News Update: August 1, 2014

AUGUST 1, 2014

Disney has been fast and loose in releasing previews of the Muppets Most Wanted Blu-ray Bonus Features. Last week, we got previews of Ricky Gervais' bloopers and Rizzo's letter to the filmmakers. This week, we get to see the entirety of the Statler and Waldorf Cut of the film. Check it out below!




Even more bonus features were shown off this week, with a preview of Tina Fey in the Muppets Most Wanted Blooper Reel. Watch the hilarity below!

According to sources, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is being released on Blu-ray on October 7th. The release is already available for pre-order on Amazon, but no details about bonus features, other than general "deleted scenes" and "bloopers." Presumably, these features will be exactly the same as the DVD release of the TV movie from a few years ago. It should also be noted that this release comes from NBC-Universal, not Disney, since NBC-U owns the rights to the TV movie.

This week, an enterprising Muppet fan, whose daughter is too young to go to San Diego Comic Con decided to bring Comic Con to her, by creating and performing his own panel featuring Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear. The picture is below, but be warned, you may explode from cuteness. (Thanks to our friends at ToughPigs.com for finding this amazing picture!)

Disney Videos Online has released a special Disney Channel segment featuring Kermit and Constantine. The segment, "10 in 60" challenges the two frogs to answer ten questions in 60 seconds or less. Check out the video below!



Disney has announced an upcoming new web series starring the Muppets. "Disney Drive-On with The Muppets" stars Walter and Pepe as they work on the Disney Studios lot. Apparently, six episodes of the series will be released very soon. According to our friend Peter Linz, these segments were filmed nearly two years ago, so it's fantastic that they've finally been released. The first full episode has been released and you can watch it right here, right now! UPDATE: The second episode can be watched on Disney Movies Anywhere!









The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: The Elvises

Today's article was written by our frequent contributor Kyle Mahoney.

THE ELVISES

Performed by...
Various

First appearance...
Muppet Classic Theater (1994)

Most recent appearance...
It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

Quotes…
“Thank you, thank you very much. I’d like to thank the both of you.”

“Don’t make me use my karate on you.”

Ben Franklin: I have just discovered electricity!
Elvis: Rockin’ news! Now we can play these electric guitars!

WHO ARE THE ELVISES?
The Elvises are a group of guys who may or may not be Elvis Presley. They all look and sound and act like him, but last time we at The Muppet Mindset checked, there was only one Elvis Presley. But this doesn’t stop these guys.

The Elvises first appeared with the Muppets in Muppet Classic Theater. Due to Rizzo mishearing Gonzo state the title of the next story of "The Elves and the Shoemaker" as "The Elvises and the Shoemaker," when the titular magical creatures come to help Kermit and Robin’s shoe shop, they appear as a group of Elvises (much to Gonzo’s surprise). As in the original story the Elves make a bunch of amazing shoes for the cobbler, but since these are Elvises, they not only sang a rockin’ tune, they created a whole mess of Blue Suede Shoes. In thanks for their help, Kermit and Robin made the Elvises white sequin jump suits and, according to Rizzo, they went to Las Vegas where they play "The Big Room" at The Palace.

After their stint in Las Vegas, the Elvises returned in 1996 for the Muppets Tonight recurring segment "Great Moments in Elvis History" where amazing moments in history are retold the way god intended them… with Elvises. These moments include The Signing of the Declaration of Independence, The King and his Round Table, Elvis of Arabia, Tarzan of Graceland, Sir Elvis Newton, and the death of Elvis Ceasar.

In their last onscreen appearance, The Elvises were featured in the full version of "Moulin Scrooge" in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. There, they briefly sing "Jingle Bells," interrupting Miss Piggy’s big "Santa Baby" number.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED THE ELVISES?
One thing that makes the Elvises special is that they are solely based on a human and yet they are recurring which doesn’t happen often in the Muppets. Although they don’t do much, they are a funny group of impersonators who I wish would pop up again.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

120 Awesome Muppet Songs, Part 2

Ryan Dosier - I'm back! (Not that I really ever went anywhere.) I've brought 15 more songs to add to my list of 120 Awesome Muppet Songs, which I started last week in Part 1. I encourage you to check out Part 1 before we charge forward with the next 15 songs, if you haven't already. You won't want to miss a beat! (Get it?!)

