Top 10 holiday TV show episodes

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PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

Erin McCormick, Editor-in-Chief

The Holiday season is just around the corner and it is the perfect time to curl up on the couch and instead of watching the same Hallmark movies again, you can sit back and enjoy a Holiday TV show episode.

“Friends,” Season 7, Episode 10, “The One with The Holiday Armadillo”

This episode is one of the show’s most memorable Christmas episodes. Ross hilariously attempts to introduce his son to Hannakuh by dressing as the “Holiday Armadillo,” while Phoebe attempts to put a wedge between Rachel and Joey’s friendship in order to convince Rachel to move back into their refurbished apartment. This episode is perfect for a laid-back and relaxed Christmas Eve episode, riddled with jokes and wholesome moments.

“The Office,” Season 2, Episode 10, “Christmas Party”

This infamous episode is about a tense game of Secret Santa at the annual office Christmas party that turns into the worst Yankee Swap in all of office party history. This is the show’s first Christmas episode and set the bar for all the show’s legendary holiday episodes to come. Featuring drunk office members and heartfelt moments between Jim and Pam, “Christmas Party” remains a fan favorite in the dedicated fandom.

“New Girl,” Season 2, Episode 11, “Santa”

The beloved residents of apartment 4D attempt to attend as many Christmas parties as they can before they go their separate ways for the holidays. Throughout the three parties the gang attends, the characters go through emotional rollercoaster rides with their respective partners. The episode ends on a heartfelt note as all valuable Christmas episodes do.

“Seinfeld,” Season 9, Episode 10, “The Strike”

If you asked any Seinfeld fan about “Festivus,” they would know precisely which episode you are talking about. In this classic 1997 episode, Jerry tries to figure out how to maneuver a relationship with a woman who has nice features in some lightings and ugly in others. Meanwhile, George tries to avoid the family tradition of “Festivus,” a holiday his father created in protest of the traditional holidays.

“Grey’s Anatomy,” Season 2, Episode 12, “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”

Though this episode is not directly about the holidays, it is holiday-adjacent as the show sets up for Christmas. In typical Grey’s Anatomy fashion, emotional drama ensues throughout the 45-minute episode but ends with holiday cheer as Izzie, Meredith and George lie under a gift-packed Christmas tree together.

“The Simpsons,” Season 1, Episode 1, “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire”

Out of all 31 seasons of this seemingly never-ending show, the first episode remains as iconic as the instances the show has unintentionally predicted the future. This episode set up many characters for the years to come and ended with the Simpson family getting the best present anyone could ask for: a dog.

“Parks and Rec,” Season 4, Episode 10, “Citizen Knope”

At the Parks and Rec department in Pawnee, Ind., the office prepares the perfect Christmas gift for Leslie as she tries to keep herself busy during her suspension.

“Community,” Season 2, Episode 11, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”

After Abed receives a heartbreaking Christmas card, he begins seeing Greendale in claymation. The episode is a parody of the classic Rankin Bass Christmas claymation movies. The characters end up going on a holiday adventure on Planet Abed, leading them to face off against the Christmas Warlock. In the end, the characters team up with Abed to discover the true meaning of Christmas.

“Cheers,” Season 6, Episode 12, “Christmas Cheers”

In this Christmas episode, Rebecca asks everyone to stay late, and as the hour slips close to Christmas Eve, everyone decides to exchange gifts. Sam learns that everyone has a Christmas gift for Rebecca (who has a Christmas gift for everyone) and scrambles to find any store open to get a last minute gift.

“Modern Family,” Season 1, Episode 10, “Undeck the Halls”

This is the show’s first Christmas episode. Clair and Phil threaten to cancel Christmas for the family when they discover that one of their children tried a cigarette, but none will admit who did it. Additionally, to celebrate the holiday cheer, Mitchell and Cameron accidentally get a mall Santa fired. This comedy-filled episode is perfect for the holidays, and any excuse to watch Modern Family is a valid excuse.