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Nickelodeon
If you were a child of the 1990s, theholiday seasonmeant buying glittery, lotion-based gifts at Bath & Body Works and Limited Too. It also meant actually enjoying candy canes, eggnog not giving you indigestion and — best of all — watchingfestive episodes of your favorite shows, some that were age-appropriate and some, well, not.
Rugrats, “The Santa Experience” (1992)
Rugrats, “A Rugrats Chanukah” (1996)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, “Deck the Halls” (1990)
We’re taking it back to 1990, to episode 15 of season 1 ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Will (Will Smith) realizes that Ashley (Tatyana Ali) has never had a real Christmas, so he decks the inside and outside the mansion in sparkling, flashingChristmas decorations, much to the neighborhood’s curmudgeon-y chagrin. (Highlight? Ashley: “Will, everybody knows there’s no Santa Claus.” Will: “Wait a minute — there is noMilli Vanilli… but theredefinitelyis a Santa Claus!")
Seinfeld, “The Strike” (1997)
The 166th episode ofSeinfeldwas the origin of"Festivus,“the best fake holiday that real people now really celebrate. George (Jason Alexander) — in an attempt to avoid buying gifts for his co-workers — insists he doesn’t celebrate Christmas, but celebrates Festivus (“for the rest of us”). To prove the holiday is real, he invites his boss (Daniel von Bargen) over to Festivus dinner at his parents' (Jerry Stiller,Estelle Harris) house. Spoiler alert: There are hilarious consequences.
Saturday Night Live, Season 24, Episode 9 (1998)
Two words: “Schweddy Balls.”
Though he later became known for portrayingDonald TrumponSaturday Night Live, frequent guest hostAlec Baldwinstarred in one of his most popular sketches in 1998 as chef Pete Schweddy, who promotes his holiday treat, “Schweddy Balls,” on a radio show. The sketch ran through several hilarious double entendres and became so popular that it even later inspired aBen & Jerry’s"Schweddy Balls” ice cream flavor.
My So-Called Life, “So-Called Angels” (1994)
AngstyClaire Danesis our favorite Claire Danes. But the Christmas episode of the short-lived teen dramaMy So-Called Lifeis one of the series' more heartwarming episodes. It focuses on the issue of homelessness among teenagers through a clever homage to the classic holiday filmIt’s A Wonderful Life(1946). After watching it, you’ll join the many fans who are still upset that this series wasn’t renewed for a second season.
Dawson’s Creek, “Merry Mayhem” (2002)
Despite not airing in the ’90s, this season 6 episode ofDawson’s Creek— a series that debuted in 1998 — is too good to go unacknowledged. Dawson (James Van Der Beek) brings Natasha (Bianca Kajlich) and Todd (Hal Ozsan) back to Capeside, Mass. with him for Christmas, and he just, like, cannot get over the fact that he saw Natasha and Max (Eddie Cahill) together. Everyone gets drunk at Christmas dinner, and Audrey (Busy Philipps) — whose drinking has gotten out of control — crashes Pacey’s (Joshua Jackson) car.
Friends, “The One with the Routine” (1999)
All you need to know or remember about this magicalFriendsepisode is that Monica (Courteney Cox) and Ross (David Schwimmer) resurrect their dance routine from high school when they are cast as background dancers inDick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin' Eve. That’s right: a brother-sister dance routine — from high school. (We instantly feel more secure about our adolescent experiences.) Meanwhile, the rest of the gang searches for Monica’s hidden Christmas gifts to know what to get her in return. This classic episode will keep you laughing through theNew Year.
The Nanny, “Christmas Episode” (1993)
As much as we adore the animated charm of the episode"Oy to the World"in season 3, nothing quite gives ussuch joie de vivrelike season 1 ofThe Nanny. Spending her first Christmas at the Scheffield’s, FranFine(Fran Drescher) is expecting a hefty holiday bonus from her boss (Charles Shaughnessy), which prompts her to splurge on gifts for Maggie (Nicholle Tom), Grace (Madeline Zima) and Brighton (Benjamin Salisbury). However, when she learns Mr. Sheffield opted for a tangible present instead of cash, she has to find a way to recoup the funds she spent.
Sister, Sister, “Christmas” (1995)
Talk about a two-way twister! In this season 3 episode ofSister, Sister, Grandpa Campbell (Sherman Hemsley) arrives for the holidays with a $1,000 debt to a loan shark. To the rescue, Tia (Tia Mowry), Tamera (Tamera Mowry) and Lisa (Jackée Harry) pool their Christmas gift savings to settle his debts.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch, “Christmas Amnesia” (1998)
Imagine a world without Christmas! In the 61st episode ofSabrina the Teenage Witch, the not-so-merry-and-bright Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) attends an anti-Christmas party in the Other Realm, where she inadvertently wipes the holiday from the world’s collective memory. Now, she has to chase down Saint Nick (Kay E. Kuter) and resurrect the festive season.
Moesha, “A Class Act Christmas” (1998)
In need of some last-minute gift shopping, Moesha (Brandy) and Hakeem (Lamont Bentley) find themselves stuck working a Christmas Eve shift at the trendy apparel store Class Act. However, things take a wild turn when a previously rejected job applicant (Henry G. Sanders) returns dressed in Santa’s red suit and holds the entire store hostage.
Frasier, “Miracle on Third or Fourth Street” (1993)
James Mercadante
source: people.com
