Lucy Cullins is a successful but slick and cynical producer at a home-shopping television network, who is desperately in need of some Christmas spirit. When Lucy hires an actor named Nick to play Santa Claus on the network, she gets more than she bargained for. Nick really is Santa Claus, and he faces mandatory retirement after 200 years on the job. Nick must find his replacement by Christmas Eve -- or the world will face dire consequences -- and he sets his sights on Lucy.