It’s the most wonderful time of the year … for television. If you’re like us, you have a batch of holiday TV episodes in your annual watch rotation. Whether they’re from treasured sitcoms, animated series from your childhood or procedural dramas, these episodes capture the holiday spirit to a tee. So, with that in mind, pull up a chair by the fire, bust out your ugliest Christmas sweater and deck the halls for GGA’s six favorite holiday TV episodes.
“Regional Holiday Music,” Community
If there’s one thing beloved — now cult classic — sitcom Community does well, it’s the art of the Christmas episode. Season 3’s “Regional Holiday Music” delivers a clever Glee-fueled parody in which the Greendale Seven fall prey to the charms of Mr. Radison (Taran Killam), a Will Schuester-type glee club teacher (who may or may not have perpetrated the bus crash that killed the last glee club).
As our heroes try to resist the spirit of glee, we get musical bangers aplenty, such as Annie’s (Alison Brie) “Teach Me How to Understand Christmas,” Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed’s (Danny Pudi) “Christmas Infiltration” and “Baby Boomer Santa,” which sees Troy and Abed appeal to Pierce’s (Chevy Chase) penchant for narcissism.
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The hilarious, irreverent, pop culture-reference-laden musical numbers culminate in the show-stopping “Planet Christmas.” We’re blessed with Britta’s (Gillian Jacobs) awkward Christmas song before the gleeful spell cast over the study group breaks.
This episode has its finger on the pulse of the zeitgeist, especially that whip-smart nod to Kings of Leon’s refusal to let Glee use their music. It’s part of my annual Christmas watch rotation. In the immortal words of Britta, “Me so Christmas, me so merry!” — Melody McCune
“Christmas with the Joker,” Batman: The Animated Series
Suppose you are looking for an iconic, crowd-pleasing holiday episode to put on during the party. In that case, nothing tops the “Christmas with the Joker” episode of the Batman: The Animated Series. On a rare, quiet Christmas Eve in Gotham, the Joker (Mark Hamill) hijacks the TV broadcasts to invite Batman (Kevin Conroy) to play a Christmas parlor game. Batman and Robin (Loren Lester) have until midnight to find the kidnapped Commissioner Gordon (Bob Hastings).
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This is the only holiday-themed episode in the series’ run, and it isn’t your typical sappy special. The creators don’t sacrifice any of the dark and bizarre themes of the Joker as a character just because it’s Christmas. The intense tone has never put off fans, though, and the episode was a staple in the TV holiday lineup before streaming services could offer it year-round.
While the entire series is beloved by fans and critically acclaimed, the most impressive feat is the pop culture relevance of this singular episode. In this special, Mark Hamill spawns a classic playground parody song that can still be heard in classrooms and waiting rooms today. Even people who have never seen Batman: The Animated Series can sing “Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg. Batmobile lost a wheel, and the Joker got away — hey!” — Lauren Darnell
“The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis,” The Big Bang Theory
Point of fact: The Big Bang Theory aired 279 over their 12 seasons. At an average of 22 minutes per episode, that’s over 100 hrs of geeky humor, neurodiverse quirkiness and relationship shenanigans. But as much as their early stuff was fresh and funny, their second season holiday episode (S02E11, “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”) cemented the show’s place in the halls of comedic excellence. At all levels, it’s the perfect gift of comedy with heart.
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There’s the surface humor in Leonard’s (Johnny Galecki) jealousy over Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco) chemistry with Dr. David Underhill (Michael Freakin’ Trucco). Of course, there’s the Sheldon (Jim Parsons) factor in his persistently pessimistic perspective on holidays and gift-giving. Honestly, the entire ensemble gets some quality hi-hat punchlines as they chime in on the Leonard-Penny-David dynamic and Sheldon’s clinical take on gift-giving.
But the “Saturnalia Miracle” that takes this episode over and beyond its sitcom nature is the moment Penny’s gift breaks through Sheldon’s sense of superiority and cynicism to a moment of true gratitude.
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While he’s tried to quantify the act of gift-giving into a formulaic social transaction, when faced with her genuinely priceless token of thoughtfulness, he is rendered helpless as he contends with overwhelming emotion. How the producers restrained themselves from cuing a choir of angels when he hugged Penny, I’ll never know. — Diana Keng
“I Know What You Did Next Xmas,” Futurama
As established in Futurama Season 2, in the future, Robot Santa (John Goodman; John DiMaggio) terrorizes Earth. Each year, he arrives on Xmas Eve to distribute violent reprisals to all he deems “naughty” — which, due to an error, is everyone.
But in Season 11’s “I Know What You Did Next Xmas,” Professor Farnsworth (Billy West) sets about attempting to right this wrong through the tried-and-true method of traveling back in time and reversing the polarity on Santa’s naughty/nice dial. But did he account for the possibility of a predestination paradox?
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In the meantime, the PlanEx crew bonds with their families (and makes disturbing variations of Turducken). While that’s happening, Bender (DiMaggio) and Doctor Zoidberg (West) do the unthinkable: become friends. Featuring guest stars Mark Hamill and the late Coolio (to whom the episode is dedicated), this is one Xmas story you’ll never forget. — Avery Kaplan
“Holiday Hookah,” Abbott Elementary
The first time Abbott Elementary did a holiday episode, it was a masterpiece. Filler episodes like this make TV shows great, and Quinta Brunson and the writing team didn’t disappoint. Watching Melissa’s (Lisa Ann Walter) and Barbara’s (Sheryl Lee Ralph) Christmas tradition is a treat for all the fans of Work Wives.
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The club scene brings Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Janine (Brunson) closer, making fans of the ship dream of what a relationship between them could be. Ava (Janelle James), Jacob (Chris Perfetti) and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) are their typical selves, adding the perfect touch of comedy to an already perfect episode. It is definitely a holiday episode to revisit to get in the holiday spirit. — Lara Rosales
“The Man in the Fallout Shelter,” Bones
“The Man in the Fallout Shelter” might be Bones‘ first holiday episode, but it still holds a special place in our hearts. Bones (Emily Deschanel), Booth (David Boreanaz) and the Jeffersonian team find themselves in quarantine right before Christmas after potentially coming in contact with a deadly disease trapped in an old fallout shelter.
Not wanting to forget the magic of Christmas, the team hosts their own Secret Santa. Bones, who has her struggles with the holiday season, dives right into uncovering the mystery behind the body inside the shelter.
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With the team’s help, they dig through decades-old clues to uncover the gentleman’s identity and what happened around the time he died. Bones and the team use everything at their disposal to track down those he left behind and give them the best Christmas present of all: answers. The entire episode is full of good feelings and reminds us why the holidays are so important — Julia Roth
What holiday TV episodes are you watching this year? Sound off in the comments below.
The Origin of Tropes: Holiday Movies
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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