-M*A*S*H, "Dear Dad": The first episode in which a character writes home - in this case it's Hawkeye (Alan Alda), who winds up dressed as Santa in a foxhole.
-The Brady Bunch, "The Voice of Christmas": Not one of my favorite series, but this episode where Cindy asked Santa to give mom Carol (Florence Henderson) her voice back after a bout with laryngitis captures the heart. Henderson, who has Broadway experience, sings beautifully.
Here are some other favorites:
-The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid": Guess who has to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Yep, our Mary. But the ending is a treat for her and us.-M*A*S*H, "'Twas the Day After Christmas": The long-running series had a reputation for excellent Yuletide episodes. In this one, it's a race against the clock for B.J. (Mike Farrell), Hawkeye and Margaret (Loretta Swit) to make sure a soldier survives the holiday.
-M*A*S*H, "Dear Sis": This letter comes from Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) to his sister, who is a nun. Highlights include Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) receiving a treasured childhood gift.
-Magnum, P.I., "Operation: Silent Night": Can Magnum, Higgins, Rick and T.C. get off an island before the Navy blows it up?
-Home Improvement, "Bright Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Chaos": Nobody could decorate - or have accidents - like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor (Tim Allen). Hilarious stuff.
-Frasier, "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz": Amy Brenneman, later on "Judging Amy," guest-stars in this episode where Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) pretends to be Jewish while Niles (David Hyde Pierce) is putting together a Christmas pageant.
-All in the Family, "Edith's Christmas Story": Edith (Jean Stapleton) tells Gloria (Sally Struthers) she has a lump in her breast.
-The West Wing, "In Excelsis Deo": Excellent episode that mixes the drama of Toby (Richard Schiff) trying to give a homeless Vietnam veteran who died a dignified funeral with the humor of President Bartlett (Martin Sheen) shopping for Christmas.
-Foyle's War, "Bleak Midwinter": The only hint that it's Christmas in this lovely show, set in Hastings, England during World War 2, is the raid on a restaurant by Foyle (Michael Kitchen), Milner (Anthony Howell) and company that produces a turkey as evidence that Sam (Honeysuckle Weeks) wouldn't mind having as holiday dinner. Meanwhile, is Milner guilty of murdering his wife?
Merry Christmas! And until next week, Happy Viewing!
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