Many children who grew up in the late seventies and early eighties may fondly remember one of Jim Henson’s contributions to the myriad of Christmas specials, which repeated every year. Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas was stylistically different than Henson’s popular Muppet Show, but the emotional center was unmistakably Henson. Almost twenty-five years later, the special returns to entertain a whole new generation. This time in the form of a new DVD from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

Based on the book by Russell and Lillan Hoban, and narrated by Kermit the Frog himself, “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” puts a new spin on “The Gift of the Magi”. As Christmas approaches Frogtown Hollow, Emmet Otter and his Ma can only dream of buying each other gifts with the little money they make-Ma doing laundry and Emmet doing odd jobs. So, when a Christmas Eve talent contest is announced, Emmet joins a jug band and Ma decides to sing a song. But Emmet will have to put a hole in Ma’s washtub to make a bass! And Ma will have to hock Emmet’s tool chest to buy herself a costume! Should Emmet and Ma risk all they have to make each other’s dreams come true?

The DVD is coming in its original fullscreen presentation, but has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1. The disc will contain no supplemental features.

“Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” will be joining “A Muppet Family Christmas” when both titles are released on November 6th with a suggested retail price of $19.95 each.