Actors Ed Asner as Santa Claus, right, and Will Ferrell as an elf named Buddy, are shown in a scene from New Line Cinema's "Elf," in this undated promotional photo. Screen Santas have ranged from naughty to nice. Asner in the current hit "Elf" plays a wayworn Santa struggling to keep the holiday spirit alive in a world that's passed him by. Elf is showing at the Liberty Theatre.