Line #10 Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MFCCLose.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A portion of the cast poses for the closing shot.]]
3
4	->''"Careful of the icy patch!"''
5
6	The best-remembered of several {{Christmas Special}}s featuring Franchise/TheMuppets, this could probably be better called ''A Creator/JimHenson Family Christmas''. It originally aired in 1987 on Creator/{{ABC\|US}} in the U.S. and Creator/{{CBC}} in Canada.[[note]]Although it was actually filmed at CFTO-TV in Toronto, a Creator/{{CTV}} affiliate.[[/note]]
7
8	Fozzie Bear has packed up the entire cast of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' and brought them with him to surprise his mother Emily Bear on her isolated farm for Christmas. There's just one problem: Emily's scheduled a trip to Malibu and rented out the farm house to Doc (from the North American version of ''Series/FraggleRock''), who's looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas in the country. Despite his protests, he and his dog Sprocket are soon joined by the ''Series/SesameStreet'' gang; complicating the matter, "the worst blizzard in fifty years" is preparing to slam the region, and Miss Piggy is missing in action. Throw in the Fraggles and even a bit of ''WesternAnimation/{{Muppet Babies\|1984}}'', and HilarityEnsues.
9
10	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'' next had a new Christmas special of their own with 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, with an [[Series/FraggleRockBackToTheRock Apple TV+ reboot]] of the main series premiering in 2022 (which also includes a holiday episode). ''Muppet Babies'' continued first-run episodes until 1991, and saw its own CGI reboot in 2018, which has had two Christmas episodes.
11	----
12	!!This special provides examples of:
13	* AdaptedOut: Even with most of the well-known Muppets here, some are missing in action. To name a few: Sweetums, Uncle Deadly, Annie Sue, Dr. Strangepork, Betty Lou, the Amazing Mumford, the Gorgs, and the Doozers. None of the humans of Sesame Street appear either, nor do Nanny and Skeeter from ''Muppet Babies''.
14	* ArtShift: In a meta sense. The ''Muppet Babies'' segment is puppeteered, matching the rest of the show but differing from the cartoon. The puppets (with the exception of Baby Animal) were re-used from ''Film/TheMuppetsTakeManhattan'', officially going from Piggy's dream sequence to actual backstory status.
15	* AssKicksYou: Done for a brief gag when Big Bird is talking with the Swedish Chef--he spins around and inadvertently sends the Chef flying with his tail. It's a good thing, too, because the Chef was coming after Big Bird with a meat tenderizer...
16	* AteItAll: No sooner has Janice entered with a big plate of Christmas cookies than Cookie Monster appears and devours the lot.
17	-->'''Janice:''' Who ''was'' that strange blue creature?\
18	'''Animal:''' Dat my kinda fella! Hahahaha!
19	* 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, either, as the ''Sesame Street'' and ''Fraggle Rock'' characters are now owned by different entities (only ''Fraggle Rock'' remains in the hands of the Jim Henson Company) and the original ''Muppet Babies'' will be [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes tied up in legal red tape]] until the end of time.
20	* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Receiving a chocolate-coated birdseed gift from Big Bird and being asked nothing in return is what drives the Swedish Chef to tears and to have a change of heart, sparing Big Bird from becoming the dinner and instead befriending him.
21	* BeneathTheEarth: Kermit had once told Robin about Fraggle holes and that they could go exploring if they ever found one. Robin discovers one in the basement, and he and Kermit journey to the cavernous world of Fraggle Rock, meeting up with the Fraggle Five.
22	* BilingualBonus: As usual, most of the Swedish Chef's dialogue is a lot of incomprehensible babble interspersed with just enough English to follow. But when he first arrives at the farmhouse, he greets Fozzie with a cheery "''Glaedelig Jul!''" Yep, that means "Merry Christmas"... in [[UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}} Danish]], not [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}} Swedish]]. Later, while talking with the Turkey, one of the things he says is "Pfeffernusse", which is a kind of ''German'' Christmas cookie.
23	* TheCameo:
24	** While he doesn't appear anywhere else in the special, ''Fraggle Rock''[='s=] Uncle "Traveling" Matt can be seen singing alongside Doc and Sprocket during the next-to-last caroling sequence.
25	** Sam the Eagle seems to ''think'' this is his role in the show, since one of his only lines has him asking no one in particular, "Why am I here?"
