View source for A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

{{Infobox television
| image                = Muppets Christmas LTS.JPG
| image_size           = 
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = DVD cover
| genre                = 
| creator              = 
| based_on             = 
| screenplay           = Hugh Fink<br />Scott Ganz<br>Andrew Samson<br />[[Paul Williams (songwriter)|Paul Williams]]
| story                = Paul Williams<br />Hugh Fink<br />Scott Ganz<br />Andrew Samson
| director             = [[Kirk R. Thatcher]]
| starring             = [[The Muppets]]<br />[[Uma Thurman]]<br />[[Jane Krakowski]]<br />[[Nathan Lane]]<br />[[Jesse L. Martin]]<br />[[Madison Pettis]]
| narrated             = 
| composer             = [[Chris Caswell]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_episodes         = 
| producer             = Anthony Katagas<br />Martin G. Baker
| editor               = Jamie Kirkpatrick
| cinematography       = Luke Geissbuhler
| runtime              = {{Plainlist|
* 45 minutes
* 56 minutes {{small|(Extended Edition)}}
}}
| company              = [[The Muppets Studio]]
| budget               = 
| network              = [[NBC]]
| released             = {{Start date|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 (Muppet)|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.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Muppets-Christmas-Letters-Steve-Whitmire/dp/B002DLB15W Amazon.com: Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Griffiths, Jane Kr...<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Plot==
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 (Muppet)|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 [[List of Muppets#Bobo the Bear|Bobo the Bear]] allow the Muppets to pass through.

They eventually reach the North Pole, only to find out from the Chief [[Christmas elf|Christmas Elf]] ([[Paul Williams (songwriter)|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==
* [[Madison Pettis]] - Claire
* [[Jane Krakowski]] - Claire's Mom
* [[Richard Griffiths]] - [[Santa Claus]]
* [[Nathan Lane]] - Officer Frank Meany
* [[Uma Thurman]] - Joy

===Muppet performers===
{{main|List of Muppets}}
* [[Steve Whitmire]] - [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Rizzo the Rat]] (most scenes), [[Beaker (Muppet)|Beaker]], [[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]]
* [[Dave Goelz]] - [[Gonzo (Muppet)|Gonzo the Great]], [[Bunsen Honeydew|Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]], [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Zoot|Zoot]], [[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]], [[List of Muppets#Beauregard|Beauregard]]
* [[Bill Barretta]] - [[Pepe the King Prawn]], [[List of Muppets#Bobo the Bear|Bobo the Bear]], [[Rowlf the Dog]], [[Swedish Chef]], [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Dr. Teeth|Dr. Teeth]], Pigeon Dad
* [[Eric Jacobson]] - [[Fozzie Bear]], [[Miss Piggy]], [[Animal (Muppet)|Animal]], [[Sam Eagle|Sam the Eagle]]
* [[David Rudman]] - [[Scooter (Muppet)|Scooter]], [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Janice|Janice]] 
* [[Matt Vogel (puppeteer)|Matt Vogel]] - [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem#Floyd Pepper|Floyd Pepper]], [[List of Muppets#Camilla the Chicken|Camilla the Chicken]], [[List of Muppets#Lew Zealand|Lew Zealand]], [[List of Muppets#Crazy Harry|Crazy Harry]], [[List of Muppets#Robin the Frog|Robin the Frog]], Pigeon Son
* [[Noel MacNeal]] - [[List of Muppets#Sweetums|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 (puppeteer)|John Kennedy]], Jim Kroupa, [[Tim Lagasse]], [[Peter Linz]], [[Jim Martin (puppeteer)|Jim Martin]], and [[Paul McGinnis]]<!--Please stop adding background Muppets. Leave that info on the Muppet Fandom.-->

===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 (songwriter)|Paul Williams]] - Chief [[Christmas elf|Christmas Elf]]

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name       = A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special)
| type       = EP
| artist     = The Muppets
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = November 23, 2009
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Christmas music|Christmas]]
| length     = 12:03
| label      = [[Walt Disney Records|Walt Disney]]
| producer   =
| chronology = [[The Muppets]]
| prev_title = [[The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas]]
| prev_year  = 2006
| next_title = [[Muppets: The Green Album]]
| next_year  = 2011
}}
This is the fourth time that songwriter [[Paul Williams (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===
{{Track listing
| headline = ''A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special) ''
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Delivering Christmas
| extra1 = Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Pepe the King Prawn, Pepe, Sweetums, Camilla the Chicken, and Everyone Else
| note1 = featuring [[Jesse L. Martin]]
| length1 = 3:41
| title2 = It's All About Heart
| extra2 = Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Pepe the King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat
| length2 = 1:43
| title3 = I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus
| extra3 = Gonzo & Fozzie Bear
| length3 = 2:26
| title4 = My Best Christmas Yet
| note4 = featuring [[Jane Krakowski]] and [[Madison Pettis]]
| extra4 = The Muppets
| length4 = 4:13
| total_length = 12:03
}}

==See also==
* [[List of Christmas films]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://movies.disney.com/a-muppets-christmas-letters-to-santa}}
* {{IMDb title|1292569}}

{{The Muppets productions}}
{{Kirk Thatcher}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muppet Christmas: Letters To Santa, A}}
[[Category:2008 television specials]]
[[Category:American musical comedy films]]
[[Category:American television films]]
[[Category:2000s musical comedy films]]
[[Category:The Muppets films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kirk Thatcher]]
[[Category:The Muppets television specials]]
[[Category:Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:NBC television specials]]
[[Category:Santa Claus in film]]
[[Category:Santa Claus in television]]
[[Category:2000s Christmas films]]
[[Category:2000s Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:American Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:American Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language Christmas comedy films]]