The Santa Clauses | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Jack Burditt |
Based on | The Santa Clause by Leo Benvenuti Steve Rudnick |
Showrunner | Jack Burditt |
Starring |
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Music by |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Cinematography | JP Wakayama |
Editors |
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Running time | 33 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | Disney+ |
Release | November 16, 2022 present | –
The Santa Clauses is an American Christmas fantasy comedy television series created by Jack Burditt for Disney+ and based on The Santa Clause film series. Serving as a sequel to The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd, and David Krumholtz all reprise their roles from the film series. Jack Burditt serves as showrunner and executive producer.[1] It premiered on November 16, 2022.[2] In December 2022, The Santa Clauses was renewed for a second season which premiered with two episodes on November 8, 2023.[3][4]
The series follows Scott Calvin, a former businessman who became Santa Claus in 1994, his wife Carol Calvin (Mrs. Claus), and their children Buddy "Cal" Calvin-Claus and Sandra Calvin-Claus. Scott Calvin, having served as Santa Claus for almost 30 years, believes that he is losing his magical abilities due to age and decides to choose a successor and retire.[5]
Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
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First released | Last released | |||
1 | 6 | November 16, 2022 | December 14, 2022 | |
2 | 6 | November 8, 2023 | December 6, 2023 |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
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1 | 1 | "Chapter One: Good to Ho" | Jason Winer | Jack Burditt | November 16, 2022 | 1HMD01 |
In 2022, 28 years have passed since Scott Calvin took on the role of Santa Claus.[b] While doing his rounds with his assistant elf Noel, Scott's magic falters causing the reindeer to go off course, resulting in them landing back to the North Pole. Meanwhile, Scott's wife, Carol eavesdrop on her children, Buddy "Cal" and Sandra, the former of who is playing virtual reality. Sandra notes that growing up at the North Pole she hasn't had any friends and notes how Mrs. Claus is perceived. Meanwhile, Simon Chokshi, a head executive at EverythingNow, is trying to balance life as a single father of his daughter Grace after his wife died. Scott returns and learns he is losing weight, causing him to start gaining weight. The following year as he is doing his rounds, he falls off a roof, leading to Carol being worried as Betty, Noel's wife and head elf is worried about Scott. Grace confronts Simon about his beliefs about Santa, but he explains he doesn't know if he is real.
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2 | 2 | "Chapter Two: The Secessus Clause" | Jason Winer | Katy Colloton & Katie O'Brien | November 16, 2022 | 1HMD02 |
Betty informs Scott of yet another clause called the Secessus Clause, which would allow Scott to retire as Santa once he chooses a worthy successor. Scott initially considers his sons for the role, but Charlie turns him down as he is happily married with a family of his own and Cal expresses a desire to see the real world. Meanwhile, Simon tries to get investors for his business to improve his delivery system, but it backfires when one of his automated drones malfunctions. Returning home, Simon and Grace find their living room decorated for Christmas just before the elves come to take them to the North Pole. | ||||||
3 | 3 | "Chapter Three: Into the Wobbly Woods" | Charles Randolph-Wright | Kevin Hench | November 23, 2022 | 1HMD03 |
Scott meets with potential candidates for Santa Claus (including Peyton Manning) while Carol and Cal look forward to life outside the Pole, though Sandra, however, is reluctant to leave. While Scott meets with Simon, Sandra takes Grace on a tour of the Pole and discovers she can understand animals. She and Grace go to the Wobbly Woods to meet with Befana, the Christmas Witch. Scott and Simon go looking for them and bond over their mutual struggles as fathers. Scott decides to make Simon the new Santa Claus and he and his family depart for Chicago. | ||||||
4 | 4 | "Chapter Four: The Shoes Off the Bed Clause" | Charles Randolph-Wright | Ari Berkowitz & Alison Bennett | November 30, 2022 | 1HMD04 |
The Calvin family starts adapting to life in the real world. Carol is offered a job running a local school, Cal becomes smitten with a girl named Riley and Sandra makes friends by joining an equestrian club. Scott, however, struggles to adapt to no longer being Santa. At the North Pole, Simon's first day as Santa is off to a rocky start as he has lost the Santa coat and then decides to launch a new campaign called Christmas Every Day, which massively backfires by lowering the Christmas spirit and causing the elves to start disappearing, worrying Betty, whom Simon fires after she begins questioning him. Betty visits Befana in search of an old friend only to find the Santa coat. | ||||||
5 | 5 | "Chapter Five: Across the Yule-Verse" | Katie Locke O'Brien | Eugene Garcia-Cross and Hayley Frazier & Emalee Burditt | December 7, 2022 | 1HMD05 |
Bernard appears before Scott and tells him he needs to return to his role as Santa. To convince him, Bernard takes him to visit Scott's predecessor, Santa XVII, who reveals that all previous Santas were ethereal and Scott was chosen to become Santa because of his giving spirit as a child. The clauses were created to help guide him in his endeavors. Learning of Simon's campaign, Scott returns to the North Pole much to his family's concern. When they realize what is going on, they decide to follow. At the North Pole, Scott is locked up by Simon. | ||||||
6 | 6 | "Chapter Six: A Christmas to Remember" | Katie Locke O'Brien | Hayley Frazier & Emalee Burditt | December 14, 2022 | 1HMD06 |
After breaking out, Scott reunites with his family, who split up when they learn that the Santa coat is searching for him. Unfortunately, Simon beats them to it and threatens to burn the coat but is stopped by Grace. Showing her father a snow globe containing memories of the last Christmas with her late mother, Simon comes to his senses and apologizes to Grace for everything. Reembracing the Christmas spirit with his family, Scott returns to the role of Santa and the elves return. After returning the Choksis and wiping their memories, Scott and his family set out to deliver presents. Cal even delivers a bouquet of poinsettias to his girlfriend Riley, who believes the truth about Cal’s family and kisses him. Returning home, Scott and his family celebrate, more than ready to prepare for next year. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [25] | Prod. code |
