Anthony Strand: Here at Tough Pigs, we like to look back at Christmases past, especially on their anniversaries. Since Elmoâs Christmas Countdown premiered ten years ago, we decided it was worth a second look. Or at least I decided that. Matthew, would it be fair to say that you have less than fond memories of this one?
Matthew Soberman: I think that would be fair to say. A few years ago, I was randomly assigned this special for our roundtable on the worst Muppet Christmas special. As it turned out, it wasnât that hard an argument to make.
Anthony: I, meanwhile, have always found it to be pretty charming. Itâs not my favorite Muppet Christmas production, but I definitely think of it as one of the good ones (the bad ones include A Special Sesame Street Christmas, Mr. Willowbyâs Christmas Tree, Itâs a Whoopity Davidy Kermit Time, and Letters to Santa).
Matthew: You see, Iâd put Letters to Santa in the âVery Okayâ pile, and Mr. Willowby and A Special Ethel Merman Hoopla in the âso bad itâs goodâ category. Elmoâs Christmas Countdown, on the other hand, is cringe-inducingly bad, and not in a fun way.
Anthony: Iâm tempted to just say âOn the contrary, it *is* funâ for my counterpoint, but this would be a very short article if we left it at that. So hereâs what I like about: Itâs a cheesy 70s-style variety special, but one with generally excellent performances from the guests. The framing device is a bunch of nonsense, but itâs mostly an excuse to showcase the sketches, so Iâm okay with that.
Matthew: Iâll agree with you on one respect: the celebrity appearances are the best part of the special. Itâs clear that everyone was very excited to appear on this special and were having a very fun time. But the framing device, which takes up a good three-quarters of the special, is gratingly annoying, particularly Stiller the Elf.
Anthony: Iâm not sure itâs that much of the special, but I can see how I might feel that way. Stiller the Elf – for those who need a refresher, this is a Muppet elf voiced by Ben Stiller for some reason – is indeed a strange choice, but for me he works just fine. Most of his scenes involve actual Sesame Street characters like Elmo, Abby, Grover, and Oscar, so Iâll give him a pass. Besides, Ben Stiller sounds like heâs having fun.
Matthew: Yâsee, I find the dubbed voice of Stiller to be way too jarring. It feels like the puppetry of Matt Vogel and the voice of Stiller (Ben, not The Elf) are juuuuuust off enough that it doesnât feel, for lack of a better word, genuine.
Anthony: Yeah, thatâs fair. Anyway, like I said, for me the plot is just an excuse for a bunch of sketches and songs, which are generally very good. A particular highlight for me is Jennifer Hudsonâs soaring rendition of âCarol of the Bellsâ with a whole menagerie of Muppet woodland creatures. She raises the roof of the forest, which is very hard to do.
Matthew: Again, agreed. She brings a great energy to that performance (even though I did spend some of that time wondering why Hoots wasnât being used more. I miss that owl).
Anthony: Yeah, that is strange. But I think that number and a few others are solid enough to make up for the specialâs flaws. Anne Hathaway joins Big Bird and Snuffy for an adorable version of âI Want a Snuffleupagus for Christmasâ thatâs miles beyond the original Gayla Peevey recording. This is the only version of that song I ever want or need.
Matthew: Eh, itâs fine. Itâs cute enough for me. But not enough to atone for the specialâs sins.
Anthony: Another highlight for me should probably be one of the worst parts – Ty Pennington joins the Count for âI Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In.â On the surface, this is a dumb ad for ABCâs Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but they make a fun sketch out of it, with Pennington frantically trying to build more ships as the Count keeps counting higher. It reminds me a little bit of the Muppet Showâs âBanana Boat Song.â Ty Pennington is no Harry Belafonte, of course, but itâs a funny premise executed well. (And what a joy to get a new Jerry Nelson song performance in 2007!)
Matthew: I think the âBanana Boat Songâ performance works because Belafonte plays it straight. The song doesnât change while all the antics happen behind him. Whereas with âI Saw Three Ships,â the song keeps changing as the boats are brought in. The point of the sketch is the antics. Thatâs where it falls flat for me. Besides, having the Count sing âI Saw Three Shipsâ is a joke in itself, one that they did TWENTY YEARS EARLIER in A Muppet Family Christmas.
Anthony: Ha, thatâs fair, but Iâm fine with a number-related carol being the Countâs signature Christmas tune.
