14 Things You Didn't Know About "The Muppet Christmas Carol"

1. It's the best version of A Christmas Carol there ever was. JK, you knew that one.

1. Christmas Carol was the first big Muppets project after Jim Henson died in 1990.

Courtesy Everett Collection

In the film, Kermit (as Bob Cratchit) was voiced by actor Steve Whitmire. Whitmire reported feeling very nervous about taking on the role, but that a night prior to recording the songs for the movie, he had a dream in which Jim Henson appeared and told him his nerves would pass.

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2. Brian Henson (Jim Henson's son) has said Gonzo and Rizzo were incorporated into the film so that Dickens' original narration could be included.

Jim Henson Productions / Via rebloggy.com

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3. Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol only has one Marley—Jacob. The Muppets movie added a second, Robert, so they could be played by Statler and Waldorf.

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Two singing Marleys are better than one.

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4. This is the first Muppets movie to use humans as central characters.

Jim Henson Productions / Via kertoon.com

It's also the first not to include any characters from Sesame Street, which Disney didn't have the rights to.

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5. Michael Caine has said he considers his role as Ebenezer Scrooge to be one of his most memorable, and called it "stretching and difficult."

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And he was PERFECT IN IT.

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6. Other actors considered for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge included David Hemmings, Rob Moody, David Warner, and George Carlin.

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7. In this scene in the movie, a shooting star streaks overhead as Kermit sings "One More Sleep." This is a Muppet series trademark.

Jim Henson Productions / Via ign.com

In many (though not all) of the Muppets movies, a shooting star is seen in the sky at some point when Kermit is on screen.

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8. Bean Bunny, the film's resident caroler, is an in-joke the Muppets creators and crew love to bully—hence his treatment in the movie.

Jim Henson Productions / Via dailyedge.ie

On the Muppet Christmas Carol DVD extras, Brian Henson says: "Inside the Muppet Company, we love to hate Bean Bunny."

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9. The Muppets' Ghost of Christmas Present is one of few movie depictions to quickly age while spending time with Scrooge, as he does in the Dickens' novel.

Jim Henson Productions / Via publichd.se

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10. The truly heartbreaking "When Love Is Gone" number was dropped from the theatrical release/when played on TV because Disney thought it too sad for young children.

But the truth is that it is too sad for EVERYONE. But it's also perfect, and can be viewed in the full-screen version of the 10th anniversary edition DVD. (It was cruelly cut AGAIN from the film's 20th anniversary release.)

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11. The (terrifying!) Ghost of Christmas Past was created by making a special puppet that was submerged into a tank of water and then green-screened into the film to make it appear like she was floating.

Jim Henson Productions / Via toonterror.wordpress.com

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12. The muppet who plays Kermit/Cratchit's son is named Robin the Frog who is actually, in Muppet geneaological terms, Kermit's nephew.

Jim Henson Productions / Via muppetmayhem.tumblr.com

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13. The movie soundtrack includes all songs in the film, but also two that were recorded but never filmed: "Room In Your Heart" (sung by Honeydew and Beaker) and "Chairman of the Board" (sung by Sam Eagle).

Jim Henson Productions / Via muppet.wikia.com

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14. The movie's "It Feels Like Christmas" is the world's most joyous Christmas song.

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