A Very Muppet Babies Christmas; Summer's Super Fabulous Holiday Surprise Episode Number

Anthony Strand: And then Evan, you and I are both large fans of Muppet Babies 2018, and still nosotros've never done an in-depth look at information technology on ToughPigs. It's Christmas! Allow'southward requite ourselves the gift of correcting that fault!

Evan Chiliad.: Absolutely! Anybody knows the greatest gifts of all are children, then ice cream, then laughter, and the 2018 Muppet Babies has two of those three. Like you said, nosotros both honey this show. You lot lookout it with your toddlers, and I watch it because I am the kind of adult who only says, "Hey, I'm going to watch all of the 2018 Muppet Babies show."

Anthony: Both valid reasons, because I would definitely be watching this show if I didn't have kids. So let's talk about the show in general. Personally, I think it'southward meliorate than the old one (which is heresy amidst people who haven't seen the old show in 25 years, I'yard sure). The characters feel more than like themselves, the jokes are funnier, the stories are faster-paced.

Evan: Yeah. I know in that location was some "controversy" early because the bear witness has much fewer pop culture references and pastiches (which the original evidence was kind of known for) and also has a much smaller cadre cast of Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy, Gonzo, Creature, and newcomer Summer Penguin. But the tighter focus allows for some great character piece of work, which honestly is what the Muppets in full general take been lacking lately.

Anthony: Right! I don't want to rag on Muppets Now anymore, but one of my biggest bug with it was that Piggy was so one-note. She'southward simply grumpy and enervating. That's her whole character now. Infant Piggy is often grumpy and demanding, to be sure, simply she likewise gets to be excited, and silly, and a team role player. All of that feels more than like "classic Piggy" to me than her current puppet incarnation.

Evan: Definitely, and all of that is really highlighted in these episodes. Do you have anything else general to say, or should nosotros swoop right into this holiday spectacular?

Anthony: This episode has some smashing examples, but I want to talk real quick nearly how great the songwriting is in general. We have the season 1 soundtrack album and my kids want to mind to it in the car constantly. And yet, I'chiliad not even a picayune chip sick of it. The songs are short, clever, and in a broad variety of styles. Any fan of Muppet music would dig them, I call back.

Evan: A Muppet show with a vocal in every episode! Tin you imagine it, Anthony?

Anthony: It feels similar a miracle, which is and then sad! So anyway, let's bound into this episode:

Evan: And so the showtime episode here is "A Very Muppet Babies Christmas," and it involves the kids and Nanny participating in a Cloak-and-dagger Santa gift commutation. I don't know virtually you, Anthony, but I always get super stressed out past Secret Santas.

Anthony: For me, it depends on the situation. If I know the person pretty well, I'1000 excited to go them something. If information technology'due south a bunch of strangers, less so. Fortunately, all of the babies (and Nanny) know each other extremely well, so I wasn't stressed out here.

Evan: Well yeah, and anybody gets a gift they absolutely admire.

Anthony: They do! I'yard peculiarly fond of Gonzo's gift, a Zorna the Intergalactic Princess Action Figure. Offset of all, I really love the idea of Gonzo as an action effigy guy, because information technology makes total sense. But likewise, I similar that it's merely casually a female person hero.

Evan: As well an obvious reference to the legitimately great 90s prove Xena Warrior Princess. Gonzo's love for Zorna of Zornupiter actually comes upward a couple of times throughout the series, and every time it makes me grinning.

Anthony: You know, I didn't even brand the Xena connectedness, although I'm sure you're right. I've always idea of her as an homage to Meteora from The Christmas Toy.

Evan: Wow, that'd be a deep cut if it's truthful. Anyway, just like in The Christmas Toy, everyone loves their gifts… except for poor Kermit, who got a mysterious light-green lump instead of a pack of Super Ultra Mega Robo Dinosaur Trading Cards. And let me tell you, as a Magic the Gathering child, I sympathise his hurting. For years, all I wanted was trading cards. Listening to the ToughPigs podcast about The Muppets (2015) reminds me that they tried so difficult to discover the correct balance of Kermit existence nice, but also fallible and mean sometimes, and Kermit'south reaction to getting a green lump is a great example of it done right.

