While Halloween and Thanksgiving episodes have gained popularity over the years, the Christmas episode remains television's favorite fail-safe theme. The requisite story lines - including but not limited to: family conflict and resolution, holiday-related crises and even miracles - have become a little stale, but the following modern TV classics have found new and often hilarious ways to redefine a long-standing genre.
"The Strike" episode of Seinfeld: This episode is a classic for so many reasons: Jerry's new "two-face" girlfriend, George's creation of the Human Fund ("Money for People"), Elaine's increasingly desperate attempt to claim a free sub and, most importantly, the world's introduction to a new holiday, involving an "airing of grievances" and aluminum pole for decoration, called Festivus. George's father's made-up alternative to Christmas is one of Seinfeld's funniest and most well-known subplots, which serves as the centerpiece to one of television's funniest and most well-known Christmas episodes.
"Christmas Party" episode of The Office: It's tough to single out one Christmas-themed Office episode as the best, when some of the show's most consistently funny episodes are its holiday installments. However, the season two episode, "Christmas Party," deserves credit for not only delivering top-notch awkward comedy and adorable moments between core couple Jim and Pam but also putting a brilliant twist on holiday traditions. When the office's Secret Santa gift exchange does not go as boss Michael hoped, he forces the employees to play Yankee Swap (aka White Elephant , Nasty Christmas or Dirty Santa) so he can trade his present in for something better. What ensues is a cruelly hilarious take on gift-giving and the holidays in general that still manages to end on a sweet, heartwarming note.
"Ludachristmas" episode of 30 Rock: Liz Lemon may be the constant butt of jokes among her co-workers, but her jolly visiting parents and brother (played by guest stars Anita Gillette, Buck Henry and Andy Richter) just can't seem to find a single flaw. Drawn to the supportive family he never had, Jack attempts to join in on the Lemon Christmas fun, but it isn't long before his manipulative mother decides to expose the Lemons's unapparent dysfunction. The story line of Jack as a new member of the Lemon family is excellent, but the overall play on the traditional family love and support that Christmas is supposed to provoke is what makes this episode so memorable.
"A Very Topanga Christmas" episode of Boy Meets World: Boy Meets World borrows from the classics in this season five episode, in which Topanga spends Christmas with the Matthews family. Pushed to the breaking point by Topanga's incessant imposing of her own family traditions on him, Cory questions whether they really belong together. However, after falling asleep while watching A Christmas Carol on TV, Cory gets a visit from Mr. Feeny, who shows him what's in store if he breaks up with Topanga. It's not the most original premise to be sure, but the show's goofiness and heart - two essential ingredients to any great holiday episode - make up for the cliches and provide a satisfying story.
"The One with the Holiday Armadillo" episode of Friends: This now classic Friends episode really doesn't seem like anything special at first. But thanks to a side-splitting sequence in which Ross, unable to find a Santa costume, gives his son Ben presents dressed as the so-called holiday armadillo, it gained status as the greatest Friends Christmas episode of all time, and provided desperate parents with an amusing alternative to Saint Nick.
"A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas" episode of Family Guy: Family Guy realizes the disaster Christmas episode's greatest potential in this half-an-hour installment, so chock full of clever holiday skewering that it makes most comedy competitors look as boring as an undecorated Christmas tree. Among the show's highlights are a fictional Christmas movie called Kiss Saves Santa (which is exactly what it sounds like), Peter's battle with an old lady for a pair of barrettes for Meg, Stewie's ploy to get plutonium from Santa and Lois pushing Jimmy Stewart, circa It's a Wonderful Life, off the bridge in a rampage.
"A Little Christmas Queer" episode of Will & Grace: Will, Grace, Jack and Karen spend Christmas at Will's mother's house, along with his brother Sam, flamboyant nephew Jordy and adopted niece Courtney, during the show's final Christmas episode. While Jack and Will help Jordy plan a Christmas show, Grace (dubbed "The Holiday Whore" by Karen) fights revisiting an old fling with Sam. Jack and Karen's hysterical interactions with the kids are the episode's strength, and Blythe Danner makes a very welcome ninth series appearance as Will's boozing, judgmental mother.
"White Trash Christmas" episode of Roseanne: Roseanne was never one for much sentimentality, but we are treated to some sort of sweet moments between the Conners in this season six episode. What really stands out, though, is Roseanne and Dan's determination to have the tackiest Christmas decorations after a neighborhood memo asking for more traditional lawn ornaments inspires them to rebel. They produce three-legged reindeer, neon signs wishing all "Feliz Navidad," and a third wise man in the form of Gumby, proving that while the Conners may be lacking in many departments, there's no shortage of (misguided) holiday spirit in their household.
"An Echolls' Family Christmas" episode of Veronica Mars: Veronica Mars offers a bleaker, dark alternative to the traditional Christmas episode in this fantastic season one installment. Christmas decorations, caroling, discussion of gift-giving and even The Year Without a Santa Claus constantly pop up to remind us what time of year it is, but, as Veronica says, it's just covering the lies and filth underneath. This time around, she's dealing with a theft case while her father handles a murder threat against the town's resident movie star. Veronica's unraveling of the mystery and her banter between peers is excellent as always, but the brilliant juxtaposition of merry yuletide sentiments and criminal acts make "An Echolls' Family Christmas" the perfect unconventional holiday episode.
"My Own Personal Jesus" episode of Scrubs: "My Own Personal Jesus" deals with the loss and regaining of faith among the jaded Sacred Heart interns. Just when Turk - the one holiday fanatic, apart from the janitor - gives up his Christmas spirit in the face of miserable and dying patients, a miracle occurs that shakes even his cynical friends. This may strike some as a little cheesy, but the episode also boasts some of the series' greatest J. D. fantasies, including J. D. as a doctor in a '50s instructional video, Turk as an energetic southern preacher and J. D. as Fonzy from Happy Days, banging on a patient (rather than a jukebox) to bring the man back to life.