The 10 best Christmas episodes of all time!
Christmas is a time to gather with family, get into some cozy jammies, and curl up with a classic episode of TV.
These Christmas episodes give us all the warm and fuzzy nostalgia feelings while still making us laugh (or even cry!) for the holiday season.
Friends “The One with the Holiday Armadillo”
The only holiday “Friends” loves more than Thanksgiving is Christmas, or in the case of this episode, Christmas and Hanukkah. In the episode, Ross is trying to get his son Ben to learn more about his Jewish heritage by dressing up as the titular “Holiday Armadillo,” a sort of Santa-esque mascot for the holiday, but it naturally goes a bit haywire when Chandler shows up as Santa and Joey arrives dressed as Superman.
The Simpsons “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”
“Simpsons Roasting on an open Fire” aka “The Simpsons Christmas Special” is the official series premiere for the long-running show, airing December 17, 1989. It’s also a Christmas special, with the family struggling financially for Christmas presents. They don’t end up with everything they wanted, but they do bring home the beloved family dog, a greyhound named Santa’s Little Helper.
The O.C. “The Best Chrismukkah Ever”
This season one episode of “The O.C.” is a great showcase for the show’s strengths, mixing humor, drama, and a touch of soap opera as Ryan (Ben McKenzie) struggles with the holidays. Luckily, his foster brother Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) is there to bring the cheer and explain the title holiday: Chrismukkah, a blending of both Christmas and Hannukah traditions to honor both his mom and dad’s faiths.
Seinfeld “The Strike”
This season nine episode is best known for the fake holiday “Festivus,” created by George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) father, Frank (Jerry Stiller). “Festivus for the rest of us!” the holiday’s mantra goes, introducing us to the anti-festive holiday traditions which include hanging a bare aluminum pole, feats of strength, and perhaps the most cathartic of all, the airing of grievances.
The Bear “Fishes”
It’s not the most lighthearted family Christmas episode on this list, but it certainly captures the reality of a large family meal coming together (and falling apart). The episode is packed with guest stars playing members of the extended Berzatto family, like Sarah Paulson, John Mulaney, Bob Odenkirk, and Jamie Lee Curtis, who won an Emmy for her role as manic matriarch Donna Berzatto.
The Office “Christmas Party”
The series’ first Christmas episode popularized the always-fraught Yankee Swap concept, which involves swapping and swiping presents from people in an awkward game. Things get even more complicated when Michael (Steve Carell) introduces a video iPod into the mix, while Jim (John Krasinski) was hoping to win some points with Pam (Jenna Fischer) with a thoughtful tea pot gift.
Ted Lasso, “Carol of the Bells”
Believe it or not, this episode actually dropped in the middle of summer, but it’s one of the more feel-good episodes of TV out there. Between the Christmas party for the players, Roy (Brett Goldstein) and Keeley (Juno Temple) helping Roy’s niece Phoebe, and Rebecca (Hanna Waddingham) and Ted (Jason Sudeikis) finding connection and comfort, the whole episode brings cheer, capped off with a thrilling rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”
South Park “Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo”
If there’s one thing “South Park” does well besides make fun of everybody, it’s put together a festive TV episode. Even if it stars a talking piece of poo. But Mr. Hankey is all about spreading holiday cheer, becoming such an indelible part of the show that he returned for several Christmas appearances in the years following his debut.
I Love Lucy “The Christmas Show”
Originally airing in 1956, this episode of the classic comedy made history as the first to feature “flashback” scenes on television, as Lucy (Lucille Ball), Ricky (Desi Arnaz), Fred (William Frawley), and Ethel (Vivian Vance), share their favorite holiday memories.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show “Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid II”
This episode is for anyone who’s been stuck working on a holiday, as Mary volunteers to take the Christmas shift of a veteran WHM-TV staff member who hasn’t had the holiday off in years. Naturally, Mary gets a little lonely and stir-crazy in the office alone, thinking at one point the studio is about to be robbed, but her team, Lou (Ed Asner), Murray (Gavin MacLeod), and Ted (Ted Knight) arrive to cheer her up.
