As we head into Christmas weekend, folks will be settling down with their eggnog and hot chocolate for some holiday movie viewing. But we’ve got something better. Instead of watching the same Christmas movies you watch every year, revisit your favorite holiday tropes on in bite-sized pieces.
If you need a refresher, we’ve got your covered. Below is a list of our favorite Christmas or holiday television episodes. And yes, all three Community episodes are necessary viewing every year.
All three Community Christmas Episodes
Community, “Comparative Religion”
As a dedicated Community fan who was born on December 10th, this episode could have been less good and I would still love it based on the social internet gifting my timeline with Community memes every birthday. But it is good! It’s very good!
While most sitcom holiday specials will pick a character or two to send on a heartwarming journey, Community sends the entire ensemble to tackle religious discrimination through an explosion of cheerful Christmas violence. Not to say it isn’t heartwarming! Community has a knack for unexpectedly emotional undercurrents, after all. But viewers will walk away thinking less about gratitude and cheer than who they’re willing to get in an all-out brawl for. And at the end of the day, isn’t that a big part of what family is all about? [Brogan Luke Bouwhuis]
Community, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”
Community’s second Christmas episode does send a character on a heartwarming journey. And, it’s all in stop-motion animation. “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” is a must watch every year. It’s got songs, cheer, friendship, and a dig at the ABC show Lost. It’s also a great follow-up to the first season’s Christmas episode, “Comparative Religion.”
After his annual Christmas tradition with mom is cancelled, Abed begins to see the world as stop-motion animated in order to find the true meaning of Christmas. At this point in the show’s run, Community had broken genre boundaries already, but doing an episode completely in stop-motion animation was the show’s boldest move yet. The episode was possible because it makes its POV character Abed, who has been the catalyst for every genre-breaking moment of Community because of his penchant for breaking the fourth wall. Much like the classic stop-motion films like Rudolph and Frosty and the Snowman, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” brings all the warm and fuzzy feelings of the holidays, while also doubling down on the found-family lessons from “Comparative Religion.” It’s central message that traditions can change is a wonderful take for a holiday episode. [Katey Stoetzel]
Community, “Regional Holiday Music”
Though “Regional Holiday Music” emulates horror films like The Thing while acting as a parody of Glee, this final Community Christmas episode continues the tradition of reinforcing the study group’s found-family archetype. But first, it takes us through songs and dances as Abed’s recruits the study group one-by-one to join the Glee club and perform at the holiday concert.
As each study group member falls victim to holiday cheer, we get classic numbers like Troy and Abed’s Christmas rap and Annie’s parody of “Santa Baby.” Like the previous Christmas episodes, “Regional Holiday Music” ends with the study group gathering around Troy, Abed, and Annie’s small apartment to watch the horrible Inspector Spacetime Christmas special. As friends should do. [Katey Stoetzel]
Futurama, “Xmas Story”
There are literally hundreds of Christmas movies praising the ability of the holidays to bring people together. What most of them overlook is how awkward it can be when the coming together actually happens and conflicting viewpoints and traditions come into play. Not Futurama!
The series’ first Christmas special dives headfirst into that uncomfortable muck as a time-displaced Fry struggles to balance his concept of Christmas with the traditions of his 31st century coworkers. His cheery approach especially clashes with the orphan Leela, who views the holidays largely as a source of grief. It’s a premise that will feel familiar for many viewers, but “Xmas Story” ups the ante with John Goodman as a bazooka-wielding robot Santa. Truth in hyperbole indeed. [Brogan Luke Bouwhuis]
The Simpsons, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”
The Simpsons was never supposed to start with a Christmas special. Animation issues delayed the scheduled fall release and bumped the intended premiere to the very end of the season. A happy accident indeed!
The Simpsons has become known for outlandish premises but that’s largely absent here. Even Bart getting a tattoo feels mundane compared to season one episodes where Homer is mistaken for Bigfoot or the family unknowingly hosts a spy through a student exchange program. Instead, the episode focuses on the very real struggle of parents trying to offer their children a nice Christmas despite a lack of financial means. The comedy is there but never in a way that undermines that conflict, which makes the inevitable conclusion nothing short of triumphant. By showing us the Simpsons at their lowest, viewers get to see the full potential of both the holidays and the family that would come to define modern animation. [Brogan Luke Bouwhuis]
Downton Abbey, “Christmas at Downton Abbey”
The only Downton Christmas special to actually take place at Christmas was the series’ very first one. Like any good Downton installment, “Christmas at Downton Abbey” has enough drama to fill an entire season: social climbers, wrongful imprisonment, blackmail.
It’s a Christmas episode as much as it is a continuation of existing storylines, serving as a bridge between seasons. And what’s a Downton holiday without a little romance? Most memorable for a snowy declaration of love, “Christmas at Downton Abbey” proved that Lady Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) love for Matthew (Dan Stevens) could conquer all. At least until the following Christmas, anyway. [Claire Di Maio]
Frasier, “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz”
On Christmas Eve, Faye Moskowitz (Amy Brenneman) realizes Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) is not Jewish, as her mother (Carole Shelley) had led her to believe. Desperate for a holiday visit to go well, Faye begs Frasier and his family to pretend to be Jewish. Niles (David Hyde Pierce) has to play Jesus in a Christmas pageant, and must avoid Mrs. Moskowitz for fear of revealing Frasier and Faye’s ruse.
