Laverne and Shirley : O Come All Ye Bums (1978)

Released on ABC, airing December 19th in the US.

Season 4. Episode 14.

The story: Every year at Christmas, Mr. DeFazio hosts a Christmas dinner for the homeless, and everyone is looking forward to it.

But this year, the pizza bowl hasn't been doing so well, and he's been working as a department store Santa to make the extra money to throw the party.

When he gets fired from the Santa gig, he insists there will be no dinner.

That's when Laverne, Shirley, and Carmine hit the streets to try and raise the funds.

Stars Penny Marshall , Cindy Williams , Hamilton Camp , Mickey Fox , Paul Micale , Michael McKean , David L Lander , Scott Marshall , Phil Foster , Rusdi Lane , Lynne Marie Stewart , Eddie Mekka , Wayne Powers

Directed by Joel Zwick

Rated TVG

COMEDY/FAMILY/CHRISTMAS/TV/SERIES

"Behave yourself, little man. Because Santa Claus likes to eat little bad boys...."

No Exit (2022)

Released February 26th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New Zealand.

The story: Darby is a young woman who recently overdosed and currently finds herself in rehab instead of jail...

While at a meeting, she gets an urgent phone call.

Apparently, her mother is in the hospital, and it's not good. 

When Darby tries calling her mother, she isn't allowed to, due to those rules she knows all about.

She is very worried about her mother, and because she is given such a hard time about using the phone, she decides there is no other alternative.

Darby must see her mother.

She finds her way outside of the rehab and hot-wires an orderly's car.

On her way out of town, she drives into a snowstorm.

When she is found by police sleeping on the side of the road, she is told to take a driving break at the rest area nearby.

There, Darby finds two men her age and an older couple.

It seems they are all stranded there and, of course, without any phone service.

When one of them mentions that they got a bit of phone service outside by the tree, Darby makes her way out there to give it a try.

Instead of service, she is terrified to find something else out there that she cannot bring herself to walk away from.

Stars Havana Rose Liu , James Gaylyn , Nick Davies , Jared Hill , Benedict Wall , Dennis Haysbert , Dale Dickey , David Rysdahl , Danny Ramirez , Mila Harris , Sam Forde , Paul Green

Directed by Damien Power

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER

Taxi : A Full House for Christmas (1978)

Released on ABC , airing December 12th in the US.

Season 1. Episode 13.

The story : Elaine is down about Christmas this year , so she decides to have a small party at the garage.

Louie's little brother Nick is visiting from Las Vegas and that's all their mother has been talking about.

But Nick isnt exactly interested in spending time with his mother , he's more interested in gambling.

Louie gets Alex to play a high stakes poker game against Nick , with Louie funding Alex's game. 
If Alex wins , Louie can get his brother to commit to spending time with their mother.

Stars Marilu Henner , Danny DeVito , Jeff Conaway , Judd Hirsch , Tony Danza , Richard Foronjy , Benny Powell Singers , Randall Carver , Darren Milton , Ian Bruce , Joyce Goldman 

Directed by James Burrows

Rated TVPG

COMEDY/CHRISTMAS/SERIES/TV

Last Man Standing : Putting a Hit on Christmas (2012)

Released on ABC, airing December 14th in the US.

Season 2. Episode 7.

The story: Ryan has been trying to talk Kristen into allowing him to take Boyd to Canada for Christmas this year.

Mike also believes Boyd should be home with them at Christmas.

After Vanessa expresses how hectic the holidays are for her and that she really wishes Christmas was like it used to be, before they had any kids, Mike changes his mind about Boyd going to Canada.

Mike also tries getting rid of the rest of the family as well, so he and Vanessa can have a Christmas alone,  like old times.

Stars Amanda Fuller , Jordan Masterson , Nancy Travis , Tim Allen , Flynn Morrison , Christoph Sanders , Kaitlyn Dever , Hector Elizondo , Molly Ephraim , Hope Lauren

Directed by John Pasquin

Rated TVPG

COMEDY/CHRISTMAS/SERIES/TV

Last Man Standing : Last Christmas Standing (2011)

Released on ABC, airing December 6th in the US.

Season 1. Episode 12.

The story: While at Christmas service at the church, everyone notices Kristen's ex/Boyd's dad, Ryan has shown up.

After church, Kristen explains Rthat yan is back in town and wants to have a relationship with Boyd.

Mike is having the hardest time with Ryan's return and doesn't want to have anything to do with him.

But when Ryan shows up on Christmas day, Kristen reminds Mike of a story that teaches people to forget about the past and forgive those around us on the holidays.

Stars Tom Allen , Nancy Travis , Molly Ephraim , Kaitlyn Dever ,  Alexandra Krosney , Evan George Kruntchev , Luke Andrew Kruntchev , Nick Jonas , Paris Dylan , Kristop Sanders , Hector Elizondo , Natalie Distler , Logan Kishi 

Directed by John Pasquin

Rated TVPG
COMEDY/CHRISTMAS/SERIES/TV

Golden Girls : Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas (1989)

Released on NBC, airing December 16th in the US.

Season 5. Episode 12.

The story: It is only two days before Christmas, and it's really too hectic at the stores to go running around shopping for gifts.

Dorothy suggests that they put their names in a bowl, and whoever's name each one of them picks is the only gift they need to buy.

At first, Rose disagrees with the idea.

But after giving it some thought, she believes it's a good idea.

Her church is serving Christmas dinner to the poor, hungry people in the neighborhood, and Rose volunteered to help serve, so that will give her all the Christmas spirit she needs.

After opening their presents and Blanche is happy with the gift Rose gave her , Dorothy asks if the church could use more help.

Rose assures her they could , that's when Blanche decides she wants to help too.

While helping , Blanche and Dorothy are saddened to see so many children at the dinner.

Then , Dorothy finds out that the man in the Santa suit that arrived with the rest of the people for dinner is Stan which she never seen coming.

Stars Bea Arthur , Herb Edelman , Rue McClanahan , Estelle Getty , Betty White , Matt McCoy , Cynthia Lea Clark

Directed by Terry Hughes

Rated TVPG
COMEDY/CHRISTMAS/SERIES/TV

"Who's for some fresh, baked Christmas cookies?"
"Rose, why are the cookies in the shapes of American flags and Liberty bells?"
"I couldn't find the Christmas cookie cutters, so I used the Fourth of July cutters instead."
"I wonder where President Bush stands on eating the flag."

Golden Girls : 'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas (1986)

Released on NBC, airing December 20th in the US.

Season 2. Episode 12. 

The story: This year for Christmas, the girls have plans to go home to spend the holidays with their families, which they are all really looking forward to.

But before they go, Rose has suggested that they have a small Christmas celebration together and swap gifts that they made for each other instead of buying them, and everyone agrees.

On Christmas Day, Rose is helping at the Grief Counseling Center.

When Dorothy and Blanche show up to get Rose, they end up having to wait a bit while Rose deals with a man who is struggling with money problems.

Just as they are on their way out, a man dressed as Santa Claus enters the room.

Rose greets him, telling everyone Santa has come to visit.

That's when Santa keeps them all hostages.

Stars Bea Arthur , Estelle Getty , Betty White , Rue McClanahan , Craig Richard Nelson , Sam Anderson , Terry Kiser , Teddy Wilson , Buddy Daniels Friedman

Directed by Terry Hughes 

Rated TVPG
COMEDY/CHRISTMAS/SERIES/TV

"Rose, I love it. This will come in a lot handier than those pearl earrings....the next time I'm lost in the woods with a stack of pancakes."