This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Dec. 17, 2014.
December is a time for snow, fires, family and holidays.
And on TV, it’s the same, only with more comical endings. Check out some of my favorite Christmas-themed TV episodes.
5. The Best Christmas Ever: “That ’70s Show,” season 1
If you were 17 and your parents gave you Christmas tree money, what size tree would you get?
For Eric Foreman (Topher Grace) and his buddies, it’s not the size that matters, but where you get the tree.
Since the gang gets to throw a Christmas party in the infamous basement, they cut down a tree from the forest and use the money from Red (Kurtwood Smith) for beer, which of course doesn’t end well.
4. The One with the Holiday Armadillo: “Friends,” season 7
Ross (David Schwimmer) tries very hard to be a good father, so when he wants his son, Ben, to learn about Hanukkah, he goes to great lengths to make the holiday seem appealing to a kid who has a big heart for Santa … including dressing up as an armadillo.
But when Chandler (Matthew Perry) comes dressed as Santa, the former college roommates have to come up with a new plan … and one random story.
3. How Lily Stole Christmas: “How I Met Your Mother,” season 2
Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) belong together. But for a time in season 2, they weren’t.
This causes a problem at Christmas time when Lily listens to an old voicemail of Ted (Josh Radnor) calling her a “Grinch (aka as a very bad word).”
Ted ends up at his religious cousin’s house and teaches the children bad words, so there’s the awful-family-holiday moment.
In the end, Lily and Ted make up over beer after Lily realizes Ted knows her so well that he helped Marshall find his on-again fiance the perfect Christmas present: an easy-bake oven.
2. A Very Glee Christmas: “Glee,” season 2
Back when “Glee” was a trailblazing show, the Fox show was given the opportunity to mix in the plot of the Grinch, played by none other than slimy Cheerios coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch).
It made for great TV, and the soundtrack for the episode is top-notch (it is a musical show, after all).
The episode seamlessly mixed in Christmas cheer and quality music.
1. The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis: “The Big Bang Theory,” season 2
Who doesn’t love Penny and Sheldon?
Sheldon (Jim Parsons) hates gift giving, because getting a present for someone with equal value and meaning stresses him out. So when Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) tells Sheldon she got him a gift, he tries to find a proper gift for her.
When her gift turns out to be a Leonard Nimoy-autographed napkin, he is so elated that he gives her every bath item gift basket he bought, plus a hug. Yep, he was that overjoyed.
What’s your favorite holiday-themed TV episode?