wish"
βˆ’
Image:Myweekxmas09.jpg|"Christmas Is Coming"
+
Image:Myweekxmas09.jpg|"[[Christmas is Coming]]"
 
Image:Myweekxmas12.jpg|"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
 
Image:Myweekxmas12.jpg|"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
 
Image:Myweekxmas13.jpg|"The Peace Carol"
 
Image:Myweekxmas13.jpg|"The Peace Carol"
βˆ’
Image:Jesuschrist.jpg|Denver narrates a nativity scene
 
 
Image:AChristmasTogether-SilentNight-Panorama.jpg|"Silent Night"
 
Image:AChristmasTogether-SilentNight-Panorama.jpg|"Silent Night"
 
Image:AChristmasTogether-SilentNight-Studio-Children'sChoir.jpg|The studio's children's choir
 
Image:AChristmasTogether-SilentNight-Studio-Children'sChoir.jpg|The studio's children's choir
Image:JDMuppets.JPG
 
Image:JDXMAS_ad.JPG|TV Guide ad
 
Image:John_denver_muppets_1.jpg
 
Image:John_denver_muppets_2.jpg
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  +
  +
==Reviews==
  +
Writing for the ''Los Angeles Times'', James Brown found the combination of Denver and the Muppets to be an "overdose of cute". He opined that the special "overextends its welcome with too many [[A Spoonful of Sugar|spoonfuls of sugar]] and not enough holiday surprises. Denver's easy-going songs tend to blur from one to the next. Miss Piggy coos and boils in predictable fashion. The production numbers are ordinary. And the cardboard sets and spray-can snow do little to unearth the holiday spirit. Only Kermit the Frog β€” thank [[The Boss|God]] for Kermit β€” manages to touch and tickle us as he talks about building a β€œsnow frog” back at the old pond. Now ''that’s'' cute."<ref>''Los Angeles Times'' "The Tube Tonight" James Brown, December 5, 1979</ref>
  +
  +
Bill Hayden starts his review for the Gannett News Service by placing John Denver at the top of his list of "least favorite performers" and the Muppets as ranking "exceedingly high" on a list of his most-liked performers. He goes on to credit Miss Piggy for stealing the show (particularly in "[[I Will Wait for You]]") and points to the "beautifully serious" nativity scene as the special's highlight.<ref name="hayden">''The Pensacola News'' "To Networks, It's Christmas" by Bill Hayden, December 5, 1979</ref>
   
 
==Muppet Characters==
 
==Muppet Characters==
βˆ’
:[[Animal]], [[Beaker]], [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]], [[Dr. Teeth]], [[Floyd Pepper]], [[Gonzo]], [[Janice]], [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Lew Zealand]], [[Miss Piggy]], [[Robin the Frog]], [[Rowlf the Dog]], [[Scooter]], [[Statler and Waldorf]], [[The Swedish Chef]], [[Zoot]]
+
:[[Animal]], [[Beaker]], [[Camilla the Chicken|Camilla]], [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]], [[Dr. Teeth]], [[Floyd Pepper]], [[Foo-Foo]], [[Gonzo]], [[Janice]], [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Lew Zealand]], [[Link Hogthrob]], [[Miss Piggy]], [[Robin the Frog]], [[Rowlf the Dog]], [[Scooter]], [[Statler and Waldorf]], [[The Swedish Chef]], [[Zoot]]
   
 
==Credits==
 
==Credits==
Line 40: Line 41:
 
*Producer: [[Bob Finkel]]
 
*Producer: [[Bob Finkel]]
 
*Director/Choreographer: [[Tony Charmoli]]
 
*Director/Choreographer: [[Tony Charmoli]]
βˆ’
*Writers: [[Bob Finkel]] and [[Herbert Baker]]
+
*Writers: [[Herbert Baker]] and Bob Finkel
 
*Special Material by: [[Jon Stone]]
 
