This is a Christmas TV movie created by Jim Henson, and a staple from my childhood. The puppetry and voices are done by Muppet Show veterans, and it very much resembles a Muppet Show episode with its simplicity and excellent musical numbers..
The premise is that Emmet and his Ma are poor/working class country folk who live in a place called Frogtown Hollow. Emmet does odd jobs with his father's old tools, and Ma washed laundry for various people. While they may lack in wealth, they seem happy that they have music in their lives. As Christmas approaches it is announced there will be a talent show in town, and the winner will get 50 dollars. Emmet and 3 of his friends put together a jug-band to enter into the contest; Emmet desiring the winnings to get his Ma a nice Christmas present. The problem: Emmet is expected to play washtub bass, so he will have to put a hole into his mother's washtub which will make her livelihood a little more difficult. Ma also decides she wants to enter the talent show, but in order to buy fabric for a dress, she will have to hock Emmet's tool chest.
The real irony is that neither Emmet nor Ma win the talent show and things seem grim because both of their means of working are gone, but all turns out for the best as they are walking home singing. It is a feel good family movie, with a good holiday message.
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