Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
A gift shouldn't be measured by its monetary value, but sometimes generosity comes with sacrifice. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is adapted from the children's book of the same name by Russell Hoban--which in turn was inspired by "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry--featuring the beloved puppetry of Jim Henson and original music by Paul Williams. Released for television in 1977, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas has thrived due to its artistry and nostalgia, not to mention its powerful message about the true spirit of gift giving.
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Christmas specials have been a staple of television for decades, often retelling popular Christmas stories in creative ways, and often featuring familiar faces from other TV shows or the like. This special opens with the iconic Kermit the Frog introducing the story while being robbed by the antagonistic gang of ne'er-do-wells, The Riverbottom Gang. We don't see Kermit until the conclusion, and only for a brief moment. The suggestion is that this adaptation was made with the understanding that it was hinging on the popularity of Henson's Muppets. And while that's true, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is a charming and expertly crafted show regardless of any connections to The Muppets. The Seventies and Eighties were a glorious time for children's entertainment, and Jim Henson is to thank for much of this, from "Sesame Street" to, of course, "The Muppets". Capable of expressing fine emotion through puppetry, paired with charming writing and meaningful stories, everything Henson touched was gold. You get some of that magic--also thanks to Paul Williams' musical contributions--once again here, so it's not hard to see why this movie has been so nostalgic. I only just watched this for the first time recently, but I totally get the appeal. Emmet and his mother do what they can to stay afloat financially, living in an economically depressed rural community on the river. She washes clothes, thanks to her washtub (free from any holes), and Emmet is thankful to taken on any odd jobs, even if only for a pittance. Both wish that they could buy one another something nice for Christmas, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards...until they hear about a talent show with a fifty dollar grand prize. Suddenly both of them independently try to come up with something to do for the show that capitalizes on their talents, yet both are forced to compromise something of value to the other in the process. For Ma, she is forced to hock her late husband's tools--which Emmet uses for his odd jobs--while Emmet begrudgingly puts a hole in the washtub to make a "washtub bass" for the eponymous jug-band--what he an a few other fellows consider their best shot at winning. Obviously, not everyone can win, so the prospect of unintended disappointment looms large on the horizon.
Watching Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas as an adult probably has a different feeling than had I seen it as a child. Older, I notice the economic ruin in which the characters dwell, and how despite their hopefulness and sense of community, money is always the elephant in the room. One of the most exciting songs in the program, which Emmet and Ma sing en route home after dropping off the laundry Ma did for an ungrateful townswoman, is "There Ain't No Hole in the Washtub". The song is about the two of them staying positive, and finding the silver lining in any cloud. Sure, slipping in the mud is no fun, but I guess it's a "free ride"? And since the washtub is the major source of Ma and Emmet's livelihood, the fact that it's intact is crucial to their survival. This speaks to just why it's such a big deal that this is the cost that Emmet is forced to pay in order to reach for his dreams. The risk is great for both of them, so committing to the talent show is an all-or-nothing gamble. An oppressive sense of financial instability is pervasive in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas; not unusual for a Christmas story, but rare for children's stories on the whole. And yet this is exactly why Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is important for children. Parents sometimes feel that it is in the best interests of their children to shield them from the challenges of adulthood--like money--but this story invites children to sympathize with their parents about the difficulties that they face in keeping their family fed and clothed, even in the hardest of times. Emmet and Ma joke about how Emmet's dad used to be a "snake oil salesman", adding that he attributed his poor business acumen to how hard it was to "oil a snake". It's evident that his lack of business savvy contributed to their poverty, but Emmet and Ma show how it is better to always strive for something better and to be loving toward one another rather than wallow in misery and resentment. This is also a very important message for children, as all one has to do is turn on the TV or look at the internet to see how misery and resentment seems ubiquitous these days. Wouldn't the world be a better place if people were more like Emmet and Ma instead? In a sense, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas deliberately toys with that familiar element of many underdog stories--the one where you should always try, and if you work hard enough, you will get your reward. Again, adults know that this simply isn't true; and when inaction follows, it sometimes gets justified as caution instead of cowardice. It's hard to take a plunge when you don't know where you're going to land. For Emmet and Ma, they get so invested in the idea of winning the talent show that they shoot past preparing for failure at all. The story wisely uses this as a teachable moment for children, too. Just because you have failed at something doesn't make you a failure. Just because you can't do one thing anymore doesn't mean that you can't do anything ever again. Each of us is blessed with a multitude of talents, and believing that you can only do one of them is selling yourself short. Life has a way of constantly guiding us along new paths, and so long as you are open to them, you may even find that the grass is, indeed, greener on the other side of the fence.
Recommended for: Fans of a charming and meaningful Christmas story, brought to life by the myriad talents of The Jim Henson Company and more. I would encourage you to check out Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, even if you never saw it as a child, and to show your children this touching and poignant story. I believe that it will leave a lasting impression on them with its positive message--something to remember as they grow up and to share with their children.
Watching Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas as an adult probably has a different feeling than had I seen it as a child. Older, I notice the economic ruin in which the characters dwell, and how despite their hopefulness and sense of community, money is always the elephant in the room. One of the most exciting songs in the program, which Emmet and Ma sing en route home after dropping off the laundry Ma did for an ungrateful townswoman, is "There Ain't No Hole in the Washtub". The song is about the two of them staying positive, and finding the silver lining in any cloud. Sure, slipping in the mud is no fun, but I guess it's a "free ride"? And since the washtub is the major source of Ma and Emmet's livelihood, the fact that it's intact is crucial to their survival. This speaks to just why it's such a big deal that this is the cost that Emmet is forced to pay in order to reach for his dreams. The risk is great for both of them, so committing to the talent show is an all-or-nothing gamble. An oppressive sense of financial instability is pervasive in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas; not unusual for a Christmas story, but rare for children's stories on the whole. And yet this is exactly why Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is important for children. Parents sometimes feel that it is in the best interests of their children to shield them from the challenges of adulthood--like money--but this story invites children to sympathize with their parents about the difficulties that they face in keeping their family fed and clothed, even in the hardest of times. Emmet and Ma joke about how Emmet's dad used to be a "snake oil salesman", adding that he attributed his poor business acumen to how hard it was to "oil a snake". It's evident that his lack of business savvy contributed to their poverty, but Emmet and Ma show how it is better to always strive for something better and to be loving toward one another rather than wallow in misery and resentment. This is also a very important message for children, as all one has to do is turn on the TV or look at the internet to see how misery and resentment seems ubiquitous these days. Wouldn't the world be a better place if people were more like Emmet and Ma instead? In a sense, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas deliberately toys with that familiar element of many underdog stories--the one where you should always try, and if you work hard enough, you will get your reward. Again, adults know that this simply isn't true; and when inaction follows, it sometimes gets justified as caution instead of cowardice. It's hard to take a plunge when you don't know where you're going to land. For Emmet and Ma, they get so invested in the idea of winning the talent show that they shoot past preparing for failure at all. The story wisely uses this as a teachable moment for children, too. Just because you have failed at something doesn't make you a failure. Just because you can't do one thing anymore doesn't mean that you can't do anything ever again. Each of us is blessed with a multitude of talents, and believing that you can only do one of them is selling yourself short. Life has a way of constantly guiding us along new paths, and so long as you are open to them, you may even find that the grass is, indeed, greener on the other side of the fence.
Recommended for: Fans of a charming and meaningful Christmas story, brought to life by the myriad talents of The Jim Henson Company and more. I would encourage you to check out Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, even if you never saw it as a child, and to show your children this touching and poignant story. I believe that it will leave a lasting impression on them with its positive message--something to remember as they grow up and to share with their children.