10 Funniest Christmas TV Specials To Watch This Holiday Season

Christmas TV specials are a time honoured tradition, whether it be classic live sets from the likes of Andy Williams, or sketch show affairs like Morecambe & Wise. With so many sitcoms, adult animations, and dramedies on TV these days though, the Christmas season is jam-packed with terrific shows to make you jolly.

Some of the episodes take a break from each series’ usual narrative to tell a specifically Christmas tale, while others just use the holiday season as a backdrop to a story that would probably work just as well anytime of the year.

Since there’s such a wide range of comedy these days, you’ll find one for every mood. There’s some tearjerkers in here, using laughs to cut through the treacle, while some just spitfire comedy relentlessly. Others still up the stakes to make their Christmas specials stand out, and some are just a warm relaxing treat to watch as you doze in front of the fireplace.

Whatever your sense of humour is, this list is sure to provide you with something to enjoy over Christmas. So pull those crackers, stuff down those mince pies, and enjoy.

30 Rock’s Christmas Special was so great because it highlighted what made Liz and Jack such interesting characters. It has to settle for tenth as others bring a few more laughs, but the way this episode slots seamlessly into the narrative must be applauded. It isn’t an episode being dropped in for Christmas; it uses Christmas to tell a story that fits like a glove.

We see Liz as her typical well-meaning but highly strung self. She finds a charity scheme but donates way over the suggested amount, then gets suspicious as she delivers her gift and thinks she’s been scammed. When Kenneth doesn’t believe anyone would pull a scam at Christmas, she takes him to the charity to see for himself. Discovering the truth, she inadvertently tells two kids (looked after by the very real charity) that Santa Claus isn’t real.

Meanwhile, Jack’s storyline sees Elaine Strict guest star as his mother, scoring an Emmy nomination for her role. Liz, believing the awful things Jack says about his mother, helps him but on a TGS Christmas Special to avoid her. However, it turns out she was the perfect mother and Jack was always the selfish little brat he is now.