10 best Christmas TV episode specials ranked: Friends, The Bear and more

Deck your halls. Christmas 2024 is here, which means it’s time to drink eggnog, go see the famous Rockefeller Center tree, and curl up in front of the TV to watch specials and holiday episodes. There’s a huge number of episodes themed around the holiday on shows ranging from serious dramas to cartoons to sci-fi horror. There’s something for everyone.Here’s a round-up of the best specials. “Fishes,” from the second season of the hit Emmy-winning Hulu drama, features a family Christmas dinner that goes off the rails.

It’s got powerhouse performances from heavyweights such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Jon Bernthal and Bob Odenkirk.It ranks last because it doesn’t exactly embody the holiday spirit in a heartwarming way — as it’s filled with bitter strife —  but nevertheless, it’s a great episode. Where to watch: Hulu.

The 2014 episode “White Christmas” starring Jon Hamm is unnerving and disturbing — as “Black Mirror” episodes often are.So, it’s not one to watch with kids, but if you want a more horror-tinged flavor of seasonal programming, look no further. Where to watch: Netflix.

This 2010 episode, “A Christmas Carol” is the British show’s spin on the famous Charles Dickens classic.The plot follows the Doctor (Matt Smith) as he uses time travel to try to make a sour old man (Michael Gambon) kinder. Where to watch: Disney+.

Season 2’s Emmy-winning “Community” episode, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas,” takes the live-action comedy and gives it a classic stop-motion animation spin for the offbeat comedy’s homage to classic Christmas specials. Where to watch: Peacock.This 1964 musical short film is the ultimate seasonal classic.

Watch it with kids, or just watch it again on your own for nostalgia.The story follows Rudolph as he tries to fit in, but the other reindeers mock him for his glowing nose. Where to watch: Rent or buy it on Prime Video.

This new 2024 short animated film is a heartwarming tale of a you...