Matthew: True, but there are enough carols with numbers in the title that they could mix it up every once in a while. âThe Twelve Days of Christmas,â âWe Three Kingsâ… okay, thatâs all I can think of off the top of my head, but still, I havenât seen the Count sing those in a Christmas special!
Anthony: You got me there! So letâs move on to some of the other numbers. I also really like Alicia Keysâs sweet, simple âDo You Hear What I Hear?â on the steps of 123 Sesame. She seems thrilled to be there and to share this really nice moment with Elmo. Thatâs something of an overdone song too, but sheâs so terrific here that Iâm happy to hear it again.
Matthew: Itâs pleasant enough. We seem to agree that the celebrity bits are entertaining, but I think where we diverge is in the framework. Earlier, you called the special an homage to the old â70s variety specials. I see it more as an homage to the old Rankin/Bass specials where âChristmas isnât coming this year, until it is,â but thereâs not nearly enough affection for those specials to make it an obvious parody.
Anthony: I think youâre right that itâs a Rankin-Bass homage too. The content is Rankin-Bass, but the format is pure Crooner Christmas. So many of those old Christmas specials have a framing device thatâs just an excuse for songs. Bing Crosby is watching his cousinâs house in England and, âWhatâs this, whoâs at the door? Why itâs David Bowie! Letâs Sing the Little Drummer Boy!â This feels like that to me. The story is meaningless, because itâs just an excuse to welcome Oscar Winner Jamie Foxx doing a Nutcracker rap.
Matthew: Maybe, but it still doesnât explain why Foxx makes that weird face.
Anthony: Ha, I think he’s making a rat face maybe? In any case, I think heâs great in this. His number is *odd* but in a memorable way. And according to the credits, he wrote it himself, which I love. He was just about at the peak of his stardom in 2007, and he invested real time in writing and performing a nutcracker song with Elmo (and dancer Tiffany Curl, whoâs very charming here too and shouldnât go unmentioned).
Also, I might be biased because after we watched this, my three-year-old daughter spent all afternoon running around yelling âJamie Foxx in the box!â and it was *adorable.*
Matthew: Iâll give Foxx credit: it is probably the shortest interpretation of the Nutcracker story Iâve seen that still manages to hit all the major points, and it has a nice rhythm to it. But getting back to what you were saying before, then why have a framework at all? Why not just have Elmo count down to the holiday, and have all the boxes (minus the Charles Blitzen ones, as those are relevant to the overall story) open to the same bits? They work fine on their own!
Anthony: Iâll admit that that would be better. It would also have allowed for more songs and sketches, which are the good parts here. Speaking of sketches, the other big one is the âErnie and Bert Christmas Specialâ featuring the actual Ernie and Bert directing Bobby and Paulie Walnuts from The Sopranos in Ernie and Bert cosplay. The actors are both miscast, but that seems to be the point, as we watch Ernie and Bert get increasingly frustrated with their poor performances. Itâs bizarre, but it makes me laugh. Iâd definitely have been happy if the Stiller stuff had been cut to make room for more weird sketches like this.
Matthew: While I like seeing Steve Schirripa and Tony Sirico playing such broad, jovial characters like Ernie and Bert, I think the bit over-explains the âbanana in my earâ bit. But beyond that, yes, itâs quite funny. (And the two would reunite the following year for Letters to Santa, so they must work well with the Muppet performers.)
Anthony: Oh yeah, good call! They were Muppet Christmas special regulars for a little bit!
Matthew: But getting back to the framework, another thing I donât understand is why they had to film on a storybook-style version of Sesame Street rather than on the genuine article. It just looks so artificial and forced, beyond the necessity of the story.
Anthony: Again, I think thatâs an homage to those old specials I keep talking about, which often had abstract stages instead of real sets. Perry Como used to perform against painted backdrops in his Christmas specials all the time, and I think theyâre going for a similar vibe here.
Matthew: Youâre probably right, but I just donât see it myself. Maybe Iâm just judging it closer to the other Sesame Street Christmas specials. That street is a pretty fantastical place in itself!
Anthony: I definitely canât argue with that! And really, if Elmoâs Christmas Countdown doesnât work for you, obviously thereâs a lot of other Sesame and Muppet Christmas stuff to watch. But for me, itâs a nice addition to the lineup. I watch it ever year, and it always brings a smile to my face.
Matthew: Did I mention that Steve Bannon has a credit?
Anthony: OH NO! Never mind, youâre right. Burn it to the ground.
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by Anthony Strand and Matthew Soberman
