American TV series or program
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
is a 2008
NBC
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, shot in
Brooklyn
and
Midtown Manhattan
, was released by
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
on DVD.
[1]
Plot
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]
On
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
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Muppet performers
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]
- 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
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Music
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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
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A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special)
Title
| Artist
|
---|
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
|
---|
See also
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References
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External links
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