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Most TV shows, especially the ones that defined the heyday of network television, do the Holiday Episode — a chance to get silly or sentimental against the backdrop of the December holidays, which are loaded with opportunities for tragedy and comedy, both.
To get you in the spirit of the season, the Free Press arts and life team has selected a few holiday favourites to create an assorted box of streaming goodies that truly has something for everyone.
Golden Girls, “’Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas”
Season 2, Episode 11
Streaming on Disney+
Everyone’s favourite Floridian foursome has quite the festive fail in this funny, heartfelt episode. After exchanging homemade gifts (including “The Men of Blanche’s Boudoir” calendar which — fun fact — was filled with nude/semi-nude photos of crew members), the girls get set to fly home to see family over the holidays, only to end up stuck at Rose’s office at the grief counselling centre when a gun-toting Santa comes in looking for someone to spend the holidays with him. Once the situation is diffused, the gals make it to the airport, only to have their flights cancelled due to weather. At a nearby diner, as snow starts to fall in Miami, they realize they’ve still got each other as family. Aww…
— Ben Sigurdson
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, “Yippie Kayak”
Season 3, Episode 10
Streaming on Netflix
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? If there were any doubt, this episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine should put it to bed. Die Hard superfan and New York detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) ends up at a department store with best pal/fellow detective Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) and co-worker Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) at closing time to grab a last-minute gift. In the process they encounter an armed robbery in progress, whereby Peralta tries to live out his Die Hard fantasy — with middling but hilarious results.
— Ben Sigurdson
ER, “A Miracle Happens Here”
Season 2, Episode 10
Streaming on Prime Video
It’s Christmastime at Chicago’s County General and, of course, things are pandemonium. Pediatrician Dr. Doug Ross (peak George Clooney) has to deal with some truly wild injuries — see: “nativity on ice vs. zamboni” — while nurse...