Holiday episodes tend to be a bit generic.
How many times can you rework A Christmas Carol or The Gift of the Magi into a sitcom plot?
Here are a smattering of episodes worth mentioning either because they’re rare, different or just because we like them.
A Very Special "Bewitched"
Bewitched had many traditional Christmas episodes during its eight season run, but 1970′s “Sisters at Heart” was controversial enough to require a special introduction by Elizabeth Montgomery at the behest of the show’s sponsor, Oscar Mayer.
The plot that was making the network so jumpy was young Tabitha’s desire to be sisters with her African-American friend, Lisa. In order to make them look alike, Tabby zaps black polka dots onto her flesh, and white ones on Lisa’s. No doubt the episode would still be controversial today, thanks to Tabitha’s brief appearance in blackface. The original story was submitted by a 10th grade English class at L.A.’s Thomas Jefferson High School.
"Married With Children": Woah, Jablonsky!
It’s Christmas time at the Bundy house, which means Al is feeling more depressed than ever: “The stockings were hung round Dad’s neck like a tie, along with a note that said ‘Presents or Die.’” As he plugs in a string of faulty lights he grumbles and wishes he’d never been born. Quicker than you can say “It’s a Bundyful Life,” guardian angel Sam Kinison pops in to show Al what his family would be like had he never existed.
Married…with Children put an evil twist on the classic James Stewart film, revealing a universe in which Peggy cooked wholesome meals, Bud was a gracious young gentleman, and Kelly was a chaste college student. Al decides he wants to live after all… just to make sure his family stayed as miserable as they’d always made him.
"Fraser": Miracle on 3rd or 4th Street
Many of us forget that December 25 is a regular work day for a lot of folks — nurses, fire fighters, police…and radio disc jockeys. Thus in the episode entitled “Miracle on Third or Fourth Street” we find Dr. Frasier Crane in the studio on Christmas day, taking calls from (as his disgruntled producer Roz predicted) the loneliest and most depressed people in the listening area.
After his shift ends, Frasier (uncharacteristically dressed in old jeans and a torn sweatshirt) finds a diner that’s open and treats himself to a turkey log with mashed potatoes. When he discovers that he’s left his wallet at the station, his down-on-their-luck fellow diners — thinking he’s homeless — pool their coins to pay for his dinner. Of course, Frasier is so touched by this “true meaning of Christmas” moment that he has to walk home in the snow rather than risk being seen climbing into his BMW.
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