The Great Santa Claus Switch
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The Great Santa Claus Switch title card.
TV Guide: December 12, 1970
The Great Santa Claus Switch was a Muppet television special that first aired on CBS on December 20, 1970.
Jim Henson's Muppets had made several successful guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and in Christmas of 1970, when Sesame Street was starting to become popular, Ed gave Jim Henson and the Muppets a whole hour of his show as a Christmas gift.
The Great Santa Claus Switch was a full-on Henson production -- written by Jerry Juhl, music by Joe Raposo and puppets by Don Sahlin.
Notes
- The concept for this show as of 1967 used the title The Sinister Santa Claus Switch. [citation needed]
- This special included Gonzo's very first appearance. He was then known as Snarl (or the Cigar Box Frackle) and remodeled and reused for The Muppet Show.
- The Great Santa Claus Switch is currently available for viewing at The Museum of Television and Radio.
Cast
- Jim Henson: Fred, Lothar
- Frank Oz: Thig, Skippity, Hoppity, Boppity, Snerf
- Jerry Nelson: Thog, Zippity, Snivelly
- Richard Hunt: Bing, Frackle with a match
- John Lovelady: Bong, Snake Frackle, Scoff, Snerf, Alarm Frackle
- Danny Seagren: Gloat, Snarl, Snerf
- Fran Brill: Snerf
- Additional Muppet Performers: Marilyn Sokol, Byron Whiting, Greg Antonacchi, Cary Antebi, John Byrum