16.   "Disco Frog" from Sesame Street
One of my favorite Kermit songs, period, is this fun, danceable tune from Sesame Street and later performed on The Muppet Show. My favorite version of "Disco Frog" comes from the album Sesame Disco!, which is fantastic in its own right but reaches new heights with this Kermit hit. The instrumentation here is amazing and Kermit's vocals are wonderful. Favorite lyrics: "Soon the water ripples catch their eye/And the ladies hush and breathe a sigh/On a lilypad all dressed in white/He appears there."

17.   "The People in Your Neighborhood" from Sesame Street
This song has been performed so many times by so many different people and in so many different ways. For me, the original remains the best. Bob McGrath singing to two anything Muppets and clearly having a great time. It's Bob, who is the best, and Jim Henson and Frank Oz, who are the best of the best. It's an undeniable classic that is as fun to learn from as it is to listen to. Favorite lyrics: "Who are the people in your neighborhood?/They're the people that you meet/When you're walkin' down the street/They're the people that you meet each day!"

18.   "Everyone Matters" from It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
The only song from It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie that I enjoy is also one of the Muppets' best. It works really well as a Christmas song but is also great (for the most part) to listen to all through the year. It also has the rare beauty of being one of the few duets between Gonzo and Kermit (honestly it's the only one I can come up with right now). Dave Goelz and Steve Whitmire's voices blend so well. The song's message that "Everyone Matters" speaks true to the Muppet message perfectly. Favorite lyrics: "If only I could go back/and take another crack at/all the things I left undone/I'd do them right."

19.   "The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha" from Bear in the Big Blue House
Don't worry, I didn't feel obligated to include at least one song from Bear in the Big Blue House, I legitimately adore this number. Having not seen much Bear, this song is one of my few entries into the show. It is arguably the most fun song in this post today. The joy in Bear's voice as he sings about the joy he feels when he lets loose and dances is palpable. Noel MacNeal is such a brilliant singer and it shows wonderfully in this song. Favorite lyrics: "You might notice some people stop and stare/You can explain to them you're an honorary bear/Everybody now!/Cha-cha-cha!"

20.   "Oscar Don't Allow" from Bert & Ernie Sing-Along
I am perturbed that I couldn't find this song on YouTube. I might have to put it up myself just so people who haven't heard it can sing it. The video I linked to is "Mama Don't Allow," which this song is based on. For those of you who don't own a copy (physical or digital) of the album Bert & Ernie Sing-Along need to mend that. This song is one of the best songs on the album. David, Ernie, Luis, and Big Bird sing about how Oscar don't allow sing-along-singin', piano-playin', drum-drum-drummin', or banjo-playin' here. You can tell that the entire cast is having so much fun singing this song. Favorite lyrics: "Oh we don't care what Oscar don't allow/cause we do some sing-along-singin' now/Oscar don't allow no sing-along-singin' here!"

21.   "I'm the Baby (Gotta Love Me)" from Dinosaurs
Baby Sinclair is the baby, and you've gotta love him. Same goes for this song--it's so hard not to love. Before Kevin Clash was the most popular character on Sesame Street, he was also the most popular character on Dinosaurs, the amazing 90s sitcom from Disney and Henson. This was one of the only songs on the show, and it's so great. The music video is also great, but our friend Davide Maugeri's animated tribute to the song is even better. Favorite lyrics: "Mama says it's too much sugar/Daddy is all perplexed/ABCDEF-gee, you never know what/I'm gonna do next!"

22.   "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Muppet Show
My favorite performance of this song, hands down, goes to Robin the Frog. Jerry Nelson is my favorite Muppeteer singer and it shows through so brilliantly in this song. This delightfully cute moment from the otherwise eery Alice Cooper episode of The Muppet Show is one of Robin's finest performances. He sings with such heart and soul that it's impossible not to want to give the little guy a hug. Favorite lyrics: "If happy little blue birds fly/Beyond the rainbow/Why, oh why, can't I?"

