For every TV
series I grew up with or still watch today, I always look forward to the annual
Christmas episode. It’s a special time when an all too familiar TV program can
get a decorative makeover and swim with the best of what one of my favorite
holidays has to offer. Years ago, I counted down my 10 favorite Christmas episodes
from animated TV programs, but now it’s time to come back around with episodes
from live action TV shows. Most of them are from Sit-com’s, which can range
from child to adult audiences. This isn’t a list based on popularity, it’s
just the Christmas themed episodes that have stuck with me the most, whether it
be from my childhood or adulthood. Also, only one Christmas episode per series,
otherwise I'd need to make this a top 30 list. With all that said, here are my own
personal top 10 favorite Christmas episodes from live action TV shows.
#10 “Merry Christmas
Mr. Bean” (Mr. Bean)
The main appeal of Mr. Bean was that his
show revolved around visual comedy, with minimal dialogue, and a lot of
physical action.
The titular Mr. Bean was like a twelve-year-old trapped in a
grown man’s body, and the running joke was that he was a clumsy goof, but also
an innocent with a big heart … you can imagine what kind of mischief such a
character would get himself into on Christmas. He’s bursting with all the joy
and excitement of the holiday, but he’s not mature enough to open-up to the
heart of the season, and it leads to a number of quirky highlights. I will
admit that the comedy on display is something of an acquired taste, but for me,
I love when things are conveyed through visuals, and comedy just clicks with me when
it’s a visual presentation. The jokes are basic at face value, but there
suddenly funny with such a likable novice at the center. This was only the
seventh episode of the show, and has sense become something of a holiday
classic in its own right. I can’t say it’s a special for everyone, but if your open
to some clever visual gags, and lovable goofballs, then “Merry Christmas Mr.
Bean” might just be worth checking out.
#9 “Escape Clause” (That’s so Raven)
Out
of my own simple nostalgia, I had to include at least one Disney channel
Christmas episode, and it might as well be from the show I watched the most on
the station. Raven was like a figurehead of my young-adult’s generation … and
I’m just as guilty of watching her show as everyone else from the early 2000’s.
Using her psychic abilities, Raven gets a clue as to what her Christmas present
is, and being as overly excited as she is, Raven opens her beautiful present
early. After wearing it at school, she accidentally looses it to a lawnmower, and
now she needs to get a replacement before Christmas. It’s a constantly growing
situation, as she skips school to purchase a replacement, has to outwit her
eagle-eyed school teacher who’s taking on the role of a mall Santa, and all the
while, Raven is sacrificing all her favorite family Christmas traditions to
mend the trouble she caused. Part of the shows appeal was seeing how one little
mistake can cause a domino effect of cause, and Christmas is no exception. We
get a goofy chase, Raven adorning a disguise, and a decent enough moral at the
end. In a surprise twist, Raven gets a visit from Santa himself, who gives her
a chance to do everything over again … not just to fix a mistake, but to make
up for the experiences she missed with her family. It’s an episode with all the
warm holiday delights, and goofy antics that made the show a staple of Disney
channel.
#8 “Death Takes a
Holiday” (M*A*S*H)
Set during the Korean war of the 50’s, “M*A*S*H”
followed a small band of medical doctors, who aid troops that arrive from the
battle field. To this day, it remains one of the highest rated US programs for
its unique blend of both comedy and war drama. In this stand out holiday
episode, the spirit of Christmas is felt at the 4077th during a truce, as they
throw a potluck party for the children at a local orphanage.
