Everybody loves a good Christmas special. The British are really into Christmas ‘pantos‘, much to the confusion of the rest of the world, and the majority of shows that air in the second-half of the year include a special episode aired in the lead-up to Christmas.
If you ask Bojack Horseman they’re a cynical cash grab on the part of corporations. But if you ask me they’re a fun way to get into the festive spirit.
Dwight Christmas – The Office (US)
It’s the last Christmas episode of the show, but also one of the best. It teaches us about Dwight’s Pennsylvania Dutch family traditions, like Belsnickel, and his game of ‘impish or admirable’.
This culminates in Dwight whipping Jim out of the building but, in the spirit of the holiday, they eventually make up.
Meanwhile, Pete is trying to quote all of Die Hard in an effort to impress Erin, which is pretty clearly an homage to every guy you’ve met at a holiday party who thinks he’s unique by citing Die Hard as his favourite Christmas movie.
It’s one of the best episodes of the show post-Steve Carrell’s departure, and it’s my favourite Christmas episode by far.
The One With The Holiday Armadillo – Friends
This needs no explanation. Ross as the Holiday Armadillo, Chandler as Santa, and Joey as… Superman, all working together to teach Ben about Hanukkah. Beautiful.
Afternoon Delight – Arrested Development
The sixth episode of the show is also its first Christmas-themed episode, and it’s a doozy.
This episode includes:
- Michael and Maeby, and later, George Michael and Lindsey, singing Afternoon Delight, not realising the meaning of the song until it’s too late
- Gob shouting about the cost of his suit and increasing its value each time: “It’s a $6300 suit! Come on!”
- Probably Buster’s best lines, when he returns from spending his first day in the army at an arcade with two plushies. After Lucille accuses him of being a coward, he brandishes the seal and says, “Would a coward have THIS?”, and goes on to explain that “These are my awards, mother, from army. The seal is for marksmanship and the gorilla is for sand-racing.”
- Lucille being so high that she slowly crashes into Tobias, Gob, and the Banana Stand without realising.
It’s peak Arrested Development, and it’s perfect holiday viewing.
The Best Chrismukkah Ever – The OC
This was the OC’s first holiday episode, and it’s the one that gave us Chrismukkah, Seth Cohen’s hybrid holiday resulting from his being a child of both Judaism and Christianity, and also from his unwillingness to choose. Plus, the eight days of presents followed by one big day of presents certainly don’t hurt.
This episode also sees Anna and Summer fighting over Seth, complete with Summer in the iconic Wonder Woman costume, lassoing Seth in an effort to seduce him.
It also has Marissa being Marissa, which consists of her shoplifting and getting drunk. Her troubled ways see her sent to a mental health professional, where she meets Oliver, and… wait a second… this might actually be the worst Christmas episode ever. In case you can’t tell, I still haven’t gotten over the whole Oliver storyline.
At least Ryan is welcomed into the Cohens for his first Chrismukkah? But ugh, Oliver.
The Strike – Seinfeld
“… and now, you’re gonna hear about ‘em!”
This is the iconic episode that gave us Festivus, Frank Costanza’s response to the commercialisation of Christmas. It also features George giving his colleagues gifts of donations made in their names to ‘The Human Fund’, which doesn’t exist, and Kramer returning to work after a twelve-year strike, only to go on strike again after his boss won’t let him take Festivus off.
Festivus and Chrismukkah have both become part of our cultural consciousness, and for that, I am eternally grateful to Seth Cohen and Frank Costanza.
BoJack Horseman Christmas Special: Sabrina’s Christmas Wish
This episode-within-an-episode sees Todd and Bojack settle in to enjoy a Horsin’ Around Christmas special. It’s a chance to finally see a full episode of the show that made Bojack famous, and it’s a great spoof of 80s family sitcoms.
And despite dismissing Christmas specials as “cynical cash grabs from greedy corporations”, Bojack asks if they can watch the other eight Horsin’ Around Christmas specials. The Christmas spirit gets everyone eventually, even Bojack.
Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire – The Simpsons
This is probably one of the most iconic Christmas episodes ever, because it also happens to be the first ever episode of The Simpsons.
The Simpsons hadn’t had time to become the show we all know and love at this point, but signs of that show can be found in this episode, as long as you don’t get distracted by the animation style and Homer’s voice.
The episode is very much centred on the family’s financial troubles, but Bart’s rebellious nature is there, on full display when he defies Marge’s wishes and gets a tattoo. Homer is less of a bumbling idiot than he would later become, and more of a dad trying to make ends meet. After betting the paycheque he earned from working as Santa on the greyhound races and losing, Homer adopts the dog he bet on – Santa’s Little Helper.
The fact that it’s the very first Simpsons episode and the episode that saw Santa’s Little Helper join the family is more than enough to give this episode the honour of one of the best Christmas episodes on television.
Da Kath and Kim Code
Australia can’t be left off this list, so naturally it comes down to the Kath & Kim 2005 telemovie.
Sharon gets engaged to a blog, Kim and Brett fight (obviously), Kath and Kel become backup dancers for Michael Bublé at Carols by Candlelight, and they get stalked by an albino man dressed in a robe, who they’re convinced is trying to kill them. It’s ridiculous, and terribly Australian, and it’s the perfect thing to watch on a hot Christmas Day when you don’t want to think about the fact white Christmases are impossible here.
Stan has made it even easier to binge the Christmas episodes of your favourite shows – just search ‘The Office’ or ‘Friends’, and a specially curated list of their Christmas episodes will appear! Just like magic.
So grab your relos, relax, and let your stomach recover after a massive festive feast with some of these brilliant Christmas specials.