Make your watchlist merry with these unforgettable Christmas TV episodes you can watch on Paramount+. From holiday chaos on Frasier and Cheers to seasonal chills on Evil and Dexter®, these picks bring laughs, nostalgia, and a few naughty surprises. Grab the hot cocoa, settle in with these episodes below, and get your Christmas fill.
Key facts
- What: Iconic Christmas TV episodes from fan-favorite TV shows to stream this holiday season
- Where to stream: Paramount+ (streaming availability varies by show and episode)
- Featured shows:
Classic Christmas TV episodes
1. “Merry Christmas Mrs. Moskowitz,” Frasier (1994)
Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) pretends to be Jewish to impress his new girlfriend’s mother, pulling his dad, Martin (John Mahoney), and his brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce), into an increasingly chaotic Christmas charade. Spiraling misunderstandings and the Crane family’s frantic attempts to keep up appearances make this episode a holiday comedy classic.
WATCH NOW: Frasier Season 6, Episode 10, “Merry Christmas Mrs. Moskowitz”
2. “Christmas Cheers,” Cheers
Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) makes the gang work late on Christmas Eve while Sam (Ted Danson) scrambles to find her a gift and Norm’s (George Wendt) Santa Claus buddies gather at the bar. Last-minute shopping panic and a bar full of Santas bring holiday cheer to the place where everybody knows your name.
WATCH NOW: Cheers Season 6, Episode 12, “Christmas Cheers”
3. “The Voice of Christmas,” The Brady Bunch
When laryngitis threatens Carol’s (Florence Henderson) Christmas church solo, Cindy (Susan Olsen) asks a department store Santa for a gift only he could deliver: her mother’s voice back. Cindy’s earnest wish and the Bradys’ family warmth give this Christmas classic a sweet dose of holiday nostalgia.
WATCH NOW: The Brady Bunch Season 1, Episode 12, “The Voice of Christmas”
4. “Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas,” Happy Days
When Richie (Ron Howard) learns his friend Fonzie (Henry Winkler) will be spending Christmas alone, the Cunninghams find a way to welcome him into their celebration without bruising his tough-guy pride. A glimpse of the Fonz’s vulnerable side is one reason why this is a heartfelt holiday staple — and a reminder that there’s always room for one more at the table.
WATCH NOW: Happy Days Season 2, Episode 11, “Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas”
5. “The Night of the Meek,” The Twilight Zone
Art Carney (The Honeymooners) plays Henry Corwin, a down-on-his-luck department store Santa whose bleak Christmas takes a miraculous turn when he discovers a magical sack that produces any gift people want. This heartwarming tale of generosity and second chances brings Christmas magic to the Twilight Zone.
WATCH NOW: The Twilight Zone Season 2, Episode 11, “The Night of the Meek”
6. “Christmas Story,” The Andy Griffith Show
When the Scrooge-like department store owner Ben Weaver insists that Mayberry sheriff Andy (Andy Griffith) lock up a moonshiner on Christmas Eve, Andy and Barney (Don Knotts), the town’s deputy sheriff, turn the jailhouse into a holiday gathering for the man and his family. Leave it to the town of Mayberry to turn a night in jail into a celebration full of warmth, humor, and kindness.
WATCH NOW: The Andy Griffith Show Season 1, Episode 11, “Christmas Story”
7. “The Toaster,” Everybody Loves Raymond
In the episode, Ray (Ray Romano) believes he’s struck Christmas gold with a personalized engraved toaster he thinks everyone will love — until, that is, his parents, Marie (Doris Roberts) and Frank (Peter Boyle), exchange it without even opening it for a state-of-the-art coffee maker. When Marie tries to get back the toaster, she’s met with disastrous results. Only at the Barones’ house can a toaster spark holiday drama.
WATCH NOW: Everybody Loves Raymond Season 3, Episode 12, “The Toaster”
8. “A Keaton Christmas Carol,” Family Ties
Alex (Michael J. Fox) brings a Grinch-like attitude to Christmas until a dream gives him a different perspective on the holiday. Jennifer (Tina Yothers) appears as the Ghost of Christmas Past to remind him how much he once loved Christmas, while Mallory (Justine Bateman), as the Ghost of Christmas Future, shows him a bleak future shaped by his selfishness. Alex wakes up determined to make amends, buying his family last-minute gifts from a convenience store.
WATCH NOW: Family Ties Season 2, Episode 9, “A Keaton Christmas Carol”
9. “Patchy the Pirate Presents the SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special,” SpongeBob SquarePants
After learning about Christmas from Sandy (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence), SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) spreads holiday excitement throughout Bikini Bottom. But when Santa Claus fails to appear, a reluctant Squidward (voiced by Rodger Bumpass) tries to save the day and gets swept up in the spirit of giving.
WATCH NOW: SpongeBob SquarePants Season 2, Episode 8, “Patchy the Pirate Presents the SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special”
10. “Christmas Amnesia,” Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
A grumpy Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) accidentally hits the erase button on a remote control from the Other Realm, a parallel magical dimension, wiping Christmas from everyone’s memory. With just 24 hours to restore the holiday before it disappears forever, Sabrina learns to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas.
WATCH NOW: Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Season 3, Episode 11, “Christmas Amnesia”
11. “Christmas,” Sister, Sister
When Grandpa Campbell (Sherman Hemsley) visits for the holidays, the family discovers that he owes $1,000 to a loan shark. Tia (Tia Mowry) and Tamera (Tamera Mowry) take on extra shifts to help him pay off the debt. The twins’ selfless gesture gives this holiday episode its heart.
