I can't sing the songs without tearing up.After viewing the video again last night, I decided to read all the Amazon reviews for fun. I NEVER noticed that the later version had been edited from the original! Went back and schlepped the old copy out and watched it. Yes, there are several differences; a bit more dialogue in one place; another verse or two in another; a little more narration throughout....but, you know what? IT DOESN'T MATTER!!!! I'd forgotten the changes, and the newer version affected me just the same. My children were babies when this originally was on, and I'm 51 now. Watch it every holiday season.
So....get a hankie, a few cats or dogs or children or special people in your life, watch Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, and let the love flow through!
How lucky we were to have been blessed with Jim Henson for as long as we had him!
Rating: 
Summary: BROTHERS!!
Review: Emmet Otters Jug Band Christmas has been my absolute favorite Christmas movie my entire life. Growing up and even through college none of my friends had never even heard of it before. Whenever I asked they thought I was crazy. Then, a couple of y ears ago it was released on video. My dad had taped it in 1980 and we have been watching the warn out version all these years until the VHS came out. I have to say I was very disappointed. It was not the same version that I had seen on HBO and I didn't like it as much. When Gretchen Fox is on the dock waiting for her laundry and ma and Emmet come rowing up, the part where Ma says,"I'd really appreciate it if you'd, fall off the dock" was cut out. That is a classic line in the movie. Not until I read another persons review did I ever know that there are two versions of this movie. Since I bought the one on VHS that I'm assuming is the original, I've been wondering how to get the HBO version. Regardless of which one you buy, definitely see this movie and show your children. It shows the value of family, friendship and songs that you'll remember the words to forever. Emmet and the gang have been a part of my family forever and I wouldnt have it any other way.
Rating: 
Summary: They should be required to indicate that it has been edited
Review: This was one of my favorite Muppets features ever since the first time I saw it on HBO. Unfortunately, as other reviewers have indicated, this version has been clumsily edited and I was very disappointed in the changes. Kermit's narration has been removed, the ending is changed, and some of the lyrics of the songs are redone. The Muppets features always showed the whole range of emotions, from sentimentality to honest anger and a little cartoonish violence. These things have all been removed from the film. I am not sure if the changes were made to "sanitize" this for kids, or if it was just cut for time reasons, but the changes make no sense and really cut the heart out of the film. Save your money until they release the original HBO special.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Disappointment
Review: To begin with: I love Emmit Otter's Jug Band Christmas.
This is one of my favorite Christmas stories of all.
Resembling O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi (But sort of reversed) the tale is endearing.
I recorded Emmit off the air years ago and it has been part of my Christmas collection viewed every year several times.
When I found the DVD I ordered one. It came in March 2002 and I opened it and watched the whole thing right away.
To my dismay it had CHANGED! Scenes, dialog, and even songs had been changed, rearranged, and even deleted.
For Example:
The lyrics to "There Ain't No Hole In The Washtub" were changed.
The confrontation between Alice Otter & Gretchen Fox was shortened.
Kermit's closing remarks were deleted.
My family and I have seen this classic so many times that we can recite it by memory. What a disappointment that someone decided to change what was already a fine product.
If you don't have it all memorized, or don't mind when stories are made more Politically Correct then please buy it, it's still a fine story and teaches a good lesson.
Rating:
Summary: There are 2 versions of Emmet Otter
Review: To clear up some of the confusion and angry reviews about this special being edited, as a fan of Emmet Otter, let me explain that there are 2 different versions of this classic holiday special. In 1977, HBO first aired Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas and also ran it in 1978 and 1979 which is the version that's been available on VHS for years and was just released on DVD. In 1980, ABC snatched the special away from HBO for one year and made some changes to it including adding Kermit's voiceover narration, trimming some of the songs ("Ain't No Hole In The Washtub" and the reprise of "When The River Meets The Sea"), extending some scenes like the Riverside Rest scene where Emmet, Ma and the boys are singing inside where it pans over to Kermit narrating to us the audience (the original 1977 version did not have Kermit at the Riverside Rest but just dissolved onto the next scene when Emmet, Ma and the boys are walking home after singing) while trimming others. HBO began airing the special again in 1981 and throughout the '80s but instead of using the original 1977 version that they ran from 1977 to 1979, they instead ran the ABC network version which is what most viewers had remembered seeing and therefore were upset by the video release which was the original 1977 cut and not the 1980 network version. So my advice to those who still have a copy from HBO recorded during the '80s, keep it and buy the video version which is the original version that aired back in 1977 on HBO and watch them back to back and decide for yourself which version you like the most. Personally, I prefer the video edition because that was the version I had remembered watching as a kid. I just wanted to clear up any confusion by those who had bought the video or DVD and was disappointed to see what they thought was an "edited version" of what they had remembered seeing on ABC or HBO in the '80s which is not really the case when it comes to this classic holiday special where there are 2 versions: the 1977 cut which ran on HBO from 1977 to 1979 and the 1980 ABC network version which ran once on ABC in 1980 and on HBO from 1981 into the late '80s. Hope this information helps.
