It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie: Difference between revisions
No edit summary Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
m Fixing broken anchor: Reminder of an inactive anchor: Johnny Fiama, Reminder of an inactive anchor: Sal Minella |
||
(29 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|2002 American fantasy comedy television film}} |
{{short description|2002 American fantasy comedy television film}} |
||
{{more citations needed|date=May 2019}} |
{{more citations needed|date=May 2019}}{{distinguish|The Muppet Christmas Carol}} |
||
{{Infobox television |
{{Infobox television |
||
| image = IAVMMCM cover.jpg |
| image = IAVMMCM cover.jpg |
||
| image_size = |
| image_size = |
||
| image_alt = |
| image_alt = |
||
| caption = DVD cover |
| caption = DVD cover |
||
| genre = |
| genre = |
||
| creator = |
| creator = |
||
| based_on = {{based on|[[The Muppets]]|[[Jim Henson]]}} |
| based_on = {{based on|[[The Muppets]]|[[Jim Henson]]}} |
||
| writer = {{Plainlist| |
| writer = {{Plainlist| |
||
Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
| country = United States |
| country = United States |
||
| language = English |
| language = English |
||
| num_episodes = |
| num_episodes = |
||
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist| |
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist| |
||
* [[Juliet Blake]] |
* [[Juliet Blake]] |
||
Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
* [[The Jim Henson Company]] |
* [[The Jim Henson Company]] |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| budget = |
| budget = |
||
| picture_format = [[HDTV]] [[1080i]] |
|||
| network = [[NBC]] |
| network = [[NBC]] |
||
| first_aired = {{ |
| first_aired = {{Start date|2002|11|29}} |
||
| last_aired = |
| last_aired = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie''''' is a 2002 American [[Musical film|musical]] [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[comedy film|comedy]] [[television film]] directed by [[Kirk R. Thatcher]] and written by [[Tom Martin (writer)|Tom Martin]] and [[Jim Lewis (writer)|Jim Lewis]]. The film premiered November 29, 2002 on [[NBC]] and is the first television film featuring [[the Muppets]]. |
'''''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie''''' is a 2002 American [[Musical film|musical]] [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[comedy film|comedy]] [[television film]] directed by [[Kirk R. Thatcher]] and written by [[Tom Martin (writer)|Tom Martin]] and [[Jim Lewis (writer)|Jim Lewis]]. The film premiered November 29, 2002 on [[NBC]] and is the first television film featuring [[the Muppets]]. |
||
It stars Muppet performers [[Steve Whitmire]], [[Dave Goelz]], [[Bill Barretta]], and [[Eric Jacobson]], as well as [[David Arquette|Dave Arquette]], [[Joan Cusack]], [[Matthew Lillard]], [[William H. Macy]], and [[Whoopi Goldberg]]. The plot centers on [[Kermit the Frog]] who, after losing all hope for saving the Muppet Theatre, is assisted by an angel who shows him a world in which he was never born. The film is a homage to [[Frank Capra]]'s 1946 film ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'', which has a similar plot. |
It stars Muppet performers [[Steve Whitmire]], [[Dave Goelz]], [[Bill Barretta]], and [[Eric Jacobson]], as well as [[David Arquette|Dave Arquette]], [[Joan Cusack]], [[Matthew Lillard]], [[William H. Macy]], and [[Whoopi Goldberg]]. The plot centers on [[Kermit the Frog]] who, after losing all hope for saving the Muppet Theatre, is assisted by an angel who shows him a world in which he was never born. The film is a homage to [[Frank Capra]]'s 1946 film ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'', which has a similar plot. |
||
This was the first Muppets production without the involvement of veteran performer [[Frank Oz]]. Instead, [[Eric Jacobson]] performed Oz's characters [[Fozzie Bear]], [[Miss Piggy]], and [[Animal (Muppet)|Animal]], marking his feature film debut as those characters |
This was the first Muppets production without the involvement of veteran performer [[Frank Oz]]. Instead, [[Eric Jacobson]] performed Oz's characters [[Fozzie Bear]], [[Miss Piggy]], and [[Animal (Muppet)|Animal]], marking his feature film debut as those characters. |
||
''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'' is the final Muppets production before the characters and franchise were acquired by [[The Walt Disney Company]] from [[The Jim Henson Company]]. |
