This time of year for actors can be a trying one; in addition to your reps perhaps being a little tuned out for the month, you may likely have to field those obligatory questions from your family about your career: “Still doing the acting thing?” We get it, which is why we’ve rounded up some of the best holiday episodes of television for you to completely zone out with during these next couple weeks.
“The Golden Girls”: “Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas,” season 5, episode 12 (1989)
The girls decide to volunteer this Christmas instead of indulging in their usual shopping, and mixing their signature humor with heart, they also learn a devastating secret about their friend Stan—light fare!
“Seinfeld”: “The Strike,” season 9, episode 10 (1997)
Obviously, a holiday episode of “Seinfeld” involves H&H Bagels, so we’d advise you to watch this one with a stash of carbs nearby.
“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”: “Sabrina Claus” season 2, episode 12 (1997)
Even though she’s a supernatural sorceress, Sabrina is still a teenage girl and like all teenage girls, she’s a bit self-centered—which Zelda and Hilda tackle head on in this late ’90s Christmas installment.
“Friends”: “The One with the Holiday Armadillo” season 7, episode 10 (2000)
Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, “Friends” has a dozens of holiday episodes but this one—wherein Ross inexplicably dresses as an armadillo in order to teach his son about Hanukkah—became a classic the minute it aired and that remains true 19 years after the fact.
“The Proud Family”: “Seven Days of Kwanzaa” season 1, episode 11 (2001)
As far as underrated series of the early aughts go, “The Proud Family” ranks high. And this episode, wherein the central family invites a homeless family into their home to celebrate Christmas only to learn they celebrate Kwanzaa, is twice the holiday merriment in one.
“The O.C.”: “Best Chrismukkah Ever” season 1, episode 13 (2003)
A holiday episode so iconic, it coined its own holiday: During Ryan’s first holidays with the Cohen family, he is introduced by Seth to the dual wonder that is “Chrismukkah.”
“The Office”: “Christmas Party” season 2, episode 10 (2005)
It’s “The Office,” so obviously, the holidays are not going to make this group of deplorables less deplorable than any other miserable day of their lives (yielding hilarity, of course).
“Doctor Who” : “A Christmas Carol” season 6, episode 0 (2010)
In one of the series’ “bonus” episodes between seasons, “Doctor Who” gives us its own take on the fabled story of Christmas ghosts past, present, and future, and naturally, it’ll make you feel the feelings.
“Parks and Recreation”: “Citizen Knope” season 4, episode 10 (2011)
The thing about “Parks” is that none of the characters are particularly nice to one another most of the time, but when push comes to shove—and it does in this holiday episode—you know exactly where they stand with one another.
“Glee”: “Extraordinary Merry Christmas” season 3, episode 9 (2011)
The holidays are inextricable with music, so it’s only fitting that a musical series would easily produce some of the best holiday episodes. And yes, of course the “Glee” version of any Christmas song is OK to listen to on loop.
Inspired? Check out Backstage’s TV audition listings!