Get ready to deck the halls with laughter and heartwarming moments! Join us as we count down the most memorable holiday episodes that have graced our screens in recent years. From time loops to family chaos, these festive specials offer a perfect blend of humor, heart, and holiday cheer.
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00:00It'll be a pure injection of fa-la-la to get our spirits back."
00:03You mean we can play parts in all the Christmas classics?"
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best TV holiday specials
00:11that have brightened up our festive seasons throughout the 2020s so far.
00:15If you're behind on your holiday viewings, there may be some spoilers ahead.
00:20I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
00:2910. Eve of the Daleks – Doctor Who
00:32For Whovians, the holidays wouldn't be complete without a Doctor Who special.
00:37We're trying to figure out which one is most unlikely.
00:39Time Loop is robots, or three people from the council working on New Year's.
00:43We're here to help. We're also stuck in the time loop. The robot isn't a robot, it's a Dalek.
00:48This episode, designed to fit COVID-19 restrictions, came with a fresh twist,
00:52taking on a rom-com style as described by showrunner Chris Chibnall.
00:57The Doctor and her companions find themselves trapped in a time loop on New Year's Eve,
01:01with Nick and his crush, Sarah.
01:03And so why are you saying it to me like this, Noah?
01:06Because I'm going to be killed by aliens in a minute. Again, I guess.
01:12I'm just, just worried that one of these times I won't make it back.
01:17Each reset occurs after they face an executioner Dalek,
01:20and with every loop, the time shortens, ramping up the tension.
01:24This episode packed the high-energy thrills and humor we love while
01:28recentering on the classic charm that's made Doctor Who a British staple.
01:33Talk about bringing in the new year with a bang.
01:35Good fireworks, though.
01:39Fair play to Jeff.
01:44Wait, we're alive.
01:46You did it. Time didn't reset.
01:51We did it.
01:52Number 9. Hanukkah on the Seas, The Goldbergs
01:56The holidays are great, but spending that much time with your family can be a little, well,
02:01you know...
02:02Feel something even better.
02:04Like a mild warmth?
02:05Like love, the thing you never had as a child. It's right there for the taking.
02:09All right, let's go on the dumb ocean.
02:11Yay, it's a snuggle ship!
02:13In this episode, the family, minus Erica, sets off on a cruise to Canada.
02:18It's far from the tropical paradise they imagined,
02:21but the trip brings Murray and his dad closer, even if Ben has some sneaky motives.
02:26I'll give you your damn money, but Murray can never find out. We take this to our graves.
02:31Ooh, fancy pants over here has grave money. Looks like I came to the right people.
02:36Although, as we later find out, even that was just a cover for his fears.
02:41Meanwhile, Erica looks forward to a peaceful Hanukkah with Jeff's family,
02:45only to realize that a normal family is a complete myth.
02:49This episode reminds us that no family is perfect, but with openness and compassion.
02:54Who needs normal anyway?
02:59Turns out, even the hardest journeys are worth it,
03:02when you're with the people who matter most.
03:06Number 8. The 12 Hours of Christmas, Mythic Quest
03:09Holiday cheer collides with workplace shenanigans here,
03:12and it's as entertaining as it is heartfelt.
03:15Good old-fashioned, Yuletide fun! Woo!
03:18Woo-hoo! Rejoice!
03:22Rejoice!
03:23Jo? Jo?
03:24Not today.
03:25Guys, come on. Where's your Christmas spirit?
03:27At home with our families.
03:28David, the lovable yet lonely exec, tries to recreate the family Christmas he never had,
03:34only to clash with his team, who'd rather be anywhere else. Elsewhere,
03:38Ian and Poppy throw a rambunctious office party, complete with raffling off Poppy's Porsche,
03:43which seems pretty on-beat for the show's offbeat humor.
03:47We're gonna sing Christmas carols, and we're giving away a lot of cool prizes.
03:50Poppy and Ian are giving away a Porsche.
03:53What?
03:56How did they even get that in here?
03:57Meanwhile, Rachel faces the pressure of her new role, Jo attempts some endearing and hilarious
04:03holiday bonding, and the whole office ends up joining in for a memorable sing-along.
