Anyone here pick up 'Emmet Otters Jug Band Christmas'?

Inspector Hammer! · 10-20-2005, 01:38 PM

I tried to buy this at Best Buy but they didn't have it, has anyone here gotten this dvd, and if so how is it?

MarkHastings · 10-20-2005, 03:46 PM

Is it OOP? It came out in the fall of 2001.

I was 7 when this first came out on HBO, so it was always a fav. of mine. Me and my friends ALWYAS quoted it. I would assume it still holds up today as a great muppet holiday flick.

Definitely worth a blind buy (if it's available).

Inspector Hammer! · 10-20-2005, 03:51 PM

I think that it has been reissued, we have a weekly 'things to see and do' magazine in my area called 'Spark' and in their new to dvd this week column they had it listed along with the jacket picture, this was last week.

MarkHastings · 10-20-2005, 04:06 PM

Ah, I see now on Amazon that the reissue was Oct 4, 2005.

Yes, definitely get this. It isn't hysterical, but it's definitely a "feel good" Christmas film. Very sweet!

Now that I look, it seems like this is a Special Edition?? According to some reviews, there are 2 versions out there. I don't think anyone has any real answers, but this review seems to have some merrit:

Quote:

To clear up some of the confusion and angry reviews about this special being edited, as a fan of Emmet Otter, let me explain that there are 2 different versions of this classic holiday special. In 1977, HBO first aired Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas and also ran it in 1978 and 1979 which is the version that's been available on VHS for years and was just released on DVD. In 1980, ABC snatched the special away from HBO for one year and made some changes to it including adding Kermit's voiceover narration, trimming some of the songs ("Ain't No Hole In The Washtub" and the reprise of "When The River Meets The Sea"), extending some scenes like the Riverside Rest scene where Emmet, Ma and the boys are singing inside where it pans over to Kermit narrating to us the audience (the original 1977 version did not have Kermit at the Riverside Rest but just dissolved onto the next scene when Emmet, Ma and the boys are walking home after singing) while trimming others. HBO began airing the special again in 1981 and throughout the '80s but instead of using the original 1977 version that they ran from 1977 to 1979, they instead ran the ABC network version which is what most viewers had remembered seeing and therefore were upset by the video release which was the original 1977 cut and not the 1980 network version. So my advice to those who still have a copy from HBO recorded during the '80s, keep it and buy the video version which is the original version that aired back in 1977 on HBO and watch them back to back and decide for yourself which version you like the most. Personally, I prefer the video edition because that was the version I had remembered watching as a kid. I just wanted to clear up any confusion by those who had bought the video or DVD and was disappointed to see what they thought was an "edited version" of what they had remembered seeing on ABC or HBO in the '80s which is not really the case when it comes to this classic holiday special where there are 2 versions: the 1977 cut which ran on HBO from 1977 to 1979 and the 1980 ABC network version which ran once on ABC in 1980 and on HBO from 1981 into the late '80s. Hope this information helps.

This review was posted on the 2001 released DVD. It sounds confusing, but I'm sure both versions are great.

I do remember a line (when I was a kid) that seemed to be cut out of the DVD, so I guess the 2001 DVD release was the 1980 version. It also has Kermit the Frog intros in it, which I never remembered when I was a kid.

Someone said this new DVD release doesn't have the Kermitt intro's because Disney wouldn't/couldn't release it that way????

Ugh, what a confusing mess. But, again, either way, it's still a great story no matter what version is on there.

Inspector Hammer! · 10-20-2005, 04:15 PM

Thanks for looking into it, Mark.

And yes, i'm VERY familiar with this special, it was a huge part of my childhood, and I watched it on television about 3 or 4 years ago after not laying eyes on it in over 20 years and I almost cried because all of my childhood thought's and feeling's all came rushing back to me like a tidal wave.

I'll get this no matter what version it is, some things are just too special to the heart to say no to.

**HTF Ads**

David Rain · 10-20-2005, 11:42 PM

Oh, what a fabulous show this is. I wish it was twice as long. I never want it to end. And the DVD version is "censored" if you can believe that. Emmet's mother's line about telling another character to "fall off the dock" is gone. It's a bit insane to censor a family show.

But I think the DVD version that I have does include the
"Ain't No Hole In The Washtub" & "When The River Meets The Sea" reprise songs. The very idea that someone would cut any songs from this show for any reason ? BLASPHEMY ! I hope they fall off the dock.

DougFND · 10-21-2005, 12:00 AM

I loved this. The Riverbottom Nightmare Band still cracks me up!

MarkBirds · 10-21-2005, 01:31 AM

Yeah, this was one of the best. I will definitely have to pick up this one.

Not to get too sappy, but I have always thought this one had one of the best Christmas messages, second only to Charlie Brown.

Oh, and I'll always remember Wendall the porcupine. "Gonna love the mash potatoes" and "Peachy keen!" are quotes still used in my family to this day.

Chuck the bear will always be the epitome of cool, as far as I'm concerned.

BradD · 10-21-2005, 05:10 AM

Loved this. I'm ordering a copy today.

MarkHastings · 10-21-2005, 09:16 AM

Quote:

And the DVD version is "censored" if you can believe that. Emmet's mother's line about telling another character to "fall off the dock" is gone. It's a bit insane to censor a family show.

According to another review, someone said that Emmet's mother's line was cut when the show aired on ABC. Since it was originally aired on HBO, I guess they assumed "fall off the dock" was ok for HBO but needed to be censored for network tv......well, it was 1980...different times...different times!

Now that I think about it, I wonder if the line was cut for time? Adding the Kermit intro's for network tv, must have had to mean the chop-shop for the rest of the film.

Jon Martin · 10-21-2005, 11:03 AM

Thanks for the info! I was afraid when I heard of the new version cutting out the Kermit intros. Thanks for the full story. I had this on my must buy list for years, but never got around to it. Will have to get it now.

And are the years in that story accurate? It aired on HBO in 1977? I remember seeing it many times in the 80's, but didn't have cable until 1980 or so. I guess I have never seen this version.

MarkHastings · 10-21-2005, 11:55 AM

Hopefully, the differences (with the exception of the Kermit scenes) aren't that major. I'll have to check my old DVD because I do seem to recall being upset about the "fall off the dock" line not being on the DVD. I assumed I was remembering something else, but when I was a kid, I loved that line, so I may have to pick up the new DVD if that line was put back in.

I'll post a confirmation and hopefully someone can confirm if the line was put back into this new release.

EDIT: From what people are saying, this is supposed to be a special edition? Deleted Scenes, a hour long Documentary and photo galleries? If true, that's awesome!