History Film / AMuppetFamilyChristmas

* ContinuityLockout: Anyone from an area with its own localized human segments of ''Fraggle Rock'' was probably confused by the appearance of Doc as Sprocket's owner. Even some U.S. viewers who didn't have Creator/{{HBO}}, couldn't get CBC, and hadn't watched the animated version of ''Fraggle Rock'' (which was airing on Creator/{{NBC}} at that time), were locked out. (And remember this was before online streaming, or before you could just Google who they were.)

* DramaticThunder: Count von Count IS in this, after all. Also, when the Turkey initially sics the Swedish Chef on Big Bird, we hear thunder booming for no apparent reason except to heighten the drama... except there ''isn't any lightning'' at that part!

* ContinuityLockout: Anyone from an area with its own localized human segments of ''Fraggle Rock'' was probably confused by the appearance of a different Doc, and possibly by his dog being named Sprocket (he was called Croquette in France). So, possibly, were U.S. viewers who didn't have Creator/{{HBO}} and didn't live within reach of a CBC station. (And remember this was before online streaming, or before you could just Google who they were.)

* MetaGuy: Doc, as one of the only human characters (outside of the movies) to ever interact with the Muppets, gets to play this role, as he calls attention to their sheer weirdness and the illogical matchups among them. It's best seen when he asks Kermit what Miss Piggy looks like; upon hearing she's a pig, he remarks that "Well, up to a short while ago, I would have thought that strange."

* BatFamilyCrossover: The only time you'll ever see the four cornerstones of early Muppetdom (''Series/TheMuppetShow'', ''Series/FraggleRock'', ''Series/SesameStreet'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Muppet Babies|1984}}'') in the same place. Don't expect it to ever happen again, as the ''Sesame Street'' characters are now owned by a different company, ''Fraggle Rock'' is only known to those with cable channels like Creator/TheHub or Creator/{{HBO}} (except for those Americans who were able to watch it on Canadian broadcast TV), and the original ''Muppet Babies'' will be [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes tied up in legal red tape]] until the end of time.

The best-remembered of several {{Christmas Special}}s featuring Franchise/TheMuppets; it could probably be better called ''A Creator/JimHenson Family Christmas''. It originally aired in 1987 on Creator/{{CBC}} in Canada[[note]]although it was filmed at CFTO-TV in Toronto, a Creator/{{CTV}} affiliate[[/note]] and Creator/{{ABC}} in the U.S.

The best-remembered of several {{Christmas Special}}s featuring Franchise/TheMuppets; it could probably be better called ''A Creator/JimHenson Family Christmas''. It originally aired in 1987 on Creator/{{CBC}} in Canada and Creator/{{ABC}} in the U.S.

* ToiletHumor: While watching home videos, Janice spots Baby Rowlf and comments on how "wee" (small) he was, Rowlf retaliates and says he was paper-trained at the time.[[note]]This exchange was cut from the VHS release.[[/note]]

* FailedASpotCheck: During the final caroling sequence, the Fraggles sneak upstairs and get a chance to observe the action. They hide behind the mantelpiece to watch--and Doc, who's right in front of it, misses his chance to see them (on ''Fraggle Rock'', Sprocket was always attempting to alert him to their presence).

* RevisitingTheRoots: This special was an example of this for the Muppet organization. At the time, ''Series/FraggleRock'' was just ending, Jim Henson was working on the concept of ''Series/TheJimHensonHour'', Creator/FrankOz was busy getting his film directing career going, and in general there was a lot of activity happening on a lot of different projects. When Henson, Oz and writer Jerry Juhl worked together on ''Series/TheJimHensonHour'''s pitch reel, they'd had a lot of fun doing it, and decided to make a Christmas special where the core Muppeteers could get together and just do an old-fashioned comedy-variety show.

** It was also the only time Creator/FrankOz, who had not worked on ''Fraggle Rock'', participated in a Muppet work in which ''Fraggle Rock'' characters were leads (discounting works where they made cameos, such as Traveling Matt's cameo in ''The Muppets Take Manhattan'' or Sprocket's in ''Muppet Christmas Carol'').

* ContrivedCoincidence: Sure, it makes for a heartwarming crossover, but what are the odds that of all the houses in all the world, Emily Bear's basement ''just so happens'' to have a Fraggle Hole inside? And furthermore, what are the odds that the "main" Fraggles would just so happen to be walking by that hole when Kermit and Robin enter?

* CanonDiscontinuity: Regarding ''Fraggle Rock''. The show had aired its last episode nine months earlier, in March 1987, and had concluded with Doc and Sprocket befriending the Fraggles. However, in this special, Doc apparently still doesn't know what Fraggles are, as upon encountering the ''Muppet Show'' cast, he asks Sprocket, "Are these anything like those Fraggles you keep telling me about?" [[note]]It's worth noting that ''Fraggle Rock'' to this day has never been on U.S. broadcast television, having only aired on Creator/{{HBO}} in the United States heretofore and on other cable networks thereafter, although it did air on CBC in Canada.[[/note]]

* ContinuityLockout: Anyone from an area with its own localized human segments of ''Fraggle Rock'' was utterly confused by Doc and Sprocket. So, possibly, were U.S. viewers who didn't have Creator/{{HBO}} and/or didn't live within broadcast or cable reach of a CBC affiliate. (And remember this was before online streaming, or before you could just Google who they were.)

* OffscreenCrash: Can be heard while Piggy is calling Kermit from a PhoneBooth during the storm.

