NBC orders animated special 'How Murray Saved Christmas'

Hour-long holiday treat based on book from Creator/Executive Producer Mike Reiss

NBC has greenlit the animated holiday musical special "How Murray Saved Christmas" from four-time Emmy-winning writer and executive producer Mike Reiss ("The Simpsons").

The hour-long program is based on Reiss' best-selling children's book of the same name. The story centers on cranky deli owner Murray Kleiner, who is forced to fill in for Santa one Christmas and does a weirdly wonderful job.

" 'Murray' is the perfect project to get audiences into the holiday spirit, and Mike's impressive comedic background makes him a great choice to put all the pieces together," said NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke.

Walter Murphy, who was recently Oscar-nominated for his work on the feature film "Ted," will compose the music. He has won an Emmy for "Family Guy" and was nominated on three other occasions.

Reiss is a former writer and executive producer on "The Simpsons" and was the creator of "The Critic." Other writing credits include "Not Necessarily the News," "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "It's Garry Shandling's Show" and "The Simpsons Movie."

"How Murray Saved Christmas" will air in December 2014.