By Michael Lyons
The television special, “John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together” is like a lost Christmas tree ornament found at the bottom of a box.
You vaguely remember it, but coming across it brings back a torrent of memories that’s like a portal sending you back in time.
“John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together,” which aired on ABC on December 5, 1979, for some reason has never been released on any home video format-VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray or even streaming.
The special, which aired at the height of both the Muppets and John Denver’s fame, is remembered now only by the generation that grew up with it.
Truly one of the best Christmas TV specials ever made, filled with beautifully crafted music, great humor and tremendous heart, “John Denver and The Muppets” celebrates its 40th Anniversary this holiday season, the perfect time to look back and appreciate again a moment in TV Holiday history that’s been seemingly lost to the ages.
The show actually started life as a record album of the same name, which was released just two months prior to the special airing and was filled with memorable music that ranged from new songs to hymns and reliable favorites.
The album itself feels like one is listening to a TV special, so it’s no wonder that it inspired one. And while the TV variation changed some aspects of the album, it kept the comforting, cozy tone of the album that deftly combines the warmth of John Denver and the outrageousness of The Muppets.
This is evident in the opening segment that features them all singing “The 12 Days of Christmas,” with each taking a different “day,” in turn. Best of all, not only do we get Kermit, Fozzie and Miss Piggy (“five golden rings!,”), but other, supporting players like Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker and Lee Zealand join in.
It’s just one of many well orchestrated musical numbers that range from the comical, like Miss Piggy and company belting out “Christmas is Coming” to Kermit and Denver. duetting on the pretty “A Christmas Wish” to Denver’s beautiful ballad, “A Baby Just Like You,” that’s a touching Christmas song dedicated to his son.
In between, there’s room for comedy as The Muppets meet to write the script for the special and a skit in which Denver plays a toy soldier and Miss Piggy plays a doll named FiFi.
The end of the special is particularly moving, as specially created (and very detailed) Muppets re-enact The Nativity story, after which Denver and The Muppets are joined by an audience of children for a touching rendition of “Silent Night.”
It’s a shame that “John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together” has become one of these “heard of, but never seen” shows relegated to fuzzy video clips on You Tube or bootleg DVDs.
It’s worth a watch, no matter where you find it, as the special not only highlights the talent of John Denver and the spirit of The Muppets, it’s also a glimpse back at the innocence of what Christmas specials once were. And through it all, “John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together” also perfectly captures the magic and the wonder of the season.
Sources: Wikipedia
No comments:
Post a Comment