Why Was There Only One ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Christmas Episode?

It may be surprising that a wholesome show like The Andy Griffith Show aired only one Christmas episode during its eight-year run — but that’s exactly what happened. The season one episode, titled “The Christmas Story,” premiered on December 19, 1960, and has since become one of the most beloved episodes of all time, especially during the holidays.

Although no official explanation was ever given for why the series never produced another holiday outing, most television historians note that early seasons didn’t prioritize annual Christmas specials, especially for shows already built around self-contained moral tales.