Lane to Join Goldberg, Krakowski, Martin, Griffiths & More in 'A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa'

NBC has announced that Nathan Lane has been added to the already impressive roster of talent in "A Muppets Christmas" Letters to Santa", the new Muppets TV special scheduled to air on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 8pm on NBC. 

Lane, who will play Office Meany, a bitter airport security guard, joins the previously announced Whoopi Goldberg, Uma Thurman, Jesse L. Martin, Jane Krakowski, Tony Sirico, Steve Schirripa, Richard Griffiths, Petra Nemcova, Madison Pettis and New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg.

The special is being directed by Kirk Thatcher with a teleplay written by Hugh Fink, Scott Ganz, Andrew Samson and Paul Williams and will feature four new songs by Williams (whose previous Muppets credits include "The Muppet Movie" and "The Muppet Christmas Carol." 

When the Muppets inadvertently prevent three children's letters from making their way to Santa Claus, Kermit and the gang set off to make things right before Christmas comes. The Muppet are forced to give up their plans of escaping a snow-filled New York City, but needless to say, nothing (not even Miss Piggy's planned trip to the tropics) will stand between the Muppets and a happy Christmas for all.

Last year, ABC aired ELMO'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN with the Muppets' SESAME STREET counterparts as well as Sirico, Schirripa, Ben Stiller and Alicia Keys.

Photo: Nathan Lane by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.