Christmas episodes of sitcoms capture some of audiences' favorite moments on TV. Christmas specials have been around since the early days of sitcoms, but some of the best episodes came during the 2000s.
The 2000s gave audiences legendary sitcoms like Malcolm in the Middle and 30 Rock. Furthermore, something about the 2000s created a fervor for Christmas cheer from networks. From long-standing shows to 2000s sitcoms everyone forgot about, the time period produced some of TV's most memorable Christmas episodes.
That '70s Show doesn't cut corners during the holidays, and the series has multiple Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas episodes. Fans get an idea of what they're in for when holiday episodes start, as That '70s Show's iconic theme comes with additional sleighbell jingles.
2001's "An Eric Foreman Christmas" is perhaps That '70s Show's best Christmas episode. The episode follows Eric as he struggles to direct a community Christmas pageant. The gang doesn't help Eric stay focused, while Red makes for the perfect Scrooge to combat Bob's enthusiasm over the holiday.
Fans would be surprised if 30 Rock opted out of Christmas episodes, considering the iconic Christmas tree which is lit every year at the show's title location in NYC. The people behind the show didn't disappoint, and brought fans their best Christmas episode in 2008 with "Christmas Special."
30 Rock can be as heartwarming as it is funny, and "Christmas Special" gives fans equal doses. Liz seeks to uncover a charity scam, while Jack is forced to care for his mother Colleen after hitting her with his car. Jack and Colleen's relationship is perfect fodder for laughs. However, when the spirit of Christmas makes him warm up to her, audiences get all the makings of a sweet holiday special.
Arrested Development's sunny backdrop of Southern California doesn't bring to mind Christmas imagery of snow flurries and pine trees. However, dysfunctional family moments and office holiday parties remind many fans of the most wonderful time of the year. As such, "Afternoon Delight" is lauded as one of TV's best Christmas episodes, according to IMDb.
When Gob is temporarily leading the Bluth Company, he throws a Christmas party. Employees stand in discomfort as Gob instructs everyone to dance as an order rather than a suggestion, and hilarity ensues. Meanwhile, Michael thinks his son George Michael is spending too much time with his girlfriend Ann. However, the Christmas spirit soon makes him realize the two will always be family, and he needs to let his son spread his wings.
Christmas is officially known as "Xmas" in the Futurama universe, and Fry learns the holiday isn't as he remembers it from the 20th century. Robot Santa runs Xmas in the future, bringing terror down on the people of Earth rather than presents.
In 2001's "A Tale of Two Santas," Bender takes over the role of Kris Kringle after Robot Santa becomes frozen in ice. Fans get a song sung by a choir of elves, and the people of Earth come together when Robot Santa escapes. They hold each other close out of terror for Santa, but togetherness is enough to satisfy Fry's hunger for the Christmas of the past.
2001's "Daddy Hitting Santa Claus" gives audiences a Christmas episode dealing with generational changes. Grounded For Life may be one of the most underrated shows on Netflix, and its Christmas episode is an example of one of its best efforts. Young Henry wants a toy that dad Sean can't afford, and audiences watch moments from Sean's past when his father was faced with the same problem.
However, Santa (Sean's dad Walt in costume) promises Henry the toy, expecting Sean to get it for him. Arguments without a morsel of Christmas cheer mount between Sean and Walt. However, by the episode's end, Walt apologizes for giving Sean crummy Christmases during his childhood, and the two work together to make Henry's Christmas great.
The main cast of Malcolm in the Middle showed audiences the struggles of a lower-class American family during its run in the 2000s. As such, Christmas is never an easy time for the penny-pinching household, whose debt rises exponentially throughout the series. In 2004's "Hal's Christmas Gift," family heads Lois and Hal insist that the family only exchange hand-made gifts in an attempt to save money.
However, Hal doesn't have anything prepared after receiving impressive loot from his brilliant kids. Hal takes the family on a road trip to nowhere, promising them a big surprise (if he can ever come up across something great and free on Christmas Eve). The episode is hilarious and heartwarming, as Hal's desperation to give his family a great Christmas presents the realization of a Christmas miracle.
The Office might be the sitcom from the 2000s with the most celebrated Christmas episodes. They stand out in each season, but 2009's "Secret Santa" is perhaps the most memorable thanks to Michael Scott's insatiable thirst for attention.
His struggle is seldom more hilarious than when he discovers Phyllis is already dressed as Santa for the office Christmas party. Michael doesn't take the upstaging lying down, but bigger concerns come when there is a scare Dunder Mifflin is going out of business. It proves to be a false alarm but reminds Michael not to take what he has for granted.
Leslie Knope gets wrapped up in public gossip in 2009's Parks and Recreation episode "Christmas Scandal." The media spins a story that she is a mistress to Counsilman Bill Dexhart, and she spends the episode trying to clear her name instead of focusing on the Christmas village she organizes.
However, "Christmas Scandal" gives audiences important moments for Christmas romance. April's relationship with Andy develops in their search for Christmas gifts, and Leslie is forced to end her relationship with Dave. Her decision to stay in Pawnee and be with her loved ones rather than leave to San Diego with Dave pulls at fans' heartstrings in a classically warm Christmas special moment.
Fans might not think they would see a Christmas special from the famously blasé Larry David. However, Curb Your Enthusiasm's 2002 episode "Mary, Joseph and Larry" gives audiences just that.
Although Larry doesn't celebrate, his wife Cheryl's family fills his home with Christmas decorations. Larry protests the tree but doesn't cause problems until he accidentally eats Christmas cookies meant for Cheryl's sister's nativity scene. As Larry tries to clean up his mess, fans hear Christmas carols, and the episode ends with a nativity recreation gone totally wrong. Larry's antics are hilarious in one of TV's most unlikely yet successful Christmas episodes.
2009's "A Very Sunny Christmas" gives fans a different kind of Christmas special. However, some fans think it is one of the best Christmas episodes from a great TV show. The gang from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia certainly doesn't seem to be filled with Christmas spirit. The episode confirms this idea, as Frank buys his kids Dennis and Dee's dream gifts for himself, a tradition he has been doing for years.
The episode may not be filled with cheer, but the story of the gang's dysfunctional holiday is filled with laughs. Furthermore, Christmas tropes like claymation ala A Year Without A Santa Claus puts audiences in a yuletide mood, even if no one ends up with gifts by the episode's end.
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