12 Days of Holiday TV

Since its beginning, TV has always been there to assist in the commercialization of the holidays, and therefore history has been gifted with countless episodes of television featuring our favorite characters partaking in Yuletide celebrations. Today I’ve narrowed the entire history of holiday television into a countdown of the twelve episodes that I find particularly festive, charming, and, well, good (because we know there are a lot of less-than-stellar ‘very special’ Christmas episodes out there). Here’s my television-themed gift to you. Why not check out these episodes this year?

Gilmore Girls, S2E10: “The Bracebridge Dinner”

Set in the holiday season, this usually tops the charts of best Gilmore Girls episodes. With a snowman contest, sleigh rides, an esoteric Victorian dinner party, and the ultimate town-wide sleepover party at the Independence Inn, it’s hard to not get into the spirit of togetherness and cheer.

Full House, S2E9: “Our Very First Christmas Show”

Want to see a kid have a panic attack over Santa Claus? If so, this episode is for you! When the Tanners head out on their first Christmas away from home, their flight gets delayed in a snowstorm, and they are forced to spend Christmas Eve in an airport. Stephanie worries that Santa won’t find her if she’s away from home, a situation made worse when the presents get lost in the shuffle. It’s a fun episode in which the family learns what the holidays are really about… Only to be rewarded with finding the presents at the end. Oh, well. You can’t win them all.

Two of a Kind, S1E11: “A Very Carrie Christmas”

The Burkes celebrate their first Christmas, with babysitter Carrie, as she begins to take over all of the holiday preparations from Kevin. In a stunning turn of events, for a Christmas special, presents go missing! This episode gets one space higher than the Full House episode because they don’t get the presents back in the end. You know… The whole moral of the episode.

Boy Meets World, S5E11: “A Very Topanga Christmas”

This episode takes a fun look at various,and differing, Christmas traditions, and how one’s traditions change as they build their own lives. There’s also a great A Christmas Carol parody with Mr. Feeny dressed as Charles Dickens.

How I Met Your Mother, S2E11: “How Lily Stole Christmas”

When an old phone message from Ted offends Lily, she takes down her Christmas wonderland decorations from the apartment. Ted must make up with Lily, before a Christmas-starved Marshall comes home, so that they can have a perfect Christmas. There’s also a running joke parodying A Christmas Story that’s pretty genius.

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (BBC1, 1988)

A reversal of the oft-told story of A Christmas Carol, this iteration of the eternal Edmund Blackadder is, surprisingly, the nicest man in England. When he is visited by a ghost that shows him all of his wicked forefathers, what he sees makes him reconsider his way of life. Revisiting beloved characters from the second and third series, there’s a lot to laugh about in this special.

Everybody Loves Raymond, S3E12: “The Toaster”

Everybody Loves Raymond features several episodes that address the stress that comes with choosing gifts for your loved ones during the holidays, as well as the reluctance of receiving them. In “The Toaster,” Frank and Marie must track down a present from Raymond, which they immediately returned to the store... Hilarity ensues.

Malcolm in the Middle, S5E7: “Hal’s Christmas Gift”

Talk about the pressure of giving gifts! When the family decides to have a handmade Christmas, the boys really come through, leaving Hal feeling insecure about his own gift. He spends the rest of the episode driving the family around, claiming to be taking them to their Christmas gift, while really stalling for time to figure out what to do. It’s a stressful episode, but you can’t help but keep your eyes glued to the screen waiting to see how Hal will get out of this. Besides, who among us can argue that stress isn’t a major element of the holidays?

Friends, S7E10: “The One with the Holiday Armadillo”

Everybody knows, and loves, this episode in which Ross invents a holiday character in an attempt to spark his son’s interest in Hanukkah. The Holiday Armadillo’s restricted shuffle across the room and his attempts to get Santa on the same page when he unexpectedly shows up, make this episode an undeniable favorite.

The Dick van Dyke Show, S3E13: “The Alan Brady Show Presents”

In this classic episode of television, Rob, Laura, Buddy, Sally, and Mel all band together to star in ‘Alan Brady’s Christmas special,’ which turns out to be the ultimate Christmas concert. The group sings, plays instruments, and dances to the audience’s delight. The one sour note in the episode is the far too long rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy,” performed by Rob’s son, Ritchie, who looks as though they made him shoot this segment at four in the morning. The episode soon gets back on track with the unforgettable performance of “I Am a Fine Musician” by the four leads dressed as toy soldiers. Segment after segment is just so impressive, reminding the audience what a talented group the cast of this show is.

The Twilight Zone, S2E11: “The Night of the Meek”

This episode of the ultimate anthology series really tugs the heartstrings. It centers on a down-on-his-luck man who makes a living dressing as Santa at Christmastime. He sees Christmas bringing out the worst in many people, and at the same time he sees the people who have to go without year after year, and he mourns that he is helpless to fix any of the problems that he sees. When he comes across a bag that mysteriously gives people whatever they want, he gets the opportunity to do what he’s always wanted and be: a real Santa Claus. This episode is both simple and beautiful. Its spirit astonishes me every time, and its writing is impeccable. If you want to truly feel the holiday spirit, this is a must-see every year.

All in the Family, S7E15: “The Draft Dodger”

To be honest, it’s hard to choose one episode from All in the Family to include on this list. Every Christmas episode of the show is remarkable. Heck, every non-Christmas episode is remarkable, too! The effects of the outside world on this small working-class family – taking the big events and issues of the day and squeezing them into this small, volatile space – was the brilliance of this sitcom, and “The Draft Dodger” is one of the best examples of how this show works from week to week. The episode centers on a Christmas dinner at the Bunkers. Archie invites an old friend whose son was killed in the Vietnam War. Mike has a guest for dinner, too: his friend, David, who fled to Canada to avoid being drafted. That’s all I’ll say about it, because I urge anyone who finds that premise even a little interesting to seek this episode out for themselves. Suffice it to say that this is one of the most powerful episodes of television, and its setting around the holidays makes it all the more poignant.

Be sure to tell us what your favorite holiday-themed episodes of television are in the comments! Stay tuned for Sarah’s post about what you can catch on TV this holiday season! Happy Viewing!

Copyright ©2019 Bailey Lizotte