''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'' is the final Muppets production before the characters and franchise were acquired by [[The Walt Disney Company]] from [[The Jim Henson Company]]. It is one of the few Muppets-related productions that are currently not owned by The Walt Disney Company, and along with ''[[Sam and Friends]]'', is now owned by [[NBCUniversal]]. |
||
It will finally get a UK theatrical release in December 2024, with [[Altitude Film Distribution]] distributing the film in the U.K. while [[HanWay Films]] handle its international sales. |
|||
==Plot== |
==Plot== |
||
During the holiday season, the Muppet Theater is going through financial hardship, and the Muppets are seeking [[Kermit the Frog]] for guidance. Kermit eventually feels he is not useful to anyone and an [[angel]] named Daniel |
During the holiday season, the Muppet Theater is going through financial hardship, and the Muppets are seeking [[Kermit the Frog]] for guidance. Kermit eventually feels he is not useful to anyone and an [[angel]] named Daniel brings this up with his Boss as they review what has gone on with Kermit in the past hours. |
||
Hours earlier, Kermit prepares a Christmas show with his fellow Muppets with Bobo the Bear playing [[Santa Claus]]. Kermit is approached by Rachel Bitterman |
Hours earlier, Kermit prepares a Christmas show with his fellow Muppets with Bobo the Bear playing [[Santa Claus]]. Kermit is approached by Rachel Bitterman, a banker/real estate agent who says she will foreclose the Muppet Theater if Kermit does not pay her. [[Pepe the King Prawn]] leaves the Muppets because he has fallen in love with Bitterman. Miss Piggy leaves the Muppets to go and work in Hollywood. While trying to raise money to pay Bitterman, Kermit tries to find a celebrity to participate in his Christmas play to no avail. Kermit travels out to California and retrieves Miss Piggy, who gets fired working as an extra on the TV series [[Scrubs (TV series)|''Scrubs'']]. |
||
Meanwhile, after learning from Pepe that the deadline is midnight, Bitterman changes it to 6:00 p.m. Pepe overhears this and sets about informing Kermit about the deadline change, but Pepe keeps being interrupted. The Muppets perform their Christmas musical ''Moulin Scrooge'' (a parody of the film [[Moulin Rouge!]]<ref>{{Cite news|author=Bricken, Rob|title= |
Meanwhile, after learning from Pepe that the deadline is midnight, Bitterman changes it to 6:00 p.m. Pepe overhears this and sets about informing Kermit about the deadline change, but Pepe keeps being interrupted. The Muppets perform their Christmas musical ''Moulin Scrooge'' (a parody of the 2001 film ''[[Moulin Rouge!]]''<ref>{{Cite news|author=Bricken, Rob|title=It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Is the Maddest Muppet Special Ever|url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2022/11/its-a-very-merry-muppet-christmas-movie-is-the-maddest-muppet-special-ever/|work=[[Gizmodo Australia|Gizmodo |
||
After witnessing these events, the Boss allows Daniel to help Kermit. When Daniel arrives, and after Kermit wishes he has never been born, he ends up showing Kermit what would have happened if he had not existed. In the world without Kermit, Bitterman has turned the park near the Muppet Theater into a shopping mall called Bitterman Plaza, the Muppet Theater itself has become a nightclub called Club Dot owned by Bitterman, Doc Hopper's French-Fried Frog Legs (first seen in ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'') has become a famous fast-food restaurant, and all of Kermit's friends have fallen into various detrimental situations. |
After witnessing these events, the Boss allows Daniel to help Kermit. When Daniel arrives, and after Kermit wishes he has never been born, he ends up showing Kermit what would have happened if he had not existed. In the world without Kermit, Bitterman has turned the park near the Muppet Theater into a shopping mall called Bitterman Plaza, the Muppet Theater itself has become a nightclub called Club Dot owned by Bitterman, Doc Hopper's French-Fried Frog Legs (first seen in ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'') has become a famous fast-food restaurant, and all of Kermit's friends have fallen into various detrimental situations. |
||
Line 82: | Line 83: | ||
===Muppets performers=== |
===Muppets performers=== |
