Tag: holiday TV

5 great Christmas-themed TV episodes

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?

Top 5 Thanksgiving-themed TV episodes

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Nov. 24, 2014.

Holidays tend to bring out funny stories, both in real life and on screen.

So before you stuff your face with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, check out my top five Thanksgiving-themed TV episodes.

5. Thank You: “That ’70s Show,” season 5

Eric Foreman (Topher Grace) never ceases to screw up a situation.

After getting promoted to the adults’ table at Thanksgiving, Eric decides it’s time to tell his parents that he and Donna (Laura Prepon) are engaged.

But then Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) brings a date to the holiday dinner: Eric’s math teacher. By the way, Eric is failing math.

It’s a recipe for a holiday meal gone wrong.

4. Punkin Chunkin: “Modern Family,” season 3

The fun of “Modern Family” is that the families are filled with misfit individuals, and this episode highlights that fact.

The “Dreamers” and the “Pritchetts” is how this episode divides the parents, who then partake in a punkin chunkin challenge.

Watching them launch pumpkins is pretty incredible, but watching them bond is even better.

3. Slapsgiving: “How I Met Your Mother,” season 3

Major Buzzkill! A slap countdown! What more could you want from this show?

Robin and Ted are always confused about where they stand in their relationship/friendship (which makes more sense if you know that they end up together in the end), and this episode is no different.

But in the end of the episode (after a guys vs. girls debate about what to do), they remain friends as they continue to connect with an inside joke (saluting while saying “Major Buzzkill”)

And who could forget the slap countdown Marshall made for Barney? Lilly almost stops it from happening, but in the end, Barney got too cocky, of course.

2. The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks: “Friends,” season 5

It’s hard to choose just one Thanksgiving-themed episode from “Friends,” since there is one in every season except for season 2.

This is the one where the gang recalls their worst Thanksgivings, including the time when Chandler (who is secretly dating Monica at this point) called Monica (Courtney Cox) fat when he went to the Gellars’ house with his roommate, Ross (David Schwimmer).

At the end of the episode, Chandler (Matthew Perry) tells Monica “I love you” for the first time … as she wears a turkey on her head.

The flashbacks provide entertainment, but the “I love you” moment provides a sweet and hilarious moment.

1. A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving: “Gilmore Girls,” season 3

For one, Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) drinks way too much in this episode since her husband’s family decided to deep fry everything, including the turkey. And she’s one funny drunk.

Next, we see the beginnings of Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), including the town members making fun of them for a “weak” kiss.

And of course, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory, not wanting to disappoint anyone, go to four Thanksgiving dinners. But really, who could handle that better than this mother-daughter duo?

What are your favorite Thanksgiving TV episodes?

Get your laugh on with these 5 Halloween-themed TV episodes

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Oct. 31, 2014.

Costumes, jack-o’-lanterns and scares … it must be October.

While you can watch Halloween-themed movies, shows and more throughout the month (See ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween or AMC’s Fearfest), here are five TV episodes that will give you a laugh or smile instead of a scare.

The Slutty Pumpkin: Season 1, “How I Met Your Mother”

While the title of this “HIMYM” episode focuses on one costume, many other outfits also make an appearance, thanks to Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) and his desperate attempts to attract women.

Barney, being the ultimate player that he is, changes costumes throughout the night to continue hitting on the hottest girl at the party.

The episode focuses more on the lead’s character development, but seeing all the costumes makes the episode fun.

The One with the Halloween Party: Season 8, “Friends”

Rachel hands out money instead of candy. That’s not trick-or-treating!

Phoebe tells her twin sister’s fiance many negative things about Ursula, and then she ends up dating him for an episode. That’s not normal!

And then there’s Chandler in a pink bunny suit. And that’s just too funny.

In typical “Friends” fashion, the episode is full of laughs, and it’s the comedy’s only Halloween-centered episode.

And Then There Was Shawn: Season 5, “Boy Meets World”

Technically, this isn’t Halloween-centric, but the episode does have a Halloween vibe.

It parodies “Scream,” and you know it’s not really real. It’s more kitschy than anything.

Still, it’s entertaining to watch Shawn (Rider Strong) discover who the “killer” is.

Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect: Season 1, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”

Mostly taking place in a mall, this episode is worth watching for the parts when cousins Will (Will Smith) and Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) compete for a girl.

Oh yeah, and Aunt Vivian (Janet Hubert) gets lost in the music at a recording booth in the mall.

The Halloween Scene: Season 5, “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”

This Melissa Joan Hart-starring show features many Halloween episodes, for obvious reasons.

In this Halloween-themed episode, Sabrina hosts a party when her aunts Hilda (Carolina Rhea) and Zelda (Beth Broderick) are away. Which would be fine … if the portal to the Other Realm didn’t keep transporting monsters to her house.

But hey, at least she got to counsel Frankenstein and his bride, right?

What are your favorite Halloween-themed TV episodes?