Anthony: That'southward a really good point. He knows that he should be positive almost (especially if he wants to unload it on someone), merely he likewise doesn't want to hurt anyone'due south feelings. Remind me, were you a fan of The Office (the The states version)?

Evan: Nope! I have mayhap never seen an episode of The Part, because it does not accept any Muppets in it.

Anthony: That'due south truthful, information technology doesn't. But in one of their classic Christmas episodes, Michael Scott (Steve Carell's graphic symbol) hates what he gets from Secret Santa, so he decides that Underground Santa is now a White Elephant substitution instead. Kermit reminded me a trivial flake of Michael here, except that he'due south more mature and adult virtually it.

Evan: Kermit is as well different because he's a Muppet. Anyway, so Kermit tries to merchandise his gift away to the other characters. Equally he's trying to do this, you see Fozzie just looking increasingly devastated in the background. Anthony, could yous guess why Fozzie would be upset by Kermit trying to trade away his lump, or were you caught in this foreign mystery?

Anthony: Ha! I don't think fifty-fifty my two-year-old son was surprised to find out that Fozzie gave Kermit the lump, but I'm actually amused by all the shots of Fozzie lurking in the background looking distressing. There's so many of them, and he's such a sad panda that it tips over into being hilarious.

Evan: Aye, Fozzie is ridiculously cute on this show, both in appearance and personality. He's merely then eager to please and friendly, and having his gift rejected like this is actually hurting him. And then he finally explains the souvenir to Kermit.

Anthony: And information technology turns out that it'south a sculpture of Kermit! Kermit was carrying it around that whole fourth dimension and didn't even notice that it had two bulgy frog eyes on the top! That's also pretty hilarious, if you ask me.

Evan: Aye, it's one of those super convenient plot details, but I'll forgive it because it's a show for toddlers and also super cute. So Kermit realizes that Fozzie really does care about him, and he understands that most chiefly, Fozzie'southward pity matters more whatsoever Super Ultra Mega Robo Dinosaur Trading Card. (This is probably because Kermit has yet to pull the Super Ultra Mega Robo Dinosaur Trading Card equivalent of Blackness Lotus.)

Anthony: Toddlers can't take care of trading cards anyway! Yous know those corners would get bent. And so he should wait until he's Swamp Years age.

Evan: True. I wouldn't want him hurting the resale value. Anyway, so Kermit and the gang sing a song about how beingness with friends matters more than giving or getting presents on Christmas, and Anthony, it hits harder during 2020 than previously, you lot know?

Anthony: Absolutely, and the same is true of the episode's second story. Should nosotros move on to that?

Evan: Sure, let'southward talk "Summer's Super Fabulous Holiday Surprise." Before we do, we should clarify: Super Fabled is a recurring phrase on the evidence: it'south one of Piggy's catchphrases and her superhero alter-ego.

Anthony: And also the title of one of the show's best songs, well-nigh how the titular hero works alone and/or needs aid.

Evan: Really, I could talk all 24-hour interval near the superhero universe built within the Muppet Babies' imaginations, only that's for a dissimilar time. For now, let's talk near Summertime. She's a penguin, and she's simply very enthusiastic well-nigh everything. I don't honey Summer, but I can't detest her either. She'south beautiful! Even in the context of the show, she's new: we get the sense she recently moved to town from the South Pole.

Anthony: I actually do dearest Summer, mostly because of that enthusiasm you mention. Jessica DiCicco's vox performance is just and so spirited that I fell in love with her correct away. Also, i of her songs ("I'm on the Case") is maybe the thing my two children agree on most. Every fourth dimension it comes on, they both commencement bouncing off the walls with excitement. They think of her as a core member of the Muppet gang for certain, which definitely helped me accept her too.

Evan: Yeah, yous gotta figure kids aren't sitting around going, "Um actually, the Muppet penguins tin can't talk and aren't purple; this kid should've been Baby Mildred."

Anthony: HA!

Evan: And this episode is all about the kids accepting Summertime. Summer is very upset because her flying back to the Southward Pole has been canceled, and so she can't meet her family and do all of her vacation traditions, similar ice fishing for presents and riding on a sleigh.