||
{{main|List of Muppets}} |
{{main|List of Muppets}} |
||
* [[Steve Whitmire]] as [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Rizzo the Rat]], [[Beaker (Muppet)|Beaker]] and |
* [[Steve Whitmire]] as [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Rizzo the Rat]], [[Beaker (Muppet)|Beaker]] and [[Mr. Poodlepants]] |
||
* [[Dave Goelz]] as [[Gonzo (Muppet)|Gonzo]], [[Bunsen Honeydew]], [[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]] |
* [[Dave Goelz]] as [[Gonzo (Muppet)|Gonzo]], [[Bunsen Honeydew]], [[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]] and [[Zoot (Muppet)|Zoot]] |
||
* [[Bill Barretta]] as [[Pepe the King Prawn]], [[Bobo the Bear]], [[List of Muppets#Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella|Johnny Fiama]], [[Swedish Chef]], [[Lew Zealand]], Howard Tubman and [[Rowlf the Dog]] |
* [[Bill Barretta]] as [[Pepe the King Prawn]], [[Bobo the Bear]], [[List of Muppets#Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella|Johnny Fiama]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-06-18|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=List of Muppets#Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella|reason= The anchor (Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella) [[Special:Diff/1015441087|has been deleted]].}}, [[Swedish Chef]], [[Lew Zealand]], Howard Tubman and [[Rowlf the Dog]] |
||
* [[Eric Jacobson]] as [[Miss Piggy]], [[Fozzie Bear]], [[Animal (Muppet)|Animal]] and [[Yoda]] |
* [[Eric Jacobson]] as [[Miss Piggy]], [[Fozzie Bear]], [[Animal (Muppet)|Animal]], and [[Yoda]] from ''[[Star Wars]]'' |
||
* [[Brian Henson]] as [[Scooter (Muppet)|Scooter]], [[ |
* [[Brian Henson]] as [[Scooter (Muppet)|Scooter]], [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Janice|Janice]] and [[List of Muppets#Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella|Sal Minella]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-06-18|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=List of Muppets#Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella|reason= The anchor (Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella) [[Special:Diff/1015441087|has been deleted]].}} |
||
* [[Kevin Clash]] as [[Sam Eagle]] |
* [[Kevin Clash]] as [[Sam Eagle]] |
||
* [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]] as [[Sweetums]] |
* [[John Henson (puppeteer)|John Henson]] as [[Sweetums]] |
||
* [[John Kennedy (puppeteer)|John Kennedy]] as [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Dr. Teeth|Dr. Teeth]] |
* [[John Kennedy (puppeteer)|John Kennedy]] as [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Dr. Teeth|Dr. Teeth]] |
||
* [[Jerry Nelson]] as [[Robin the Frog]], [[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]], [[Floyd Pepper]] and Announcer |
* [[Jerry Nelson]] as [[List of Muppets#Robin the Frog|Robin the Frog]], [[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]], [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Floyd Pepper|Floyd Pepper]] and Announcer |
||
* [[Allan Trautman]] as Joe Snow (puppetry only) and [[List of Muppets#Whatnots|Eugene the Tuba Player]] |
* [[Allan Trautman]] as Joe Snow (puppetry only) and [[List of Muppets#Whatnots|Eugene the Tuba Player]] |
||
Line 113: | Line 114: | ||
Veteran Muppet performer [[Jerry Nelson]] was ill during filming, so most of his characters were puppeteered on set by others and later dubbed by Nelson in post-production. The exception was Nelson's character Lew Zealand, who was performed by [[Bill Barretta]]. [[Sam Eagle]], a character originally performed by [[Frank Oz]], was voiced in the film by [[Kevin Clash]], while [[John Kennedy (puppeteer)|John Kennedy]] provided the on set puppetry. |
Veteran Muppet performer [[Jerry Nelson]] was ill during filming, so most of his characters were puppeteered on set by others and later dubbed by Nelson in post-production. The exception was Nelson's character Lew Zealand, who was performed by [[Bill Barretta]]. [[Sam Eagle]], a character originally performed by [[Frank Oz]], was voiced in the film by [[Kevin Clash]], while [[John Kennedy (puppeteer)|John Kennedy]] provided the on set puppetry. |
||
[[Scooter (Muppet)|Scooter]], performed in the film by [[Brian Henson]], makes his first major appearance since the death of his initial performer, [[Richard Hunt (puppeteer)|Richard Hunt]]. Hunt's character [[Dr. Teeth and |