23.   "I Hope That Something Better Comes Along" from The Muppet Movie
Oh my goodness, it's my anthem! This song is the perfect song for single guys and there's no one better to illustrate that than Rowlf the Dog and Kermit the Frog. This double Jim Henson duet is one of my very favorite songs of all time. It's bouncy and entertaining while still being about disgruntled guys. Rowlf and Kermit make a great duo and this song is some of Rowlf's finest work both vocally and on the piano. Favorite lyrics: "You can't live with 'em/You can't live without 'em/There's somethin' irresistible-ish about 'em/We grin and bear it 'cause the nights are long/I hope that somethin' better comes along."

24.   "Pictures in My Head" from The Muppets
I couldn't make this list without including Kermit's most recent heart-wrenching ballad. Kermit is one of my favorite balladeers, and "Pictures in My Head" was perfect for him. Steve Whitmire's performance in this song is one of hist best, period. This is probably the moment in The Muppets that made most Muppet fans tear up. It speaks so fully to the plight of the Muppets in recent years and I'm so glad Kermit got to deliver it. Favorite lyrics: "If we could do it all again/Just another chance to entertain/Would anybody watch or even care?/Or did something break we can't repair?"

25.   "The First Time it Happens" from The Great Muppet Caper
Ah, the quintessential Muppet love song. This gem from The Great Muppet Caper is so beautifully Joe Raposo. The instrumentation and choral performances in "The First Time it Happens" are truly amazing--there's a reason it was nominated for an Academy Award! Miss Piggy's dance number is breath taking and her sweet, soft duet with Kermit at the beginning of the song is a perfect contrast to the lively step routine it becomes. Favorite lyrics: "The first time you see her/No magical change/No angels appearing/No dreams to arrange/It's warmer and colder than springtime or snow/The first time it happens, you know."

26.   "The Monster in the Mirror" from Sesame Street
Is this our first Grover song on this list? I think so! Oh, I am so happy for him! Furry, adorable Grover has many, many songs on Sesame Street, but "The Monster in the Mirror" is definitely one of his very best. The song evokes the classic There's a Monster at the End of This Book with Grover being concerned about a monster in the mirror that is actually him. But really, this song is great if only for the "Wubba wubba wubba wubba woo woo woo!" Favorite lyrics: "Told the monster in the mirror, 'No I am not scared'/Then I smiled at him, and thanked him for the song that we had shared."
 
27.   "Marley and Marley" from The Muppet Christmas Carol 
I'll go ahead and reveal now that this is the only Statler and Waldorf song on the list of 120. But... of course it is. It's such a classic, beloved moment from an equally classic and beloved movie. Statler and Waldorf as Jacob and Robert Marley singing this song about chains (or change, I could never tell) to Scrooge. It's brilliant, it's funny, and it's just plain well-written. Paul Williams proved with this song that he could write a song for any Muppet. (Except maybe Beaker...) Favorite lyrics: "We specialized in causing pain/Spreading fear and doubt/And if you could not pay the rent/We simply threw you out!"

28.   "Can't Get Along Without You" from Kermit Unpigged
This odd little album from the 90s features only two songs that don't include a shoe-horned celebrity vocal cameo. The first is "She Drives Me Crazy" with Kermit and Piggy, and the second is this beautiful, perfect duet between Kermit and Robin. The song was written by the producers of the album and, honestly, it's a true wonder. It's so unknown and underrated but it would be right at home in any Muppet production. The love that Kermit and Robin show for each other in the song is amazing and speaks volumes about their relationship. Plus... it's a chance to listen to Jerry Nelson sing, something one should never pass up.

