A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa is a 2008 American television special directed by Kirk R. Thatcher featuring The Muppets in a Christmas mission to personally deliver three letters to Santa Claus, accidentally diverted by Gonzo, to the North Pole. The special aired on NBC on December 17, 2008. The special, shot in Brooklyn and Midtown Manhattan, was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on DVD in 2009.[1]
| A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Screenplay by | Hugh Fink Scott Ganz Andrew Samson Paul Williams |
| Story by | Paul Williams Hugh Fink Scott Ganz Andrew Samson |
| Directed by | Kirk R. Thatcher |
| Starring | The Muppets Uma Thurman Jane Krakowski Nathan Lane Jesse L. Martin Madison Pettis |
| Composer | Chris Caswell |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Anthony Katagas Martin G. Baker |
| Cinematography | Luke Geissbuhler |
| Editor | Jamie Kirkpatrick |
| Running time |
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| Production company | The Muppets Studio |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | December 17, 2008 |
Plot
editOn Christmas Eve in New York City, the Muppets go to the post office to deliver each of their letters to Santa Claus with Mayor Michael Bloomberg denying Miss Piggy's offer to move the line along as people in New York should be polite. The Muppets deliver their letters as Gonzo accidentally speeds up the letter conveyor belt as a postal worker (Jesse L. Martin) has the Muppets delivered back to their apartment building. 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).
With the post office closed early and Sam Eagle warning Gonzo and Fozzie Bear about the pitfalls of opening someone else's mail, the Muppets try different attempts like a pigeon delivery service and the enlistment of two Mafia members (Steve Schirripa and Tony Sirico). On Gonzo's insistence, the principal Muppets decide to go to the North Pole and deliver them personally. They get there in a taxi while scavenging money to pay the taxicab driver (Whoopi Goldberg). 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 in his youth, perpetually ended up on Santa's naughty list. It's also because of his appearance that people often fear him. He and Bobo the Bear allow the Muppets to pass through.
They eventually reach the North Pole, only to find out from the Chief Christmas Elf (Paul Williams) that Santa has already left to deliver the presents. The real Santa (Richard Griffiths) overhears their grieving and returns. While on a sleigh ride after being helped by Joy, they hand him Claire's letter and the other two which are revealed to have come from Pepe the King Prawn and Frank Meany. Pepe wanted to become an expert opera singer which Santa grants. Frank wanted to be taken off the naughty list. Santa grants this wish enabling Frank to finally get that red tricycle he wanted as it appears before him and Bobo. Santa brings them home to New York in time to spend the rest of the holiday with Claire and her mom (Jane Krakowski), which was all Claire wanted in the first place. All the Muppets show up after cancelling their vacations where they celebrate Christmas with Claire and her mom as they decorate her apartment.
Cast
edit- Madison Pettis - Claire
- Jane Krakowski - Claire's Mom
- Richard Griffiths - Santa Claus
- Nathan Lane - Officer Frank Meany
- Uma Thurman - Joy
Muppet performers
edit- Steve Whitmire - Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat (most scenes), Beaker, Statler
- Dave Goelz - Gonzo the Great, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Waldorf, Beauregard
- 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 the Eagle
- David Rudman - Scooter, Janice
- Matt Vogel - Floyd Pepper, Camilla the Chicken, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Robin the Frog, Pigeon Son
- Noel MacNeal - Sweetums
- Tyler Bunch - Pigeon Mom, Rizzo the Rat (one scene)
- Leslie Carrara-Rudolph - Penguin
- Martin P. Robinson - Penguin
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
Cameo guest stars
edit- 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
edit| A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP by The Muppets | ||||
| Released | November 23, 2009 | |||
| Genre | Christmas | |||
| Length | 12:03 | |||
| Label | Walt Disney | |||
| The Muppets chronology | ||||
| ||||
This is the fourth time that songwriter Paul Williams has contributed songs to the Muppets. A version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by The Crystals was also used during the opening credits but was not available on the soundtrack itself.
Soundtrack
edit| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Delivering Christmas" (featuring Jesse L. Martin) | Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Pepe the King Prawn, Pepe, Sweetums, Camilla the Chicken, and Everyone Else | 3:41 |
| 2. | "It's All About Heart" | Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Pepe the King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat | 1:43 |
| 3. | "I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus" | Gonzo & Fozzie Bear | 2:26 |
| 4. | "My Best Christmas Yet" (featuring Jane Krakowski and Madison Pettis) | The Muppets | 4:13 |
| Total length: | 12:03 | ||