04:07It's a fresh, funny twist on holiday TV,
04:10perfect for anyone needing a break from classic Christmas fluff.
04:14Two! One!
04:15Christmas, Christmas, time is near. Time for toys and time for cheer.
04:26Number seven. Yule, Tide, Repeat. American Dad.
04:30Stan wants the perfect family Christmas, mainly for himself.
04:33Listen, Stan.
04:34No, you listen! Today is the kickoff to the entire Christmas season,
04:38and we only have one chance to make it absolutely perfect.
04:40But after a disastrous tree-lighting festival, he gets the chance to redo the day. Every time,
04:46though, he selfishly focuses on his own ideal, only to end up compromising his family.
04:51A mysterious janitor finally clues him in. The only way to escape the loop
04:56is to put his family first.
04:57Well, maybe what you can make right isn't the disaster, but the way you treated your family.
05:05So he decides to genuinely try bonding with each of them. Hilariously,
05:09an awkward moment with Steve unexpectedly saves the day. It's almost like It's a Wonderful Life
05:15meets A Christmas Carol, with a touch of that Doctor Who episode from earlier.
05:19Like many holiday classics, it's a reminder of what the season's truly about.
05:24Sorry I ruined our family's big day, Dad.
05:27Are you kidding me? This is the perfect day. The perfect start to a perfect Christmas.
05:336. The Nightmare Two Days Before Christmas
05:37Bob's Burgers
05:38Back in 2020, Bob's Burgers gave us a much-needed Christmas pick-me-up, with Yachty or Nice.
05:45Oh God, it is the crazy evil plan of someone else to get me somehow.
05:48Bob!
05:49Linda, this is a trap!
05:51Great! A festive Christmas trap with my family.
05:53Ah, family!
05:55If that episode was a beautifully decorated tree, this one's the same tree,
05:59now with a star or angel on top. The Belchers are stuck in a creepy
06:04hunting lodge after a power outage, and Linda's on a mission to save Christmas,
06:08even if it means chasing down their Christmas tree in a snowstorm.
06:12Why does dragging a Christmas tree up a snowy mountain have to be so hard?
06:21Okay, I don't love that.
06:24Meanwhile, the kids are busy trying to get Santa's attention with a strange
06:28Santa beacon, made of sticks and skis. There's chaos, sure, but in the end,
06:33it all comes together with laughs, a dash of heart, and plenty of that Belcher family charm.
06:38I love it! Sorry I've been such a crumb-bomb about coming here.
06:43I just want to be wherever you guys are.
06:475. Christmas Swim
06:49Bluey
06:49Bluey on a regular day is about as wholesome as it gets, but Bluey at Christmas? It's like
06:55that wholesomeness wrapped up in tinsel. Bluey opens her Christmas gift, a toy dog she names
07:00Bartleby, and she's excited to introduce him to her family.
07:04And this is my cousin Socks. Merry Christmas! Yeah! Don't worry, he does that to everyone.
07:12But her rowdy bunch quickly throws Bartleby into the deep end, literally, at one point.
07:18As Bluey gets upset over how her new toy is treated, she learns that, yeah,
07:22families can drive you nuts, but their love is the real gift.
07:26I'm new to the Heeler family as well. And just between you and me,
07:34they're a bit crazy.
07:36For a kids' show about a family of dogs, does it even have the right to get this deep?
07:42We're not crying, we just have some tinsel in our eye.
07:45You'll see.
07:46Yeah, but that's not why I voted for him.
07:48Oh, scribe.
07:49It's crackling.
07:50Oh, really?
07:52They're full of love.
07:544. Holiday Hooker
07:56Abbott Elementary
07:57This episode is a must-watch for slow-burn romance fans who like their holiday cheer
08:02with a side of awkward tension. Janine and Erica hit the club for a much-needed break,
08:07only to find they're not the only ones who had that idea.
08:10I'm so sorry, I just was not expecting to see anyone from work here today.
08:14Ava?
08:15Ava's here.
08:16Sorry, I don't speak line. Ladies, don't look at them.
08:19Just when things get swoon-worthy between Janine and Gregory,
08:22an unexpected text shatters the moment. Pull on our heartstrings a little harder, why don't you?