29.   "Dixie Wailin'" from Fraggle Rock 
This is my favorite song from Fraggle Rock. I know it's an unconventional choice, but I have my reason. It was "The Challenge" episode that completely sold me on Fraggle Rock. It was so joyous, funny, fun, and the characters are just perfect. Red and Gobo have convinced Junior Gorg that he's dead, so of course Boober sings a funeral dirge, and of course Junior wants to liven it up, and of course Red and Gobo are happy to comply. I honestly would love it if my friends sang this song at my funeral. Same tempo. Favorite lyrics: "When it's time to say goodbye/All my friends will sit and cry/And they'll watch the coffin rockin' round and squirmin'/Then they'll raise a mighty shout/When my bones come marchin' out/And I raise myself and preach the final sermon!"
 
30.   "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" from Sesame Street
Oh I'm so glad that this week's selection ends with the most beautiful Ernie song ever written. Ernie's longing for adventure and discovery is matched by his reluctance to abandon what he knows. And is that not true of all of us? Jim Henson's vocals are perfect here. Ernie is also one of the only Sesame characters who could sing this song. He is as poetic as he is silly, and this song is the perfect example of that. Favorite lyrics: "Though I'd like to look down at the Earth from above/I would miss all the places and people I love/So although I may go, I'll be coming home soon/'Cause I don't want to live on the moon."

Well that's it for this week, Muppet fans! Stick with us next week for Part 3 and 15 more Awesome Muppet Songs!





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Other Christmas Productions Muppet Fans Love

Yesterday we showcased how much Muppet fans adore the 1987 special A Muppet Family Christmas. And of course they have every reason to love it, because it's awesome. But today we'll show off the other responses we got to the question "What is your favorite Muppet Christmas production?"

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
"My favorite Muppet Christmas special is definitely Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. Rather than a bunch of lights and tinsel, it takes place in a tiny little country town. It's so un-Christmasy, but the message of warmth and heart is still present. It truly is a reminder of what Christmas is really all about, and done so through a bunch of wonderful songs, a colorful cast of characters, and an all around awesome storyline." ~ Hubert A.

"Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas times infinity." ~ Brian Heck

"Emmet Otter. Why? It's Emmet Otter! And also Christmas Branch! Paul Williams songs! Barbeque! Jumping ferrets! Riverbottom Nightmare Band! And it has a singing frog in it who is not Kermit!" ~ Craig C.

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

"My all-time favorite is definitely Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. As funny and entertaining as the special is, it's the lessons of selflessness, trust, and peace that resonate most with me. I think I've cried each and every time I've watched it. This is Sesame Street at it's zenith. When I first heard the cast sing 'Keep Christmas with You All Through the Year' I took it to heart. To this day, I still sign all my Christmas cards with that sentiment. This song is like a prayer of peace for the world. When I think of the reason for my undying love of Muppets and Jim Henson's work, it's this special that comes to mind first. A truly remarkable show." ~ Bruce Aguilar

"My favorite is Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. I grew up with a copy my parents taped off of PBS and nearly wore it out--I'd even watch it in the middle of summer, keeping true to the message of 'Keep Christmas with you all through the year.' I also love that the mystery of Santa Claus is left a mystery. I think this is probably Carroll's best work as Big Bird, aside from Mr. Hooper's death." ~ Beth Kondrick

"My favorite is Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. It is such a classic that everybody loves (and if they don't, they're crazy). My favorite parts are the ice skating bit at the beginning, specifically when Oscar gets thrown down those stairs. I also love Kermit's brief part. Ahh... classic Jim Henson moment. My favorite songs from that are 'Keep Christmas with You,' 'True Blue Miracle,' and 'I Hate Christmas.' Oh, but I can't forget 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' with Bert and Ernie. So SWEET!! I watch this movie every single Christmas." ~ Anonymous

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

"It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a great made-for-TV movie. It came out at a time when it looked like the Muppets were losing popularity aside from nostalgiac value. I like all the pop culture references and more adult jokes. 'Everyone Matters' is a really good number. And best of all I like the fact that this is the first Muppet movie to take place at the Muppet theater." ~ Michael Wermuth, Jr.