*Special Material by: [[Jon Stone]]
  +
*Special Musical Material/Choral Direction by [[Ray Charles (music consultant)|Ray Charles]]
*Host: [[John Denver]]
 
  +
*Art director: Ray Klausen
*Muppet Performers: [[Frank Oz]], [[Jim Henson]], [[Jerry Nelson]], [[Richard Hunt]], [[Dave Goelz]], [[Steve Whitmire]], [[Kathryn Mullen]], [[Robert Payne]], [[Brian Muehl]], [[Michael Earl Davis|Mike Davis]], [[Cheryl Henson]], [[Phillip Huber]]
 
  +
*Musical director: George Wyle
  +
*Music supervisor: Milt Okun
  +
*Nativity Muppets by [[Caroly Wilcox]] and [[Leslee Asch]], [[Nomi Frederick]], [[Jane Gootnick]], [[Joanne Green]], [[Marianne Harms]], [[Calista Hendrickson]], [[Janet Kuhl]], [[Tim Miller]], [[Tim Rose]], [[Polly Smith]]
  +
  +
==Cast==
 
*[[John Denver]]
  +
  +
:''Muppet Performers''
  +
*Starring [[Frank Oz]]
  +
*With [[Jerry Nelson]], [[Richard Hunt]], [[Dave Goelz]]
  +
*And [[Jim Henson]]
 
*Also [[Steve Whitmire]], [[Kathryn Mullen]], [[Bob Payne|Robert Payne]], [[Brian Muehl]], [[Michael Earl|Mike Davis]], [[Cheryl Henson]], [[Phillip Huber]]
  +
  +
==Notes==
  +
* The special was taped in November 1979 at the ABC-TV Center in Los Angeles.<ref>[[Jim Henson's Red Book]] [https://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2013/12/1251979/ 12/5/1979 – β€˜San Diego Museum of Art – Muppet Exhibit. Air John Denver Christmas Special.’]</ref>
  +
  +
* The three-minute sequence of wooden soldiers dancing and singing "Camaraderie" was deleted from some reruns on The Disney Channel (which also appear to be slightly zoomed in compared to the original broadcast). The original ABC broadcast also included an announcer mentioning the sponsors, [[DuPont]] and [[Dr. Pepper]], at the end of the first and last segments. Some Disney Channel airings also included part of an introduction with [[Michael Eisner]] and Kermit the Frog which was filmed for an NBC airing of ''[[A Muppet Family Christmas]]''.
  +
  +
* There are multiple references to previous elements in this special:
  +
**John and Miss Piggy's conversation refer back to John's [[Episode 401: John Denver|Muppet Show episode]], which would have aired in American syndication by this point.
  +
**During the "I Will Wait for You" number during a "slow motion" scene with John, Piggy mentions "I seem to remember doing this in a movie somewhere", referring to the "[[Never Before, Never Again]]" number in ''[[The Muppet Movie]]''.
  +
  +
* Twenty-two new Muppets were created for the nativity scene.<ref name="hayden" /><ref>''Detroit Free Press'' TV listings, December 5, 1979</ref> Jim Henson told the press, "they were carved from urethane foam, like most of the Muppets, and painted in New York. We had to be careful not to offend anyone by giving the figures comic characteristics. These are the first serious puppets we've made."<ref>''Press Democrat'' "Muppets are genuine individuals" December 5, 1979</ref>
  +
  +
==Gallery==
  +
<gallery>
  +
Image:Denver10.jpg
  +
Image:Jesuschrist.jpg
  +
Image:AChristmasTogether-PromoShot-(1979).jpg
  +
Image:Denver09.jpg
  +
Image:Denver15.jpg
 
Image:JDMuppets.JPG
 
Image:John_denver_muppets_1.jpg
 
Image:John_denver_muppets_2.jpg
 
Image:JDXMAS_ad.JPG|TV Guide ad
  +
Image:JDxmas ad Odessa American Dec 2 1979.jpg|illustrated newspaper ad
  +
Image:JDxmas Star Press Muncie Indiana Dec 2 1979.jpg|illustrated newspaper ad
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
==Sources==
  +
<references />
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 
*[[A Christmas Together (album)]]
 