26	** Certain characters, such as Lew Zealand, Elmo, Prairie Dawn, and Herry Monster get reduced to this, since they appear but have no dialogue.
27	** David Rudman, a relative newcomer to the Muppets at the time this special was made, is the voice of the offscreen photographer during Miss Piggy's photo shoot. In the decades since, Rudman has inherited Beaker, Janice, Scooter, Cookie Monster, and others.
28	* CanonDiscontinuity:
29	** A possible example regarding ''Fraggle Rock''. The show had aired its last episode nine months earlier, in March 1987, and had concluded with Doc befriending the Fraggles (Sprocket was already friendly with Gobo by that point although they hadn't known each other's names). 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?" Partially justified in that ''Fraggle Rock'' was likely a new franchise to many American viewers who didn't get Creator/{{HBO}} or Creator/{{CBC}} and/or might be familiar with it only from the animated adaptation.
30	** On the other hand, Emily's house just happens to have a Fraggle hole, which would seem to jibe with the ''Fraggle Rock'' final-episode concept of "You cannot leave the magic": it's possible the portal to Fraggle Rock followed Doc and Sprocket to Emily's.
31	* CarnivoreConfusion: One of the Swedish Chef's shticks: in this special, the Turkey tries to get out of being cooked by siccing the Chef on Big Bird instead. Before Big Bird arrives, he also attempts to persuade the Chef that Sprocket is a turkey, which leads to what may be the best line of the entire special:
32	--> '''Doc:''' I don't ''care'' if the turkey says the dog is the turkey! The dog is not the turkey! The ''turkey's'' the turkey, you turkey!
33	* ChristmasCarolers: The ''Sesame Street'' gang arrive as these, performing "Here We Come A-Caroling". And toward the end of the special, ''all'' the characters join in a medley of carols.
34	* ChristmasSongs: Lots of them. Sometimes they're justified, such as the ''Sesame Street'' caroling sequence.
35	* 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?[[note]]Although anyone who's seen the last episode of ''Fraggle Rock'' could find an explanation for that one - see under Canon Discontinuity above.[[/note]] 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?
36	-->'''Kermit:''' You never know where you're gonna find these things!
37	* CoolOldGuy: Doc proves to be one of these, once he gets past his initial grumpiness. He's not happy, at first, about having his holiday plans turned on their head; but he accepts the situation, helps Emily decorate the house, builds some bunk beds in the broom closet to accommodate the new arrivals, and starts to enjoy himself. His best moment, however, comes when he finds Kermit worrying over Miss Piggy and promptly volunteers to go out into the storm to find her.
38	* CoolOldLady: Emily Bear is not exactly thrilled to have "spent three months of surfing lessons for zip," but she graciously opens her home to her son's "weirdo friends" and pulls out all the stops to make them feel comfortable.
39	* CoveredInMud: When Miss Piggy's limousine gets stuck in a snowdrift, she plans to take a taxi to the farmhouse, but it gets stuck, too. She tries to push it out but only gets sprayed from head to toe with mud.
40	* CreatorCameo: Jim Henson himself shows up at the very end, looking on from the kitchen doorway and commenting.
41	-->"Well, Sprocket, it looks like they're all having a good time. I like it when they have a good time."
42	* CrossCastRole: Bert grudgingly dons a woman's nightgown for the pageant: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
43	-->'''Ernie:''' C'mon, Bert. Somebody has to play Mama, and you [[HeadsOrTails lost the toss]]!
44	* CutenessProximity:
45	** After the ''Muppet Babies'' segment, Doc admits that "even weirdos are cute when they're babies!"
46	--->'''Gonzo:''' I knew you'd learn to love us!\
47	'''Doc:''' I didn't say ''that''.
48	** Oscar, though, doesn't share the opinion of the ''Sesame Street'' play:
49	--->'''Emily Bear:''' Oh, aren't they adorable.\
50	'''Oscar:''' Don't encourage them!
51	* DeadlineNews: A gag carried over from the regular ''Muppet Show'', when the newscaster reports on the storm and states that barometers are falling sharply. And no, he's not hit by the storm, he's [[VisualPun hit by falling barometers]].