The Christmas Toy

"My favorite would have to be The Christmas Toy. I've seen the movie every year since I can remember. My copy for the longest time was recorded off the TV and still had all the old 80's commercials on it, which made it even better. I did have to upgrade eventually when it came out on DVD and now I don't have to find a working VHS player to watch it. It's really not Christmas for me without a little Rugby Tiger." ~ Jennifer

John Denver & The Muppes: A Christmas Together (album and special)

"I'd say the John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together special/album combo. It truly is the best of both worlds... the special shows how good John Denver is as an all-around entertainer, and also how touching the Muppets can be without overdoing the schmaltz. The album is carefully crafted, musically and... well, just listen to 'Deck the Halls,' and you can tell that the writers spent time matching each Muppet to a line that represented them. It's no accident that Gonzo sings, 'TROLL the ancient Yule tide carol!'" ~ Bryan Snyder

The Muppet Christmas Carol 

"Honestly, I don't have a favorite Muppet Christmas production. Christmas is my favorite time with the Muppets and I lose myself in every one of their magical productions every December. However, this December one production really stood out to me, and that is The Muppet Christmas Carol. Perhaps it was the Blu-ray release that renewed my appreciation for the film, but I've never loved it more than this year. It is such a beautiful movie with so much in it. It represents not just what the Muppets can do, but it shows that they would continue to thrive after the loss of Jim Henson and Richard Hunt. Jerry Juhl's brilliant melding of Dickensian prose and Muppet lunacy makes for a perfect Christmas movie, in my opinion. Plus, this year it takes on added beauty as we remember Jerry Nelson, who plays both Tiny Tim (Robin) and the Ghost of Christmas Present so incredibly wonderfully. However... it will always be Gonzo and Rizzo that define brilliantly why I love this movie. 'Hoity-toity, mister god-like smarty pants!'" ~ Ryan Dosier

Finally, we close with some fun Christmas artwork from our friend Nickyle Edwards!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Twelve Favorite Muppet Christmas Songs

Ryan Dosier - I know what you're thinking, "A list of things? That's Michael Wermuth, Jr.'s territory!" Well, that's true... but we've got nothing else to use for a post today, and it's almost Christmas, and I felt the need to list some of my personal favorite Muppet Christmas songs! These span from various Muppet Christmas productions (Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, A Muppet Family Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Letters to Santa) to Muppet Christmas albums (John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together, Green and Red Christmas, Merry Christmas from Sesame Street), and other places! So get your music ready, and prepare to have a listen to these wonderful Muppet Christmas favorites!

12.   "My Best Christmas Yet," The Muppets, A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Say what you will about this 2008 special, but I just love this song. It's Paul Williams, it's Muppets, it's Christmas... it's hard to go wrong. The Muppet-filled finale gives us solo verses from the likes of Rowlf and Robin the Frog, the latter of which had not been heard since It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. But aside from that, this song stands on its own as fun both lyrically and tunefully. Kermit and Gonzo leading the vocals works brilliantly and showcases the wonderful voices of Steve Whitmire and Dave Goelz. What I love is all the little side-plots going on during this song: Swedish Chef revealing to the turkey that he made a tofu turkey for dinner, Zoot lighting a menorah, Fozzie giving Clare and Clare's mom Christmas sweaters, rats in stockings, Bunsen dancing with Beaker... everywhere you look is fantastic Muppet mayhem. 

11.   "Everyone Matters," Kermit the Frog and Gonzo the Great, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Another showcase for the beautiful vocals of Steve Whitmire and Dave Goelz, this song is the obvious emotional highlight of It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie for me. Yes, Kermit returning to the theater is fantastic, but nothing can top this beautifully sad, yet eventually uplifting song. The imagery of a down-trodden Gonzo singing with Kermit on a park bench is great. The message and lyrics and everything about this song is moving... "If only I could go back/and take another crack at/all the things I've left undone/I'd do them right" is such a great lyric, and speaks to us all in different ways. It's a crying shame that this song lost when it was nominated for an Emmy... I'll forgive, but only because it's Christmas.

10.   "Merry Christmas Baby," Pepe the King Prawn, The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas Album
I believe this marks Pepe's first solo song ever, and it came on this great album released way back in 2006. Honestly, who knew Pepe could sing this well? I guess anyone that knows how unbelievably talented Bill Barretta is would realize that. This song is catchy, fun, and unbelievably well-performed and suited perfectly for Pepe, who joins the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Ray Charles, who also performed this song. I'm such a fan of this that I listen to it even when it's not Christmas, just for Pepe's fantastic vocals. Besides, how often do you get to hear Pepe call out to Zoot for a rockin' sax solo?

