Oh, the weather outside is frightful. But the fire is so... wait a second. Forget the fire. Want to know what’s really and truly delightful this time of year? Plopping on the couch and passing the time by watching television.
And while catching up on buzzy new content feels productive in theory, that option can’t quite compare to revisiting seasonal perennials. After all, a festive flair (or, um, a Festivus flair) enables us to spend the holidays with characters we know and love who don’t come to dinner with a list of dietary restrictions.
Over the course of recent TV history, series ranging from serious dramas to heartwarming comedies to somewhere in between (that’s you, The Bear) have all made holiday-themed installments a crucial part of their overall narratives. The reason is obvious: Despite all the expected squabbling and stress, everyone ultimately comes together to face another year (well, again, except for The Bear). Presenting 12 essential holiday episodes from the past 30 years of television. Sit back, relax and maybe even discover something among the classics.
Seinfeld
“The Strike”
Airdate: 12/18/97
Photo credit: NBC/Sony TV
For warm yuletide musings, keep scrolling down. Here, George (Jason Alexander) tries to get the day off for Festivus, a holiday “for the rest of us” that his father (Jerry Stiller) invented to avoid the hassle of shopping for Christmas presents. Its traditions? An aluminum pole instead of a tree, the airing of grievances and feats of strength. The gang — plus George’s skeptical boss — all end up at the Costanza home for a Festivus dinner, and a new pop culture holiday is born.
Frasier
“Merry Christmas Mrs. Moskowitz”
Airdate: 12/17/98
This brilliantly crafted farce earned a well-deserved comedy writing Emmy. While shopping, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) meets a woman who sets him up with her daughter, Faye (Amy Brenneman). They get along, until Faye learns Dr. Crane isn’t Jewish and her mom would never approve of the relationship. Solution: Keep up the act while Mrs. Moskowitz visits on Christmas eve. The tree moves into the bathroom, along with Niles (David Hyde Pierce) dressed as Jesus. The payoff is sweeter than a glass of Manischewitz wine.
The West Wing
“Noel”
Airdate: 12/10/00
The cheery portion of this episode is represented by President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) realizing he’s in over his head trying to personally sign 1.1 million holiday cards. But most fans remember Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) having a panic attack at the White House Christmas concert, prompting an insightful meeting with a therapist (Adam Arkin). It turns out he has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder stemming from being shot months earlier. Whitford won an Emmy for a performance that highlights his character’s turmoil and humanity.
Friends
“The One with the Holiday Armadillo”
Airdate: 12/14/00
When it comes to celebrating holidays, the Central Perk gang didn’t just do iconic Thanksgiving episodes! Ross (David Schwimmer) decides it’s the perfect time to teach his half-Jewish, Christmas-obsessed son, Ben, all about Hanukkah. Ross eventually succeeds after dressing up in a wacky costume and creating a character dubbed the “Holiday Armadillo” that imparts lessons about the Jewish holiday. That is, until Chandler (Matthew Perry) arrives in a jolly Santa costume . . . and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) turns up as Superman.
The O.C.
"The Best Chrismukkah Ever"
Airdate: 12/3/03
There are four glorious Chrismukkah episodes in all, but ‘tis the season to recall the first time Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) waved a Menorah and a candy cane in front of new houseguest Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie) and proclaimed he didn’t have to choose between the two holidays. (The Santa-like yarmulke was the pièce de résistance.) Later at Seth’s annual Chrismukkah party, he’s confronted by Summer (Rachel Bilson in a Wonder Woman costume!) and Anna (Samaire Armstrong) for dating both of them. Oy.
The Office
"Christmas Party"
Airdate: 12/6/05
Photo credit: NBC
The comedy’s first Christmas installment obviously features one of TV’s most awkward office parties. The hilarity starts when Michael (Steve Carell) organizes a Secret Santa gift exchange for his Dunder Mifflin staffers. But he overspends and receives a cheap hand-knit oven mitt in return. Solution: A "Yankee Swap," in which people can steal each other’s presents. So much for the thoughtful teapot gift that Jim (John Krasinski) gave to crush Pam (Jenna Fischer). Nominated for two Emmys!
30 Rock
"Ludachristmas"
Airdate: 12/13/07
“It wouldn’t be a Lemon party without ol' Dick!”
Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) welcomes her loving and happy parents, which rankles Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) and his caustic mother (the legendary Elaine Stritch) to their core. She soon sets out to prove that these kind folks are just as petty and resentful as anyone else. Meanwhile, Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) cancels the staff Ludachristmas party to teach them the true meaning of the holiday. Featuring a memorable cameo from the Rockefeller Christmas tree.
Black-ish
"Black Santa/White Christmas"
Airdate: 12/14/14
Photo credit: ABC
Here’s a gem from the comedy’s inaugural season. Dre (Anthony Anderson) decides to push management so he can take the role of Black Santa at his ad firm’s office Christmas party — only to learn that the head of HR (Ana Ortiz) has already been tapped to wear the red suit. Back at home, he fears that his family is disconnected from its cultural roots and encourages the Johnsons to embrace a new cultural holiday experience.
Fresh off the Boat
"The Real Santa"
Airdate: 12/8/15
Photo credit: ABC
Per Jessica Huang (Constance Wu), Santa needs some tweaking to reflect her family’s heritage and values. So she tells her son, Evan (Ian Chen), that St. Nick is actually a Chinese man and scientist. Now she just needs to find a Santa to answer physics questions. Jessica ends up dressing up as Lao Ban Santa, a scientist who gives toys to kids as charity work. As she rationalizes it, "You think a man is thoughtful enough to give presents to everyone in the world?" Amen.
Schitt’s Creek
"Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose"
Airdate: 12/18/18
Photo credit: Pop TV/CBC TV
Joy to the world, it’s a holiday special and a bonus outside-the-season episode! After having a dream about the family’s old Christmas parties, Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) decides to revive the tradition. Things don’t go to plan — cue the wrong guest list, pricey Christmas trees and David (Dan Levy) refusing to give the family ornaments gratis from his store. But though the present — and presents — don’t resemble the past, the festivities are still good times.
The Bear
"Fishes"
Airdate: 6/22/23
Photo credit: FX
This intense hourlong flashback — which takes place five years before the start of the series’ narrative — unfolds during the Berzatto Christmas dinner (that’s based on the Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes). The short-fused family members are played by the likes of guest-stars John Mulaney, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Paulson, Gillian Jacobs, Bob Odenkirk and — in an Emmy-winning performance — Jamie Lee Curtis as alcoholic matriarch Donna Berzatto. The chaos culminates in her crashing the car into the house.
Hacks
"The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular"
Airdate: 5/23/24
Hacks' "The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular" / HBO Max
Not surprisingly, Comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) goes big for her Christmas extravaganza. Bring on the elf auditions and the two snow machines in the middle of Las Vegas, baby! She even wraps her own gifts. ("Nobody does French edges like I do. You could cut somebody’s eyes out with my corners!") But Deborah has also invited her estranged sister, Kathy (J. Smith Cameron), who ran off with her husband years earlier. Despite the ugly history, the two get along-ish in the spirit of Christmas.
