As a long-time fan of the Muppets, I must say that my life has been nothing short of a whimsical fairytale since I had the honor to direct “It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” back in 2002. Working with these iconic characters was like stepping into Jim Henson’s magical workshop, and every day felt like Christmas morning.
As the annual holiday season approaches, people often revisit their cherished Muppets productions to embrace the festive mood. For those born in the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras, it’s either the heartwarming 1977 special “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” (available on Peacock), the delightful 1979 collaboration “John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together,” or even the expansive Henson universe epic, “A Muppet Family Christmas” from 1987. Meanwhile, Millennials have fond memories of timeless classics like the 1992 version of “The Muppet Christmas Carol” and more diverse specials such as the 1995 television production “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree,” featuring Robert Downey Jr., or the less frequently recalled 2002 Muppet movie, “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie,” which can also be found on Peacock.
One of just three Muppet feature-length TV productions, “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” is one of the franchise’s hidden holiday musical treasures with an intriguing backstory. It remains NBC’s sole film partnership with the Jim Henson Studios, and was the final project created with the Muppets before they were bought by The Walt Disney Company.
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In the tradition of Kirk R. Thatcher, a long-time creative force behind the Muppets (as seen in “Muppet Treasure Island”), “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” unfolds within the iconic Muppet Theater, reminiscent of “The Muppet Show.” This heartwarming tale showcases an eclectic mix of gifted performers and playfully pokes fun at classic stories like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” currently streaming on Peacock, “Moulin Rouge,” and “Star Wars.
Recently, I had a chat over the phone with Thatcher about the making of the film and some of his cherished moments from the filming location. (or) Lately, I spoke with Thatcher on the phone to learn more about the process of creating the movie and share some of his most enjoyable experiences during production.
The state of the Muppets when It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie came out
2002 marked a period of change for the Muppets. Their latest theatrical movie was “Muppets from Space,” which came out in 1999, and their last TV series was “Muppets Tonight,” which premiered in 1996. Earlier that year, the Muppets appeared in the direct-to-video release of “Kermit’s Swamp Years.
In his conversation with SYFY WIRE, Thatcher mentioned that he had been with the company for fifteen years. He humorously referred to himself as the ‘newcomer’, since he had spent that length of time in the organization.
NBC shows great excitement about joining forces with The Jim Henson Company to produce an exclusive holiday-themed film starring the beloved Muppet characters for television broadcast. In other words, NBC is saying, “We adore the Muppets! We’d be thrilled to create a TV movie or Christmas special!” as Thatcher explained it.
In a collaborative effort, Muppets Tonight writer Jim Lewis teamed up with Tom Martin (The Simpsons scribe) to pen the screenplay. They used It’s a Wonderful Life as the foundation for the special, casting Kermit in the role reminiscent of George Bailey. The frog is disheartened because Fozzie has lost the funds essential to prevent their theater from being evicted.
Thatcher shared that they posed the question if he would be interested in taking charge of the project. His response was enthusiastic: “Absolutely, I’d be thrilled!” He mentioned his previous experience as part of the second unit on the movie “Muppets from Space.” However, this would mark Thatcher’s first solo directorial role. To enhance the script with humor and music, he planned to contribute additional gags and musical elements. Furthermore, he disclosed that at the time, Disney had not yet acquired the Muppets, so the project was primarily navigating through “NBC” channels, which is why there were numerous Easter eggs throughout.
From Whoopi Goldberg to David Arquette, guest stars for days in It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Thatcher pointed out that the project boasted a fantastic ensemble of actors, some of whom were currently involved with NBC productions such as the cast from Scrubs, while others were fans themselves, including David Arquette, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy, and Matthew Lillard.
For Thatcher, leading humans was an entirely fresh talent, and he was overjoyed at the chance to collaborate with such passionate top-tier artists. “We landed Whoopi Goldberg as our God figure,” he shared. “She’s just a unique presence. I still recall when she arrived in Vancouver, she doesn’t travel by airplane. So, she made her way here in her personal tour bus.
David Arquette was terrific in the role of Kermit’s Guardian Angel, he added. He’s a genuine charm, with a fondness for magic, puppets, and vaudeville. Furthermore, Joan Cusack was exceptional.
David Cusack had a unique experience when he collaborated with the Muppets for the first and only time, portraying the character Rachel Bitterman, a ruthless schemer determined to evict the Muppets from their home. According to Thatcher, Cusack seemed comfortable in his role, but there were moments when Bitterman appeared slightly out of her depth. In such instances, Thatcher encouraged her to push her performance further, to which she responded with a look of disbelief, as if questioning the sanity of the suggestion. However, when told that she was acting against puppets, Bitterman responded by performing an over-the-top gesture, expressing her confusion and frustration. Thatcher found this reaction to be fantastic.
Thatcher recalled that John C. McGinley, famously known for his role as Dr. Cox in Scrubs, wasn’t particularly fond of Muppets. “During the shoot at the Scrubs sets in LA,” Thatcher explained, “we were told it would take an hour, but with puppets, it ended up being more like a half day. John McGinley seemed less than thrilled about this.” He chuckled, “He’d ask, ‘How much longer is this going to take?’ Yet, he was a true professional and saw it through. It was great to meet Bill Lawrence, and everyone loved the experience. In fact, I’ve worked with many of them on other Muppet projects since then.