*[[A Christmas Together (album)]]
βˆ’
*[[A Christmas Together (music book)]]
+
*[[A Christmas Together (sheet music book)]]
  +
  +
__NOWYSIWYG__
 
[[Category:Muppet Specials|Christmas Together]]
 
[[Category:Muppet Specials|Christmas Together]]
 
[[Category:Christmas Productions|Christmas Together]]
 
[[Category:Christmas Productions|Christmas Together]]

Revision as of 06:53, 28 March 2020

Title

A Christmas Together is a television special starring John Denver and the Muppets. Based on the album of the same name, this one hour Christmas special was originally produced for ABC and aired on December 5, 1979.

Highlights

The program concludes with Denver and the Muppets singing "Stille Nacht," and children in the audience join in for the English version, "Silent Night."

Reviews

Writing for the Los Angeles Times, James Brown found the combination of Denver and the Muppets to be an "overdose of cute". He opined that the special "overextends its welcome with too many spoonfuls of sugar and not enough holiday surprises. Denver's easy-going songs tend to blur from one to the next. Miss Piggy coos and boils in predictable fashion. The production numbers are ordinary. And the cardboard sets and spray-can snow do little to unearth the holiday spirit. Only Kermit the Frog β€” thank God for Kermit β€” manages to touch and tickle us as he talks about building a β€œsnow frog” back at the old pond. Now that’s cute."[1]

Bill Hayden starts his review for the Gannett News Service by placing John Denver at the top of his list of "least favorite performers" and the Muppets as ranking "exceedingly high" on a list of his most-liked performers. He goes on to credit Miss Piggy for stealing the show (particularly in "I Will Wait for You") and points to the "beautifully serious" nativity scene as the special's highlight.[2]

Muppet Characters

Animal, Beaker, Camilla, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Foo-Foo, Gonzo, Janice, Kermit the Frog, Lew Zealand, Link Hogthrob, Miss Piggy, Robin the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, Zoot

Credits

Cast

Muppet Performers

Notes

  • The special was taped in November 1979 at the ABC-TV Center in Los Angeles.[3]
  • The three-minute sequence of wooden soldiers dancing and singing "Camaraderie" was deleted from some reruns on The Disney Channel (which also appear to be slightly zoomed in compared to the original broadcast). The original ABC broadcast also included an announcer mentioning the sponsors, DuPont and Dr. Pepper, at the end of the first and last segments. Some Disney Channel airings also included part of an introduction with Michael Eisner and Kermit the Frog which was filmed for an NBC airing of A Muppet Family Christmas.
  • There are multiple references to previous elements in this special:
    • John and Miss Piggy's conversation refer back to John's Muppet Show episode, which would have aired in American syndication by this point.
    • During the "I Will Wait for You" number during a "slow motion" scene with John, Piggy mentions "I seem to remember doing this in a movie somewhere", referring to the "Never Before, Never Again" number in The Muppet Movie.
  • Twenty-two new Muppets were created for the nativity scene.[2][4] Jim Henson told the press, "they were carved from urethane foam, like most of the Muppets, and painted in New York. We had to be careful not to offend anyone by giving the figures comic characteristics. These are the first serious puppets we've made."[5]

Gallery

Sources

  1. ↑ Los Angeles Times "The Tube Tonight" James Brown, December 5, 1979
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Pensacola News "To Networks, It's Christmas" by Bill Hayden, December 5, 1979
  3. ↑ Jim Henson's Red Book 12/5/1979 – β€˜San Diego Museum of Art – Muppet Exhibit. Air John Denver Christmas Special.’
  4. ↑ Detroit Free Press TV listings, December 5, 1979
  5. ↑ Press Democrat "Muppets are genuine individuals" December 5, 1979

See also