History Literature / EmmetOttersJugBandChristmas

* GiftOfTheMagiPlot: Inverted; they sacrifice ''each other's'' possessions for a shot at the prize money, which they plan to use to buy an extravagant gift and presumably replace the stolen item with what's left over.

* SnakeOilSalesman: Ma Otter's deceased husband was one.

* CutSong: "I Was Born in the Trunk", which was to have been sung by the music store owner.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: Well, OK, it could be a coincidence that the Riverbottom Nightmare Band's titular song sounds a LOT like "Foxy Lady" by JimiHendrix...
** The song they play in the music shop strongly resembles Free's "All Right Now."

** It should be noted that WordOfGod from Paul Williams in the 2005 Making Of Documentary/Retrospective gives the opposite explanation on the song's meaning. He states it's a song about ''life'', a secular hymn on how in his view, we can never truly understand it, just appreciate it reverently. The special itself leaves the interpretation open to the viewer.

In 1977, JimHenson adapted the story (with [[strike:puppets]] {{muppet}}s, of course) for {{HBO}}. It later aired on Creator/{{ABC}} and then on {{Nickelodeon}}. It sticks very true to the story. (The only real difference is that in the special, the Nightmare Band are mean-spirited bullies. In the book, they were just a band with a flashier, more glamorous act.) Original music was written for the special by PaulWilliams. In 2008 and 2009, the Goodspeed Theater and the Jim Henson company produced a live stage version of the show, featuring a mixture of Muppets and costumed humans.

* DisappearedDad: Ma Otter is a widow struggling to get by and support Emmet. His father was a travelling snake oil salesman who died well before the book took place.
* DrivesLikeCrazy: The Riverbottom Nightmare Gang.

* GiftOfTheMagiPlot
* KarmaHoudini: The Nightmare Gang are generally mean to everyone and cause a fair bit of damage and trouble. Then they win the contest.

* TheyStoleOurAct: Emmet and his bandmates have to change plans in a hurry after another act in the talent show plays "Barbecue", the song they rehearsed.
* WickedWeasel: In the movie/stage adaptation, the antagonistic Riverbottom Nightmare Band includes Chuck Stoat and Stanley Weasel.

* EarnYourHappyEnding

** Averted with Doc Bullfrog, who's a fair judge at the contest and hires the band for his restaurant. Of course, frogs aren't reptiles...

Emmet and Ma both enter, keeping it secret from each other. Emmet joins a jug band with his friends, and drills a hole in the bottom of Ma's washtub to turn it into a bass. Ma Otter decides to sing, and has to sell her son's tools to get good clothing for the contest. Just before the show starts, The flashy River Bottom Band from two towns over shows up and easily wins the contest. As Ma, Emmet, and his friends walk home, Ma sings her song with the jug band playing behind her, and the local innkeeper hears them and hires them as the house band.

** Averted with Doc Bullfrog, who's a fair judge at the contest and hires the band for his restaurant.

In 1977, JimHenson adapted the story (with [[strike:puppets]] {{muppet}}s, of course) for {{HBO}}. It later aired on Creator/{{ABC}} and then on {{Nickelodeon}}. It sticks very true to the story. [[note]] The only real difference is that in the special, the River Bottom Band are mean-spirited bullies. In the book, they were just a band with a flashier, more glamorous act.[[/note]]. Original music was written for the special by PaulWilliams. In 2008 and 2009, the Goodspeed Theater and the Jim Henson company produced a live stage version of the show, featuring a mixture of Muppets and costumed humans.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: The special plays the trope strait with two members of the River Bottom Gang. The book doesn't use it.

A Christmas story published in 1971 by Russell Hoban. It tells of a widowed otter and her son who are struggling to make ends meet just before Christmas: she does others' laundry and he does odd jobs. Both of them want to get a gift for the other for Christmas - she wants to get him a guitar, and he wants to get her a piano. But times are tough that year, adults are taking the jobs that Emmet used to get and people are doing their own laundry. Then the town announces a talent show with a $50 prize.

In 1977, JimHenson adapted the story (with [[strike:puppets]] {{muppet}}s, of course) for {{HBO}}. It later aired on {{ABC}} and then on {{Nickelodeon}}. It sticks very true to the story. [[hottip:*: The only real difference is that in the special, the River Bottom Band are mean-spirited bullies. In the book, they were just a band with a flashier, more glamorous act.]]. Original music was written for the special by PaulWilliams. In 2008 and 2009, the Goodspeed Theater and the Jim Henson company produced a live stage version of the show, featuring a mixture of Muppets and costumed humans.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Quietly [[AvertedTrope averted]] in the book; played straight in the special with two members of the River Bottom Gang.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Listen to the lyrics of "When the River Meets the Sea". It's a song about ''death''. This is a children's Christmas puppet show... Not that [[SesameStreet the other famous children's puppet show]] was all that subtle about Mr. Hooper's death.

In 1977, JimHenson adapted the story (with [[strike:puppets]] {{muppet}}s, of course) for {{HBO}}. It later aired on {{ABC}} and then on {{Nickelodeon}}. It sticks very true to the story. [[hottip:*: The only real difference is that in the special, the River Bottom Band are mean-spirited bullies. In the book, they were just a band with a flashier, more glamorous act.]]. Original music was written for the special by [[PhantomoftheParadise Paul Williams]]. In 2008 and 2009, the Goodspeed Theater and the Jim Henson company produced a live stage version of the show, featuring a mixture of Muppets and costumed humans.

* EverythingsWickedWithWeasels: In the movie/stage adaptation, the antagonistic Riverbottom Nightmare Band includes Chuck Stoat and Stanley Weasel.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Quietly [[AvertedTrope averted]] in the book; played straight in the special with two members of the River Bottom Gang..

* [=~Everything's Wicked With Weasels~=]: In the movie/stage adaptation, the antagonistic Riverbottom Nightmare Band includes Chuck Stoat and Stanley Weasel.

* TheJimmyHartVersion: Well, OK, it could be a coincidence that the Riverbottom Nightmare Band's titular song sounds a LOT like "Foxy Lady" by JimiHendrix...
** The song they play in the music shop strongly resembles Free's "All Right Now."

* IAmNotShazam: The antagonistic rock band was called ''The Nightmare''. They were ''from'' the town of River Bend. The song they played was ''Riverbottom Nightmare''.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Quietly [[AvertedTrope averted]]; a snapping turtle appears in the book.

In 1977, JimHenson adapted the story (with [[strike:puppets]] {{muppet}}s, of course) for {{HBO}}. It later aired on {{ABC}} and then on {{Nickelodeon}}. It sticks very true to the story. [[hottip:*: The only real difference is that in the special, the River Bottom Band are mean-spirited bullies. In the book, they were just a band with a flashier, more glamorous act.]] In 2008 and 2009, the Goodspeed Theater and the Jim Henson company produced a live stage version of the show, featuring a mixture of Muppets and costumed humans.