Harvey Fierstein
joins cast of NBC's The Year Without a Santa Claus

Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray, Torch Song Trilogy) has joined the cast of NBC's The Year Without a Santa Claus, a two-hour movie, based on the 1974 perennial animated movie. Santa Claus will also star John Goodman, Delta Burke, Chris Kattan, Ethan Suplee, Michael McKean, Eddie Griffin, and Carol Kane and will air during the upcoming 2006 holiday season.

Fierstein will play Heatmiser, one of the two feuding sons of Mother Nature who help save Christmas. Delta Burke stars as Mrs. Claus, and Chris Kattan plays Santa's devious head elf, Sparky, who schemes to take over Santa's job.

Ron Underwood (City Slickers, Mighty Joe Young) will direct, and the film will be shot in Shreveport and Natchitoches, La. (The Advocate)