As it happened: The Muppet's Christmas Carol

• 19:37

  We're starting from here, it's about ten seconds in on the iTunes version.

• 19:41

  Ooh, probably should have started with a hello! Welcome along, and a Merry Christmas to you all. This is the annual Sidepodfilmclub Festive Movie, and it's all about the Muppets.

• 19:44

  The Muppets Christmas Carol, directed by Brian Henson and written by... well Charles Dickens, sort of.

• 19:46

  Okay, so, this is also a bit of an FBFB test. Things are wonky, you'll bear us with I know!

• 19:49

  Do make sure to keep an eye on the FBFB countdown, when it hits zero, that's when we all need to press play!

• 19:52

  Here's an interesting trivia bit that Amy picked up on earlier: "The song "When Love Is Gone" was originally dropped from the theatrical release because Disney thought it would be too sad for young children. The scene was restored in the VHS and laser discs releases. However, it isn't used in TV airings of the movie and the first DVD release."

• 19:56

  If we all fall out of sync partway through, we'll blame the song.

• 19:57

  Just under three minutes to go now. Grab your drinks and snacks, the house lights are going down, it's time to settle in!

• 19:59

  Thirty seconds!!

• 19:59

  Go, go, go!

• 20:00

  Mmm, Christmassy music.

• 20:02

  Comment from Mr C: who's brian henson?

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Henson

  Jim Henson's son. It runs in the family.

• 20:03

  Our narrators, Gonzo and Rizzo the rat. Or Charles Dickens... sort of.

• 20:04

  Tweet from @joemaule: its an amazing film. Lots of the floral decorations were done by my mum when she worked as a florist many years ago! #fact

• 20:04

  "That's a good beginning, it's creepy and kind of... ooh, spooky."

• 20:06

  Scrooge - "If he became a flavour, you can bet he would be sour."

• 20:07

  Aww, the cute mice, meeces, whatever.

• 20:07

  Michael Caine!

• 20:08

  Kermit is left handed, it seems.

• 20:09

  Scrooge is most definitely right handed.

• 20:10

  Comment from Lukeh: I like kermit's little suit.

• 20:11

  I do agree with Mr Scrooge on this: "You keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine."

• 20:13

  The nephew's trousers are most excellent. I want some checked trousers.

• 20:14

  I LOVE the rabbit. So cute.

• 20:16

  "It was the frog's idea."

• 20:18

  One More Sleep 'Til Christmas - 'The world has got a smile today, the world has got a glow.'

• 20:21

  Door knockers have always kinda freaked me out anyway. Maybe this was why!

• 20:22

  I love Rizzo's accent. "He ain't hoyrt."

• 20:26

  Jacob and Robert Marley. Except, of course, there isn't really a Robert Marley. They made him up so there could be two. Jacob Marley is technically made up too, I suppose.

• 20:26

  Marley and Marley - "If you could not pay the rent, we simply threw you out."

• 20:27

  I like ghosts that actually do the ghostly "woooooooooooo" thing.

• 20:30

  Comment from Jordan F1: I am haunted by three spirits as well, Scotoch, whiskey and rum...

• 20:31

  Boy that is one noisy clock Scrooge has. How does he ever get any sleep, even on ghostless nights?

• 20:32

  Always a bit disappointed that the Ghost of Christmas Past is not a muppet.

• 20:32

  We get all kinds of viewers to our film club nights.

• 20:34

  I'm confused where they picked up a weather vane in the middle of a forest, but we'll go with it.

• 20:35

  I would very much dislike having to go back to school in any kind of ghostly visit.

• 20:39

  "Light the lamp, not the rat, light the lamp, not the rat!"

• 20:41

  All speeches need is an Animal, never mind that tinkling of cutlery against glasses.

• 20:42

  Comment from Lukeh: No one plays the triangle as well as Animal.

• 20:43

  "I love these annual Christmas parties. I love them so much, I think we'll do them twice a year."

• 20:45

  They cut out our song. Boo. The love is gone, anyway. You get the idea.

• 20:46

  "Come in and know me better man!"

• 20:46

  The Ghost of Christmas Present is so happy, it's infectious.

• 20:47

  Scrooge laughed!

• 20:47

  And he made a joke too!

• 20:48

  It Feels Like Christmas - 'It is the season of the heart, a special time of caring, the ways of love made clear.'

• 20:50

  And now Scrooge is dancing. We're really making progress, I think.

• 20:51

  I hadn't realised that Fred, the nephew, is actually quite famous! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0533599/

• 20:53

  Miss Piggy is definitely an acquired taste.

• 20:54

  Comment from Cathy in California: Hey, chef's are absolutely allowed to test the merchandise...it's called quality control.

• 20:54

  Christmas Scat - 'Fa la la!'

• 20:58

  Bless Us All - 'Life is full of sweet surprises, every day's a gift.'

• 20:58

  Two mini Miss Piggy's is quite a worrying prospect!

• 20:59

  Michael Caine appears to spend most of this film with tears in his eyes.

• 21:02

  The spooky spirit approaches.

• 21:02

  When I read Harry Potter, this is how I assumed the Dementors looked.

• 21:05

  Scrooge really should recognise his own bed curtains.

• 21:07

  I think the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come role would be perfect for Mr C.

• 21:08

  So, 'The Love is Gone' is too sad for kids, but this, Tiny Tim gone, is fine.

• 21:11

  Scrooge should probably tailor his questions so they can have a pointing-only answer.

• 21:12

  He recognises the bed curtains when he's right next to them!

• 21:13

  CUTE RABBIT.

• 21:14

  Not rabbit, Bean Bunny http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bean_Bunny

• 21:15

  Thankful Heart - 'Every night will end, and every day will start with a grateful prayer and a thankful heart.'

• 21:16

  The Muppets are easily swayed. Years of tyranny from Scrooge, but one song and they're over it.

• 21:17

  Cheese for the meeces!

• 21:19

  He's brought turkey, but the ghost of Christmas Present showed us they already had a goose cooking.

• 21:20

  The Love We Found makes little sense without the previous song.

• 21:21

  The End.

• 21:24

  They're playing the Love is Gone over the credits as well. Very odd.

• 21:25

  Thanks to one and all. Heartwarming film, and always a lot of fun! Roll on next year!