52	* [[DefrostingIceQueen Defrosting Ice King]]: Doc goes through this--he's at first upset that his plans for "a nice, quiet Christmas" have been ruined by the sudden arrival of the Muppets and Sesame Street gang, but as time passes and he gets to know them, he gradually warms up and starts enjoying their company. It culminates with him being the one to go out and search for Miss Piggy to bring her safely to the farmhouse, citing his new friendship with the group as why he wants to do it.
53	* DescriptionCut: As he and his friends are driving to Emily's farm, Fozzie gives Kermit a nostalgic description of her house decorated for Christmas, with his mother sitting in her rocking chair by the fire, knitting and feeling a little sad. Meanwhile, the shot of her living room shows it free of decorations and fire, while Emily has her bags packed for Malibu.
54	* DirtyCoward: The Turkey tries to save himself by getting the Swedish Chef to cook Sprocket and Big Bird.
55	* DraggedIntoDrag: Bert's not happy about having to play "Mama in her kerchief" in the Christmas pageant.
56	* 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![[note]]Note that some blizzards ''are'' naturally accompanied by thunder and lightning, as well.[[/note]]
57	* DubInducedPlotHole: Or rather, ImportationExpansion Plot Hole. The first thought of many young Britons on seeing it was "Why is Sprocket owned by some guy called Doc? What happened to the lighthouse keeper (from the British version of ''Series/FraggleRock'')?"
58	* EncouragedRegifting: The Fraggles have a nice yellow pebble that they've gifted one another well over thirty times as a sign of friendship. During the special, Mokey gives it to Boober, who gives it to Robin... who then gives it to Grover.
59	* FailedASpotCheck: During the next-to-last caroling sequence, the Fraggle Five 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, doesn't turn around and see them. Even with Traveling Matt standing ''right next to him'', he's too busy petting Sprocket to notice. (On ''Fraggle Rock'', Sprocket was always attempting to alert him to the Fraggles' presence.)[[note]]The special was made after the end of ''Fraggle Rock'', which ended with Doc finally recognizing the existence of Fraggles and befriending Gobo, but based on the dialogue, the events apparently take place before the ''Fraggle'' finale. This may have been done due to the fact that the animated ''Fraggle Rock'' series was airing on Creator/{{NBC}} at that time, to avoid spoiling the plot for viewers just becoming familiar with the Fraggle universe thanks to the animated series.[[/note]]
60	* {{Foreshadowing}}: When the Muppets first show up, Doc asks Sprocket if they're "anything like those Fraggles." Guess who shows up later in the special?
61	* FurryConfusion: Several:
62	** Rowlf has a barking conversation with Doc's (Muppet but non-anthro) dog Sprocket.
63	---> '''Doc:''' ''[amused]'' [[AsideComment Don't you just hate it when you can't speak the language?]]
64	** An anthro turkey hits on non-anthro chicken Camilla.
65	** Kermit gives Piggy [[PrettyInMink a mink]] for Christmas—a live one who proclaims herself Piggy's biggest fan.
66	* GoodFeelsGood: The theme of [[CrowdSong "Pass it On"]], which Kermit and Robin sing with a crowd of Fraggles. It's about the joy "of giving love away." Right afterward, Mokey gives the yellow pebble to Boober... who gives it to Robin... who then gives it to Grover.
67	-->'''Red:''' ''[singing]'' When you're giving love away, love will come again to stay!
68	* GratuitousFrench: Piggy does this fairly often, although it's not unusual for her.
69	* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: You can tell that the gathering at the end of the show is a special occasion, because even the Muppets who are normally not dressed (e.g. Kermit) have put on special duds.
70	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Lampshaded with Bert and Ernie, who play a couple for a presentation of ''Literature/TwasTheNightBeforeChristmas''. (Bert's humiliated that he's "Mama"; Ernie responds that ''someone'' had to be, and he lost the coin toss.)
71	* HurryingHomeForTheHolidays: The Muppets visit the farmhouse of Emily Bear, Fozzie's mother, for Christmas. However, Miss Piggy is busy with a photoshoot and last-minute Christmas shopping, so she can't join the rest of the Muppets right away. On her way to the farmhouse, the worst blizzard in 50 years hits, and this results in Miss Piggy's limousine getting stuck in a snowdrift. Having befriended the Muppets, [[Series/FraggleRock Doc]] volunteers to find Miss Piggy in the snowstorm for Kermit, and he returns with her in a dogsled.
