More Reindeer Games

12/09/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

Rudolph will have some competition this year, with a new animated holiday special from Matt Groening, creator of "The Simpsons," reports USA Today. "Olive, the Other Reindeer" will air on Fox on Dec. 17 and is being adapted from a book by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh. Holiday episodes of "The Simpsons" have traditionally been less warm and fuzzy than most offerings, and Groening says fans can expect the same from "Olive." "This is my opportunity to take the sap out," he is quoted as saying. Drew Barrymore will provide the voice of Olive, a pooch who hears Santa's call to help save Christmas when Blitzen is injured. Ed Asner will play Santa.