[[Scooter (Muppet)|Scooter]], performed in the film by [[Brian Henson]], makes his first major appearance since the death of his initial performer, [[Richard Hunt (puppeteer)|Richard Hunt]]. Hunt's character [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Janice|Janice]] was also performed by Henson and has a speaking role for the first time since Hunt's death. |
||
The film contains an original song, "Everyone Matters", performed by Kermit and Gonzo as part of the world in which he had never been born, and then reprised at the end. The film also makes reference to the classic Muppet song "[[Rainbow Connection]]", featuring a statue of Kermit in a park, erected in dedication "for the lovers, the dreamers and you". |
The film contains an original song, "Everyone Matters", performed by Kermit and Gonzo as part of the world in which he had never been born, and then reprised at the end. The film also makes reference to the classic Muppet song "[[Rainbow Connection]]", featuring a statue of Kermit in a park, erected in dedication "for the lovers, the dreamers and you". |
||
The movie was filmed |
The movie was filmed after the [[September 11 attacks]]; one scene, set in a version of 2003 where Kermit was never born, shows the [[World Trade Center (1973-2001)|Twin Towers]] visible in the background. This was due to the photo background mural being created prior to the attacks.<ref>Thatcher, K. (March 10, 2016) [https://twitter.com/KirkThatcher/status/707932965200728064 "Because the photo mural background we used was taken before 9-11..."] ''Twitter.com''</ref> |
||
Years after the film's release, this detail gained viral attention, inspiring jokes that the creation of Kermit the Frog [[Butterfly effect|somehow indirectly led]] to 9/11.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/kermit-did-911-meme |title = Why 'Kermit Did 9/11' is the Conspiracy Theory That Won't Croak}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/kermit-did-911 |title = Kermit Did 9/11 {{!}} Know Your Meme}}</ref> |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
Line 129: | Line 131: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{Wikiquote}} |
|||
* {{IMDb title|0329737}} |
* {{IMDb title|0329737}} |
||
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}} |
|||
* {{Muppets}} |
|||
{{Muppet films}} |
{{Muppet films}} |
||
Line 138: | Line 143: | ||
[[Category:2002 television films]] |
[[Category:2002 television films]] |
||
[[Category:2002 films]] |
[[Category:2002 films]] |
||
[[Category:2002 children's films]] |
|||
[[Category:American comedy television films]] |
[[Category:American comedy television films]] |
||
[[Category:American Christmas films]] |
[[Category:American Christmas films]] |
||
[[Category:Christmas television films]] |
[[Category:Christmas television films]] |
||
[[Category:The Jim Henson Company films]] |
[[Category:The Jim Henson Company films]] |
||
[[Category:NBC |
[[Category:NBC original films]] |
||
[[Category:American children's films]] |
[[Category:American children's films]] |
||
[[Category:Films about wish fulfillment]] |
[[Category:Films about wish fulfillment]] |
||
Line 149: | Line 155: | ||
[[Category:Television sequel films]] |
[[Category:Television sequel films]] |
||
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer direct-to-video films]] |
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer direct-to-video films]] |
||
[[Category:HanWay Films films]] |
|||
[[Category:Films directed by Kirk Thatcher]] |
[[Category:Films directed by Kirk Thatcher]] |
||
[[Category:Films scored by Mark Watters]] |
[[Category:Films scored by Mark Watters]] |
Revision as of 01:48, 18 June 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2019) |
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | |
---|---|
![]() DVD cover | |
Based on | The Muppets by Jim Henson |
Written by | |
Directed by | Kirk R. Thatcher |
Starring | |
Music by | Mark Watters |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | |
Producers |
|
Cinematography | Tony Westman |
Editor | Gregg Featherman |
Running time | 88 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | NBC |
Release | November 29, 2002 |
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a 2002 American musical fantasy comedy television film directed by Kirk R. Thatcher and written by Tom Martin and Jim Lewis. The film premiered November 29, 2002 on NBC and is the first television film featuring the Muppets.
