Watch The Great Santa Claus Switch

The Great Santa Claus Switch is a delightful television special from 1970 that stars Art Carney, Jim Henson, and Frank Oz. The film was made for NBC and aired on The Flip Wilson Show during the Christmas season. The plot of The Great Santa Claus Switch revolves around an evil toy company called "B.S. Toys" that decides to kidnap Santa Claus so that they can take over Christmas. Interestingly enough, B.S. Toys is actually an acronym for "Bunny Sam Toys," as the owner of the company is a character named Bunny Sam, who is portrayed by Art Carney.

Bunny Sam is the arch-nemesis of Santa Claus, and he has been trying to put him out of business for years. When he finally decides to kidnap Santa, he sends two of his henchmen, Cosmo Scam (played by Jim Henson) and his assistant, B. A. Humbug (played by Frank Oz) to the North Pole to execute the plan.

Cosmo Scam and B. A. Humbug are, of course, Muppet characters, and they are tasked with finding Santa Claus and bringing him back to Bunny Sam. Their plot, however, is complicated by the fact that they don't know what Santa Claus looks like, and they end up kidnapping the wrong person.

The wrong person they kidnap is a hapless laborer at the North Pole toy factory named Thig (also played by Art Carney). Thig is mistaken for Santa Claus because he happens to be wearing a red suit at the time of his kidnapping. When Cosmo Scam and B. A. Humbug present Thig to Bunny Sam, he is initially disappointed, but he decides that he can still use Thig for his plan.

Bunny Sam and his crew of evil toymakers then set about creating a robot Santa Claus that they can use to take over Christmas. They program the robot Santa to be as non-threatening as possible, so that no children will suspect that it's not the real Santa.

As they wait for the robot to be constructed, Cosmo Scam and B. A. Humbug are tasked with keeping Thig, who is now locked up in a cell, from escaping or causing trouble. However, Thig, who is a lovable and resourceful character, manages to escape and sets about trying to foil Bunny Sam's plan.

The Great Santa Claus Switch is a charming story that is full of holiday spirit and humor. The Muppets are, of course, the highlight of the show, and they bring their trademark wit and whimsy to the proceedings.

Art Carney is also a highlight of the show, playing two distinct (and hilarious) characters. His Bunny Sam is a caricature of a greedy businessman who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, while Thig is a lovable underdog who audiences can't help but root for.

Jim Henson and Frank Oz are both superb as Cosmo Scam and B. A. Humbug, respectively. Their chemistry is fantastic, and they bring their Muppet characters to life with great energy and warmth.

One of the standout moments of the show is the scene where Thig and the Muppets sneak into Bunny Sam's toy factory to try and stop him. The scene is full of humor and excitement, and it's a testament to the creative team's skill that they were able to make such an entertaining scene with puppets and basic sets.

Another standout moment in the show is the wonderful musical number "Christmas Morning," which features the Muppets singing a lively and catchy song about all the joys of Christmas morning. The song is both heartwarming and fun, and it's sure to put a smile on viewers' faces.

Overall, The Great Santa Claus Switch is a delightful holiday special that is sure to entertain viewers of all ages. Its mix of humor, heart, and clever storytelling make it a must-watch during the Christmas season.