It Nearly Wasn't Christmas

It Nearly Wasn't Christmas is a 1989 made-for-TV movie. It stars Charles Durning as Santa Claus, who decides to skip Christmas, feeling that there is no one left who really needs him. Then he meets runaway Jenny, who just wants her parents to get back together. She left her mother to go see her father for Christmas, and he accompanies her to ensure that she gets there safely. Mrs. Claus has sent an overgrown elf, Philpot, to keep an eye on Santa, and soon the two are mistakenly sought after by Jenny's mother and the police as kidnappers.

Cast

 * Charles Durning: Santa Claus
 * Risa Schiffman: Jennifer Baxter
 * Bruce Vilanch: Philpot
 * Annette Marin: Laura Baxter
 * Merle Osmond: Jeff Baxter
 * Ted Lange: Napoleon
 * Beverly Rowland: Mrs. Claus