One of the most memorable everymen of the 1990s, Tim Allen is returning to his first movie role in the #1 movie in America, “The Santa Clause 2.” Allen, along with co-star Elizabeth Mitchell and director Michael Lembeck, sat down to talk about their trade, their lives, and their feelings on Santa himself.

Noeh Nazareno: Mr. Lembeck, having been on the cast of “One Day at a Time” (a Norman Lear sitcom from the late 1970s), did you bring any of your experience or beliefs to what you’re doing now?

Michael Lembeck: (Back) then…it was about something creative. But now, it’s about consumerism. That’s a huge difference. What we do hasn’t changed at all. We still actively strive to get the best script, to act as well as we can, to direct as well as we can, to do the very best job. Actively seek excellence. That’s individual. That drives you, or it doesn’t.

NN: When you were offered the opportunity to work in “The Santa Clause 2,” did you have any thoughts like, “I wanna do this because of this Christmas reason or this holiday reason?”

Elizabeth Mitchell: The idea of doing a movie that my whole family can get together and watch at Christmas, that was enticing to me – it was a chance to do something light and something sweet, and it’s not the stuff I’m usually drawn to.

NN: Is it a really conscious decision on your part to be doing family entertainment?

Tim Allen: I don’t do anything based on what my audience is. It’s slowly becoming that, because it’s becoming obvious when they come up with, “Let’s see, sci-fi, action adventure with aliens.” Tim Allen isn’t their first choice. “A goofy big thing for the family,” there’s about four people that do it, and I’m one of those guys. It’s just how Hollywood does its business. I enjoy the challenge of making movies you can watch with a kid.

NN: Do you believe in Santa?

TA: I am Santa!

ML: And therefore I believe!

EM: Yeah! I believe Santa comes to my house, he always comes to my house, (and) he’s been coming to my house since I was a kid, fills up my stocking.