Last week, I took a look at my favorite Christmas sitcom episodes from before 1995, this week is Top 10 Christmas Sitcom Episodes (1995-Present)!
Close Calls:
The Middle "The Christmas Tree"
The Goldbergs "A Christmas Story"
Modern Family "Undeck the Halls"
Hey Arnold! holds up about the best of any Nicktoon from the 90s (although Doug gives it a run for its money). It always had a great blend of humor and heart and the first Christmas episode really pulls at the heartstrings with the story of Arnold trying to reunite a lonely neighbor with his daughter. It's a really touching Christmas story.
9. 8 Simple Rules "All I Want for Christmas" (December 10, 2002)
This episode aired on the same night and network as an episode still to come on this list. The first season of 8 Simple Rules, before John Ritter's untimely death, is a very underrated season of comedy and I think the series would have had a nice long run had he lived. The Christmas episode is a perfect mix of sweetness and humor and has a throwback feel to a 50s or 60s Christmas episode.
8. New Girl "LAXmas" (December 9, 2014)
I remember when this episode came on, it was in the midst of a renaissance season for New Girl after a very disappointing season. I thought this episode, set pretty much entirely at LAX, was the best episode the series had in a long time. Putting all the characters in a confined setting is always a smart move and setting a Christmas episode at a busy airport had a great and festive feel to it, but not in a traditional way.
7. Friends "The One with the Holiday Armadillo" (December 14, 2000)
Friends was of course better known for its Thanksgiving episodes and they didn't do a ton of Christmas stories. Part of the reason was two of the main characters were Jewish so they took advantage of that in 2000 with Ross trying to show his son the importance of Hanukkah. A lack of costumes at the costume store leads to Ross in a ridiculous outfit and a very funny scene that also includes Chandler as Santa.
The early years of Fresh Off the Boat had a bunch of great episodes but the show's shining moment was a comedic tour de force by Constance Wu in the first Christmas episode. Her character, Jessica, convinces her skeptical son that Santa is Asian and dresses up as Santa herself to prove it in a very funny scene that also has a lot of heart.
5. Superstore "Christmas Eve" (December 5, 2017)
Superstore had a madcap Christmas episode in its third season that highlighted the "work family as family" trope in a very funny and not sentimental way. The episode was highlighted from a truly hilarious sight gag with Amy, Dina and Cheyenne riding their Cloud 9 carts on the street to see Amy's ex.
4. The Office "Christmas Party" (December 6, 2005)
The first of many Christmas episodes of The Office is a particularly brutal one for Michael Scott as his redeeming qualities are pretty hard to find here when he sabotages a Christmas gift exchange after going way overboard on a gift. With so many very quotable lines and a very sweet Jim and Pam story, this episode is usually the favorite among Christmas episodes for Office fans but there's another still to come on my list.
3. According to Jim "Christmas Party" (December 10, 2002)
I know According to Jim is not an all time classic, but sometimes it was just very funny and one of the best episodes of the entire series is the Christmas Party episode that has Jim playing the Scrooge. Some top notch physical comedy as a bathroom overflows really makes this episode pop. It's one of the tightest and funniest episodes of an inconsistent show.
2. Everybody Loves Raymond "The Christmas Pictures" (December 13, 1999)
The majority of this episode takes place in just one spot: at the ill-fated Christmas photo shoot at the center of the plot. Doris Roberts is truly hilarious here as Marie pouts and pouts about who Debra considers family and what constitutes a family Christmas photo. Many Christmas episodes have a lot of conflict and end sweetly. Not this one. Marie pouts until the end and it never trades humor for heart, which is refreshing sometimes.
I very distinctly remember watching "A Benihana Christmas" for the first time. It was on DVD (I was late to The Office although not as late as the many who became fans via Netflix) and I had to pause it multiple times because I was laughing so hard. It's a master class of comedy from Steve Carell and probably the most laugh out loud Christmas episode ever.
Tomorrow: A One Season Wonder look at Life with Lucy!
Next Tuesday: Top 10 Drama Christmas Episodes!
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