Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas – 30th Anniversary Edition

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Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas – 30th Anniversary Edition
Faneditor Name:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1977
Original Running Time:
50
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
50
Time Added:
3
Brief Synopsis:
Using the HBO, ABC and the official DVD version, this is the longest, most complete version of this memorable Muppet Christmas special. So, if you like your dancing rabbits, but miss “fall off the dock”, then this is for you.
Intention:
Philfrog is proud to present this classic Jim Henson TV special in its most complete form ever, using all of the bits unique to each of the two officially-released edits (and all the different releases and recuts of each one). As a bonus, one scene has been cleverly extended to include the complete “Bathing Suit” song, with verses previously unused in the two official versions of this special. With every line, lyric, and Kermit the Frog segment intact, this is “Emmet Otter” as it deserves to be seen for generations to come.
Release Information:
DVD
Editing Details:
DVD footage was captured instead of ripped. (I simply don’t have a good ripping program at this time.) Despite removing the macrovision from the CTS DVD, it (and every DVD I captured using the DV500) still captured brighter than it should have (though without the ridiculous white levels caused by macrovision). To restore the correct levels, I manually brought down the brightness. This helped to mask compression artifacts present during black screen moments in the footage (created by the bright capture). Depending on your set’s contrast levels, the artifacts may still be visible. Apologies in advance.

Some shots, when viewed on a computer screen window, will have slightly bigger (than usual) black bars at the edges. This is due to different sources of “Emmet” being framed differently, causing me to reshift the picture (usually to the left, and up a bit) on these sources, so I could match footage from each version seamlessly. The majority of my video cuts are new dissolves (as opposed to straight cuts) over the original between-shot dissolves, so picture shifting to match sources was absolutely necessary.

I have also made a straight (no menu, chapter breaks every three minutes) DVD transfer of the Muppet Video VHS release (a slight edit of the HBO version). If you’re dissatisfied with the quality of my edit for any reason, you can use this as a source for your own. (Or you can track down the laserdisc release on the same label.)

If you want bonus features, please purchase the official Hit Entertainment DVD, which has outtakes, a lost song, behind-the-scenes featurette, and more. While you’re at it, check out the original book, too.
Cuts and Additions:
This edit uses the following two versions of the “Emmet Otter” TV special:

1. “HBO” version – Version One, released (with some minor cuts) on VHS
- longer Gretchen Fox segment (“fall off the dock”)
- longer Washtub song intro (“I’m rowin’…where’s the singin’?”)
- four Kermit appearances (two visual, two audio)
-extra talent show dialog (“we’re off to a shaky start”)

1. “ABC” version – Version Two, released on VHS and DVD
- one Kermit appearance only (cut from the most recent DVD)
- longer Washtub song (“lunch with the upper crust” verse)
- dancing rabbits at the talent show
- longer reprise of River Meets The Sea song

The following sources (mainly 1, 4, and 5) were used:

1. Muppet Video VHS – HBO version (has edits to shorten black between fades)
2. Jim Henson Home Video VHS – ABC version, complete (has unique opening logo)
3. Columbia-Tristar VHS – ABC version, complete, with original audio mix
4. Columbia-Tristar DVD – ABC version, complete, but with faux stereo audio
5. Hit Entertainment DVD – ABC version, without Kermit’s intro
- also includes non-Kermit HBO-only bits in Deleted Scenes section, plus Making-Of featurette
6. Three VHS recordings (including my own) of the HBO version (used for reference only)
Cover art by Philfrog (DOWNLOAD HERE)
image

Disc art by Phaotoa (DOWNLOAD HERE)
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User reviews

7 reviews
 
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1-3 stars
 
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.5(2)
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10.0(2)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(2)
Narrative
 
10.0(2)
Enjoyment
 
9.6(7)
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
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10.0
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10.0
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10.0
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10.0
Emmet Otter and his ma sure have had a rough life. Not just in Frogtown Hollow, but on disc: some dvd's have cropped widescreen, many releases have different runtimes (most common trim is Kermit's performance), the audio never sounds better than mediocre bitrate stereo (not even the 5.1 blu-ray), and the video quality shows that this Christmas favorite was shot on video (the blu-ray has upconverted 1080p but it still looks like the DVD releases).

All of which is to say that you won't find a complete version in any store, nor better-than-dvd image anywhere.

In comes Philfrog's wonderful fanedit. Multiple sources are seamlessly merged to create the best Jugband Christmas. Technically, this 2008 edit remains limited by the source material: dvd quality with average stereo sound. But no release since does it better.

Emmet will have you humming "Bar-B-Que" and "Brothers"!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
L
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10.0
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10.0
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10.0
I'm speechless. I stumbled on the trailer yesterday and nearly flipped. A few years ago I bought all the ingredients needed to do this same project, so I could show the whole thing to my daughter in all of it's glory. But I back-burnered it halfway through out of frustration working with the interlaced signal. Now, here it is, and better than I could have made it. You must have really worked hard on this. I'm so deeply grateful to you for doing this. And this winter, my daughter and all her friends will be too! Amazing. Well done.

PS - The trailer was awesome too!

User Review

Format Watched?
DVD
J
1 reviews
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(Updated: August 31, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
10.0
varillion apr 7 2009

*This rating was given before reviews were required*
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(Updated: August 31, 2012)
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7.0
Istvan6 may 24 2009

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(Updated: August 31, 2012)
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10.0
zeroxdash dec 4 2011

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