Anthony: I love the idea that Summer only recently moved to (generic United States somewhere) from the South Pole and even so has family unit in that location. Much similar Zorna'due south low-fundamental feminism, information technology'due south a subtle message to kids that immigrants are simply regular people and are your friends at school (or for immigrant children that they're role of the gang.) Am I reading likewise much into this?

Evan: No, it'southward totally a valid accept! They play upwardly a lot that Summertime has unlike customs than the other kids, but they're nonetheless absurd (pun intended). And the kids determine that they desire to bring these community to Summer by creating a "South Pole" in the backyard while Animal keeps Summer busy.

Anthony: I actually love the scenes of Brute and Summer running around in the playroom. Sure, nosotros've seen Animal have drum battles before. But accept we ever seen him breakdance?

Evan: No. And it'south great. Then the kids are setting up activities for Summertime, and this is where we really go to see the Muppet Babies version of Piggy. Because Baby Piggy is self-centered, non selfish. She wants to make Summer's vacation equally wonderful every bit possible, but she but can't envision that anyone would have a unlike idea of what'due south adept than she does.

Anthony: Right, she actually reminds me a lot of my daughter hither. She ever tries to exist helpful, simply sometimes information technology's hard for a 6-year-sometime to grasp that what'southward fun for her isn't always fun for everyone.

Evan: It's admittedly true for 6-year-olds, but I'grand convinced it'due south also a practiced mindset for writers to put modern adult boob Piggy in. If Piggy doesn't want what's best for her friends, at that place's no reason why the Muppets should put upwards with her. But she does love her pink and sparkles and assumes everyone else should agree with her because she's super fabulous.

Anthony: Her heart's in the right identify, just she destroys the hard work her friends put in. Fozzie's Granddaddy Pepper Penguin Snowman is especially tragic. Summer and her Grandpa always make a snowman that looks just like her Grandpa, and then Fozzie lovingly makes one for her. But afterward Piggy glitter bombs information technology, the poor guy'due south head keeps falling off.

Evan: Information technology'southward very distressing. Only of course, in that location'due south a valuable lesson to be learned hither. Your friends' traditions are horrible and need to be improved. That'due south what the Muppet Babies learn, correct? I don't remember.

Anthony: No! They learn that it's good to let anybody celebrate their own traditions, and and so they sing a totally killer song chosen "Family" near how they're all a family unit.

Evan: It's very proficient, similar all the music in the evidence. Anthony, I actually like it when Muppets sing songs.

Anthony: Yeah, they should do that in boob form. Do you think Disney knows they tin can do that? We should write Disney a letter to make certain they know.

Evan: Well, they'll read this article for sure and they'll find out. Anyway, do you accept anything else to say near the Muppet Babies' super fabulous holiday episodes?

Anthony: We haven't really talked about Miss Nanny, the babies' immature, hip, Jenny Slate-voiced guardian. Much like the old Nanny, she isn't featured all that much, simply I relish that she has thematic leggings to friction match every episode.

Evan: Yeah, information technology'south very good. Pre-pandemic, I would dress co-ordinate to what I was going to be pedagogy my students, but that'due south gotten a little harder these days. Miss Nanny is fun though, and Jenny Slate is always delightful.

Anthony: For sure! In these episodes, I really like that she makes sure all of the babies accept coordinated holiday items. Every baby has a gift box and a stocking featuring their personal logo, like they're the babe Justice League. That's personalized learning at its finest!

Evan: Information technology's just a sweet, cute show that clearly has a lot of love and intendance put into every episode. I think Muppet fans would like these holiday episodes, and the prove in full! You can notice information technology on Disney+ when yous're done seeing what Grogu is doing for Life Day.

Anthony: And if readers want to check out this one in particular for a little holiday cheer, it's season 1 episode 17. Merry Christmas, Muppet Babies! Happy Summertime's super fabulous vacation, Evan!

Evan: Happy Zorna'south Day, Anthony. I got you this lump of pink clay. Information technology's shaped like your head, but you won't realize it until you look at information technology the correct way.

Anthony: Merely what I wanted! I got you a Muppet Rocksplosion poster.

Evan: You're a great friend, but I am going to merchandise information technology away for some Super Ultra Mega Robo Dinosaur Trading Cards. Happy holidays, anybody!

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by Anthony Strand and Evan Grand.

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Source: https://toughpigs.com/review-muppet-babies-christmas/