Recidivism.

"Christmas is about freakishly cute puppets doing an amazingly sentimental show, and pulling it off absolutely flawlessly. With random squirrel jumping and kazoos. Bravo." – Kynan, reporting his findings.

All of the cinephile discussions and journalistic ink surrounding the American films of the 1970s never mention (nothing in the Biskind) one of the decade's greatest achievements: Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977, Jim Henson; first aired on HBO). After 30+ viewings, I rate it as the second-best film of that year, behind only Annie Hall.

If you haven't seen this, do so immediately ($8!). The new Collector's Edition DVD restores some scenes that were not on the last DVD release, but still does not feature the great (but not plot essential) Kermit bookend scenes. (This Muppet Central thread has some version control chatter and comments on the Kermit crack-up.) I'll let x amount -- fresh off his first viewing! -- light up the comment bin with his take on the CE's extras bonanza.

In addition to the DVD, you'll also need the tunes to play during your Holiday gatherings (and then to rock out to year-round), so:

Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas - OST (full album .zip/**Recidivism Exclusive**)

Track Listing:

1. Instrumental Theme
2. Intro
3. Barbeque
4. Intro
5. The Bathing Suit She Wore
6. Hole in the Washtub
7. Yancey Woodchuck's Barbeque
8. Brothers
9. Riverbottom Nightmare Band (great talent show images and lyrics here)
10. Intro
11. When The Mountains
12. Closer Now Than Ever Before
13. Closer/Brothers Medley
14. When The Mountains Pt. 2

NEWSFLASH: ANHITW is reporting that Emmett, Harvey, Charlie, and Wendell have reformed and are playing a "test gig" at Northsix in January.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2!