It stars Muppet performers Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, and Eric Jacobson, as well as Dave Arquette, Joan Cusack, Matthew Lillard, William H. Macy, and Whoopi Goldberg. The plot centers on Kermit the Frog who, after losing all hope for saving the Muppet Theatre, is assisted by an angel who shows him a world in which he was never born. The film is a homage to Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, which has a similar plot.
This was the first Muppets production without the involvement of veteran performer Frank Oz. Instead, Eric Jacobson performed Oz's characters Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal, marking his feature film debut as those characters.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is the final Muppets production before the characters and franchise were acquired by The Walt Disney Company from The Jim Henson Company. It is one of the few Muppets-related productions that are currently not owned by The Walt Disney Company, and along with Sam and Friends, is now owned by NBCUniversal.
It will finally get a UK theatrical release in December 2024, with Altitude Film Distribution distributing the film in the U.K. while HanWay Films handle its international sales.
Plot
During the holiday season, the Muppet Theater is going through financial hardship, and the Muppets are seeking Kermit the Frog for guidance. Kermit eventually feels he is not useful to anyone and an angel named Daniel brings this up with his Boss as they review what has gone on with Kermit in the past hours.
Hours earlier, Kermit prepares a Christmas show with his fellow Muppets with Bobo the Bear playing Santa Claus. Kermit is approached by Rachel Bitterman, a banker/real estate agent who says she will foreclose the Muppet Theater if Kermit does not pay her. Pepe the King Prawn leaves the Muppets because he has fallen in love with Bitterman. Miss Piggy leaves the Muppets to go and work in Hollywood. While trying to raise money to pay Bitterman, Kermit tries to find a celebrity to participate in his Christmas play to no avail. Kermit travels out to California and retrieves Miss Piggy, who gets fired working as an extra on the TV series Scrubs.
Meanwhile, after learning from Pepe that the deadline is midnight, Bitterman changes it to 6:00 p.m. Pepe overhears this and sets about informing Kermit about the deadline change, but Pepe keeps being interrupted. The Muppets perform their Christmas musical Moulin Scrooge (a parody of the 2001 film Moulin Rouge![1]) and Pepe continues trying to talk to Kermit. The musical is a success, concluding with a standing ovation. After the show, Pepe finally explains to Kermit that the deadline has changed and shows him the contract. Kermit sends Fozzie to deliver the money to Bitterman. Fozzie confronts a crazed nature-show host (spoofing Steve Irwin), and a gang of Whos after being dyed green at a Christmas tree lot and mistaken for the Grinch by some angry Whos. Fozzie goes through the steam baths and ends up back to normal where he throws off the Whos. When Fozzie eventually makes it to the bank and Bitterman's office, he goes through a gigantic web of burning lasers leading to Bitterman's office several times before finally discovering that he is too late and that he has grabbed the wrong bag containing clothes for the Salvation Army following his incident at the Christmas tree lot.
After witnessing these events, the Boss allows Daniel to help Kermit. When Daniel arrives, and after Kermit wishes he has never been born, he ends up showing Kermit what would have happened if he had not existed. In the world without Kermit, Bitterman has turned the park near the Muppet Theater into a shopping mall called Bitterman Plaza, the Muppet Theater itself has become a nightclub called Club Dot owned by Bitterman, Doc Hopper's French-Fried Frog Legs (first seen in The Muppet Movie) has become a famous fast-food restaurant, and all of Kermit's friends have fallen into various detrimental situations.
Kermit has Daniel restore him back to his reality and returns to the Muppet Theater. However, Bitterman arrives to shut the theater down and fights with Miss Piggy. Pepe arrives and announces he has made the Muppet Theater into a historical landmark, foiling Bitterman's plans. Defeated, Bitterman storms out of the Muppet Theater.
