The way that people consume their television may have changed quite drastically over the past decade, but one thing that hasn't is the time-honored tradition of the Christmas special. When the weather outside is frightful, there's no better way to warm the heart than to kick back and enjoy one of the many great Christmas episodes that have been broadcast over the years.
Given that 'tis the season to be jolly, the majority of them tend to lean quite heavily into their humor, but that's not to say that there aren't some serious subjects being addressed as well. From seasonal loneliness to the commercialization of Christmas, just about every topic has been touched upon in some capacity.
Updated December 7, 2022, by Tom Bowen: Christmas is a time for celebrating the bonds that hold people together, whether that be through kind words, expensive gifts, or spending time with one another. Thanks to the cold weather outside, it's also a great time for snuggling up on the couch and watching television, with many great seasonal offerings available throughout the holiday season. Some may opt to enjoy classic Christmas movies with their loved ones, but others will perhaps prefer watching some of the many great holiday-themed episodes of their favorite TV shows. The best TV show Christmas specials are able to perfectly capture the spirit of the season, providing laughs, tears, and important lessons for viewers to take away from the experience.
12 How I Met Your Mother – How Lily Stole Christmas (S02E11)
There aren't too many TV show finales that are as disappointing as How I Met Your Mother's. However, pretty much everything that came before the show's underwhelming conclusion was fantastic, including the season two Christmas special, How Lily Stole Christmas. As the title suggests, the episode sees Lily quite literally stealing Christmas after learning that Ted said mean things about her after she abandoned Marshall at the end of season one.
Though it is wrapped up in festive humor, the episode's takeaway message remains an incredibly poignant one. Marshall wasn't the only one who was left devastated by Lily leaving, with Ted also having lost one of his closest friends. What's more, he was left alone to pick up the pieces and help Marshall to move on, which is something that Lily never even considered when she decided to swoop back into the pair's lives. Of course, the episode boasts a happy ending, but the journey there is anything but.
11 Doctor Who – The Christmas Invasion (E167)
There's a lot of debate among Whovians as to which of the many holiday-themed Doctor Who specials reigns supreme. Some favor A Christmas Carol, and while this is certainly a very fine episode, the fact that it's effectively just another loose adaptation of the classic Dickens novel leads to many instead opting for the more original Doctor Who Christmas special, The Christmas Invasion.
First airing on Christmas Day back in 2005, The Christmas Invasion sees Rose and Mickey attempting to fight off an alien invasion while the Doctor recovers from his recent regeneration. It's a great episode that shows just how important the Doctor's many companions are, not to mention the one that provided viewers with their first proper look at David Tennant's tenth Doctor.
10 Community – Comparative Religion (S01E12)
Shirley is surprised to learn that she is the only member of the study group that celebrates Christmas but plows ahead with her plans to throw her Christmas party all the same. When Jeff stands up to the school bully though, he risks being uninvited – as too does anybody else who supports him in his fight.
The last few seasons of Community may have been a bit of a letdown, but for the most part, the show still remains as entertaining as ever. Comparative Religion is one of the episodes that best explores the diversity of the study group and the bonds that hold them all together. Some may prefer Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas, but Comparative Religion perhaps provides a more well-rounded experience.
9 Seinfeld – The Strike (S09E10)
A rise in the minimum wage leads to Kramer planning to return to work after 12 years, but it doesn't take too long for him to find another reason to strike. Meanwhile, Jerry dates a two-faced woman, George gives his coworkers fake donation cards to avoid buying real gifts and everyone comes together to celebrate Frank's made-up anti-holiday, Festivus.
Seinfeld had its fair share of great holiday specials, but The Strike is head and shoulders above the rest. The impact that Festivus had on viewers was huge and perfectly suited the overall tone of the episode and the show in general. Many might not realize that it is actually based on a real secular holiday of the same name, but there's no denying that it was Seinfeld that popularized the holiday.
8 Malcolm In The Middle – Christmas (S03E07)
When the boys destroy the family's Christmas ornaments, Lois threatens to cancel Christmas if they put another foot out of line. Although her ultimatum seems to be working at first, the boys eventually realize that if they cave into her demands this time, she'll be able to take future Christmases hostages as well. Unable to make it home for the holidays, Francis instead spends his Christmas in Canada with Lois' mother.
Christmas is Malcolm in the Middle at its absolute best. Ida and Francis' constant bickering serves as the perfect subplot while the boys' misguided rebellion leads to a rare but welcome moment of introspection. Likewise, Lois questioning her decision is something that all parents will be able to relate to, as too is her choice to ignore her kids' misdeeds at the episode's climax in the interest of avoiding further conflict.
