10 best Christmas TV episode specials ranked: ‘Friends,’ ‘The Bear’ and more
Deck your halls.
Christmas 2024 is here, which means it’s time to drink eggnog, go see the famous Rockefeller Center tree, and curl up in front of the TV to watch specials and holiday episodes.
There’s a huge number of episodes themed around the holiday on shows ranging from serious dramas to cartoons to sci-fi horror.
There’s something for everyone. Here’s a round-up of the best specials.
10) “The Bear”
“Fishes,” from the second season of the hit Emmy-winning Hulu drama, features a family Christmas dinner that goes off the rails. It’s got powerhouse performances from heavyweights such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Jon Bernthal and Bob Odenkirk. It ranks last because it doesn’t exactly embody the holiday spirit in a heartwarming way — as it’s filled with bitter strife — but nevertheless, it’s a great episode.
Where to watch: Hulu.
9) “Black Mirror”
The 2014 episode “White Christmas” starring Jon Hamm is unnerving and disturbing — as “Black Mirror” episodes often are. So, it’s not one to watch with kids, but if you want a more horror-tinged flavor of seasonal programming, look no further.
Where to watch: Netflix.
8) “Doctor Who”
This 2010 episode, “A Christmas Carol” is the British show’s spin on the famous Charles Dickens classic. The plot follows the Doctor (Matt Smith) as he uses time travel to try to make a sour old man (Michael Gambon) kinder.
Where to watch: Disney+.
7) “Community”
Season 2’s Emmy-winning “Community” episode, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas,” takes the live-action comedy and gives it a classic stop-motion animation spin for the offbeat comedy’s homage to classic Christmas specials.
Where to watch: Peacock.
6) “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
This 1964 musical short film is the ultimate seasonal classic. Watch it with kids, or just watch it again on your own for nostalgia. The story follows Rudolph as he tries to fit in, but the other reindeers mock him for his glowing nose.
Where to watch: Rent or buy it on Prime Video.
5) “An Almost Christmas Story”
This new 2024 short animated film is a heartwarming tale of a young owl who finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree bound for Rockefeller Plaza — based on the true story. It’s produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, and its voice cast includes John. C. Reilly and Natasha Lyonne.
Where to watch: Disney+.
4) “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
This classic 1965 animated special follows Charlie Brown as he gets discouraged by his friends’ materialistic approach to the holiday. They also laugh at his pathetic tree until they eventually discover the meaning of the holiday.
Where to watch: AppleTV+
3) “30 Rock”
In the Season 3 episode “Christmas Special,” the fiendishly clever comedy puts its own spin on the holiday. During the hour, Liz (Tina Fey) tries to get involved in a charity until she comes to believe it’s a scam, and Jack (Alec Baldwin) struggles with his mother and forces his staff to put together a last-minute Christmas special.
Where to watch: Hulu, Peacock.
2) “The Office”
Season 2’s episode “Christmas Party” is a hilarious episode where a “Secret Santa” exchange goes awry. Bumbling boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell) makes everyone “swap” their planned gifts, even though many of them were personalized for their intended recipient, leading to chaos.
Where to watch: Peacock.
1) “Friends”
Season 7’s “The One With the Holiday Armadillo” ranks number one because it has everything: it’s funny and offbeat, and “Friends” is a modern classic. The episode leads to three of the “Friends” in ridiculous costumes, which means it’s a good one: Ross (David Schwimmer) wears an armadillo suit, Chandler (Matthew Perry) dons a Santa outfit and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) dresses up as Superman.
Where to watch: Max.
