A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa



A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa is a 2008 NBC television special, directed by Kirk Thatcher and produced by The Muppets Studio, featuring The Muppets in a Christmas mission to personally deliver three letters to Santa, accidentally diverted by Gonzo, to the North Pole. The special, shot in Brooklyn and Midtown Manhattan, was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on DVD.

Plot
On Christmas Eve, the Muppets go to the post office in New York City to deliver each of their letters to Santa Claus (Richard Griffiths). When they head back to their apartment, Gonzo discovers that three letters wound up in his coat from a mishap there. One of those letters he recognizes as being written by his friend, a neighbor girl named Claire (Madison Pettis). On Gonzo's insistence, the principal Muppets decide to go to the North Pole and deliver them personally.

The Muppets end up getting tickets from a North Pole Airlines clerk named Joy (Uma Thurman) and getting caught by a bitter security guard Officer Frank Meany (Nathan Lane) who for being a bully perpetually ended up on Santa's naughty list. He and Bobo the Bear allow the Muppets to pass through.

They eventually reach the North Pole, only to find out that Santa has already left to deliver the presents. Santa overhears their grieving and returns. While on a sleigh ride, they hand him Claire's letter and the other two which are revealed to have come from Frank Meany (who wants to be taken off the naughty list) and Pepe the King Prawn. Santa brings them home to New York in time to spend the rest of the holiday with Claire and her mom, which was all Claire wanted in the first place.

Cast

 * Madison Pettis - Claire
 * Jane Krakowski - Claire's Mom
 * Richard Griffiths - Santa Claus
 * Nathan Lane - Officer Frank Meany
 * Uma Thurman - Joy

Muppet performers
Additional Muppets performed by Pam Arciero, Heather Asch, Kevin Clash, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Alice Dinnean, James Godwin, John Kennedy, Jim Kroupa, Tim Lagasse, Peter Linz, Jim Martin, and Paul McGinnis
 * Steve Whitmire - Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler
 * Dave Goelz - Gonzo the Great, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Waldorf
 * Bill Barretta - Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Rowlf the Dog, Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Pigeon Dad
 * Eric Jacobson - Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal, Sam Eagle
 * David Rudman - Scooter, Janice
 * Matt Vogel - Floyd Pepper, Camilla the Chicken, Lew Zealand, Robin the Frog, Pigeon Son
 * Noel MacNeal - Sweetums
 * Tyler Bunch - Pigeon Mom
 * Leslie Carrara-Rudolph - Penguin
 * Martin P. Robinson - Penguin, Crazy Harry

Cameo guest stars

 * Mayor Michael Bloomberg - Himself
 * Whoopi Goldberg - Cab Driver
 * Jesse L. Martin - Postal Worker
 * Petra Němcová - Beaker's Girlfriend
 * Steve Schirripa - Mafia Guy
 * Tony Sirico - Mafia Guy
 * Paul Williams - Chief Christmas Elf

Music
This is the fourth time that songwriter Paul Williams has contributed songs to the Muppets. A version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" by The Crystals was also used during the opening credits but was not available on the soundtrack itself.