Tag Archives: The Muppet Christmas Carol

“Jammin’ with Jamie” Theme: “Beginning Beats and Ending Ditties”!

Hi, everyone!

Happy New Year!

It’s a new year and a new decade! It’s a time of new beginnings, both formal and informal. However, it’s also a time of both formal and informal endings.

On the formal side, certain seasonal jobs have ended, certain legal or work-related matters have met their deadline, and the wall and desk calendars have reached their expiration dates.

On the informal side, well, is everything else. New Year’s resolutions, personal and professional goals, a renewed spirit, and so much more.

The ending of one chapter is often the beginning of another, but there’s still a through line of story, characters, and/or settings to tie them together.

So in this “in between” space, let’s end one year and begin another with a batch of…

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“Jammin’ with Jamie” Theme: “Seasonal Celebration Songs (2019)”!

Hi, everyone!

There are so many holidays still happening, and so many sales in the stores, so why cut things short? We’re done with the preparation: let’s celebrate with a sleigh full of…

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“Jammin’ with Jamie” Theme: “Dark Holiday Ditties (2019)”!

Hi, everyone!

Last week, we got into the spirit of the holiday season here on Jammin’ with Jamie!

But I understand: the holidays aren’t all constant strings of twinkling holiday lights, warm gatherings of loving families and friends, and 24/7 holiday cheer. There are things that annoy us, things that stress out and overwhelm us, and, of course, there are those grumps who will groan, growl, grunt, and grumble their way all the way through January 2.

So let’s get all those frustrations out! Once we vent, we can keep these songs in our back pockets for when things get strained this season. We’re diving deep into a den of…

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Thoughts On: “The Man Who Invented Christmas”

Hi, everyone!

Whew, what a year I’ve been having! But more on that in a post I’ll put up just before the new year…

Anyway, without further ado, last Sunday, December 17, I saw a film that inspired me to pen another installment in my series on holiday/Christmas/winter movies and specials.

What film was so special that it woke me out of my writing reverie (in terms of this blog, anyway)?

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)!

I do not own any of the following images or videos!

Here’s the trailer:

No, Mr. Dickens, I wasn’t trying to read over your shoulder! Don’t mind me!

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
Plot: Charles Dickens, after a rush of inspiration, tussles with writer’s block, deadlines, and personal struggles as he strives to crack his latest work… A Christmas Carol.

There have been nigh countless adaptations of A Christmas Carol, from film, to TV, to stage––– from verbatim, to musical, to modernized, to gender-flipped––– from live action, to animation, to The Muppets! If you like A Christmas Carol at all, you have your favorite version or versions. You have your favorite ghost, your favorite scenes, your favorite lines… this story touches the hearts and souls of so many. Some may say such nearly-universal appeal cheapens it: I say, it enriches it. How special to be able to take a singular story about one person’s extremely personal journey and make it accessible and even relatable to so many.

Full disclosure: I’ve loved A Christmas Carol and so many of its adaptations for as long as I can remember. In fact, my very first acting role was as The Ghost of Christmas Present (my favorite ghost in the story)! Even though I was twelve at the time, I still remember so many of my lines, and would love to be involved in another adaptation of the tale someday.

Since The Man Who Invented Christmas is still in theaters as of this writing, and I do highly recommend it, I’ll do my best to avoid any spoilers of surprise moments. However, everyone has different definitions of what counts as a “spoiler,” so I shall still include my traditional warning…

Spoilers lurk beyond this point!

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“Jammin’ with Jamie” Theme: “Reflective Wrap-Up Refrains”!

Hi, everyone!

Now that the New Year has arrived, holiday season is officially over. The next major holiday isn’t for another month, and it’s a divisive one, to say the least!

Until then, we’re in this odd “in-between” time: fresh off a series of tightly-packed holidays, still in the midst of winter, and searching for something to look forward to.

But, we can still enjoy this time! If you watched any version of A Christmas Carol during holiday season, you probably heard the line about living “in the past, the present, and the future.”

So, we’re going to take this time to do just that, and jam to a round of…

“Magic mirror on the wall…”

“Jammin’ with Jamie” Theme: “Holiday Celebration Songs”!

Hi, everyone!

There are still more holiday/Christmas/winter tunes under the tree!

Since this Jammin’ with Jamie jam session will jam the morning of Christmas Eve and the first night of Chanukah, many of you will be starting your holiday celebrations, and we’re going to help with some sensational…

Are they also “Muppetational”?-

“Jammin’ with Jamie” Theme: “Christmas/Holiday Character Carols”!

Hi, everyone!

We’re still unwrapping refrains for the holiday/Christmas/winter season!

This week, we’ll be welcoming some seasonal friends to jam with us!

“But do you recall…”

Christmas/Holiday Movies: “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie”

Hi, everyone!

I had a pretty hectic Halloween season this year, so I wasn’t able to continue my series about Halloween movies. However, I know that my subsequent series on holiday/Christmas/winter movies (and specials) only had half the amount of entries… that is, only two. Yikes.

So, I’m going to rectify that this year, starting…

now!

For those of you who are new (or just don’t remember), this is how this series works…

This month, I’m going to watch (and, in some cases, re-watch) some movies that are perfect for the holiday/Christmas/winter season. These are not reviews, because I’ll only be writing about films I love and recommend. There’s no plan, method, or scientific algorithm to what movies I’m going to watch or how I’m going to structure these entries. I’m just going to have fun with it, and I hope you will, too!

First up, a TV movie that I believe is ridiculously underrated…

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)!

I do not own any of the following images or videos!

Here’s the trailer:

It’s ALWAYS a merry Christmas with The Muppets!

It’s ALWAYS a merry Christmas with The Muppets!

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
Plot: The Muppets are putting on a big Christmas show to save their theater, but when everything goes wrong and Kermit the Frog’s spirit seems broken, an angel comes to show him what the world––– and his friends––– would be like if he’d never been born.

I also have a very personal connection to this movie, which you’ll have to read on to find out about!

Spoilers lurk beyond this point!

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“Jammin’ with Jamie” Theme: “Getting into the Holiday Season Spirit Songs”!

Hi, everyone!

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, a new season of holiday festivities is upon us!

As you break out the decorations and holiday clothes, grab some hot chocolate and turn your radio to Jammin’ with Jamie as we start…

‘Tis the season!

Christmas/Holiday Movies: “The Muppet Christmas Carol”

I had so much fun writing about Halloween movies, I decided to extend the series and write about films perfect for Christmas/the holiday season! Most will probably be about Christmas, but I’m leaving myself wiggle room for other holidays and general winter movies.

Remember, these are not reviews: I’m writing about films and TV specials that I love and recommend.

My favorite Christmas movies generally have a nice mix of humor, fun, wackiness, and heart––– and some good music doesn’t hurt, either.

This first film has all of that, and more. Warm up your voices, because it’s time for…

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)!

By the way, if you like the Muppets, make sure you check out The Muppets on ABC!

I do not own any of the following images or videos!

Here’s the trailer:

I’m not sure why there’s music from Beetlejuice in the trailer, but it works.

I'm smiling already!

I’m smiling already!

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Plot: Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy, bitter businessman, despises Christmas and all forms of kindness and charity; but this Christmas, he just might get a chance to redeem himself…

Spoilers lurk beyond this point!

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