72	* IAmNotWeasel: Emily mistakenly refers to Kermit as a lizard several times.
73	* IGotARock: In this case, it's apparently a good thing. The "nice yellow pebble" has been a Fraggle gift thirty-seven times. During the special, Mokey gives it to Boober, who gives it to Robin... who then gives it to Grover.
74	* InstantlyProvenWrong: Fozzie wants Kermit to watch his comedy act with his new snowman partner despite a blizzard raging outside. Kermit protests that it's too cold; Fozzie counters that it isn't cold at all; cue the snowman coming inside to warm up.
75	-->'''Fozzie''': ...okay, so it's cold.
76	* IronicJuxtaposition: Kermit and Robin sing a tender chorus of "Jingle Bells," immediately followed by a rock and roll power chord and the Electric Mayhem singing "Jingle Bell Rock."
77	* IsNothingSacred: Sam the Eagle is driven to ask exactly this (with accompanying FacePalm) after seeing the Two-Headed Monster from ''Series/SesameStreet'' play SantaClaus in a skit.
78	* IveHeardOfThatWhatIsIt: When Kermit tells the Fraggles that he and Robin have come to wish them a merry Christmas...
79	-->'''Wembley:''' Oh!\
80	'''Mokey:''' Really?\
81	'''Boober:''' Thank you!\
82	'''Mokey:''' That's nice!\
83	'''Wembley:''' Uh... what's Christmas?
84	* LetsMeetTheMeat: The Turkey initially seems rather nonchalant about being, as Gonzo notes, "in the wrong place at the wrong time."
85	* LiteralMinded:
86	-->'''Fozzie:''' Kermit, Kermit, ''now'' can I tell you about my new act? Huh?\
87	'''Kermit:''' I'm all ears.\
88	''[Sprocket's barking is heard offscreen.]''\
89	'''Kermit:''' Now, what can that be? ''[Walks off.]''\
90	'''Fozzie:''' ''[to camera]'' What do you mean, he's all ears? Frogs don't even have ears!
91	* MetaGuy: Doc, as one of the only human characters (outside of ''The Muppet Show'' and its spinoff movies) to ever interact with the Muppets[[note]]Note that none of the human stars of ''Sesame Street'' appear[[/note]], 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."
92	* MusicalisInterruptus: When the ''Sesame Street'' gang show up outside caroling, the second song they sing is "Deck the Halls". When it gets to the line "Follow me in merry measure" which turned out to be Oscar's part, he grumpily says he refuses to sing as the music halts, before the song continues normally.
93	* NowYouTellMe: There's a RunningGag about an icy patch in front of the door. Each new visitor is told, "Careful of the icy patch!"... after they've already slipped.
94	* ObliviousGuiltSlinging: The Swedish Chef is preparing to cook Big Bird for Thanksgiving dinner, but as he's getting the dishes ready, the giant fowl gives him a homemade gift (chocolate-covered birdseed) and talks about how sad the Chef must feel to be away from his family in Sweden. The Chef clearly feels terrible about what he was planning to do as Big Bird cheerfully talks, none the wiser.
95	* OddFriendship: Emily and [[spoiler:Statler and Waldorf]], much to Fozzie's astonishment. 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.
96	* AnOddPlaceToSleep:
97	** With the house crammed full of guests and space at a premium, Emily tells the gang that two of them will have to sleep suspended from hangers on a hook on the wall. Gonzo and Animal are only too happy to comply.
98	--->'''Floyd:''' That's the only way Animal ''ever'' sleeps, ma'am.
99	** Earlier, Emily rattles off a list of other bizarre places people will be sleeping, including a hammock, the bathtub, and a pair of "bunk beds in the broom closet."
100	* OffscreenCrash: Can be heard while Piggy is calling Kermit from a phone booth during the storm.
101	* OffscreenTeleportation: The ''Sesame Street'' gang turns up midway through the special, with no real explanation as to how they knew where everyone else was.
102	* OhCrap: Fozzie's reaction upon not only seeing Statler and Waldorf, but being told that his mom is ''friends'' with them.
103	* OldTimeyCinemaCountdown: Scooter puts on an old home movie of the very first Christmas the Muppets spent together [[WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984 when they were babies]]. The film reel opens with such a countdown displaying the numbers 4, 3, and 2.
