Question about the original airing of "A Muppet Family Christmas"

[anathema]

I've recently obtained a copy of the original uncut airing of this special, and I was wondering about some things:

After two of the commercial breaks, when the show resumes it starts off with a shot over which is superimposed the "MFC" title graphic. In the case of the first break, the resume shot is of the farmhouse, with a red graphic; after the third break, the shot is an exterior of Kermit peering through the farmhouse window into the gathering storm, with a blue graphic. In both cases, the shot dissolves to the main action after a few seconds.

Now, obviously this is perfectly normal However, as my copy doesn't have these shots after any of the other breaks, can anyone confirm a) whether it should have them; and b) if so, what the missing shots are? Even better, does anyone actually have copies of any of this on tape that they'd be willing to trade? :-D


Secondly, was this the only time the special has been aired in its original form? I know that the first re-edit was done within a couple of years of the first airing, since it's been available on VHS (in the UK) since around 1988. I have copies of two separate recordings of the uncut show (with different sets of problems), and they're both definitely from the same airing (same continuity announcer wittering over the end credits, natch).


Finally, I've seen a clip on Mark Pethick's site described as a "Commercial bumper". Can anyone enlighten me as to where/when this would have been shown, and whether there were any others? Again, I'd love copies on VHS!

Thanks!

 

[scarecroe]

The commercial bumper on Mark's site was the only one used during the original airing.

 

[Chilly Down]

Who is Mark Pethick, and what's his website address?

 

[anathema]

Who is Mark Pethick, and what's his website address?

"A Muppety Christmas":

http://www.geocities.com/muppetchristmas/main.html