A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.Find sources: "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2025) 2008 American TV series or program A Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaDVD coverScreenplay byHugh FinkScott GanzAndrew SamsonPaul WilliamsStory byPaul WilliamsHugh FinkScott GanzAndrew SamsonDirected byKirk R. ThatcherStarringThe MuppetsUma ThurmanJane KrakowskiNathan LaneJesse L. MartinMadison PettisComposerChris CaswellCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionProducersAnthony KatagasMartin G. BakerCinematographyLuke GeissbuhlerEditorJamie KirkpatrickRunning time 45 minutes 56 minutes (Extended Edition) Production companiesThe Muppets StudioWalt Disney StudiosOriginal releaseNetworkNBCReleaseDecember 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 was produced by The Muppets Studio and 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.

[edit] On Christmas Eve in New York City, the Muppets aren't planning to spend Christmas together, because Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are heading for the Caribbean for a romantic date, Gonzo the Great is going to Hawaii, and Fozzie Bear is embarking on a comedy road tour. Before they go, however, they go to the post office to deliver each of their letters to Santa Claus with Mayor Michael Bloomberg denying 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 best friend, a neighbor girl named Claire (Madison Pettis). With the post office closed early and Sam Eagle warning Gonzo and Fozzie 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). Finally, after Piggy leaves to the Caribbean herself, Gonzo suggests that Kermit, Fozzie, Rizzo the Rat, and Pepe the King Prawn would come with him to the North Pole and deliver the letters 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 and Frank. 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, along with Piggy (who has surprisingly returned from the Caribbean for the party), show up after cancelling their vacations where they celebrate Christmas with Claire and her mom as they decorate her apartment.

[edit] Madison Pettis - Claire Jane Krakowski - Claire's Mom Richard Griffiths - Santa Claus Nathan Lane - Officer Frank Meany Uma Thurman - Joy Muppet performers[edit] Main article: List of Muppets 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 (most scenes), 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, Snail, Rizzo the Rat (one scene) Leslie Carrara-Rudolph - Penguin Martin P. Robinson - Penguin, Snail, Dr. Teeth (one scene) 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

[edit] A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special)EP by The MuppetsReleasedNovember 23, 2009GenreChristmasLength12:03LabelWalt DisneyThe 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[edit] A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Soundtrack from the TV Special) No.TitleArtistLength1."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 Else3:412."It's All About Heart"Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Pepe the King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat1:433."I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus"Gonzo & Fozzie Bear2:264."My Best Christmas Yet" (featuring Jane Krakowski and Madison Pettis)The Muppets4:13Total length:12:03

The Muppets have been a holiday mainstay since the classic 1979 "The Muppet Christmas Carol" taught kids that mischief and goodwill can share a stage. "Letters to Santa" works the same charm formula: familiar faces, slap‑slap humour and a simple mission that mirrors children’s own wish‑lists. Because the special is just under an hour, it fits neatly into a family’s Christmas Eve routine without monopolising the evening. The cameo‑rich cast, including Uma Thurman and Jane Krakowski, adds a dash of adult appeal, making it a rare Muppet offering that genuinely entertains both the young and the grown‑up simultaneously.

If you prefer a physical copy, the 2009 DVD includes the 56‑minute extended cut, plus optional subtitles for hearing‑impaired relatives. Look for the disc with a region‑free encoding if you have a multi‑format player—most UK releases are Region 2, but a region‑free disc avoids the dreaded “cannot play” message. For those with smart TVs, the special occasionally resurfaces on Disney+ during the holiday season; however, the catalogue rotation can be unpredictable, so keeping a DVD in the pantry guarantees a repeatable viewing every December.

Many viewers assume the story is a straightforward letter‑delivery adventure, but the true humour stems from Gonzo’s well‑intended blunder that turns the mission into a chaotic city‑wide scavenger hunt. The “three letters” are less about the wishes themselves and more about the chaos each Muppet creates while trying to rectify the mix‑up. This subtext highlights the show's recurring theme: good intentions often lead to slapstick pandemonium, reminding families that Christmas mishaps can be just as memorable as perfectly wrapped presents.