Rating:
Summary: Rare and Precious, as Jim Henson Was
Review: Way back in 1984 or 86, I taped this from an HBO special and have loved it ever since. Because my copy was so old, I decided to get a "store-bought" VHS of the show and have watched that for the last few years; never without a hankie. <G> I can't sing the songs without tearing up.
After viewing the video again last night, I decided to read all the Amazon reviews for fun. I NEVER noticed that the later version had been edited from the original! Went back and schlepped the old copy out and watched it. Yes, there are several differences; a bit more dialogue in one place; another verse or two in another; a little more narration throughout....but, you know what? IT DOESN'T MATTER!!!! I'd forgotten the changes, and the newer version affected me just the same. My children were babies when this originally was on, and I'm 51 now. Watch it every holiday season.
So....get a hankie, a few cats or dogs or children or special people in your life, watch Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, and let the love flow through!
How lucky we were to have been blessed with Jim Henson for as long as we had him!
Rating: 
Summary: Great version, but I miss Kermie in the middle
Review: I was one of the people who saw this in its original form and, unlike it's cousin The Muppet Family Christmas, it survived the editing process with only minor resections. However, it boggles my mind why they removed Kermit's narration towards the end of the show. It is quite obvious where they did it because Emmet freeze frames for a few seconds and then it abruptly segways into them singing together. Oh well. I have loved this one since I first saw it on HBO in the late 80's. This is a good example of how a good story survives, no matter how low-tech its presentation is. It is nice to have it on DVD, even with the alterations. Merry Christmas!
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Christmas Special
Review: My brother and I watched this every year growing up, now my little girl watches it. She loves it just as much as we did. There are a few parts that have been deleted, but it is still a great Christmas special.
Rating:
Summary: I Love Emmett Otter!
Review: When I was 7 I Remember Watching This For The First On HBO And Watched It Every Year After That! I Love The Whole Story And The Muppets And The Love Between Mom And Emmett! About 6 Years Ago I Found The Video At Kmart And Cried Because At The Time I Didn't Have The Money to Buy It! It was Pathetic Because I Was 22 Yrs Old! Thankfully My Dad Understood How Much I Loved It And Bought it For Me As An Early Christmas Present! Tonight I Watched It With My 3 Yr Old And My One Yr Old! They Love It! I Of Course Sang Along And My 3 Yr Old Tried! I Cried! Its Gonna Be A Family Favorite! I Truely Love This Movie And Will Till I Die! It Shows How Much Love There Can Be In A Family Even When There Is no Money And Thats Important To Remember! All The Hustle Bustle Of Christmas These Days Is About Presents And Watching Emmett Otters Jugband Christmas Reminds Me of The Love! Emmett And Ma Otter Didn't Have The Money for Presents Just A Christmas Branch A Slide On The Riverbank And Love! And Even When Life Looked Its Bleakest Life Still Had A Rainbow At The End! My Favorite Line In The Whole Movie Is About Oiling A Snake! I Love It! Watch It With Your Family And Remember To Love Each Other Not Just At Christmas But All Year Round! :)
Rating:
Summary: Added scenes make up for lost ones
Review: Ok so, I am as much of a Muppets and Jim Henson fan as all of you who are probably reading this review. I bought this DVD, and like alot of the other Muppet films put onto DVD, it is MAJORLY edited. ThisDVD is nothing great. It has no extras on it or anything. But as far as the argument about deleted scenes. They added quite a bit of ones that were never scene. The part I get upset about most is the argument with Gretchen Fox. I have a feeling the comment Ma Otter made: "I'd really appreciate it if you'd...fall off the dock." Was cut for political correctness. Some parent somewhere probably complained cause she thought it was promoting violence or something. And although it is tough to watch this movie when you are singing along or know the script by heart and all of a sudden they say something you don't remember is no fun. I think they made up for the lost scenes by adding the new ones. I am sure if Jim Henson were still alive, the editing would not have been done. So I suggest we hold onto our tapes from HBO and pray the VCR never goes out of production.
