NBC Commissions new Muppet Holiday Special
The Muppets will be first returning to television before the Big Screen. NBC has announced the production of Letters to Santa — A Muppets Christmas for this holiday season. This will be the third holiday themed special following a 1970s hour with John Denver and a 1980s effort. They also adapted Charles Dickens’ immortal tale in A Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992.
This one will be set once again on Christmas Eve as Kermit and company discover three errant letters to Santa. They take it upon themselves to handle the requests so the writers don’t have a spoiled Christmas. Joining in on the fun will be Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Sirico and Steve Schirripa from The Sopranos, Richard Griffiths and Madison Pettis.
Paul Williams will supply news songs according to The Hollywood Reporter. No airdate has been provided.
As for their feature film careers, Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller are at work on a script which Stoller would direct. Their story has the Muppets rally to save an old theatre from a greedy oilman. While announced in March, no further details have emerged.
And don't forget "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie", a made-for-tv movie from a few years ago. While it didn't seem to be too popular, I sure liked it.