I love Christmas episodes and some series really go above and beyond, like this one…
The reason I am focusing on this show is that it did something which was kind of unqiue. It managed a Christmas episode every single year. I was going to say this was the only show that did that, but there are a few others that did especially “The Middle” which I never watched. I thought it would be fun to go over these episodes and see which was better. Oh you may be wondering, if Home Improvement had 8 seasons how can this be a top 10? I’ll explain the two honorary episodes as we go.
#10.”No Place Like Home” (Season 6)
Ok ok, I have talked about this episode before and how awful it is. And not just as a Christmas episode either, it’s one of the worst episodes of the series. I honestly think they threw the Christmas elements in there because felt they needed a Christmas episode again. Even though Christmas is barely in it and it has none of the elements that make the other Christmas episodes so memorable. I think they meant the Thanksgiving episode that year to be the official Christmas episode in heart, since that episode mentioned the lighting contest and had a tribute to the old Rankin/Bass stop motion shows.
#9.”Some Like It Hot Rod” (Season 4)
This is kind of a precursor to the real Christmas episode, as we get references to Mark singing in the pageant and the fact that Jill is already panicking about her parents visiting. The main story involves Jill accidentally leaving Tim’s hot rod out in the snow.
#8.”A Frozen Moment” (Season 3)
Ok ok, this is a Thanksgiving episode (and a really good one) but the B story of Tim trying to take the greatest Christmas card n history earns it this slot
#7.”Home for the Holidays” (Season 8)
Randy is home from overseas, I don’t remember why he was there some school thing I guess? While we get the lighting contest shenanigans what hurt this episode is the fact that it takes place in the final season. We get Tim’s family (who we don’t care about), attention with Tim’s nieces (who were annoying additions as I mentioned before), and the episode just feels like a final season episode.
#6.”‘Twas the Flight Before Christmas” (Season 5)
It’s pretty clear to me the writers were having trouble coming up with ideas. Tim and Al are stuck on a plane while Al has relationship trouble with his girlfriend. The kids put up the lights leading to one of the more predicable jokes you’ll ever see in anything. The final scene is easily the best, as we see a slow pan showing the kid won the contest, Al and Eileen reconciled, and Tim’s gift to Jill wasn’t what he expected.
#5.”Bright Christmas” (Season 7)
This feels like a return to the more conventional Christmas shows after that awful one the year before. While the idea of the neighborhood putting restrictions on a lighting contest is cliche, I can’t blame the series for using it. Jill is also dealing with her mother’s nee relationship after her father passed away. But as was typical for later episodes the three kids basically have cameo’s and we see hardly any Tool Time.
#4.”I’m Scheming Of a White Christmas” (Season 2)
This is a good episode and while I applaud the writers for coming with a new idea, Brad and Randy stealing from a charity, the episode kind of feels off. The lighting contest is an after thought (we get another airplane joke), Manhattan Transfer feels out of place (and the gag with Al in the chimney sucked), we get that awful producer character who thankfully disappeared soon after, and the sweet ending is kind of half hearted. There is a lot of good stuff in the episode with the two kids learning a lesson, but it’s is hurt by a little to much silly stuff.
#3.”Twas the Night Before Chaos” (Season 4)
You’ll see me say below that I like episodes without additional family. This one has plenty with Jill’s parents as well as Tim’s brother. But it’s a well written episode and I like how it’s Tim who makes Jill’s father realize what a bore he has become since retiring.
#2.”Yule Better Watch Out” (Season 1)
Of course the episode that started them all, and unlike a lot of shows for a first season episode it still feels in step with the rest of the series. While Jill’s obsession over pageants would fade, of course Tim’s obsession with the lighting contest would roll right on. And Wilson as Santa was very nicely done. Since it was the first the gag’s aren’t as broad as they would be, Tim simply gets his tongue stuck on a hammer and has to be rescued by firemen.
#1.”‘Twas the Blight Before Christmas” (Season 3)
This came in #5 on a list of my favorite Christmas episodes a few years ago, so this isn’t a shock. I think this episode is just so sweet. Not only because we have he most sentimental ending of any show (with the kids singing Noel in church). But because it’s just our main characters, no additional relatives included. While I understand why we need extra characters, especially as the series evolves, it’s always nice to have an episode just focused on our main characters.
Even when it wasn’t perfect the show managed some strong Christmas episodes every year.