What ensues is an evening of slammed doors, uneaten ham, and some gaudy Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer decorations. Frequently regarded as one of Frasier’s funniest episodes, “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz” is a farce that should be required holiday viewing. [Claire Di Maio]
Gilmore Girls, “The Bracebridge Dinner”
What’s cozier than a snowy small town during the holidays? When a blizzard changes plans at the Independence Inn, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) invites friends and family to come by for an evening of historical reenactment and Sookie’s (Melissa McCarthy) cooking. The kooky, charming residents of Stars Hollow mingle with Lorelai and Rory’s (Alexis Bledel) uptight city family and classmates as sleigh rides line up in the snow.
Already an annual hallmark of cozy viewing, Gilmore Girls brings out its best and funniest bits as a quirky dinner setting and an otherwise unlikely collection of characters meet in the series’ best holiday episode. Pull up a chair, listen to Richard (Edward Hermann) regale the table with stories of his travels. Just don’t let Rune (Max Perlich) sit too close to you. [Claire Di Maio]
Ted Lasso, “Carol of the Bells”
Season 2 of Ted Lasso includes two experimental episodes that slightly deviate from the arc of the season: “Beard After Hours” and the lovely Christmas special, “Carol of the Bells.” In this episode, Ted and Rebecca spend the day delivering gifts door-to-door for people in need, and the Higgins family organizes a party for the players who can’t go home to their families.
What makes this special stand out is that it takes advantage of the show’s thematic heart: the idea of building community and the transformative power of kindness and applies it to a holiday setting where these themes are central. This makes it an incredibly effective holiday watch that tugs on heartstrings in the perfect way and includes some outstanding comedic moments using a parallel storytelling style anchored around the act of ringing doorbells. [Pedro Graterol]
El Chavo del Ocho, “Navidad en la vecindad”
El Chavo del Ocho is a classic Latin American comedy show written and starred by Roberto Gómez Bolaños, also known as Chespirito, and aired from 1973 to 1980. Each episode showcases the daily interactions of a tight neighborhood in Mexico City and is full of slapstick comedy and irony as it explores the challenges of inequality, poverty, and homelessness in Mexico, all anchored around El Chavo, or the guy, a young child who is implied to be orphaned and homeless.
This Christmas episode is not an exception. While we see each of the neighbors prepare for the holidays, the titular Chavo is becoming painfully aware that he won’t be able to celebrate nor would he be able to have a family to go to. However, despite being offered a coin by one of his neighbors, he refuses because he doesn’t want to find money in a dishonest manner. Despite the usual fun of the show, this holiday special is a bit gloomy, but it’s a must-watch to understand this show, its humor, and the emphasis on values and kindness that make it so central to Latin American Pop Culture. [Pedro Graterol]
The O.C., “The Best Chrismakkuh Ever”
The holidays can exasperate our issues, and in the first of The O.C.’s “Chrismakkuh” episodes, that’s exactly what happens in Newport. The merged holiday itself is a reflection of Seth’s (Adam Brody) own spoiled nature, which he doubles down on by refusing to make a choice between the two women interested in him. It’s not just him, Ryan (Ben McKenzie) is resistant to any version of the holiday due to his trauma, Seth’s parents almost miss the occasion, and Marissa (Misha Barton) accelerates her spiral.
Ultimately, the season also becomes the reason to address these issues – Ryan realizes he continues to put himself back into his own trauma, Seth breaks both his relationships off, and Marissa agrees to try to get help. By the end, Ryan warms up to being a part of the Cohen’s traditions for his own wellbeing, and it’s heartwarming to see. [Travis Hymas]
Scrubs, “My Own Personal Jesus”
Scrubs’ newbie doctors get put through the ringer on Christmas Eve, highlighting the very real strain that the holidays put on the US healthcare system. Turk’s (Donald Faison) faith becomes challenged during his on-call shift as he’s witness to so much struggle. At the same time, Elliot (Sarah Chalke) finds herself with a very pregnant patient and after enduring some truly painful sexism from professional bastard Dr. Kelso, fails to help the patient and puts her life in danger.
The two stories collide in a twist of fate that allows Turk a chance to become the answer he was looking for in a saccharine but earned conclusion. “My Own Personal Jesus” has some other fun with the holiday, with a particular highlight being Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) getting decked out in full Grinch regalia. [Travis Hymas]
That 70s Show, “An Eric Foreman Christmas”
As a tribute to classic Christmas specials, That 70’s Show does a spin on “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The gang gets recruited to put on the local church’s Christmas pageant, under Eric’s (Topher Grace) direction; but things collapse quickly. Everyone disregards Eric’s leadership, leading to the collapse of the show when Eric is fired from the job and everyone else is left to run amok.
Leo (Tommy Chong) is forced to have a moment of clarity on their behalf and remind them that Eric’s conscience glues the rest of them together. Meanwhile, Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) has to come to terms with growing up when Jackie (Mila Kunis) tells him he can’t watch the Rankin-Bass specials this year. That leads to a very fun parody stop motion sequence where Santa helps Kelso learn the real meaning of the season. [Travis Hymas]
Katey is co-founder and tv editor for InBetweenDrafts. She hosts the “House of the Dragon After Show” and “Between TV” podcasts and can be read in various other places like Inverse and Screen Speck. She wishes desperately the binge model of tv watching would die, but still gets mad when she runs out of episodes of tv to watch.