** Grover plays a mouse for '''Twas the Night Before Christmas'', and he's carrying a bowl -- which, [[DontExplainTheJoke as he spells out]], he is not stirring. (As in "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.")

* MindYourStep: There's a running gag about an icy patch in front of the door. "Careful of the icy patch!" greets each new visitor - [[NowYouTellMe after they've already slipped]].

* YouMeanXmas: The Fraggles have never heard of Christmas, but coincidentally happen to celebrate a very similar holiday, the "Festival of the Bells," at the same time.

** And [[TheGrinch Oscar]], of course:

* BatFamilyCrossover: The only time you'll ever see the four cornerstones of early Muppetdom (''Series/TheMuppetShow'', ''Series/FraggleRock'', ''Series/SesameStreet'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Muppet Babies|1984}}'') in the same place. Don't expect it to ever happen again, as the ''Sesame Street'' characters are now owned by a different company, ''Fraggle Rock'' is only known to those with cable channels like Creator/TheHub or Creator/{{HBO}}, and the original ''Muppet Babies'' will be [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes tied up in legal red tape]] until the end of time.

* ContinuityLockout: Anyone from an area with its own localized human segments of ''Fraggle Rock'' was utterly confused by Doc and Sprocket. So, possibly, were U.S. viewers who didn't have Creator/{{HBO}} and/or didn't live within broadcast or cable reach of a CBC affiliate. (And remember this was before you could just Google who they were.)

* ContinuityLockout: Anyone from an area with its own localized human segments of ''Fraggle Rock'' was utterly confused by Doc and Sprocket (and remember this was before you could just Google who they were).

Followed by ''Miss Piggy's Hollywood'' in 1989, among many other Muppet specials, but in a holiday context, ''Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol'' arrived next in 1992. ''Sesame Street'' had a new Christmas special of their own 1996's ''Film/ElmoSavesChristmas'' (note that in ''A Muppet Family Christmas'', Elmo was just a background character with no lines.) Both ''Fraggle Rock'' series had ended earlier that year, but the computer-animated spin-off ''The Doozers'' followed in 2012. ''Muppet Babies'' continued first-run episodes until 1991, and saw it's own CGI reboot in 2018.
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%%* CoolOldGuy: Doc proves to be one of these, once he gets past his initial grumpiness. %%Zero Context
%%* CoolOldLady: Emily Bear. %%Zero Context
* CrossCastRole: Bert dons a woman's nightgown during "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".

** Kermit gives Piggy [[PrettyInMink a mink]] for Christmas - a live one that proclaims herself Piggy's biggest fan.

** Doc is one through the first half or so of the special, as he's had his holiday plans upended.

* IsNothingSacred: Sam the Eagle is driven to ask this after seeing the Two-Headed Monster from ''Series/SesameStreet'' play SantaClaus in a skit.

* OddFriendship: Emily and [[spoiler:Statler and Waldorf]], and Big Bird and the Swedish Chef also form one. There are a few other minor friendly interactions between the casts, like Oscar and Rizzo or Animal and Cookie Monster.

* ToiletHumor: While watching home videos, Janice spots Baby Rowlf and comments on how "wee" (small) he was, Rowlf retaliates and says he was paper-trained at the time.

* YouMeanXmas: The Fraggles have never heard of Christmas, but coincidentally happen to celebrate a very similar holiday, the "Festival of the Bells," at the same time.
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Followed by ''Miss Piggy's Hollywood'' in 1989, among many other Muppet specials, but in a holiday context, 'Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol'' arrived next in 1992. ''Sesame Street'' had a new Christmas special of their own 1996's ''Film/ElmoSavesChristmas'' (note that in ''A Muppet Family Christmas'', Elmo was just a background character with no lines.) Both ''Fraggle Rock'' series had ended earlier that year, but the computer-animated spin-off ''The Doozers'' followed in 2012. ''Muppet Babies'' continued first-run episodes until 1991, and saw it's own CGI reboot in 2018.

* RevisitingTheRoots: This special was an example of this for the Muppet organization. At the time, ''Series/FraggleRock'' was just ending, Jim Henson was working on the concept of ''Series/TheJimHensonHour'', Creator/FrankOz was busy getting his film directing career, and in general there was a lot of activity happening on a lot of different projects. When Henson, Oz and writer Jerry Juhl worked together on ''Series/TheJimHensonHour'''s pitch reel, they'd had a lot of fun doing it, and decided to make a Christmas special where the core Muppeteers could get together and just do an old-fashioned comedy-variety show.

* BatFamilyCrossover: The only time you'll ever see the four cornerstones of early Muppetdom (''Series/TheMuppetShow'', ''Series/FraggleRock'', ''Series/SesameStreet'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Muppet Babies|1984}}'') in the same place. Don't expect it to ever happen again, as the ''Sesame Street'' characters are now owned by a different company, ''Fraggle Rock'' is [[Creator/TheHub only known to those with cable]] (or HBO), and the original ''Muppet Babies'' will be [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes tied up in legal red tape]] until the end of time.

* CoolOldGuy: Doc proves to be one of these, once he gets past his initial grumpiness.
* CoolOldLady: Emily Bear.

** Mrs. Bear's in the same situation as Doc, but averts the trope; she manages to take it mostly in stride. (Possibly she's used to this sort of nonsense - after all, she ''did'' raise Fozzie.)

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters

* VisualPun: Grover plays a mouse for '''Twas the Night Before Christmas'', and he's carrying a bowl...
** DontExplainTheJoke: ...which, as he spells out, he is not stirring. (As in "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.")