08:28Is that Amber?
08:30Yeah. She decided to come out, and I guess she's at a bar around the corner.
08:36She wants me to meet her.
08:38Yeah. Yeah, no, for sure. You should go.
08:41Meanwhile, Jacob's Grinch-like holiday rant seems set to scrooge up Barbara and
08:46Melissa's annual traditions, but just a little kindness turns the evening around.
08:51This episode has all the feels, humor, and appeal that make the series so lovable,
08:56all wrapped up in a sweet, festive bow.
08:58And you see, Melissa, the spirit of Christmas has worked its magic after all.
09:03Yeah, and I won three bucks. Merry Jacobmas.
09:063. The Christmas Spirit
09:09Ghosts
09:09This two-parter is packed with holiday chaos, starting with a weird love triangle between
09:14Jay's sister Bella, her friend Eric, and Trevor, which includes a failed possession attempt.
09:20How would this even work? Would I do a seance or something?
09:24No, you just electrocute yourself by touching exposed wiring,
09:27and then your body gets thrown back into the ghost.
09:29I don't love that part.
09:30Meanwhile, Thorfinn takes over Sam's body,
09:33enjoying life as a living, while Sam misses all the holiday fun.
09:37You weren't Thor last night, were you?
09:40No, it was me, but…
09:45Really? A whole day, Jay? You didn't notice?
09:48Isaac grapples with the secrets he once hid from his wife,
09:51and finds peace knowing she truly cared for him.
09:54This gives him the courage to move forward in his relationship with Nigel.
09:58Now, Isaac, did you wish to talk?
10:00I think we've talked enough.
10:09Sam, look.
10:11They're not the only ones hooking up, either.
10:13Later, the ghosts make things up to Sam by serenading her with a carol.
10:18The episode celebrates chosen family, biological family, and making memories together.
10:22I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
10:31With every Christmas card I write
10:38Number 2. Fishers – The Bear
10:40Audience is connected with The Bear because it shows the real complexities of life,
10:44making characters feel authentic.
10:46So happy the bear's home.
10:48Yes, I'm happy. Come here. I am happy.
10:50Hi. Yeah, okay.
10:51Happy, happy. You know, it's nice he's back. We get him only once a year. He's too fancy for us.
10:57Plus, the star-studded guest appearances never hurt.
11:01This holiday episode steps outside the main timeline to explore families that
11:05reach their boiling point faster than your holiday gravy when they spend too much time together.
11:10Cut it out.
11:11Rich?
11:11Hey, look, here's the thing. You see, I can throw forks,
11:15because this is our father's house, right?
11:17Rich!
11:17My father's house.
11:18We have liftoff.
11:20Okay.
11:20Carmy heads home, where more gets unpacked than just presents. While our holiday dinners
11:25might not involve the same level of mayhem or flying fish, many of us can relate to the madness.
11:29Stevie tries to bring everyone together, but there isn't much to salvage.
11:33I think spending that time and using that time on the people that we love is how we show them
11:40that we love them.
11:41This dinner is a total car crash. The episode earned nine Primetime Emmy nominations, winning
11:48four.
12:04Number one, Carol of the Bells, Ted Lasso. They say Christmas is the holliest,
12:10jolliest time of the year, but for many, it's not always that way.
12:14You go, go, go have fun. And send me photos, okay? Merry Christmas.
12:18Merry Christmas, Ted.
12:21And careful, the baseboards.
12:24This episode focuses on companionship and compassion, especially during the holidays.
12:30Keeley and Roy's sexy rat pack, Christmas,
12:32gets derailed when they step up to watch Phoebe, who's dealing with her own stinky situation.
12:46I think you might be dying.
12:48Ted also seems set for a blue Christmas, until Rebecca swoops in to turn things around.
12:52The episode is sweet without being too saccharine,
12:55but the best part is when everyone gathers at the Higgins' home.
12:59It's heartwarming, showing that found family can bring
13:02just as much Christmas magic as blood relatives.
13:05This episode is what the holidays are all about.
13:19What holiday episode from this decade do you think is a festive must-watch?
13:23Let us know in the comments.
13:29Baby, please come out!
13:35Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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