He mentioned that he too visited New York, specifically to film alongside Molly Shannon. Interestingly, he admitted that for this particular movie, he had to travel further than any other project he has been involved in.
Muppet Legacy Stories
The film “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” starts with an elaborate scene set in a bustling location, filled with holiday shoppers, Muppets, and a snowman narrated by Mel Brooks, establishing the tone and narrative of the movie as it unfolds.
As a gamer, I’ve taken on some impressive projects, but none have been as massive as this one. When we were filming that opening sequence, we literally transformed three city blocks in a small town in Vancouver into a winter wonderland with artificial snow and simulated snowfall. We had an army of around 60 to 80 extras joining us, and the legendary Mel lent his voice to Joe Snow, a nod to the snowman from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
One unique aspect of this film is that its main location, the Muppet Theater, was designed based on sets from the original “The Muppet Show”. As Thatcher explained, this set was significantly larger than the one used in the actual “The Muppet Show” filming. In fact, we constructed a full-scale theater, allowing you to walk from backstage where Kermit usually hangs out and the dressing rooms, all the way up to the highest balcony. We put a lot of effort into it and were fortunate to have an exceptional art director in Vancouver. He even procured real theater seats and filled the auditorium with a live audience for a day of shooting. Everyone was quite thrilled about it.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share an interesting story about our prolonged ownership of the set in Vancouver. For nearly two or three years, we kept it there, feeling a sense of pride since we were the ones who had constructed it. We held onto it with the dream of reusing it someday. Unfortunately, Disney showed no interest in our idea, which was certainly disappointing. However, during this holding period, Disney ended up acquiring us, and I believe that’s when they simply stopped seeing the need to pay for that unused set anymore.
As a gamer, let me tell you about a moment that felt like a big victory for Thatcher – the movie’s clever incorporation of Pepe the King Prawn, a character I hold dear and was deeply involved in creating. “He first appeared on Muppets Tonight,” Thatcher explained, “and I couldn’t contain my excitement when Bill Barretta brought him to life.” When I began writing for the Muppets back in the ’90s with Treasure Island, I kept advocating, “We need our Daffy Duck! We need our self-centered jerk. Everyone is being so nice that it’s turning into mush. It’s starting to feel like Sesame Street.
In the movie, Pepe takes on the role of the villain after departing from the group to carry out Bitterman’s orders as her henchman. Bill adds an incredible amount of zaniness to it,” Thatcher chuckled. “It was fantastic to have him be a significant character since he was unfamiliar to many if they hadn’t watched Muppets Tonight before.
As a devoted admirer, let me share one of my cherished recollections: Being under Brian Henson’s guidance during the making of the movie was truly a blessing. This legendary Muppeteer/executive producer, who brought Scooter to life, was incredibly encouraging. I recall him offering valuable advice when I first began and saying, “You’re doing great,” which made me feel so appreciated.
Thatcher remarked that the highest praise he received was from Dave Goelz following two weeks of filming, regarding Gonzo’s voice and persona. “He approached me, and patted my shoulder – a truly memorable experience – and said, ‘You know what? You’ve discovered your destiny. You’re incredibly talented at this.’ I was surprised, as I hadn’t anticipated it. I was just relieved they hadn’t dismissed me. But he was merely joking, saying, ‘You know exactly what you want, and it’s enjoyable, and you don’t tire us with endless retakes.’
Looking back on It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie two decades later
On November 29, 2002, “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” premiered on NBC. This was a massive success for the Muppets, and a triumphant moment for the network in terms of ratings. However, it wasn’t universally loved. Some viewers were taken aback by the dramatic shifts in the plot after Kermit wishes he hadn’t been born, which led to an amusing exploration of what life would be like for his friends without him. For instance, Miss Piggy is single and a cat-loving lady, while Scooter becomes a cage dancer.
Thatcher stated that he handled the feedback gracefully and added, “Over the years, my goal with the Muppets was to combine maturity with a touch of silliness.” He further clarified, “You can’t do mischievous things with them, but you can certainly go for something absurd. To me, they were like Monty Python characters with puppetry. When I began collaborating with Jim, he completely agreed. The same went for Jerry Juhl, with whom I co-wrote Treasure Island. In my opinion, if you’re not creating something wild and unconventional, why work with the Muppets at all?
Continuing his collaboration with the Muppets, Thatcher shared his thoughts on his debut film featuring them: “Working with them was an absolute blast! It seemed both critics and audiences really connected with it. However, since Disney acquired them two years later, you rarely hear it mentioned now due to their ownership. Consequently, it’s not often promoted. But I adored it because we were able to create a clever parody of a classic Muppet stage play. We had the Muppet theater set, and we could do various Muppet theater skits. There were scenes involving God, and there were dark sequences in a world without Kermit. It was exciting to work on such diverse elements.
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2024-12-04 20:32