I used to post a “Ten Best” Christmas episodes list but Santa was feeling a little more generous this year. Here, therefore, are 15 holiday faves from the past, sitcom episodes that stand the test of time — just like this TV Guide cover from the week of December 24, 1955. Created back in the antenna age, it was illustrated by Larry Fritz. This was 70 years ago, back when you could buy the world’s biggest selling magazine for 15 cents.
You will have to search for these 15 favourites today, but many can be called up on YouTube, FAST channels such as Pluto-TV or on various digital platforms, as well as cable channels such as CTV Throwback. In the daytime, there is always the classic gems shown on CHCH out of Hamilton, Ontario.
All in the Family: “The Draft Dodger” (1976). Those saddened by the horrible news about the passing of writer-director Rob Reiner may take comfort in the great acting work he did a half century ago on All in the Family. In this 1976 episode, writers Jay Moriarty and Mike Milligan present a simple premise. Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) wants no negative talk at the table in front of his special guest, Pinky Petersen, a Gold Star father who lost his son in the war in Vietnam. Stumbling into a last-minute dinner invitation is Steve Brewster (Renny Temple), a friend who grew up with Mike “Meathead” Stivic (Reiner) back in Chicago. The catch is that Steve fled to Canada to avoid the draft and has illegally returned to the U.S. When Archie finds out, he blows his top. When his friend Pinky weighs in, however, it is one of the series’ many high points.
Celebrate Dick Van Dyke’s recent 100th birthday by watching The Dick Van Dyke Show Christmas episode “The Alan Brady Show Presents.” It is one of the episodes from the series where Carl Reiner and the writers took the week off and pretty much let the cast simple sing and dance. It’s also about the only time you actually get to see The Alan Brady Show. The highlight is the “Four Musicians” bit performed by Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie and Mory Amsterdam. They liked this one so much it was worked into another episode. Rob and Laura as dancing Santas is also about as sweet as it gets. What holds up 62 years later is how much fun the cast seems to be having.
Among the 39 original episodes of the classic series The Honeymooners is the 1955 gem “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” The story is as stark and simple as the Kramden’s Brooklyn apartment: Ralph (Jackie Gleason) sells his beloved bowling ball to buy a present for his wife Alice (Audrey Meadows). By the end of the episode, you’ll marvel at how much—after 60 years–four people (including co-stars Art Carney and Joyce Randolph) in one room can make you laugh and cry.
Frasier, like Bewitched, did several Christmas episodes — eight in fact. My favourite is the first season gem, “Miracle on Third or Fourth Street,” (Dec., 1993). Crushed by the last-minute news that son Frederick will no longer be visiting for the holidays, Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) volunteers to work Dec. 25th at the radio station. Features a stellar script by series co-creator Christopher Lloyd, the episode is funny, sad and moving and aggressively unsentimental. Listen for celebrity voices Mel Brooks, Ben Stiller and Rosemary Clooney among the depressed radio station callers who call the good doctor. Available for streaming on Paramount+.
“SCTV” (1981, DVD only). The “SCTV Staff Christmas Party” features all the old favourites, including Bob and Doug McKenzie (Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis) exchanging cigarettes as presents and a “sexy” holiday special featuring Dusty Towne (Catherine O’Hara). Fall down funny is the Christmas special featuring Liberace (Thomas) duelling on the piano with Elton John (Moranis). John Candy, however, steals the show at the end of the episode when “Street Beat” host Johnny LaRue finally gets his crane shot.
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Car 54 Where Are You? (1961). In the episode titled, “Christmas at the 53rd,” Capt. Block (Paul Reed) and officers Toody (Joe E. Ross) and Muldoon (Fred Gwynne) headline the precincts’ annual Christmas show, and Gilbert & Sullivan fans are in for a treat. Gruff Ross offers a shockingly moving song, especially considering some consider him the worst human being on Earth. Bewitched fans will recognize a young Alice Ghostley as Muldoon’s sort-of girlfriend. I love the energy of this episode which is like attending a live, holiday performance from the actors who make the show. If it seems as if the writers were taking the week off, they still had to pull together some terrific song parodys — and the actors had to be talented enough to put them over. As you’ll see below, this formula was tried, successfully, by others. Stream it now on-demand on Tubi.