104	* OneShotCharacter: Maureen the Mink (performed by Karen Prell) makes her first and only appearance here. (Although, judging from her design, she may have originally been one of the ''Fraggle Rock'' "cave pals.")
105	* OnSecondThought:
106	-->'''Emily Bear:''' There. Fozzie's stocking is hung by the mantel so Santa can bring him a present.\
107	'''Fozzie:''' Aww, Mom, this is embarrassing. I mean, I'm not a cub anymore. I'm a grown bear.\
108	'''Emily Bear:''' Oh. Well, I'll take it down.\
109	'''Fozzie:''' ''[quickly]'' Oh, no! I didn't say ''that''.
110	* OriginalGeneration: The turkey and snowman characters were created specifically for the special. Both puppets would be reused again in ''Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol''.
111	* TheParodyBeforeChristmas: The ''Series/SesameStreet'' cast put on a pageant version of the poem. Ernie is the narrator, Grover is the mouse (carrying a [[LiteralMinded bowl and spoon]] to show that he's not stirring), Bert is the wife (and is not too happy about playing that role), and the Two-Headed Monster is Santa (causing Sam the Eagle to mutter "is nothing sacred?").
112	* PetTheDog: When trying to figure out sleeping arrangements, Rizzo considers bunking with Oscar... and the usually antisocial Grouch admits he likes the idea of having a rat in his trash can.
113	* PlankGag: While checking out the kitchen, Big Bird unknowingly bumps the Swedish Chef into the counter with his tail.
114	* ThePowerOfFriendship: The innocent and naïve Big Bird, who is naturally unaware of the Swedish Chef's initial plans to cook him for dinner, immediately befriends him and offers him chocolate-coated birdseed that Granny Bird made as a gift, in addition to asking for nothing in return. This causes the Swedish Chef to burst into tears and spare him.
115	* PrettyInMink: Piggy's dress for the finale has fur trim, and of course, Maureen the Mink takes this trope up to eleven in the literal sense.
116	* {{Pun}}: Late arrival Rowlf explains to Fozzie, "I was chasin' the truck all the way, and boy, am I ''exhaust''ed!" Fozzie lampshades and compliments his wordplay.
117	* RevisitingTheRoots:
118	** This special was an example of this for the Muppet organization. At the time, ''Series/FraggleRock'' was just ending (the original series had aired its finale in March, and the short-lived animated spinoff airing at the time would not be renewed), 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.
119	** Speaking of ''The Jim Henson Hour'', the idea for this special actually came out of that show's development, albeit indirectly: Henson, Oz, and writer Jerry Juhl had a lot of fun working together on its pitch reel, and the experience led them to decide to make a Christmas special where the core Creator/MuppetPerformers could get together and just do an old-fashioned comedy-variety show.
120	* RiddleForTheAges: It's never explained how the ''Sesame Street'' gang knew about Kermit and the others being at Emily Bear's house and where it was in the first place.
121	* RunningGag:
122	** "Careful of the icy patch!"
123	** Emily Bear thinking Kermit is a lizard.
124	** Sesame Street small talk.
125	* SantaClaus: Santa appears at the end and starts handing out presents -- and sounds rather suspiciously like Doc, who is suddenly nowhere to be seen.
126	* ShapedLikeItself: Doc has to remind the Swedish Chef that the ''turkey'' is the turkey... and the ''dog'' isn't.
127	* ShoutOut: When it's pointed out that Gonzo's [[InterspeciesRomance not a chicken like his girlfriend]]:
128	-->'''Gonzo:''' Well, [[Film/SomeLikeItHot nobody's perfect]].
129	* SnowedIn: The gang must weather "the worst blizzard in fifty years," while Kermit worries about Miss Piggy, who is apparently lost in it.
130	* {{Snowlems}}: Fozzie builds a snowman who promptly comes alive and shares his sense of humor.
131	* SpotlightStealingCrossover: Most of the focus is on the ''Muppet Show'' and ''Sesame Street'' casts plus Doc and Sprocket, with ''Fraggle Rock'' and ''Muppet Babies'' getting only one major scene each (though the Fraggles are later seen showing up for caroling). As a result, most ''Fraggle'' and ''Babies'' secondary characters (like the Doozers and Gorgs for the former and Skeeter and Nanny for the latter) don't appear at all. Worse, most of the ''Babies'' scene was cut from later releases due to rights issues.