Even Charles, who’s usually the figurative Scrooge, puts on a cheerful persona, and
embraces the event. However, things take an unpleasant turn when Hawkeye, B.J.
and Margaret receive a mortally wounded soldier. They deduce that he’s beyond
saving, but for the sake of his wife and kids, they do all in their power to
keep him alive until the day after Christmas. Maintaining the bitter sweet tone
of the show, this episode has a very dual nature of highlighting both joy and
tragedy in a perfect whole. It’s the sheer humanity on display from the troops
of both events that makes this a personal favorite of mine. We see a whimsical
side to the grouchiest of the troops, we see the hardened soldiers bring joy to
the kids, and we see the nobility of the staff, fighting to keep a man alive
for as long as possible. In the end, the solder sadly passes away before
midnight, but the team alter the medical logs, just so the family won’t look
back on Christmas as the day their dad died. It’s all around a compelling bag
of mixed emotions, and a great example of why “M*A*S*H” remains a
classic TV series.
#7 “Will’s Christmas Show”
(The Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
Of all the sit-comes I’ve
actively watched … I love me some “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. It’s my
absolute favorite sit-com without question, and young Will Smith as himself is
one of my all-time favorite TV character performances. So naturally, I had to
include a Christmas episode from this series on principle.
It’s a Christmas
vacation on the ski slopes for Will Smith and his joining family. While the
adults are out, the kids are left home alone and are having a dance party. The
fun and games cease once a mysterious stranger approaches the door, claiming
that his car broke-down, and that he needs a warm place to stay. Will refuses
to let him in, while the other kids are in the charitable holiday spirit, and
invite him in. So, how does this stranger repay his gracious hosts … by tying
up the kids, and stealing everything in the cabin… woops. While it’s certainly
important to be thoughtful of others, this is a cautionary tale of just how
trusting you should be around strangers who may take advantage of your
gullibility. Carlton, feeling traumatized about the experience, realizes that
life isn't some game, learns to cherish it and love everyone around him … even
the ones who get on his nerves. Even with everything taken, the family still
find themselves getting closer together, and each exchanges the gift of promise
… to give more to one another in the years to come. It’s a humble message,
laced with a cautionary tale, and all wrapped in the fun, hummer and charisma that
makes “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” one of my all-time favorites.
#6 "Fa La La La Laagghh!" (Family Matters)
Good old “Family Matters”, it was a passable family sit-com, but has
remained popular all thanks to one break out character named Steve Urkel. He
was a goof with a heart of gold, and while he caused nothing but mayhem and
destruction at the Winslow home, they always excepted him as one of the family.
Here in this Christmas episode, we get a perfect example of why this character
is both lovable, and laughable. One Carl Winslow is the head of the family,
who’s in a sour mood, and refuses to allow Urkel to decorate the house with his
crazy light displays. Then, at his poker game, one of his friends says there is
a big cash prize for the neighborhood lighting contest, and Carl's mood
instantly changes, which Urkel has no idea about.
Soon, Urkel learns the ugly truth,
and their plans for the best-looking house hit rock bottom … quiet literally.
Their roof is so cluttered with decorations that they come crashing down into
the kitchen ... which is one of the funniest things I ever saw in a Christmas
sit-com. An angry Urkel sets Carl straight for lying to him and being greedy in
wanting to win the prize money, rather than genuinely want to make children
happy for the holidays. Meanwhile, Harriette wants a little more participation
from Eddie and Laura in the family's holiday activities, leaving Mother Winslow
the voice of reason to teach them the true meaning of Christmas. It’s all
around a perfect marriage of humble life lesions and outrageous comedy. There’s
a terrific gag in which the house pulls so much electrical juice that the whole
neighborhood … no, the whole city … no, the whole friggin planet has a power
outage. It’s so funny it upstages the electrical gag from “National Lampoons
Christmas Vacation”. Also, there’s a level of holiday destruction and cause
on display that would make “Die Hard” blush. From it’s simple holiday
morals, too its decorative details, too its out of control comedy, this episode
is one Christmas gift that’s well worth keeping.
#5 “A Winter Carol”
(Touched by an Angle)
As a kid, my mother and I didn’t watch too many
programs together, as I mostly just watched whatever my dad was viewing. Because
of this, “Touched by an Angel” has always stuck with me as that rare program
that my mother and I bonded over while watching together. The series revolved
around a group of angels who visit people on Earth, who are going through very
human trials that put their faith into question. As you’d expect, the show was
idle for annual Christmas centered episodes, but none left a bigger impact on me
then this holiday episode that aired on December 2001 … a mere three months
after 911.