Sanford & Son (1975). “Ebenezer Sanford” is yet another variation on the Dickens’ classic. Scrooge-like Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) can’t stop insulting everyone, including Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page). “I have the feeling of Christmas,” she tells him. “And the face of Halloween,” he replies. When Fred falls asleep, he is visited by three ghosts, all played by his son Lamont (Demond Wilson). Funny and touching, with Foxx warming up at the end with a version of “The Christmas Song.” Follow this link to stream it now on CTV Throwback.
Laverne & Shirley (1976). “Oh Hear the Angels’ Voices” is another, “Let’s put on a show” episode. It’s co-written by Garry Marshall, who was a writer-producer on The Dick Van Dyke Show. The charm of it is seeing Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams and the rest of the regulars cut loose with Christmas songs and sketches, including the late David L. Lander as “Squiggy.” It is a tad iffy, however, that the show takes place in a “mental ward.” Look for future WKRP standout Howard Hesseman as a doctor — or is he?
“The Andy Griffith Show” (1960, airs Dec. 25 on CBS). A town Scrooge forces Sheriff Taylor (Griffith) and Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) to keep a family locked up over the holidays. When Aunt Bee (Francis Bavier) and Opie (future director Ron Howard) bring Christmas to the jail, you’ll want to be locked up too. CBS’s gift to viewers this season is airing a restored, computer-coloured version of this episode on Christmas Day.
“M*A*S*H” (1972, Shomi). The first season gem “Dear Dad,” written by Larry Gelbart, found Hawkeye (Alan Alda) writing a letter explaining Christmas at his medical unit in Korea. Later, dressed as Santa to distribute toys to orphans, he has to attend to choppers full of wounded soldiers.
“Community” (2010, CraveTV, Netflix). Made in the style of those Rankin/Bass stop-motion Christmas specials, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” finds Abed (Danny Pudi) and his study-group pals in a weird fantasyland, searching for the true meaning of Christmas.
I’m ever grateful to brioux.tv contributing writer Maurice Tougas for singling out this relatively recent Christmas comedy classic. Here is what Maurice had to say about it in December of last year:
As Maurice writes, “Bob’s Burgers is still fresh and alive in its 15th season, and it was never better than in its Christmas episode, The Plight Before Christmas (season 13, episode 10). Harried parents Bob and Linda find themselves trying to be in three places in one night, as doughy musical son Gene is in a xylophone concert, boy-obsessed teen Tina is in a Christmas production, and rabble-rouser Louise is set to read a poem she wrote at the library.”
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2002, CraveTV). Larry David gets up in the middle of the night and eats some cookies. Unfortunately, they were part of a Nativity scene Cheryl’s very religious mother needs the next night in “Mary, Joseph and Larry.”
Seinfeld (1997, CraveTV). The most memorable part of this episode, “The Strike,” is the fake holiday concocted by George’s dad Frank Costanza (the late, great Jerry Stiller). Celebrated today, Dec. 23, “Festivus” takes the commercialism out of Christmas with its unadorned Festivus pole, the “Airing of the Grievances” and labelling easily explained things as “Festivus miracles.”
Corner Gas, “Merry Gasmas” (2005). This third season episode finds Brent and Hank indulging in a Christmas tradition — picking presents at random with eyes closed while flipping through a catelogue. The rest of the gang tries to talk Lacey out of leaving Dog River to go home to Toronto for the holidays.
STOCKING STUFFER: Take less than two minutes and watch this Christmas-themed musical moment from a 1967 episode of The Monkees. The four leads harmonize beautifully a cappella on “Riu Chiu,” with surviving member Micky Dolenz clearly impressing Davy Jones on vocals.
HAVE YOUR SAY: I’ll be on CBC Radio in Quebec over the noon hour Tuesday talking best ever Christmas episodes with host Shawn Apel.
