UMA THURMAN, JESSE L. MARTIN, NATHAN LANE, JANE KRAKOWSKI, PETRA NEMCOVA, PAUL WILLIAMS AND MICHAEL BLOOMBERG JOIN THE ALL-STAR CAST OF NBC'S HOLIDAY SPECIAL 'A MUPPETS CHRISTMAS: LETTERS TO SANTA'

Stars Join Previously Announced Cast of Whoopi Goldberg ("The View"), Richard Griffiths ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"), Tony Sirico ("The Sopranos"), Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") and Madison Pettis ("Cory in the House")

BURBANK�SEPTEMBER 25, 2008�Uma Thurman ("Kill Bill"), Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock"), Nathan Lane ("The Producers"), Jesse L. Martin ("Law & Order"), Petra Nemcova ("A Model Life") Paul Williams ("Georgia Rule") and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg have joined the all-star cast of NBC's upcoming holiday special "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" airing Wednesday, December 17 (8-9 p.m. ET).

They join the previously announced cast members include Whoopi Goldberg ("The View"), Richard Griffiths ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"), Tony Sirico ("The Sopranos"), Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") and Madison Pettis ("Cory in the House").

In "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa," the Emmy and Grammy-award winning Muppets deliver an all new one-hour special filled with song and dance, mayhem and heaps of holiday high spirits. On Christmas Eve the Muppets mistakenly avert three letters from making their way to Santa Claus in the North Pole--leaving three Christmas wishes at stake.

Kermit rounds up his fearless friends to get to the North Pole before Santa makes his rounds on Christmas Eve and as usual, nothing�not even Miss Piggy's planned trip to the tropics can stand between the Muppets and a joyful Christmas. In typical Muppets fashion, chaos and humor ensue as they try to find a way to the North Pole, but will they make it in time? The cast in alphabetical order is:

Mayor Bloomberg - himself
Whoopi Goldberg - Cab driver
Richard Griffiths - Santa Claus
Jane Krakowski - Claire's mom
Nathan Lane - Officer Meany
Jesse Martin - Postal worker
Petra Nemcova - Beaker's girlfriend
Madison Pettis - Claire
Steve Schirripa - Mafia guy
Tony Sirico - Mafia guy
Uma Thurman - Joy the ticket clerk
Paul Williams - Elf

In the special, Jesse L. Martin, who plays a postal worker, opens the program with a song and dance number along with the Muppets in the post office as they are waiting in line to mail their Christmas cards. Later on, Jane Krakowski, who plays the Mother to Claire (Madison Pettis), tries to assuage her daughter --who is feeling lonely during the holidays, from befriending the Muppets who happen to live in the same building. Claire is disappointed when Gonzo reveals none of the Muppets will be around during Christmas as they are all going on vacation, leaving Claire alone with her Mother. The Muppets soon realize that the spirit of the holidays is more important than vacation, and they must do all they can to get the three letters to Santa in time for Christmas. They high-tail it in Whoopi Goldberg's taxicab to the airport, where they encounter a friendly ticket agent, Uma Thurman and a bitter airport security guard, played by Nathan Lane. Will they find a flight to reach the North Pole in time or get caught up in last minute security issues? Tune in to find out, and bring the spirit of the holidays into your living room.

"A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" is executive produced by The Muppets Studio and produced by Martin G. Baker. The writers are Hugh Fink, Andrew Samson, Scott Ganz and Paul Williams, with songs by Paul Williams (songwriter for "The Muppet Movie").