Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! I’m bumping this month’s Literary Society of Broadway post so that I can wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year — with joy in anything and everything else that you celebrate during this busy holiday season. And in honor of the occasion, I want to simply offer below a brief list of my favorite Christmas-themed sitcom episodes that I had the pleasure of spotlighting here throughout 2024. If you need a break from food and family, I recommend these for some extra solace!
01) TWO AND A HALF MEN (Season Four): “Walnuts And Demerol” (2006)
My MVE from Season Four is one of the series’ absolute best — a showcase for Two And A Half Men‘s centralized Charlie character and the tone-defining humor he enables. More here.
02) TITUS (Season Two): “The Last Noelle” (2000)
This is maybe the best episode of the underrated Titus — a rebel that revels in its darker side, which is really on display here when the lead attends the funeral of his abusive ex. More here.
03) ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Season Two): “Afternoon Delight” (2004)
Although it’s not steeped in holiday trappings, a Christmas party is indeed the backdrop for one of Arrested Development’s funniest scenes in one of its finest episodes. More here.
04) THE OFFICE (Season Two): “Christmas Party” (2005)
Launching a near-annual tradition, The Office‘s first Christmas episode is its best — a delight from the series’ Golden Age that encapsulates exactly what made it so fresh and fun. More here.
05) THE OFFICE (Season Three): Both parts of “A Benihana Christmas” (2006)
Both halves of this double-length Christmas episode are worthwhile — a terrific showcase for many great characters, including Michael and the rising ensemble. More here.
06) THE OFFICE (Season Six): “Secret Santa” (2009)
You can’t go wrong with any of The Office’s Christmas episodes (heck, I featured every single one!), but this is my favorite entry in that category from the latter half of its run. More here.
Come back next week for another Wildcard! And stay tuned Tuesday for the end of The Office!