9.  "Little Saint Nick," Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together Album
One of the Electric Mayhem's greatest performances is this Christmas classic from the Beach Boys. Dr. Teeth and Janice's leading vocals have never been better, and Floyd's repetitive back up singing is perfection. This song more than almost any other just sounds like Jim, Frank, Jerry, Richard, and Dave were having a ton of fun. I had a hard time choosing between this song and "Jingle Bell Rock" from A Muppet Family Christmas for my favorite Electric Mayhem Christmas song... but "Little Saint Nick" just barely wins out for having more Floyd. I love me some Floyd Pepper.

8.   "True Blue Miracle," The Sesame Street Cast, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
There are so many great songs and performances in this near-perfect Sesame special (and this isn't the only one you'll find on this list), it's impossible not to include some of them on any list of the greatest Muppet Christmas moments. This song performed by Bob, Olivia, Gordon, Susan, Maria, Luis, Mr. Hooper, David, Bert, Ernie, The Count, and more classic Sesame Street favorites is absolutely beautiful. You would really be hard-pressed to find a song that sings the beauty of the Christmas season better than this. Lyrics like, "Once a year, the street I live on sparkles like the sky--all hung with lights for Christmas!" make this song stand out as one of the true greats. And if that isn't a true blue miracle, I don't know what one is.

7.   "It Feels Like Christmas," The Ghost of Christmas Present and The Muppets, The Muppet Christmas Carol
It is so unbelievably hard to pick out just a few great songs from The Muppet Christmas Carol. Let's face it, they're all good. "One More Sleep 'Til Christmas" is a great showcase for Kermit, "Bless Us All" is one of the most beautiful songs ever... but "It Feels Like Christmas" always takes the cake for me. It's the real show-stopper of the movie, plus it boasts great vocals from Jerry Nelson as the Ghost of Christmas Present. It's another example of a fun Muppet number that you can't help but smile during. Also... Michael Caine tries (and fails) to dance at one point. How do you beat that?

6.   "The Christmas Wish," Kermit the Frog, John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together Album
This song is not only one of my favorite Christmas songs ever, but one of my favorite Kermit songs ever. Jim Henson is so perfect here (as he so often was) and Kermit really never sounded better. Everything about this song is beautiful. It's a song of acceptance, it's a song of love, it's a song of peace. When Kermit sings, "I don't know if you believe in Christmas/or if you have presents underneath the Christmas tree/but if you believe in love/that will be more than enough/for you to come and celebrate with me," he's telling you and me and all of us that no matter who we are, as long as we love, we're okay with him. It's a message on par with any other message Kermit delivers. I love it.

5.   "Carol Medley," The Muppets and the Sesame Street Cast, A Muppet Family Christmas
When choosing a song from A Muppet Family Christmas, it might seem incredibly difficult... but it's not. The nine minute medley that closes out the special features a million Muppets, a million songs, and shines the spotlight on nearly every main character. It's amazing how confident Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, and the rest were in these characters by this point... so confident, that they knew the audience would sit and adore a nearly ten minute medley of songs. The Muppets were really at their peak at this point, and this medley exploits it brilliantly. Whether you have the slightly cut version released on most home video, or the full version from TV broadcast... it really is hard to top this.

4.   TIE: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Kermit the Frog, A Green and Red Christmas Album, and Bert and Ernie, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Yes... it's a tie on the same song, but anyone who has heard both of these will surely agree with me. It's impossible to declare either of these versions better than the other. Steve Whitmire's sweet, calming, and loving voice as Kermit gives me shivers every time I hear it, and Jim Henson and Frank Oz never had a better duet as Ernie and Bert than in the culmination of their "Gift of the Magi" story. It also helps that this song is so perfectly suited for the Muppets that they've done it over 15 times (according to Muppet Wiki)... but none of them top the beauty and perfection of Kermit or Bert and Ernie.

