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A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

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A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
DVD cover
Screenplay byHugh Fink
Scott Ganz
Andrew Samson
Paul Williams
Story byPaul Williams
Hugh Fink
Scott Ganz
Andrew Samson
Directed byKirk R. Thatcher
StarringThe Muppets
Uma Thurman
Jane Krakowski
Nathan Lane
Jesse L. Martin
Madison Pettis
ComposerChris Caswell
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersAnthony Katagas
Martin G. Baker
CinematographyLuke Geissbuhler
EditorJamie Kirkpatrick
Running time
  • 45 minutes
  • 56 minutes (Extended Edition)
Production companyThe Muppets Studio
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseDecember 17, 2008 (2008-12-17)

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]

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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Main article: List of Muppets

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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A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special)
EP by
The Muppets
ReleasedNovember 23, 2009
GenreChristmas
Length12:03
LabelWalt Disney
The Muppets chronology
The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas
(2006) 		A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special)
(2009) 		Muppets: The Green Album
(2011)

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)
No.TitleArtistLength
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 Else3:41
2."It's All About Heart"Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Pepe the King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat1:43
3."I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus"Gonzo & Fozzie Bear2:26
4."My Best Christmas Yet" (featuring Jane Krakowski and Madison Pettis)The Muppets4:13
Total length:12:03

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Amazon.com: Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Griffiths, Jane Kr...
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