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7 | 1 | "Chapter Seven: The Kribble Krabble Clause" | Jason Winer | Jack Burditt | November 8, 2023 | 2HMD01 |
8 | 2 | "Chapter Eight: Floofy" | Jason Winer | Jack Burditt | November 8, 2023 | 2HMD02 |
9 | 3 | "Chapter Nine: No Magic at the Dinner Table" | Katie Locke O'Brien | Camille Patrao & Eugene Garcia-Cross | November 15, 2023 | 2HMD03 |
10 | 4 | "Chapter Ten: Miracle on Dead Creek Road" | Katie Locke O'Brien | Katy Colloton & Katie O'Brien | November 22, 2023 | 2HMD04 |
11 | 5 | "Chapter Eleven: B-E-T-T-Y" | Charles Randolph-Wright | Emalee Burditt & Hayley Frazier | November 29, 2023 | 2HMD05 |
12 | 6 | "Chapter Twelve: Wanga Banga Langa" | Charles Randolph-Wright | Vali Chandrasekaran | December 6, 2023 | 2HMD06 |
In January 2022, it was announced that a limited series that would serve as a legacy-sequel to The Santa Clause films was in development, with Tim Allen reprising his role in addition to serving as executive producer. Initially given the working title of "The Clauses", the project was conceptualized with intent for a streaming release exclusive to Disney+. Jack Burditt serves as showrunner and executive producer, while Jason Winer is a director in addition to serving as an executive producer.[13]
According to Allen, "It originally had a lot of otherworldly characters, and ghosts, and goblins. I said no, this is Christ-mas. Its Christ-mas. It literally is a religious holiday. We don't have to blow trumpets, but I do want you to acknowledge it. That's what this is about. If you want to get into Santa Claus, you're gonna have to go back to history, and it's all about religion."[26] On December 14, 2022, The Santa Clauses was renewed for a second season, with Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell set to return.[3]
Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell were announced to be reprising their roles as Scott Calvin / Santa Claus and Carol Calvin / Mrs. Claus, respectively. In addition, Kal Penn joined the cast as a character named Simon Choski.[12] Elizabeth Allen-Dick, Tim Allen's real life daughter, had been cast in her acting debut as Scott's daughter. Austin Kane, Rupali Redd and Devin Bright also joined the cast.[9] Matilda Lawler joined the cast as a series regular.[11] In late July 2022, it was confirmed that David Krumholtz would be reprising his role as Bernard,[19] while the following month, Laura San Giacomo was announced to be portraying the Christmas Witch.[17] On February 24, 2023, Eric Stonestreet joined the cast in undisclosed capacity while Marta Kessler was cast to guest star for the second season.[15] Three days later, Gabriel Iglesias was cast as a series regular for the second season.[14] On May 3, 2023, it was announced that Tracy Morgan was set to make a cameo and Stonestreet was cast as a series regular for the second season.[16]
The series began filming in March 2022 in Los Angeles, with JP Wakayama serving as the cinematographer.[27][1] Filming wrapped in June 2022.[28] Production for the second season began in February 2023.[15]
In November 2022, it was revealed that Ariel Rechtshaid would compose the score for the series.[29]
A digital soundtrack for the series' second season became available on December 8, 2023.[30]
Song name | Artist |
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"Dancing with My Elf" | The Santa Clauses – Cast |
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | Lawrence |
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" | The Santa Clauses – Cast |
"If You Leave" | |
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" |
The Santa Clauses was released on November 16, 2022 on Disney+, with its first two episodes available immediately.[2]
The first 2 episodes made its linear premiere on Freeform on December 16, 2022 followed by airings on FX on December 17, 2022, ABC on December 24, 2022 and on Disney Channel on December 25, 2022.[31] The second season premiered on November 8, 2023, with two new episodes.[4]
According to the streaming aggregator JustWatch, The Santa Clauses was the tenth most streamed television series in the U.S. during the week of November 14 to November 20, 2022.[32] According to Whip Media's TV Time, which tracks viewership data for the more than 21 million worldwide users of its app, it was the fifth most streamed television series in the U.S. during the week of December 11,[33] and the fourth during the week of December 18, 2022.[34] The Santa Clauses was the ninth most streamed television series in the U.S. during the week of November 19,[35] the eighth during the week of November 26,[36] the sixth during the week of December 3,[37] and the fourth during the week of December 10, 2023.[38]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 57% of 21 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "The Santa Clauses is a bit ho ho ho-hum as a continuation of the holiday franchise, but it's hardly a lump of coal thanks to Tim Allen's spirited return as Father Christmas, along with a dash of yuletide nostalgia."[39] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 55 out of 100 based on six critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[40]
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
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Children's and Family Emmy Awards | December 16–17, 2023 | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program | Tim Allen | Nominated | [41] |
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program | Kal Penn | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program | Matilda Lawler | Nominated | |||
Rupali Redd | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design | Melanie Jones, Hunter Brown, Zak Faust and Maile Cassara | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Cinematography for a Live Action Single-Camera Program | J.P. Wakayama | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling | Anissa Salazar, Kathleen Freeman, Erica Preus, Howard Berger, Garrett Immel, and Jeni Novak | Nominated | |||
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | February 18, 2024 | Best Makeup - Children and Teen Television Programming | Erica Preus, Howard Berger. Scott Stoddard, and Eryn Krueger Mekash | Nominated | [42] |
Best Hair Styling - Children and Teen Television Programming | Anissa Salazar, Nina Adado. Morgan Ferrando, and Patricia Lansingh | Won | [43][44] |