18. The Office: ‘Christmas Party’
The American version of The Office has to be one of the funniest shows of our generation. But of all the episodes in it’s 9-season run, the Christmas Party at the end of season 2 might just be the best. It’s one of the first times we get to see Pam and Jim’s relationship really spark, even if he did chicken out on giving her his note. And while that’s a big part of the show, the gift-giving scene has to be the best part. An office secret Santa with a $20 cap sounds like a great idea until you involve Michael Scott. Hilariously, he blows everything out of proportion, turning a casual Christmas party into a ‘white elephant’ disaster. It would be painful to watch if it wasn’t so funny.
17. Will And Grace: ‘Jingle Balls’
The epitome of the Christmas spirit is putting others before yourself, for no personal gain. Kind of like giving a supporting character a deep, meaningful episode. That is exactly what the hit show Will And Grace did. ‘Jingle Balls’ saw Jack McFarland land a dream job decorating the holiday windows for the famed retail store Barneys in NYC. This adds a bit of conflict as Grace is quite jealous that she didn’t get the job herself. Like the spaz that he is, Jack manages to screw up so badly that he resorts to a Holiday prayer to save the day. Grace overhears Jack’s prayers and decides to do the designs behind Jack’s back, taking no credit for her actions. If that isn’t Christmas spirit, I don’t know what is.
16. Scrubs: ‘My Own Personal Jesus’
Scrubs is that kind of show that can be hilarious and heartwrenching, somehow all at the same time. The show’s writers never met an issue they weren’t willing to tackle, including Christianity and capitalist greed. There is no denying that Christianity is the reason we all know of Christmas, even if we practice the holiday for other reasons. Scrubs brings this into a great light, as it showcases Turk struggling with his faith after one of the worst shifts in his young career. JD and Carla have a hard time relating as they try to cheer Turk up. Thanks to a pregnant teenager, and a little divine intervention, the group gets to rejoice in Turks restored faith. It’s not an episode for everyone, but I guarantee it will make you think.