“Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” – A gift

Emmet Otter's Jug Band, with Emmet second from the left,
and his mother Alice right in the middle. It is an amazing Christmas classic.
Source: https://lithub.com/is-emmet-otters-jug-band-christmas-a-work-of-genius/
(May be subject to copyright)

Of all the Christmas shows that come on TV every season, there was one that stands out for me even now, more than 40 years later. It is not Charlie Brown, the Grinch, or Frosty the Snowman, although all three hold a special place in my heart too.

Yet none of them can top my all-time favourite Christmas show. A product of Jim Henson’s Muppet studio, there is nothing like “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas.”

In the beginning
It was way back in the 1970s when I was in elementary school that I first saw “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas”, and it left a lasting impression.

It opens with an old favourite – Kermit the Frog – narrating. He tells the story of Emmet Otter who lives with his mother Alice on “The River”. They both do odd jobs to make ends meet, with Emmet more of a fix-it man while his mom does laundry. Emmet’s dad had been a snake-oil salesman – literally – who died although we never found out how. We do know that both Emmet and Alice love him and miss him dearly.

They both want to provide a great Christmas for each other, but have no money to do it. Then they get their chance. There is going to be a talent show with a $50 grand prize. Emmet joins a jug band to enter while Alice decides to enter as a solo act. However, both have to make big sacrifices. In order to make a washtub bass for the band, Emmet has to put a hole in his ma’s wash tub, which is her sole source of income. At the same time, Alice needs a dress to perform. The only way to get the money to buy one, is to hock Emmet’s tool box, his sole source of income. Both struggle with their decisions but go ahead, unbeknownst to the other.

The night of the talent show arrives and all is revealed. Tragedy strikes too, as someone performs “Barbecue”, the song Emmet’s band intended to perform before they do. Now, they don’t want to look like copy cats, so they hastily rehearse a new song outside. Meanwhile, Alice performs and kills it. Then Emmet’s band performs and does well too.

However, before the judges deliberate, a late entry performs. They are “The Nightmare”, a bad-boy band from a neighbouring town, who electrify the crowd and win the prize.

Emmet, his band and his ma all walk home together where they reveal what they have done. All is forgiven as they sing together, combining their two songs from the talent show. They are overheard by Doc Bullfrog, who owns a nearby restaurant. He offers them a job, enough money for everyone to live on. The show ends with them doing their first show.

The special concludes with more words from Kermit the Frog.

That story has always tugged at my heart strings.

The show goes on
Over the years I watched it on CBC every year. One time, “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” was on at the same time as our annual Christmas concert at St. Joseph’s School. We actually got to watch it in our classroom, because we had already done our part of the concert. Another time, we hurried home after our Christmas concert in order to catch it on TV.

I kept watching it through junior high and high school on CBC, then lost track when I left home for university in 1987.

However, about 10 years later I returned to Southern Alberta, and that first Christmas back I saw “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” once more. It was no longer aired by CBC because there were likely too many other choices. Instead, it was on the specialty channel Showcase, and still as good as ever.

Kindred spirits
When I started dating my spouse, she told me she had this Christmas tradition she always did. I am pretty open to things, but I was shocked by what she described.

“I watch ‘Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas’ every year,” she said.

My jaw dropped open.

That was one of the first of many times I knew we were kindred spirits and she was the one for me.

A couple years later, after she got to know my family better, she said Emmet and his mom reminded her of me and my mom. I smiled because my mother’s name is also Alice.

The best part of it all? She has “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” on DVD so we can watch it whenever we like. We do not have to rely on CBC, Showcase, or any other broadcaster.

Parting thoughts
“Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” will always have a special place in my heart. Not only is it a charming story about the love between a mother and son, but also about friendship, sacrifice, and loyalty.

It was the kind of story Jim Henson did best.

Whenever I see “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas”, I miss Jim Henson not only for the stories he told in my childhood and the influence he had on my life, but I am sad the next generation won’t be able to share that same gift.

And at the end of the day, that is what “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” is – a gift.