The reason I am focusing on this show is that it did something which was kind of unqiue. It managed a Christmas episode every single year. I was going to say this was the only show that did that, but there are a few others that did especially “The Middle” which I never watched. I thought it would be fun to go over these episodes and see which was better. Oh you may be wondering, if Home Improvement had 8 seasons how can this be a top 10? I’ll explain the two honorary episodes as we go.
#10.”No Place Like Home” (Season 6)
Ok ok, I have talked about this episode before and how awful it is. And not just as a Christmas episode either, it’s one of the worst episodes of the series. I honestly think they threw the Christmas elements in there because felt they needed a Christmas episode again. Even though Christmas is barely in it and it has none of the elements that make the other Christmas episodes so memorable. I think they meant the Thanksgiving episode that year to be the official Christmas episode in heart, since that episode mentioned the lighting contest and had a tribute to the old Rankin/Bass stop motion shows.
#9.”Some Like It Hot Rod” (Season 4)
This is kind of a precursor to the real Christmas episode, as we get references to Mark singing in the pageant and the fact that Jill is already panicking about her parents visiting. The main story involves Jill accidentally leaving Tim’s hot rod out in the snow.
#8.”A Frozen Moment” (Season 3)
Ok ok, this is a Thanksgiving episode (and a really good one) but the B story of Tim trying to take the greatest Christmas card n history earns it this slot
#7.”Home for the Holidays” (Season 8)
Randy is home from overseas, I don’t remember why he was there some school thing I guess? While we get the lighting contest shenanigans what hurt this episode is the fact that it takes place in the final season. We get Tim’s family (who we don’t care about), attention with Tim’s nieces (who were annoying additions as I mentioned before), and the episode just feels like a final season episode.
#6.”‘Twas the Flight Before Christmas” (Season 5)
It’s pretty clear to me the writers were having trouble coming up with ideas. Tim and Al are stuck on a plane while Al has relationship trouble with his girlfriend. The kids put up the lights leading to one of the more predicable jokes you’ll ever see in anything. The final scene is easily the best, as we see a slow pan showing the kid won the contest, Al and Eileen reconciled, and Tim’s gift to Jill wasn’t what he expected.
#5.”Bright Christmas” (Season 7)
This feels like a return to the more conventional Christmas shows after that awful one the year before. While the idea of the neighborhood putting restrictions on a lighting contest is cliche, I can’t blame the series for using it. Jill is also dealing with her mother’s nee relationship after her father passed away. But as was typical for later episodes the three kids basically have cameo’s and we see hardly any Tool Time.
#4.”I’m Scheming Of a White Christmas” (Season 2)
This is a good episode and while I applaud the writers for coming with a new idea, Brad and Randy stealing from a charity, the episode kind of feels off. The lighting contest is an after thought (we get another airplane joke), Manhattan Transfer feels out of place (and the gag with Al in the chimney sucked), we get that awful producer character who thankfully disappeared soon after, and the sweet ending is kind of half hearted. There is a lot of good stuff in the episode with the two kids learning a lesson, but it’s is hurt by a little to much silly stuff.
#3.”Twas the Night Before Chaos” (Season 4)
You’ll see me say below that I like episodes without additional family. This one has plenty with Jill’s parents as well as Tim’s brother. But it’s a well written episode and I like how it’s Tim who makes Jill’s father realize what a bore he has become since retiring.
#2.”Yule Better Watch Out” (Season 1)
Of course the episode that started them all, and unlike a lot of shows for a first season episode it still feels in step with the rest of the series. While Jill’s obsession over pageants would fade, of course Tim’s obsession with the lighting contest would roll right on. And Wilson as Santa was very nicely done. Since it was the first the gag’s aren’t as broad as they would be, Tim simply gets his tongue stuck on a hammer and has to be rescued by firemen.
#1.”‘Twas the Blight Before Christmas” (Season 3)
This came in #5 on a list of my favorite Christmas episodes a few years ago, so this isn’t a shock. I think this episode is just so sweet. Not only because we have he most sentimental ending of any show (with the kids singing Noel in church). But because it’s just our main characters, no additional relatives included. While I understand why we need extra characters, especially as the series evolves, it’s always nice to have an episode just focused on our main characters.
Even when it wasn’t perfect the show managed some strong Christmas episodes every year.
You've never seen The Middle? Seriously!? You need to correct this immediately lol. The best sitcom to come out in the last 20 years and one of the greatest family sitcoms ever made. Just as great as Home Improvement.
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