Outside, the Muppets sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
Cast
- David Arquette as Daniel, an angel who appears to Kermit at Christmas.
- Joan Cusack as Rachel Bitterman, a spoiled, rich young banker/real estate developer.
- Matthew Lillard as Luc Fromage, a foppish French choreographer.
- Whoopi Goldberg as The Boss, the Creator of the Universe.
- William H. Macy as Glenn, an angel.
- Mel Brooks as Joe Snow (voice only), parodying Sam the Snowman from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Chantal Strand as Nancy Nut-What
- Dave "Squatch" Ward as Sally Ann Santa Claus
Muppets performers
- Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker and Mr. Poodlepants
- Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Bunsen Honeydew, Waldorf and Zoot
- Bill Barretta as Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama[broken anchor], Swedish Chef, Lew Zealand, Howard Tubman and Rowlf the Dog
- Eric Jacobson as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Yoda from Star Wars
- Brian Henson as Scooter, Janice and Sal Minella[broken anchor]
- Kevin Clash as Sam Eagle
- John Henson as Sweetums
- John Kennedy as Dr. Teeth
- Jerry Nelson as Robin the Frog, Statler, Floyd Pepper and Announcer
- Allan Trautman as Joe Snow (puppetry only) and Eugene the Tuba Player
Additional Muppet Performers: Alice Dinnean, Geoff Redknap, Denise Cheshire, Drew Massey, Adam Behr, and Gord Robertson.
Cameo guest stars
- Carson Daly as himself
- Snoop Dogg as himself (deleted scene)
- Kelly Ripa as herself
- Joe Rogan as himself
- Molly Shannon as herself
- Robert Smigel as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
- Cast and crew of Scrubs
- Zach Braff as himself/Dr. John "J.D." Dorian
- Sarah Chalke as herself/Dr. Elliot Reid
- Neil Flynn as himself/Janitor
- Bill Lawrence as himself
- John C. McGinley as himself/Dr. Perry Cox
- Judy Reyes as herself/Nurse Carla Espinosa
Production notes
Veteran Muppet performer Jerry Nelson was ill during filming, so most of his characters were puppeteered on set by others and later dubbed by Nelson in post-production. The exception was Nelson's character Lew Zealand, who was performed by Bill Barretta. Sam Eagle, a character originally performed by Frank Oz, was voiced in the film by Kevin Clash, while John Kennedy provided the on set puppetry.
Scooter, performed in the film by Brian Henson, makes his first major appearance since the death of his initial performer, Richard Hunt. Hunt's character Janice was also performed by Henson and has a speaking role for the first time since Hunt's death.
The film contains an original song, "Everyone Matters", performed by Kermit and Gonzo as part of the world in which he had never been born, and then reprised at the end. The film also makes reference to the classic Muppet song "Rainbow Connection", featuring a statue of Kermit in a park, erected in dedication "for the lovers, the dreamers and you".
The movie was filmed after the September 11 attacks; one scene, set in a version of 2003 where Kermit was never born, shows the Twin Towers visible in the background. This was due to the photo background mural being created prior to the attacks.[2] Years after the film's release, this detail gained viral attention, inspiring jokes that the creation of Kermit the Frog somehow indirectly led to 9/11.[3][4]
See also
References
- ^ Bricken, Rob (30 November 2022). "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Is the Maddest Muppet Special Ever". Gizmodo
AU . Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023. - ^ Thatcher, K. (March 10, 2016) "Because the photo mural background we used was taken before 9-11..." Twitter.com
- ^ "Why 'Kermit Did 9/11' is the Conspiracy Theory That Won't Croak".
- ^ "Kermit Did 9/11 | Know Your Meme".
External links
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- 2002 television films
- 2002 films
- 2002 children's films
- American comedy television films
- American Christmas films
- Christmas television films
- The Jim Henson Company films
- NBC original films
- American children's films
- Films about wish fulfillment
- The Muppets films
- American sequel films
- Television sequel films
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer direct-to-video films
- HanWay Films films
- Films directed by Kirk Thatcher
- Films scored by Mark Watters
- 2000s English-language films
- 2000s American films