The episode begins with a boy lamenting the disappearance of his
drum teacher on September 11 2001. The boy's mother is the mayor of the town,
and she refuses to grieve, as she has too many responsibilities. The boy's
elder brother has all but lost his Christmas spirit, and decides to enlist in
the army to kill as many terrorists as possible. In short, this episode is all
about coping with a tragedy, and finding some humane way to move on with your
life. I was only a young 4th grader during the events of 911, but I still
remember what it was like, with this empty feeling hanging over everyone’s head
… and hearts … which carried over into Christmas for many of us. This episode
was a much-needed reminder of why it’s important to grieve, except the reality
of a horrible disaster, and try to rekindle the joy one would associate with
the Christmas season. It was a much-needed cleanser after a global changing
event, and it was just the message we needed to make Christmas joyful
again.
#4 “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” (Community)
I can’t say with a straight face that I was one to get on board with “Community”, but it sure had it’s select highlights, and for me, this Christmas episode from the second season is about as great as it got. This episode begins with our lovable classmate Abed waking-up as a stop-motion animation character. Things get even stranger, as he see’s everyone and all the surroundings as stop-motion creations akin to any classic Ranken and Bass Christmas special. He takes it as a sign that he and the group must re-discover the meaning of Christmas. His classmates Jeff and Britta become more concerned about Abed's mental health, and enlist the help of one Professor Duncan. 
The appeal of this episode is its consistency to remain stop-motion animated, without a pinch of live-action, despite being a live-action program. There are also enjoyable song numbers along the way, funny highlights, decorative visuals, delightful character interplay, and no shortage of imagination on display. The musical climax at the end is just the icing on the cake. On a side note, it was great just to see Chevy Chase be funny again in another goofy Christmas scenario. While this episode may not boast the deepest of morals, it’s clear love for classic Christmas specials make this both a unique, and thoroughly joyful holiday themed episode that stands out in the crowd.
#3 "Extraordinary
Merry Christmas" (Glee)
Oh boy, I remember back in its
prime, “Glee” was that show everyone made fun of … yet secretly loved
watching … and I was the same. This holiday season, the Glee team are given an
opportunity to produce a Christmas TV special of their own design, which
naturally gets everyone excited. However, things get a little heated as the
head of the production wants the special to be as relentlessly cheerful, fun
and pleasant as they get.
This causes a rift between members, as some view
human drama as an important element of a good special. While most students are
so focused on the joy of the holiday, they forget … it’s the sad things that
help us remember what’s really important. Case in point, they initially turn
down the chance to perform at a homeless shelter, just to get their silly
special aired. Naturally, it takes a friend to recreate the famous bible
reading scene from “A Charlee Brown Christmas” to show everyone the
errors of their ways. In the end, all the students learn a valuable lesson,
and do the right thing by giving more then they receive. This is one of those
cheesy, yet humble Christmas episodes that can just leave me smiling from ear
to ear.
The message of course is wonderful, and everything on display from the
decorations to the costumes perfectly gets me in the holiday mood. It’s
probably the only Christmas special that will ever pay homage to the long lost
“Star Wars Holiday Special”, and I love that their production goes Black
and White to simulate the look and feel of an old sit-com. Above all else, I
think this episode has the best collection of musical numbers from any other “Glee”
Christmas special. It’s also the biggest collection of songs, which include ...
"All I Want for Christmas Is You",
"Blue
Christmas", "River",
"Extraordinary Merry Christmas",
"Let It Snow", "My Favorite Things", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "Christmas Wrapping", and "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Each musical
number is a delight to watch, great to listen to, and they’re the final
ingredient to make this one of my personal favorite TV Christmas episodes.