7 South Park – Woodland Critter Christmas (S08E14)
Not everything is quite what it seems in this amoral animated adventure. What begins as a tale about a young boy helping out some cute woodland creatures quickly devolves into a story involving human sacrifice, anal abortion, and a shotgun-wielding Santa Clause. The Antichrist also makes an appearance and Stan kills a magical mountain lion leaving its three young cubs as orphans.
Woodland Critter Christmas is exactly what one might expect from a South Park Christmas special. It's violent, incredibly inappropriate and one of the funniest episodes of the show ever made. The narration is a nice touch too and the ending is just brilliant. It's far from a traditional Christmas special but is certainly worth a watch.
6 King Of The Hill – Livin' On Reds, Vitamin C And Propane (S08E07)
When Hank's mother inherits some antique furniture, he's able to realize his life-long dream of driving a truck and decides to take Bobby along for the ride. Things don't quite go to plan, however, and the pair find themselves in a race against time to get home for Christmas. Back in Arlen, Peggy and Luanne attempt to write their own Christmas song with some amusing results.
There are definitely funnier episodes of King of the Hill, but there's something satisfying about watching Hank fulfill his ambition and earning the respect of the other trucker drivers. Furthermore, it's not often that Hank and Bobby are able to work effectively together, so their victory over the mountain is really nice to see as well.
5 Friends – The One With The Holiday Armadillo (S07E10)
Hoping to teach Ben about the importance of their Jewish heritage, Ross adopts the guise of Tex, the titular holiday armadillo, in the hopes that the costume will help him get through to his son. When Santa and Superman show up, however, Ben becomes disinterested in learning about Hanukkah leaving Ross at a bit of a loose end.
The One with the Holiday Armadillo might not be the highest-rated Friends Christmas special, but it's certainly the most memorable. Its main storyline is both interesting and meaningful and there are plenty of great one-liners and other humorous happenings to enjoy. The former does overshadow some of the secondary plotlines a little at times, but that's perhaps to be expected given the episode's holiday theme.
4 Frasier – Miracle On 3rd Or 4th Street (S01E12)
In his first solo Christmas special, the good doc becomes deflated after learning that his ex-wife Lilith plans to take their son Frederick to Austria for Christmas. While he at first hopes that work will be able to take his mind off of the situation, a steady stream of negative calls leaves him more depressed than ever. In the end, though, the kindness of strangers helps him to realize the true meaning of Christmas.
Miracle on 3rd or 4th Street came at a time when Frasier was still finding its feet and figuring out its identity. Even so, the episode manages to hit all the right notes and provides a wholesome and relatable experience whilst also incorporating humor when and wherever it's appropriate to do so. It may be a little too dry for some peoples' tastes, but it remains a great episode of one of television's best spin-off shows.
3 Father Ted – A Christmassy Ted (S02E11)
A Christmassy Ted sees Ted win the Golden Cleric award after he and his fellow priests find themselves stranded in what just might be the world's largest lingerie section. With the potential scandal averted, an unknown visitor comes to stay on Craggy Island and Ted treats Mrs. Doyle to an automatic tea-maker – much to her dismay.
The tragic death of Dermot Morgan at the age of just 45 means that only 25 episodes of Father Ted were ever made. Thankfully though, his legacy lives on through these episodes and this wonderful Christmas special which is all but guaranteed to be broadcast at some point during the festive period. Some might not appreciate or understand the British sense of humor, but those who do would do well to check it out.
2 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia – A Very Sunny Christmas (S06E13)
Clocking in at 43 minutes, A Very Sunny Christmas is twice the length of a regular episode of the show. This bodes well, as there's an awful lot going on. Frank continues his annual tradition of tormenting his children which prompts Dee and Denis to finally take action. Elsewhere, Mac realizes that his childhood Christmases weren't quite what they had seemed and Charlie learns some unsettling news about his mother.
The episode's revelations about the gang's past are really quite depressing and go some way to explaining why they are all so messed up. Even so, it's difficult not to find the whole thing hilarious even in spite of the implications. Although each of the gang does eventually try to make amends for their past indiscretions, that they all end up throwing rocks at trains is somewhat typical of their inability to affect change.
1 The Simpsons – Marge Be Not Proud (S07E11)
After Bart gets caught shoplifting, his relationship with Marge begins to change. Although he at first believes that he can deal with the widening distance between them, he quickly realizes that he's not ready to grow up just yet and sets out to repair his damaged maternal relationship by whatever means necessary.
There are plenty of wonderful Simpsons Christmas specials to choose from, but Marge Be Not Proud is perhaps the pick of the bunch. The show has always been great at embedding serious themes and messages into its episodes and does so again here to outstanding effect. That said, it manages to avoid ever coming across as being too preachy and these serious scenes are perfectly balanced out with some truly hilarious moments.