132	* StealthPun: The Turkey is a [[SoulBrotha 1960s-hip, urban jazz type]] who speaks in a slight dialect. He is, of course, a ''jive'' turkey (but not enough to be [[JiveTurkey the trope]]).
133	* TearingThroughTheMovieScreen: The gang watches an old home movie of the Muppets as babies. At the end, Baby Animal pops out of a present, causing the audience to go "Aww, Animal." Then adult Animal rips through the screen, and the audience responds with "Aw, Animal!" in a more disappointed tone.
134	* TemptingFate:
135	** After the Sesame Street gang arrives and sings, Kermit sighs: "Aw, it's nice to have everyone here. You can feel the peace of the holiday season." Cue the entire group rushing for the door and trampling him while [[RunningGag slipping on the icy patch.]]
136	** In a musical variation, Kermit and Robin comment on how wonderful it is to be with family at Christmas, then begin a subdued duet of "Jingle Bells." They get about one line through before the Electric Mayhem bursts into an extremely loud version of "Jingle Bell Rock" in the living room.
137	* TerrifiedOfGerms: When the Fraggles first meet Kermit and Robin...
138	-->'''Boober:''' Don't touch 'em! Frogs are probably noted germ-carriers.
139	* ThatRemindsMeOfASong:
140	-->'''Kermit:''' Well, everybody, it's Christmas Eve and the tree is trimmed, so it's time for our annual carol sing!
141	* ThrowTheDogABone: Fozzie actually gets some laughs when he teams up with the snowman. One of the woodland creatures even calls them the funniest comedy team in the business.
142	* ToiletHumor: While watching home videos, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew 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]]
143	* TooSpicyForYogSothoth: You know it's cold when the ''snowman'' wants to come in and warm up.
144	* TrueCompanions: A major theme of any {{Muppet}} production, but given special emphasis here. Only two sets of characters in this special are blood-related (Kermit and Robin and Fozzie and his mother), but the special shows everyone coming together in true familial fashion.
145	* TrueMeaningOfChristmas: Robin the Frog defines it for the Fraggles as a time when "you gather together with the people you love, and you wish each other peace on Earth."
146	* UnderTheMistletoe: Kermit and Piggy at the very end.
147	* UngratefulBastard: Gonzo warns The Turkey about The Swedish Chef and tells him to get out of there. The Turkey ignores him and hits on his girlfriend, Camilla.
148	* TheUnintelligible:
149	** Good thing they didn't have Beaker do a solo on the more obscure carols...
150	** There's also the Swedish Chef, who sings "The Christmas Song" with Big Bird. The only intelligible words are the ones that end the lines, presumably to keep the rhyme scheme.
151	* VillainBall: The Swedish Chef, of all people, briefly grabs hold of it when he plans to kill, cook, and serve Big Bird for Christmas dinner. Keep in mind that Big Bird is canonically ''six years old'' (although it's possible the Chef didn't know that). We even seen the Swedish Chef preparing to use a meat tenderizing hammer on the giant fellow. Thankfully, Big Bird giving him a homemade gift and a few kind words are enough to change his tune.
152	* VillainOverForDinner: Fozzie gets a shock when he finds Statler and Waldorf in the audience for his new act, with Emily explaining that they're friends of hers who regularly visit for Christmas.
153	* VisualPun:
154	** Grover plays a mouse in the '''Literature/TwasTheNightBeforeChristmas'' skit, 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.")
155	** The news reporter on television that breaks the news of the big blizzard says that barometers are falling sharply, right before a barrage of barometers falls on top of him.
156	* WhatsAHenway: Fozzie and the snowman's act features ''two'' jokes of this type.
157	-->'''Fozzie:''' That's pretty good harmony for a snowman.
158	-->'''Snowman:''' Actually, I'm a "snoo-man".
159	-->'''Fozzie''': What's a "snoo-man"?
160	-->'''Snowman:''' Nothing! What's a-snoo with ''you'', man?!
161	-->[...]
162	-->'''Snowman:''' But it's always cold at Christmas.
163	-->'''Fozzie:''' Ah, Christmas, a time when Santa Claus comes down with his eight prancing reinbear.
164	-->'''Snowman:''' Um, that's reindeer.
165	-->'''Fozzie:''' No! That's ''snow'', darling!
166	* 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.

Context Film / AMuppetFamilyChristmas