Radio & Television By Joan Irwin

Any television viewer can tell you that Christmas specials can be anything by special.

Well, we’ve has our usual share of duds this season, but the past week has brought a quite remarkable collection of seasonal programs, several of which will be welcome additions to the annual roster of Christmas regulars.

Two of this week’s most captivating specials were produced in Toronto – an original half-hour animated show from Nelvana Ltd. called ‘A Cosmic Christmas’; and from Glen-Warren productions, the hour-long ‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’ featuring Jim Henson’s irresistible Muppets and based on a book by Russell and Lillian Holan.

Henson produced and directed his show, the music was by Paul Williams, and the beautiful sets were designed by William Beeton and decorated by Stephenie Finnie, both of the CBC design department.

‘Jug-Band Christmas’ is one of those homely, heart-warming tale about a poor widow and her devoted son, each trying to raise enough money to give the other a special Christmas present. The difference is that the cast are all animals and the message is that one should take a chance for something one believes in even if the results aren’t quite what one hoped, as happens in this story.

It’s a particularly endearing tale, and the Muppets are perhaps the most engaging creatures ever created for television. This collection of Henson’s marvels included a group of squirrel tumblers, a pair of dancing rabbits, and a rock group called ‘Nightmare’ which featured a serpent lead guitarist and a wild green fish going rhythmically berserk in a tank of water. There were enough to warm the heard of an Arctic Scrooge.

CBC’s story of ‘A Cosmic Christmas’ was the familiar one of greed and selfishness being transformed into generosity and love in the true spirit of Christmas, this time for the benefit of three visitors from outer space.

The drawings, animation and music were first-rate, and the film which was also seen on NBC, ought to be around a long time as a seasonal special.

– Joan Irwin, Montreal Gazette, December 9, 1977.