The hour-long special cuts between Thomas and friends at the Hard Rock Cafe at New York City and a Moscow studio, with Tatiana Vedeneyeva as the local host (the satellite connection is handled by Lily Tomlin as Ernestine). Jim Henson's Muppets are among the guest stars, appearing in both cities, with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy receiving specific billing. A few Sesame Street Muppets make brief appearances as well, namely a pair of Honkers, Meryl Sheep, and Elmo. The latter is fleetingly glimpsed in a video montage, seated on the shoulder of a baseball player who holds a sign displaying a Russian greeting in marker.