WATCH NOW: Sister, Sister Season 3, Episode 12, “Christmas”
12. “A Walsh Family Christmas,” Beverly Hills, 90210
The Walshes welcome friends and a mall Santa to their Christmas Eve gathering, while Steve (Ian Ziering) searches for his birth mother, and Dylan (Luke Perry) visits his father in jail. There’s plenty of family baggage to unpack in this bittersweet Beverly Hills Christmas episode.
WATCH NOW: Beverly Hills, 90210 Season 2, Episode 18, “A Walsh Family Christmas”
13. “Everybody Hates Christmas,” Everybody Hates Chris
Chris (Tyler James Williams) has his heart set on a Walkman for Christmas, but a broken water heater forces his parents, Julius (Terry Crews) and Rochelle (Tichina Arnold), to prioritize repairs and presents for his younger brother and sister. To make it up to him, they give Chris a break from his chores – and some unusually nice treatment.
WATCH NOW: Everybody Hates Chris Season 1, Episode 11, “Everybody Hates Christmas”
Christmas TV episodes with a festive twist
14. “Christmas Spirit, Part One,” Ghosts
15. ”The Christmas Spirit, Part Two,” Ghosts
A two-fer! Sam (Rose McIver) channels her love of holiday romantic comedies into matchmaking when Jay’s sister, Bela (Punam Patel), brings a male friend to Woodstone Mansion for Christmas. But with the ghosts cooking up a scheme of their own, this two-part celebration delivers more supernatural chaos than Sam bargained for.
WATCH NOW:
- Ghosts Season 2, Episodes 9, “Christmas Spirit, Part One”
- Ghosts Season 2, Episodes 10, ”The Christmas Spirit, Part Two”
16. “Gold, Frankincense, and Murder,” Elsbeth
Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) suspects celebrity Christmas curator DeeDee Dashers (Vanessa Bayer) of murder after her husband, Dirk (Christopher Fitzgerald), dies in an apparent freak accident when he’s impaled by a decorative reindeer. Between the holiday decorating business, a suspicious death, and colorblindness being key to cracking the case, Elsbeth has more to untangle than Christmas lights.
WATCH NOW: Elsbeth Season 2, Episode 6, “Gold, Frankincense, and Murder”
17. “Call It a Christmas Gift,” Matlock
With Christmas approaching, Matty (Kathy Bates) and her team take on a harassment case involving the city’s fire department. As the case unfolds, secrets of their own begin coming to light. Meanwhile, Howard “Senior” Markston (Beau Bridges) suffers a stroke, prompting his son Julian (Jason Ritter) to open up at his bedside.
WATCH NOW: Matlock Season 2, Episode 8, “Call It a Christmas Gift”
18. “Silent Night,” NCIS
Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and the NCIS team spend the holidays investigating a double homicide involving a suspect, Ned Quinn (Peter Coyote), a Navy veteran presumed dead for nearly two decades. They discover that Quinn let his family believe he had died so they could collect benefits, but he didn’t commit the murders. In classic NCIS style, Gibbs and company clear his name and help him reconnect with his daughter and meet his grandson in time for Christmas.
WATCH NOW: NCIS Season 6, Episode 11, “Silent Night
19. “7 Swans a Singin’,” Evil
A viral holiday song, “Pudsy’s Christmas,” spreads among students at a Catholic girls’ school and drives them to harm themselves, giving Kristen (Katja Herbers), David (Mike Colter), and Ben (Aasif Mandvi) a disturbing mystery to investigate. This Christmas-themed episode takes a sinister look at influencer culture, viral trends, and overconsumption of social media.
WATCH NOW: Evil Season 1, Episode 10, “7 Swans a Singin’”
20. “Do You See What I See?,” Dexter®
Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) juggles his romance with Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski) and his loyalty to Deb (Jennifer Carpenter), who pursues a potentially incriminating tip from Hannah’s father. With tensions high between his girlfriend and his sister, a peaceful Christmas is out of the question.
WATCH NOW: Dexter® Season 7, Episode 11, “Do You See What I See?”
How to watch Christmas TV episodes on Paramount+
Use the Watch Now links above to jump straight to each featured holiday episode, or explore more movies and show offerings in Paramount+’s ’Tis the Season for Streaming collection with a Paramount+ subscription.
What are the most iconic Christmas TV episodes?
Standout picks include Frasier’s “Merry Christmas Mrs. Moskowitz,” Cheers’ “Christmas Cheers,” The Brady Bunch’s “The Voice of Christmas,” Happy Days’ “Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas,” and The Twilight Zone’s “The Night of the Meek.” Find more iconic Christmas TV episodes in Paramount+’s ’Tis the Season for Streaming collection.
Where can I stream Christmas TV episodes?
You can stream Christmas TV episodes on Paramount+, from sitcom favorites like Cheers and Frasier to holiday installments from Ghosts and NCIS. Explore more holiday-themed TV episodes in Paramount+’s ’Tis the Season for Streaming collection.
What classic Christmas TV episodes are on Paramount+?
Classic holiday picks on Paramount+ include The Andy Griffith Show’s “Christmas Story,” Family Ties’ “A Christmas Story,” and Everybody Loves Raymond’s “The Toaster.” Find more classic holiday TV episodes in Paramount+’s ’Tis the Season for Streaming collection.
Are there family-friendly Christmas TV episodes on Paramount+?
Yes, Paramount+ offers family-friendly Christmas TV episodes from shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants and The Brady Bunch. You can find more kid-friendly holiday viewing in the “Merry Nickmas” section of Paramount+’s ’Tis the Season for Streaming collection.
Can I watch Christmas TV episodes on Paramount+ year-round?
Yes, Christmas TV episodes can be watched year-round on Paramount+ as long as they remain available on the service.
Titles subject to availability.
