# Best Christmas episodes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967 "2002-12-15T22:52:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/1 "2002-12-15T22:52:35Z")
Mrs. CaptMurdock has the idea of making a compilation videotape of the best Christmas-themed episodes of TV shows (e.g. _WKRP in Cinncinnati_’s adaptation of _A Christmas Carol_). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/2 "2002-12-15T23:36:11Z")
“So-Called Angel” from **My So-Called Life**. The best Christmas episode ever aired by any series. Original and achingly beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/3 "2023-12-03T23:34:42Z")
I’ve got a list of the Bob’s Burgers Christmas episodes ready to watch. What favorite Christmas television episodes do you recommend? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/4 "2023-12-03T23:47:28Z")
“Simpsons Roasting by an Open Fire” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/5 "2023-12-04T01:01:04Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Mrs. CaptMurdock has the idea of making a compilation videotape of the best Christmas-themed episodes of TV shows (e.g. _WKRP in Cinncinnati_’s adaptation of _A Christmas Carol_). She should make a separate mixtape of Dr. Who Christmas episodes. And I understand that Blackadder had a good one. I was also charmed by both Christmas episodes of _Ghosts_ (British version). Family Guy’s _The Road to the North Pole_ is not to be missed. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/6 "2023-12-04T01:50:13Z")
I would, except Mrs. CaptMurdock passed away in the intervening years since I started this thread (I don’t even remember starting this!) > [@](#): > > And I understand that Blackadder had a good one. Yes, something of a reverse Christmas Carol. It’s brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/7 "2023-12-04T02:09:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I was also charmed by both Christmas episodes of _Ghosts_ (British version). Speaking of British Christmas episodes, there’s [a scene in _Misfits_](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv-AgCyvKo0) that will stick with me forever… ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/8 "2023-12-04T02:11:08Z")
The All in the Family where Mike invites his draft dodging friend to Christmas dinner was a good one. I remember watching as a kid and being really freaked out when Archie blew his lid. Like watching your dad explode in rage. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/9 "2023-12-04T02:13:19Z")
[The Big Bang Theory - Penny’s gift to Sheldon.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlhHTdDqoBc&pp=ygUYYmJ0IHNoZWxkb25zJyBnaWZ0IHNwb2Nr/) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mlhHTdDqoBc/hqdefault.jpg "The Big Bang Theory - Penny's Christmas gift to Sheldon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlhHTdDqoBc) ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/10 "2023-12-06T00:13:03Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Speaking of British Christmas episodes I enjoy the Gavin and Stacey Christmas episodes. Also, Call the Midwife. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/11 "2023-12-06T01:06:16Z")
The first Christmas episode of _Happy Days_, which aired during the show’s second season (Happy Days was a midseason premiere in January of 1974; it’s second season aired normally that September). Richie Cunningham realizes that Fonzie does not have anyone to celebrate Christmas with and invites him to join his family. Fonzie is too proud to accept at first, but eventually relents. The episode was a somewhat pivotal one for the show; it started the process of not only fleshing out Fonzie as a character, but also began Fonzie’s slowly becoming a de-facto member of the Cunningham family (which fully kicked into gear when Fonzie began living in the Cunningham garage apartment starting with the third season premiere). This also spelled the death knell for Chuck Cunningham; the producers got rid of him entirely when they realized that Fonzie had effectively become the older brother to Richie. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/12 "2023-12-06T10:57:55Z")
I like the Frasier episode where he works the christmas shift and goes to a greasy spoon diner after. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/13 "2023-12-06T16:18:48Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > [The Big Bang Theory - Penny’s gift to Sheldon.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlhHTdDqoBc&pp=ygUYYmJ0IHNoZWxkb25zJyBnaWZ0IHNwb2Nr/) > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlhHTdDqoBc&pp=ygUYYmJ0IHNoZWxkb25zJyBnaWZ0IHNwb2Nr/](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlhHTdDqoBc&pp=ygUYYmJ0IHNoZWxkb25zJyBnaWZ0IHNwb2Nr/) The only Christmas Special that manages to hit all the correct notes without being corny in a show that is just wall to wall corny. This episode is the only caveat to a hill I will die on, ‘All Christmas Specials Suck’. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/14 "2023-12-06T16:45:49Z")
It’s a [Bundyful Life Part 1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0642303/) and [Part 2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0642304/?ref_=tt_ep_nx) from Married With Children. This heartwarming story tells how Al Bundy is shown by his guardian angel (Sam Kinison in one of his last roles) what life would be like if he had never been born. Despite finding out his neighbors would be miserable if he was never born he is shown that his wife and kids would be incredibly happy without him so he decides he wants to live again. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/15 "2023-12-06T16:51:08Z")
The one I never get tired of: _The Dick van Dyke Show_. Side note: I didn’t even know there was a Christmas episode of _The Flintstones_ until something like 15 years after I started watching it. This is because pretty much everybody that aired it only airs that episode on Christmas Day (in addition to the obvious reason that it would stick out like a sore thumb at any other time of year, there is the really obvious reason that young kids might see it and think that it’s almost Christmas even if it airs in March), and I always spent that day away with relatives. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/16 "2023-12-06T17:33:33Z")
I can not attest for the whole episode, but the moment in The Office(US) where Michael is Santa Claus and has Kevin sit on his lap is one of my favorite Christmas episode moments. I think Steve Carrell said this was one of his all time favorite moments in the show in terms of just pure comedy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nD4pI_INaJA/maxresdefault.jpg "Kevin Sits On Michael - The Office US") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD4pI_INaJA&t=105) “Well, I didn’t know you were gonna ask me that.” ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/17 "2023-12-06T18:06:40Z")
Two decades later and I still get second hand discomfort from the White Elephant iPad Michael gave out. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/18 "2023-12-07T09:05:54Z")
Video iPod. But at least Pam ends up with the [Prism DuroSport](https://durosport.com/museum/prism-durosport-6000/), which is better than an iPod because it is chunkier and more solid. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/19 "2023-12-07T12:25:15Z")
Yeah, I think the Office did a good job tuning into stuff that happens. When I lived overseas, we did a Secret Santa, with a spending limit. One employee bought his person a huge stereo system that obviously went way over the price limit. Neat, but we all kind of felt like our gifts looked so much worse. I hate when Michael gets a homemade gift from Phyllis and treats it like crap. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967/20 "2023-12-07T16:05:04Z")
I have always been fond of Riptide’s. Yes, the cheesy helicopter-private eye show had a Christmas episode, and it was pretty good. The boys have the Duty of returning a dead soldier’s body home to his father. Turns out, it isn’t the right body! They must break the cover up, and find what happened to the son. James Whitmore played the father. And it was one of the few times, maybe the only time, using John and Yoko’s Happy Xmas (War is Over) actually worked in a show. > **["Riptide" Home for Christmas (TV Episode 1985) ⭐ 7.5 | Action, Crime, Drama](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0686919/)** > > 47m | TV-14 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-episodes/142967.md?page=2)