#2 “Christmas Amnesia” (Sabrina: The Teenage
Witch)
You can never get too much Christmas in one season … or wait,
maybe you can. At this festive time of the year, Sabrina finds herself
exhausted with the over-abundance of Christmas all around her, and she just
wants to take a break from it all. Thus, she goes to what is supposedly a fun,
Christmas-free party in the Witches realm, only to discover that it’s a
heartless, anti- Christmas party. Disgusted by the whole thing, she tries to
make a statement and leaves in a huff, but little does she know that Christmas
is no-longer waiting for her back home. Apparently, her actions at the party
have completely erased Christmas from ever happening. Now, Sabrina is left
alone to take action and find some way to restore the holiday, or she’ll spend
the rest of her life in a world full of grumps.
Now this is a great premise for
a holiday themed episode in a TV show, and it takes full advantage of
everything at its disposal. It basically utilizes elements from “It’s a
Wonderful Life”, but gives it an original spin, which to my knowledge I
haven’t seen in any other Christmas program. The comedy is some of the best the
show has ever produced, including an especially funny running joke with
characters leaping through glass windows. I love the scenes with Sabrina trying
to bring the holiday back to the people she loves, and the resolution at the
end, while a pinch predictable is still given a fresh and uplifting spin. Also,
this is the best-looking Christmas episode of the show by far. I mean … holly
cow, there is just Christmas in every frame of this episode. From an overly
decorated house, to an upbeat musical montage, and even the outfits are all
drenched in warm holiday cheer. This is easily my favorite Christmas episode of
the series, and I may even recommend it to non-fans of the show, just for a
short and sweet little Christmas episode.
Before I
reveal my #1 favorite Christmas episode, here are some quick Honorable Mentions
…
“The Draft Dodder” (All in the Family)
“Christmas Party” (The Office)
“A Very Cutlip Christmas” (The Wonder Years)
“A Christmas Carol” (Doctor Who)
“Ludachristmas” (30 Rock)
#1 “Night of the Meek” (The Twilight Zone)
Not what you were expecting was it, and I’m sure it seems odd to have an
episode from “The Twilight Zone” taking top honors on a Christmas list, but
it really is one of my all-time favorite holiday specials ever. This Christmas
themed episode centers its attention on a poor, down and out man whose life is
in the dumps, and is a heavy drinker. However, his reasons for drinking are
more selfless then one would expect, as all he’s doing is drowning out the
sorrows of the world around him.
Sincerely, the things most important to him
are the lives of those who are even less fortunate than himself, and he wants
so badly to give to them, regardless of his own woeful conditions. So, for his
kindness, this man actually becomes the real Santa Claus, is given a magic
gift-giving bag, and delivers presents and cheer to all in need. Santa is
played by the late Art Carney, and through both his humble performance, and a
great backstory … he stands out as one of my all-time favorite Santa’s ever. This
is a very tragic and down-beat Santa, but he’s also one of the most thoughtful
and charitable Santa’s I’ve ever seen. He’s just a man determined to give to
the need and destitute, which is very admirable. It should be noted that this
episode was written by the show’s very creator Rod Serling … who was Jewish,
and wasn’t even raised with Christmas in the early years of his life.
It goes
to show that, the episodes message of “Good Will Toured Men” is something
universal, and is for all people regardless of their background or what holiday
they celebrate. It’s an episode that takes elements from classics like “Miracle
on 34th Street”, and weaves them with a figurative plea for the
world to reflect, reform, and ultimately … it’s a celebration of what Christmas
is all about. I highly recommend looking up this fantastic episode from this already
fantastic TV series, even if you’re not a fan of “The Twilight Zones” spooky
reputation and Sci-Fi backdrop. Plus, it’s worth viewing just to see one of the
greatest Santa’s of all time. Once again, the message doesn’t apply to Santa
alone, as anyone can follow the example he demonstrates. It’s a simple premise,
with a beautiful message, and the same thought-provoking storytelling that “The
Twilight Zone” is best at conveying. Still to this day, it’s my favorite
Christmas themed episode from any TV show I’ve ever watched.
Thanks for reading my countdown, and ...
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment