If there's one thing better than cozying up with your favorite sitcom during the holidays, it's watching a Christmas-themed episode that hits all the right notes. Over the years, sitcom writers have mastered the art of combining comedy with warm, festive sentiment, so we can't help but return to these gems year after year.
Some are perfect for a light-hearted holiday hangout with friends, others for late-night comfort watching solo, maybe with hot chocolate in hand. Because these episodes, which can be found on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, vary wildly in tone, they are ranked based on a mix of rewatchability, emotional impact, comedy strength, and sheer holiday magic.
New Girl (2011)
New Girl Season 6, Episode 10, titled "Christmas Eve Eve," taps right into the popular millennial truth that says the holidays often feel less like a celebration and more like a logistics puzzle. Jess goes way overboard trying to organize a last-minute Secret Santa, and her excitement (combined with Schmidt's dramatics, Winston's weirdness, and Nick's confusion) creates a chaotic holiday energy.
Anyone who's celebrated Christmas with friends and created their own holiday traditions will find this episode relatable. It's perfect for viewers who want to watch something festive, without a heavy plot, since it's less about the meaning of Christmas and more about the pressure we put on ourselves. It's not the deepest entry if you compare it to Cheers or Black-ish, but it's still worth watching.
The Big Bang Theory (2007)
The Big Bang Theory, Season 2, Episode 11, titled "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis," is a perfect snapshot of when the show was still deeply invested in exploring the rough edges of its characters' social development. The plot revolves around Penny giving Sheldon a Christmas gift, which sends him spiraling into a stress tornado because he believes gifts must be reciprocated with equal value.
Watching Sheldon compute gift equivalency like he's solving a physics equation is pure comedic delight, and the payoff (his impulsive, heartfelt hug) is a moment many fans still consider one of the show's most iconic. Compared with New Girl's chaos, it's sweet without being sentimental and built on a character moment rather than a holiday plot. It's ideal for anyone who loves geeky awkwardness.
Black-ish (2014)
Black-ish Season 1, Episode 10, titled "Black Santa/White Christmas," makes the holiday formula feel new again by centering the conversation around representation. Dre's mission to become the office's Black Santa gives the show space to explore the importance of seeing yourself reflected in traditions, something few sitcoms address at all, let alone in their festive episodes.
Meanwhile, Bow and the kids navigate their own holiday chaos at home. The magic of this episode lies in its balance. It's funny, sharply written, and also thoughtful about how traditions are passed down, adapted, and claimed. It lands lower on the ranking only because other sitcoms hit a more universal comedy sweet spot. It's a must-watch for viewers who appreciate holiday episodes with a point of view.
The Simpsons (1989)
The Simpsons, Season 1, Episode 1, titled "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," sees Homer taking a secretly low-paying mall Santa job to save Christmas. Meanwhile, Bart saves and adopts the family's dog, Santa's Little Helper. The story combines humor with a familiar holiday panic that says, "We're doing our best but falling behind anyway," which many families can relate to.
Compared with the entries higher up on the list, this episode feels like a homemade gingerbread cookie, which isn't a bad thing. While it doesn't have the comedic timing of Friends or the precision of Frasier, it earns its place as a foundational animated holiday classic. Longtime Simpsons fans, families, and anyone who loves their Christmas stories with a dash of dysfunction and satire will love it.
Cheers (1982)
Cheers, Season 6, Episode 12, titled "Christmas Cheers," proves that sometimes the coziest holidays happen in the least traditional places. Set almost entirely in the bar, the episode captures the bittersweet feelings surrounding Christmas Eve, like loneliness and the unexpected comfort that comes from being surrounded by familiar faces, even if they aren't technically family.
The charm of this episode lies in its simplicity. No elaborate plots, just a bar full of people trying to get through Christmas Eve in one piece. The humor is gentle, the emotion understated, and the sense of community palpable. Compared to modern entries like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, this is quieter. But that quiet warmth is exactly what makes it perfect for fans of classic sitcoms.
Frasier (1993)
Frasier and Niles would tell you that Christmas is a time for refinement, but Frasier, Season 6, Episode 10, titled "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz," gleefully dismantles that illusion. After Frasier goes on a date with a woman whose mother mistakenly believes he's Jewish, he attempts to maintain the deception during a holiday dinner, a plan destined to collapse in spectacular fashion.
What begins as a small misunderstanding turns into a massive farce, complete with frantic costume swaps and panicked white lies. Still, the story manages to be funny without sacrificing character integrity. It appears mid-list only because the top four carry a slightly stronger mix of humor and emotional resonance. Still, fans of holiday satire will love it.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)
If Die Hard (1988) is a Christmas movie in your heart (and it should be), then Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 3, Episode 10, titled "Yippie Kayak," is your holiday treat. When Jake, Boyle, and Gina stumble into a convenience store hostage situation, Jake's lifelong wish to live out a John McClane fantasy becomes real and hilariously disappointing. Meanwhile, Terry, Amy, Rosa, and Captain Holt busy themselves with other things.
This is one of the most purely entertaining Christmas episodes on television. It doesn't go for emotional depth the way Parks and Rec or The Office does, but it nails comedy and camaraderie. It also manages to feel festive even though it's essentially an action spoof. It's perfect for fans of action-comedy and found-family themes, especially during the holidays.
Friends (1994)
Friends Season 7, Episode 10, titled "The One with the Holiday Armadillo," sees Ross attempt to teach his son about Hanukkah by becoming the Holiday Armadillo. Throw in Phoebe trying to keep Rachel as her roommate, and the group's general inability to coordinate anything, and you have a holiday episode that's both lovable and wonderfully silly.
Friends always excelled at making big festive moments feel like communal events, and this episode is no different. It lands in third place because it truly encapsulates the show's strengths with an emphasis on celebrating all traditions. Compared to Black-ish, the commentary is gentler; compared to Frasier, the humor is broader. And that balance works beautifully, making it ideal for family viewing.
The Office (2005)
The Office features many Christmas episodes. But Season 2, Episode 10, titled "Christmas Party," remains the gold standard. The story captures the uncomfortable magic of the workplace holiday party—cheerful on the surface, complicated underneath. Michael goes over the gift budget, Jim gets a teapot for Pam, and Dwight treats the whole thing like a military operation.
This episode balances cringe and chaotic energy like few sitcoms can. It gives us one of the most iconic early Jim-and-Pam moments, while also perfectly showcasing Michael's misguided enthusiasm. It's nearly perfect, but just slightly less warm and uplifting than the number one entry on this list. Still, if your holiday season involves office life in any form, this one is essential viewing.
Parks and Recreation (2009)
Parks and Recreation Season 2, Episode 12, titled "Christmas Scandal," included a bit of everything that made the mockumentary sitcom so popular. Leslie gets accidentally mixed up in a tabloid scandal, the town of Pawnee overreacts spectacularly, and her friends rally around her in ways that are hilarious and heartwarming. It's festive without relying on clichés and full of the charm that defines the series.
The episode is uplifting, earnest, and very rewatchable. It's the kind of holiday story that makes you feel good simply because these characters care so much about one another. It takes up the number one spot because it truly embodies the best of holiday storytelling, which includes community, compassion, laughter, and hope. It's the sitcom equivalent of the perfect holiday cookie, which everyone will love.
