10 Best Christmas Episodes

It's the time of year when our favorite television shows offer us "Very Special Holiday Episodes." Here are some of the best from Christmases past.

10. Ally McBeal - "The Man with the Bag": In its later years, Ally McBeal was an uneven series at best, but before it went downhill for good there was a great streak of episodes guest-starring Robert Downey Jr. This one revolved mostly around Nell's dad thinking he's Santa, and featured so much good music that they made a whole CD featuring many of the performances from the show.

9. Friends - "The Holiday Armadillo": Ross is determined to teach Ben about Hanukkah, but the kid is not equipped to handle the absence of Santa. Ross relents, but by the time he gets to the costume shop, all they have left is an armadillo costume. Ross rents it anyway and a new holiday character is born.

8. South Park - "Mr. Hanky, The Christmas Poo": I'm not really big on potty humor, but even I cracked up at this South Park holiday episode with a new character who visits good little fiber-eating girls and boys. It's also great for the Peanuts references; it was only a matter of time before the South Park kids lampooned that other set of round-headed, animated children.

7. Seinfeld - "The Strike": Better known as the Festivus episode, we were introduced to the secular, non-commercial holiday by Frank Costanza. I really think that any episode with its own Ben & Jerry's flavor deserves a spot on this list.

6. The Office - "Christmas Party": The Office is always at its best when it holds a mirror up to us and reflects something most of us have experienced with great awkwardness at one time or another. Here, the gift exchange at the office Christmas party gets way out of hand when Michael brings an iPod, then suggests they turn it into a "Yankee Swap." This was the first time we got to see Angela ruling the Party Planning Committee with an iron fist.

5. M*A*S*H - "Dear Dad": In one of many letters written to his father over the course of the series, Hawkeye details the Christmastime happenings at the 4077th, including Radar mailing a jeep home piece by piece, and Hawkeye having to perform surgery in a Santa suit.

4. The X-Files - "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas": I always liked the stand-alone episodes of The X-files the best. By the time this episode aired in 1998, the quality of the show was starting to wane, but this rare foray into a lighter feel was like a Christmas present from Chris Carter. Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin turned in great performances as the ghosts.

3. Gilmore Girls - "Forgiveness and Stuff": The holidays are a time for family, no matter what sort of terms you are on with them. This Christmas episode from the first season of Gilmore Girls shed new light on Lorelai's complicated relationship with her parents, and showed us the heart behind Emily's chilly demeanor. Plus, Santa Burger!
2. Moonlighting - "Twas the Episode Before Christmas": This episode not only featured a woman named Mary in need of a safe place to stay, but also three kings (Reuben King, Saul King, and Jim King).

1. ER - "The Gift": It's been awhile since ER was must-see TV, but this episode from the series' heyday is a great example of why it once was. The main action revolves around Benton and an organ donor, but the episode is most notable for Rosemary Clooney (George's aunt) as a mental patient who wanders the hospital corridors singing Christmas carols.

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