5 Must-Watch New Classic Christmas Episodes (PHOTOS)
Black-ish
Black Santa/White Christmas — Season 1, Episode 10
Advertising exec Dre (Anthony Anderson, second from right, with Marsai Martin, Miles Brown, Marcus Scribner and Yara Shahidi) decides his office needs a black Santa (i.e., him) for its charity party and is disappointed when the role goes to a Mexican woman (Ana Ortiz). And by “disappointed,” we mean angry enough to plot against her and forget the night’s actual purpose: giving toys to underprivileged kids. And by “forget” we mean to buy the toys.
The Goldbergs
A Christmas Story — Season 3, Episode 10
Overbearing mom Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) tries to make the Festival of Lights as cool as Christmas by hanging “Hanukkah socks” from the mantel and anointing Saturday Night Live’s “Hanukkah Harry” the Jewish Santa. While she’s distracted, sons Barry and Adam (Troy Gentile and Sean Giambrone, above) get their faces stuck to a pole, A Christmas Story–style.
Difficult People
Difficult Christmas — Season 1, Episode 8
Bitter best friends Billy and Julie (Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner, above) get into the holiday spirit. He, by forcing his niece to pretend she’s his daughter and take dance class so he can join the “gay dad Mafia” and meet producer Ryan Murphy. She, by taking a job wrapping presents and regaling her customers with the dark plot of a true-crime documentary.
The Mindy Project
Josh and Mindy’s Christmas Party — Season 1, Episode 9
Excited to show off new boyfriend Josh (Tommy Dewey), doctor Mindy (Mindy Kaling) throws a holiday bash at her apartment and invites her coworkers, including Danny (Chris Messina, above, with Kaling). But the Christmas cookie crumbles when Josh’s other (secret) girlfriend (Ellie Kemper) crashes the festivities.
30 Rock
Ludachristmas — Season 2, Episode 9
During an extremely awkward dinner, TV exec Jack (Alec Baldwin) watches while his snarky mother (Elaine Stritch) goads writer Liz (Tina Fey) and her sickly sweet family, including brother Mitch (Andy Richter, above, with Fey) and mom (Anita Gillette), into expressing their inner rage. Indeed, Liz winds up screaming at them in the middle of a restaurant.
The weather outside is frightful, but sitcoms get so delightful around the holidays, as our favorite characters stumble through the Yuletide season with even less grace than we do.
You got tipsy at a holiday party and passed out in the room with all the coats? On the 30 Rock episode “Ludachristmas,” the cast and crew of TGS, the show within the show, nearly tear down the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. That’s much naughtier.
So you deserve to binge these new classics that never fail to make our spirits bright.
