30 Reasons 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' Is Perfect

Celebrating the Holiday Classic on Its 30th Anniversary

It’s hard to imagine that The Muppet Christmas Carol came out 30 years ago. It’s hard, but yet, it’s has been with me throughout my life and I don’t think I’ve seen a movie more times than I’ve seen this one. It’s a tradition that I watch it at least once every holiday season, but sometimes that even turns into multiple times. Actor Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) recently interviewed the muppets at EW for the 30th anniversary of the movie, and he said its a Christmas Eve tradition for him as well.

(If you haven’t seen his standup of doing all the songs from the movie, you must watch this video.)

If you’ve never seen the movie, I implore you to change that this holiday season and there’s no better time than now. Director Brian Henson found a lost print of the movie and it contained a quality scan of the deleted song, “When Love is Gone.” I was so adament about Disney adding the song back into the movie, that I made a change.org request for it. Even though the song is slow, I believe its required to really see the change that Scrooge is going through.

Below I’ve made list of some of my favorite moments from The Muppet Christmas Carol. In fact, I made thirty favorite moments. Now these all won’t show up in email since the post is too big, so if you want to see all thirty moments, click into the post to read it all.

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On to the list!

1. Gonzo Charles Dickens and Rizzo make the perfect team.

2. Micheal Caine deserved an Academy Award for his performance as Scrooge.

3. Rizzo is great at cleaning windows.

4. It’s not the best idea to ask Mr. Scrooge for extra coal. It’s better to pretend you are warm.

5. This poor bunny is about to face the wrath of Scrooge.

6. Scrooge: And how much time is customary, Mr. Cratchet?

   Bob Cratchet: Well, the, uh, whole day.

   Scrooge: The entire day?

7. The Penguin’s annual skating party.

8. “One More Sleep ’Til Christmas” ends with Kermit staring at the sky as a shooting star streaks by. Brian Henson has said this was a nod to The Muppet Movie, wherein a shooting star flies over Kermit, and they wanted to continue the tradition.

9. Another original song, “Marley and Marley” sung by Statler and Waldorf couldn’t be better. Plenty of puns as well.

10. Rizzo jumping from the top of the fence, when he could’ve fit through the bars the entire time.

11. The nightmare factory that is The Ghost of Christmas Past.

12. This cat that happens to be exactly where Charles Dickens and Rizzo land.

13. Sam the Eagle: “It’s the American Way.” Whisper Whisper. “It’s the British Way.”

14. Fozziwig’s Christmas Party.

15. Belle and Scrooge together one last time. Belle’s song, “When Love is Gone” has now been restored on Disney+. (Search Muppet Christmas Carol, go to Extras, and select Full Length Version).

16. The jolly and forgettful Ghost of Christmas Present.

17. The song “It Feels Like Christmas.” The music in this movie was composed by Paul Williams, the man responsible for many of the Muppets greatest songs.

18. Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit with her daughters Belinda and Martha who she can’t tell apart.

19. The first appearance of Tiny Tim.

20. Tiny Tim and family singing “Bless Us All.”

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