John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together

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John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
JD&MXmasTogether title.jpg
Genre Television special
Created by Jim Henson
Written by Herbert Baker
Bob Finkel
Jon Stone (special material)
Directed by Tony Charmoli
Starring John Denver
Muppet Performers:
Jim Henson
Frank Oz
Jerry Nelson
Richard Hunt
Dave Goelz
Steve Whitmire
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Bob Finkel
Running time 50 min.
Release
Original network ABC
Original release December 5, 1979

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together is a 1979 Christmas television special starring Jim Henson's Muppets and singer/songwriter John Denver. The special first aired December 5, 1979 on ABC. The special has never been released in any standard home media video format and there are currently no plans to release it.

Plot

The special opens with Denver and the Muppets singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas". To add comedic effect, Fozzie Bear forgets his line ("Seven swans a-swimming.") and Miss Piggy over-emphasizes hers ("Five gold rings, ba-dum, bum, bum.")

The main plot of the rest of the special is the creation of the special itself and a special musical number for Miss Piggy. During the discussion of her number, Miss Piggy confronts Denver in her dressing room about their presumably mutual attraction. Miss Piggy, as a doll named Fifi, sings "I Will Wait for You" to Denver, who plays a wooden soldier trying to stay in step with a line of marching soldiers.

The program concludes with Denver reciting the story of Jesus' birth and joining the Muppets to sing "Stille Nacht/Silent Night" while the children in the audience join in.

Cast

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.

Muppet performers

  • Jim Henson - Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, the Swedish Chef, Waldorf, Link Hogthrob
  • Frank Oz - Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal
  • Jerry Nelson - Robin the Frog, Floyd Pepper, Lew Zealand
  • Richard Hunt - Scooter, Statler, Janice, Beaker
  • Dave Goelz - The Great Gonzo, Zoot, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

Additional Muppets performed by Mike Davis, Cheryl Henson, Phillip Huber, Brian Muehl, Kathryn Mullen, Bob Payne, and Steve Whitmire.

Credits

  • Producer: Bob Finkel
  • Director: Tony Charmoli
  • Writers: Herbert Baker and Bob Finkel
  • Special Material By: Jon Stone
  • Special Musical Material and Choral Direction: Ray Charles
  • Executive in Charge of Production: Jaques Andre
  • Associate Producer: Jim Rich, Jr.
  • Cast: John Denver
  • The Muppet Performers: Frank Oz with Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, and Jim Henson
  • Additional Muppet Performers: Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, Bob Payne, Brian Muehl, Mike Davis, Cheryl Henson, Phillip Huber
  • Art Director: Ray Klausen
  • Musical Director: George Wyle
  • Music Supervisor: Milt Okun
  • Music Arrangers: Sid Feller, Lee Holdridge, George Wyle
  • Dance Arranger: David Black
  • Choreographer: Tony Charmoli
  • Costume Designer: Bill Hargate
  • Lighting Consultant: Bill Klages
  • Associate Director: Shelley R. Jensen
  • Stage Managers: Paul Rose, Jennifer Cobb
  • Assistant to the Producer: Stan Graham
  • Production Assistants: Lynne Boutross, Stephanie Chaffin, Sylvia Mercier
  • Dispatcher: Richard Romero
  • Nativity Muppets by: Caroly Wilcox and Leslee Asch, Nomi Fredrick, Jane Gootnick, Joanne Green, Marianne Harms, Calista Hendrickson, Janet Kuhl, Tim Miller, Tim Rose, Polly Smith
  • Program Administrator: Harold A. Thau
  • Assistant Choreographer: Dick Beard
  • Assistant Art Director: Rebecca Holler
  • Unit Manager: Hal Danforth
  • Technical Manager: Bob Gabrielson
  • Production Coordinator: John McElveney
  • Technical Director: Gerry Bucci
  • Lighting Director: Alan Walker
  • Audio: Doug Nelson
  • Senior Video: Hugo Di Lonardo
  • Camera: Ron Brooks, Dale Walsh, D.J. Diomedes, Bill Scott
  • Videotape Editor: Jim Frazier
  • Makeup: Rudy Horvatich
  • Production Associate: Barney Wyckoff
  • Executive Producer: Jerry Weintraub
  • Studio: ABC Television Center

Soundtrack album

A Christmas Together
Denver and Muppets Xmas.jpg
Studio album by John Denver and The Muppets
Released October 1979
Genre Christmas music
Length 35:25
Label RCA
Producer Milton Okun
John Denver chronology
John Denver
(1979)John Denver1979		 John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
(1979)		 Autograph
(1980)Autograph1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars [1]

Better known is the soundtrack album of the same name, which featured 13 tracks of traditional Christmas carols and original songs. This album, originally released on RCA Records in October 1979, was re-released on Denver's own Windstar label in 2000 as an abridged ten-track version; the original full-length CD was subsequently re-released in its entirety in 2006. (The previously missing tracks are "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "When the River Meets the Sea", and "Little Saint Nick".) Also all album versions of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" differ from the version featured in the TV special, along with their rendition of "Christmas Is Coming".

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", and "A Baby Just Like You" were released as a red vinyl 45 rpm single (RCA Records PB-11767).

A sheet music edition was also released containing most of the songs and musical scores from the special.

CD track listing

This is the tracklisting for the full version of the soundtrack.

  1. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (Trad., arrangement Milt Okun) (John and the Cast)
  2. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) (Rowlf the Dog and John)
  3. "The Peace Carol" (arrangement Bob Beers) (John, Scooter and the Cast)
  4. "Christmas Is Coming" (arrangement Bob Beers) (Miss Piggy, Scooter, The Great Gonzo, Robin the Frog)
  5. "A Baby Just Like You" (John Denver, Joe Henry) (John)
  6. "Deck the Halls" (Trad., arrangement Milt Okun) (The Cast)
  7. "When the River Meets the Sea" (Paul Williams) (Robin and John with the Cast)
  8. "Little Saint Nick" (Brian Wilson) (Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem)
  9. "Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913" (lyrics Robert Bridges, music Lee Holdridge) (John)
  10. "The Christmas Wish" (Danny Wheetman) (Kermit the Frog)
  11. Medley: "Alfie, the Christmas Tree" (John Denver) (John) / "Carol for a Christmas Tree" (Lee Holdridge) (John) / "It's in Every One of Us" (David Pomeranz) (John and the Cast)
  12. "Silent Night, Holy Night (Stille Nacht)" (Trad., arrangement Milt Okun) (John and the Cast)
  13. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (Trad., arrangement Milt Okun) (John and the Cast)

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic

External links

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