Exclusive

Sorry, Will Ferrell! First Look at Jim Parsons in Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas Has Us Smiling (Our Favorite)

Exclusive! NBC's holiday special airs Tuesday, Dec. 16, and features the voice of The Big Bang Theory star, as well as Ed Asner

By Tierney Bricker Nov 21, 2014 4:00 PMTags
Elf:  Buddy’s Musical ChristmasNBCUniversal

No disrespect to Thanksgiving, but we're already in the Christmas spirit.

Why? Because we've got the exclusive first look at NBC's holiday treat Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas, an hour-long stop-motion animated special, and we can't stop smiling.

"This holiday, treat your elf," the exclusive poster above reads, encouraging all of us to let our inner-Christmas elf run free on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m., when the special makes its debut.

Set to take over Buddy the Elf duties from Will Ferrell? The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons!

Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas is based on the hit film and the Broadway musical Elf, and features the voices of Mark Hamill as Walter (James Caan in the film) and Kate Micucci as Jovie (Zooey Deschanel's part). And Santa Claus fans are in for a treat as Ed Asner is set to reprise his role! Say it with us: "Santa! I know him!" Also set to lend their vocal talents are Jay Leno, Fred Armisen and Matt Lauer.

The special finds Santa narrating the story of Buddy's journey to New York City to meet his father. Along the way, his holiday sheer transforms the lives of everyone he meets, and, of course, opens his father's eyes to the true meaning and magic of Christmas.

Viewers can expect to hear nine songs in the special, including "A Christmas Song," "Nobody Cares About Santa Claus" and "Happy All the Time."

Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas airs Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. on NBC.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)