3.   "Keep Christmas With You (All Through the Year)," The Sesame Street Cast, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Music, lyrics, vocals... all of them come to the forefront in this tour de force of Christmas caroling. Sam Pottle and David Axlerod completely outdid themselves with this perfect piece first debuting on the album Merry Christmas From Sesame Street, and used beautifully--twice--in Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. I love the magic of Bob and the kids singing it while doing sign language with Linda, but then the finale version which brings the whole cast together to sing... perfect. Honestly, I think I would love any version of this song... and I'd really like for the Sesame gang to sing it again soon.

2.   "When the River Meets the Sea," Emmet Otter and Ma Otter, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
What is there to say about this Paul Williams song that hasn't been said before? It's perfect, it's beautiful, it's breath-taking, it's amazing. Numerous versions of this song have been done, including an exceptional rendition by John Denver and Robin, but none can ever beat the original. Jerry Nelson's Emmett and Marlyn Sokol's Alice Otter carry the tune like no one else. This song is also amazing for not pigeon-holing itself as an exclusively Christmas song. You can listen to "When the River Meets the Sea" anytime, anywhere, and still be moved by its beauty. Look for Kermit and Robin to sing the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on December 23rd!


1.   "The Twelve Days of Christmas," John Denver and the Muppets, John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together Album
Is anyone surprised by this song being number one? I hope not, because it really doesn't get better than this. John, Fozzie, Gonzo, Robin, Piggy, Scooter, Lew Zealand, Rowlf, Bunsen, Beaker, Statler, Waldorf, Beauregard, and Kermit sing this song with such gusto and hilarity that it can't be beat. From Miss Piggy's hysterical "ba-dum-bum-bum" to Gonzo singing about three French hens, to Lew Zealand singing at all... this is a wonderful piece through and through. Every time this song comes on in the car, I attempt to sing it in the voice of each Muppet... and it ain't easy. I also love the performance of this that the Muppets did with Jimmy Fallon a few years ago, featuring Sam Eagle, Pepe, Rizzo, and Animal, along with all the others. Hysterical, wonderful, perfectly sung... there is no better Muppet Christmas song... and perhaps no better Christmas song period.

Did your favorite Muppet Christmas song make the list? Tell us yours in the comments below!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com

12 Favorie Muppet Christmas Moments

12 Favorite Muppet Christmas Moments

Michael Wermuth, Jr. - It's almost Christmas, and in keeping with the Christmas season, I thought I'd make my list of my 12 favorite Muppet Christmas moments. Now let's get things started!

12. "The Christmas Song" with Big Bird and The Swedish Chef from A Muppet Family Christmas
In this scene, The Swedish Chef has gotten Big Bird to enter the kitchen, with the intention of cooking him as the main course, but before he can do so, Big Bird gives the Chef a present: chocolate covered birdseed. He gives this to the Chef because he's away from his family in Sweden during the holidays. This led to a beautiful, if incomprehensible, duet of "The Christmas Song." Of course, with a change of heart, the Chef has to change plans for Christmas dinner, though it turns out he cooks Big Bird's absolute favorite: shredded wheat and cranberry sauce! This is a very sweet scene, with plenty of humor as well.

11. "The Christmas Wish" (album version) from John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
This is a great song sung by Kermit. I know that Kermit sang the song with John Denver in the special, but I enjoy the album version with just Kermit (plus background vocals by the other Muppets) a lot better. The soulful sounds of Kermit's voice is sweet and powerful and says everything about Christmas that you could ever hope to hear. Kermit sounds great here and the lyrics are just as great.

10. "Everyone Matters" from It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
A great moment in the "world where Kermit was never born" when Kermit decides he wants to go back to his reality, only he can't find Daniel the Guardian Angel. He finds Gonzo singing about having a bad Christmas, until Kermit joins in, and the two sing about how everyone matters. The full-cast version at the end of the special is good as well, but I prefer Kermit and Gonzo's duet of this beautiful and heart-warming song.

