Muppets and Friends Search for Perfect ‘Christmas Tree’
Robert Downey Jr., Stockard Channing and Leslie Nielsen take a quick romp through “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree,” a light holiday offering for young children from Jim Henson Productions. It’s hosted by his esteemed greenness, Kermit the Frog, the only familiar Muppet face in the show.
Pa Mouse and his two children, some waltzing bears and singing owls are the assorted Muppets looking for the perfect Christmas tree, along with a lonely maid (Channing), a crusty butler (Nielsen) and an eccentric rich fellow (Downey).
The mice find it first but are unintentionally borne aloft in its pine branches as the tree makes the rounds among other seekers. The odyssey takes the Mouse family through various holiday celebrations, from the maid’s Swedish candle tradition and the bears’ “Honeypot Waltz” ceremony to an owl choral group.
Will the mice finally get their perfect little piece of the tree and return safe and snug to their mouse hole in Willowby Manor?
Mitchell Kriegman wrote the “Nabisco Family Classic” presentation from Robert Barry’s book; Jon Stone directed. Original songs by Michael and Patty Silversher are sung by the humans with enthusiasm, though not much musicality.
* “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” airs at 8:30 tonight on CBS (Channel 2).
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