It nearly wasn't Christmas stars Charles Durning as the one and only Santa Claus--a role for which Durning evidently required no padding. The plot would have us believe that Santa is on the verge of cancelling Christmas (didn't know he could do that). The reasons are the usual: the holiday has become too commercialized, and people have become too self-centered. Santa's faith in humanity is renewed by a little girl (Risa Schiffman), who hopes that the Holiday spirit will be instrumental in reuniting her estranged parents. It Nearly Wasn't Christmas was syndicated to local TV outlets during the week of December 16, 1989.