Academy Award winner Goldberg, according to the Hollywood Reporter, has been cast in the NBC holiday special, "Letters to Santa — A Muppets Christmas." The winter offering will boast songs by Paul Williams, who penned the score to "The Muppet Movie."

In addition to Goldberg, the film will also feature the talents of Equus' Richard Griffiths as well as Madison Pettis and former "Sopranos" stars Tony Sirico and Steve Schirripa. TV watchers can also expect, of course, appearances by Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and Miss Piggy, among other Muppet friends.

"Letters to Santa," according to the industry paper, "is set on Christmas Eve when Kermit and company mistakenly avert three letters en route to Santa Claus, which triggers a race against time to bring a happy Christmas to the kids whose wishes were lost in the mail."

Last season ABC presented "Elmo's Christmas Countdown."

An Academy Award-winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg has appeared on Broadway in Xanadu, Whoopi, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (which she co-produced). In addition to earning a Grammy and Golden Globe Award, Goldberg is a Tony-winning producer of 2002's Thoroughly Modern Millie.