Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas is an hour-long Sesame Street Christmas special, that first aired on HBO on November 25, 2016. The special was taped during the week of June 13th and features guest stars Audra McDonald, Zosia Mamet, and Jim Gaffigan (as Santa Claus).

The special was released on DVD on October 10, 2017. The special was also adapted into a storybook on October 17, and debuted on PBS on November 22.

The special was awarded "Outstanding Children's Program" in the 2017 Emmy Awards.

Official Description[]

“Once Upon a Sesame Christmas opens with the lyrical number “Holiday Lights,” a musical glimpse into the homes of Sesame Street families celebrating winter holidays, and unfolds into a fanciful bedtime story that brings the past alive. After a day of holiday fun, while being tucked into bed on Christmas Eve, Elmo asks, “Why do we leave cookies out for Santa?"

As his father spins a tale about a dreary Sesame Street of yesteryear, a place so unfriendly not even Santa Claus would visit, viewers are transported to a period-perfect 19th-century city neighborhood, with characters in authentic hand-sewn costumes, but marked by unkindness and a serious lack of holiday spirit. Luckily, Elmo’s great-great-great-grandmonster moves into the neighborhood with the best of intentions and endless good will, gradually winning over the unhappy citizens and bringing kindness and cheer to Sesame Street once and for all.^[1]”

Songs[]

• "Holiday Lights"
• "Let Santa Know We're Here"
• "Two is You and Me"
• "Deck the Halls"
• "Kindness"

Characters[]

Muppets

Big Bird, Grover, Ernie, Bert, Rosita, Elmo, Louie, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Count von Count, Oscar the Grouch, Two-Headed Monster, Mr. Johnson, Becky, Holly, Elf

Background Muppets

Baby Bear, Curly Bear, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Zoe, Telly Monster, Gladys the Cow, Anything Muppets, AM Monsters, Grouches, Cat

Humans

Alan, Nina

Cast[]

Cast

• Alan Muraoka as Alan
• Suki Lopez as Nina
• Caroll Spinney as Big Bird & Oscar

Special Guest Stars

• Jim Gaffigan as Santa Claus
• Audra McDonald as Caroler
• Zosia Mamet as Bella

Sesame Street Muppet Performers

Pam Arciero, Billy Barkhurst, Jennifer Barnhart, Tyler Bunch, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Frankie Cordero, Ryan Dillon, Jamie Donmoyer, Liz Hara, Christopher Hayes, Eric Jacobson, Haley Jenkins, Kathleen Kim, Tim Lagasse, Spencer Lott, Lara MacLean, Andrew Moriarty, Carmen Osbahr, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, Matt Vogel

19th Century / Present Day Extras

Xavier Hall, Aubrey Quinn, Nicholas Low, Rosa Salvatierra, Leah Horowitz Stuart, Kolette Tetlow, Julius Thomas III, Jahi Winston

Notes[]

• The PBS version features extra content following the main feature, inserted before the end credits. This includes a live-action film, "H is for Holiday," and a performance of "Jingle Bells" by Elmo, Abby and various others (a Honker, Dinger, horse, penguin, snowball, bell and chicken). A brief portion of the special before the end credits is cut out as well.
• This is Eric Jacobson's first performance as the first head of the Two-Headed Monster following Joey Mazzarino's departure.
• In one scene, Elmo is skeptical about Louie's story and dismisses it as being pretend. However, in Episode 5106, Oscar cites that Grouches have celebrated Crankymas as far back to the time when Sesame Street used to be full of citizens who were grouchy to one another, suggesting that Louie's made-up story is true.

Credits[]

• Executive Producer: Brown Johnson
• Co-Executive Producer: Ken Scarborough
• Supervising Producer: Benjamin Lehmann
• Coordinating Producer: Mindy Fila
• Producer: Karyn Leibovich
• Directed by Matt Vogel
• Associate Directors: Ken Diego and Leslie Williams
• Head Writer: Ken Scarborough
• Writer: Geri Cole
• The Jim Henson Company NY Creature Shop: Erin Slattery Black, Ben Duroucher, Michelle Hickey, Doug James, Ariella Knight, Joseph Kovacs, Rollie Krewson, Kari Love, Lara MacLean, Anney Ozar, Constance Peterson, Katie Rusek, Whitney Thayne, Polly Smith, Jason Weber
• Henson Production: Melissa Creighton, Jonathan Ehrich, Joseph Roddy
• Music Director: Bill Sherman
• Music Director - (Arrangements and Orchestrations): Joe Fiedler
• Music Director - (Vocals): Paul Rudolph
• Music Coordinator: Colleen Darnall
• Music Copyist: Joe Fiedler
• Sesame Street Band: Randy Cohen, Michael Croiter, John Deley, Doug Derryberry, Joe Fiedler, Rob Jost, Kenny Rampton, Bill Sherman
• Composers: Eli Bolin, Joe Fiedler, Kathryn Raio, JP Rende, Bill Sherman, Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Paul Rudolph
• "Holiday Lights" Lyrics Written by Molly Boylan
• Associate Producers: Theresa Anderson and Andrew Moriarty
• Costume Designer: Brian Hemesath
• Production Designer: David Gallo
• Sound Effects Editor/Re-Recording Mixer: Dick Maitland, C.A.S.
• Music Editors: Jorge Muelle and Paul Rudolph
• Supervising Music Coordinator: Michael Croiter
• Cameras: Frank Biondo, Jerry Cancel, Shaun Harkins, Mark Britt
• Set Photography: Zach Hyman
• Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content: Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D.
• Special Thanks: Definition 6, Magnetic Dreams, Yellow Sound Lab
• Taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York

Gallery[]

Behind the scenes[]

Zosia Mamet and the Muppets

Zosia Mamet and the Muppets

Zosia Mamet and the Muppets

The Muppets and Audra McDonald on the set

Audra McDonald and Elmo

Jim Gaffigan gets a selfie with Elmo.

Jim Gaffigan and Elmo

Jim Gaffigan as Santa

Santa and Cookie Monster

Audra McDonald and the Muppets

Zosia Mamet on set

Zosia Mamet and the Muppets

See also[]

• Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas character variants

Sources[]

External links[]

• Christmas Specials Wiki: Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas
• Boomerang video #1
• Boomerang video #2
• Boomerang video #3