The holidays are here in full force, and along with it come some of my favorite traditions of the year! You have some of the best movie releases, Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks, gift-giving, and so much more. And something else that I’ve always looked forward to are the holiday episodes from my favorite shows!
There’s just something about tuning in and watching some of the most moving, heartfelt, and overall just fun episodes that a television show has to offer. It’s really hard to narrow it down to just one episode from one show that made me the happiest when I watched it, so I’ve put together yet another Josh Ball list of favorites for you all today. Without further ado, here are my six favorite holiday-themed television episodes ever!
“Dear Dad” (CBS)
“Dear Dad” from M*A*S*H: M*A*S*H is one of my favorite shows of all time, and I was introduced to it by my mom when I was pretty young. The first of two M*A*S*H appearances on this list (spoiler alert!), “Dear Dad” features Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce narrating a letter to his father chronicling his first Christmas in Korea during the Korean War. This is not only an incredibly funny episode showcasing some of the antics the denizens of the M*A*S*H 4077th take part in to distract them from the perils of war, but we also see Hawkeye flying into the field to provide medical care to soldiers in the field, dressed as none other than Santa Claus.
“My Best Moment” (NBC)
“My Best Moment” from Scrubs: Scrubs had a few pretty solid holiday-themed episode, but “My Best Moment” is the perfect blend of the comedy that everyone knew and loved about Scrubs, but a perfect combination of heartfelt and meaningful moments, too. In this episode we see the leads of the show banding together after J.D. promises a father and son, recently admitted to the hospital, that they will be home by Christmas. Of course, this promise is immediately followed by the father’s health declining rapidly, and the group fights against the clock to save his life. At the end of the day the team works together to solve the case, just in time for the father and son to go home for Christmas. Lots of funny moments, and definitely pulls at the ole’ heart strings, too!
“The Christmas Story” (CBS)
“The Christmas Story” from The Andy Griffith Show: Yet another old-school television show introduced to me by my mom, The Andy Griffith Show was no stranger to incredible lessons being learned and heartfelt moments being had. Hands down “The Christmas Story” is my favorite episode of the show, and in it we see Andy and Barney and their family and loved ones preparing for dinner on Christmas Eve. Andy, the sheriff in the town of Mayberry, decides to let everyone in the jail out for Christmas, as long as they all promised to come back. That’s followed by the grumpy general store owner bringing someone in for a citizen’s arrest after making moonshine. Andy decides to put the man in jail, and brings his whole family to, to celebrate Christmas together.. Ben, the general store owner, continues to come back again and again until Andy realizes why he’s coming around so much – so Andy arrests him too, and they all have a merry Christmas together (I’m not crying, you’re crying!)
“Death Takes a Holdiay” (CBS)
“Death Takes a Holiday” from M*A*S*H: Round two of holiday episodes from M*A*S*H, and this time around we see the entire 4077th throwing a huge Christmas party for orphans in the area. We have our typical scrooge moment as everyone in the camp things that Charles Winchester, one of the surgeons, hates Christmas. Little to they know, though, that he’s actually a huge gift giver on Christmas, but doesn’t like to make a show of it, and instead delivers several holiday packagers to the orphanage overnight. Meanwhile, a poor solder is on the brink of death in the hospital, and the surgical staff work painstakingly to ensure that he would survive through Christmas, so his children don’t associate the holiday with his passing. A pretty sad way for the episode to conclude, but I thought it was an incredibly sweet and endearing thing for the surgeons at the hospital to do.
“Christmas Party” (NBC)
“Christmas Party” from The Office: The Office is certainly a show known for some wacky Christmas Episode shenanigans, and the “Christmas Party” episode is probably the best of all. The secret Santa game in the office is turned into a white elephant party of sorts, when Michael Scott is annoyed by the oven mitt he was given by his secret Santa. This, of course, puts a wrench in the very thoughtful gift that Jim had planned for Pam, which of course ends up in the hands of Jim’s nemesis in the office, Dwight. Pam figures out the importance of Jim’s gift, and sweetly gives up a brand new iPod in a trade with Dwight to get the gift from originally meant for her from Jim. This is one of many lovely moments between Jim and Pam in the early seasons of The Office, despite Jim chickening out and removing the love letter he initially included with the gift.
“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” (FOX)
“The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” from The Simpsons: Maybe one of the most iconic Christmas episodes ever may also be one of the more famous episodes of television ever, as “The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” was the very first episodes of The Simpsons. Homer is desperately trying to make some extra money for presents for his family, so he works multiple jobs, including a mall Santa. He then decides to try and double his money by betting on dog racing, which of course ends horribly and all the money he had saved up is gone. During a last ditch effort to find money, he and his son Bart are collecting change in the parking lot where they find the losing dog they bet on, Santa’s Little Helper, and they take the dog in and make him their family pet. And this would just be the beginning for one of the most famous television shows ever created!
Got any holiday-themed episodes you love that you’d like to share? If so, hit us up on our social channels and let us know! And are you looking for some last-minute gift ideas for the holidays this season? You can always take a look at this month’s EXPLORE crate if you need to find something awesome for that special person in your life!