9. The Wish Granter 3000 from A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
At one point in Letters to Santa, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew informs the gang that he has come up with a way they can contact Santa Claus: his invention, The Wish Granter 3000, a helmet which can magically grant the wishes of whoever wears it. Beaker tests it out, wishing for a hot supermodel girlfriend (Petra Nimcova) who talks like Beaker. For some reason Bunsen wants Beaker to wish her away, but after initially refusing, Beaker not only wishes her away, but also himself (and the Wish Granter).

8. "Pass It On" from A Muppet Family Christmas
One of the many highlights of A Muppet Family Christmas is when Kermit and Robin meet the Fraggles after Robin finds a Fraggle hole in the cellar. They travel into Fraggle Rock to meet the Fraggles, who learn about Christmas and reveal that they celebrate a similar holiday, which involves giving presents. They reveal that they have constantly given the same Fraggle Pebble as a present 37 times, leading to this bouncy and fun song, "Pass It On" (which originated in the Fraggle Rock episode "The Perfect Blue Rollie").


7. Sesame Street News: Santa Claus from Sesame Street
This is one of the few Sesame Street inserts to be about Christmas or any holiday in general. Here, Kermit intends to interview Santa Claus but it turns out that the Easter Bunny thinks he's Santa, but hands out jack-o-lanterns and scary masks, while a witch thinks she's the Easter Bunny and hands out Easter eggs. In the end, a Muppet Santa Claus thinks Kermit is Santa and tells Kermit what he wants for Christmas.

6. "Jingle Bell Rock" from A Muppet Family Christmas
When Kermit and Robin start singing a sweet, quiet rendition of "Jingle Bells," Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem jump in unannounced to perform a rockin' version of "Jingle Bell Rock." With vocals by Dr. Teeth, Floyd, and Janice, great instrumental solos from Zoot and Lips, and jamming from Animal, this is one of the band's best performances in any show or special.

5. The Muppets Defer Their Pay from It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
At one point in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Kermit learns that it's possible for the Muppets to come up with the money they owe in time with only one performance if everyone agrees not to get paid. At first, everyone is against this (Sam Eagle worries about how he'll afford his Propecia, while Janice wonders how one can celebrate Christmas without any money), but Fozzie gives them all a speech about how Kermit has done so much for them, convincing everyone to agree to give up their paychecks to save the theater. It's so great to see all of the Muppets, old and new, in the audience of the Muppet theater.

4. "Thankful Heart" from The Muppet Christmas Carol
This song was well-written, by Paul Williams, and well-sung, by Scrooge after he reforms himself joined by a crowd of Muppets and human extras. This sequence has great moments, sweet moments, funny moments, and even some "what were they thinking?" moments. It also has a cameo by Fozzie and Sam as elderly versions of the characters they play in the movie, Fozziwig and Headmaster respectively.

3. "Gift of the Magi" storyline with Bert and Ernie from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
A classic subplot from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, Bert wants to get Ernie a soap dish for Rubber Duckie and Ernie wants to get Bert a cigar box for his paperclip collection. Since they both have no money, they both trade in their prized possessions so that they can purchase presents at Hooper's Store. But shortly after they open their presents, Mr. Hooper arrives and gives them their possessions back, informing them that he got the best present: He got to see that everyone got exactly what they wanted for Christmas. And then Bert and Ernie sing a great rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

2. My Best Christmas Yet from A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
The finale of Letters to Santa, sees the various Muppets not going on their separate vacations so they can spend the holidays with their neighbor Claire. Almost every great Muppet production has a great closing song, with almost everyone from the special, including callbacks to earlier scenes (such as the girlfriend Beaker wishes for with the Wish-Granter), and verses from a few characters who had been silent elsewhere in the special (Robin, Rowlf).

1. Christmas Medley from A Muppet Family Christmas
At the end of A Muppet Family Christmas, the Muppets all gather for a carol sing, with the Muppets singing an incredible array of Christmas songs, even "Together at Christmas," a tune written for The Christmas Toy. This medley closes the special and features solos or duets from nearly every prominent character from both The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. The medley lasts a whopping nine minutes and is a classic example of Muppety greatness.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com