When it comes to Christmas-themed episodes on TV, it doesn’t get better than sitcoms. Many classic shows would reinvent themselves in these episodes, giving viewers a unique look and heartfelt storylines that were less explored during the regular season, using the holiday to explore different themes and shift the episode’s tone. However, Modern Family is a bit of a unique beat, because it’s not your average sitcom. This mockumentary about a big California family growing up in their own hilarious tornado of personalities follows a now-familiar documentary structure, with each Christmas episode feeling more like a continuation than a special unto itself.
The writers managed to stick with the winning formula for 11 seasons, which included its signature Christmas episodes. Weirdly, there aren’t many Christmas episodes, as the show puts more emphasis on Halloween episodes. There are only 6 Christmas episodes of Modern Family, and if you are looking to include them in your festive viewing, we have outlined them in order of release, along with which ones we think are the best.
6
“Undeck the Halls”
Season 1, Episode 10
In the first Christmas episode in the entire series, writers went for a surefire formula. They don’t complicate things by forcing characters into one storyline; instead, they let each part of the family resonate on its own, highlighting familiar traits within a holiday setting. Undeck the Halls puts the Dunphys in a dilemma. There’s a cigarette burn on the couch, and Phil and Claire threaten to leave the children without Christmas because none of them confesses. The problem is that Phil then follows through on every threat he’s ever made.
Meanwhile, Cam and Mitchell try to make Lily’s first Christmas with them special, but accidentally end up getting Santa fired from the mall. They try to make it up to him by basically adopting him for the holiday. Jay, Gloria, and Manny go round and round, unable to decide whether to follow a Colombian or an American Christmas tradition. Jay is constantly pranked in the “Inocente!” game, and he complains because it’s not April (“inocente” is like April Fool’s Day).
A solid episode thanks to the Dunphys’ storyline, Cam and Mitchell being pure comedic bliss, and Jay’s joining in on the festivities. It was a great introduction to what a Modern Family Christmas episode would look like going forward.
5
“Express Christmas”
Season 3, Episode 10
The second Christmas episode of Modern Family is truly one of the best. This is because it cleverly mixes every side of the family in a non-traditional Christmas setting. The episode begins with the family gathered at Jay and Gloria’s, realizing they won’t spend Christmas together because everyone has other plans. This gives Phil a pretty good idea: they will celebrate “Express Christmas,” which is basically stopping what they’re doing and preparing everything that same day.
Luke and Gloria look for the angel to put on top of the Christmas tree. Haley and Claire will do the gift shopping. Mitchell and Alex will get a tree. Phil and Manny go grocery shopping. None of the plans go well, and Express Christmas doesn’t turn out the way they expected, but, like Modern Family does in its best episodes, it delivers an uplifting and compelling insight into family that resonates deeply with viewers, highlighting how the series has become the ideal pick-me-up series.
4
“The Old Man and the Three”
Season 5, Episode 10
The Old Man and the Three follows several intertwining stories set over the holidays: Phil tries to break a record on the elliptical machine; Claire bonds with Gloria’s mom, and Gloria gets jealous; Haley and Alex work as Santa’s helpers in the mall, and things don’t go well; and Mitchell, and Lily are seemingly unaware they are entering a charity event. The episode has some highlights, such as when Mitchell arrives at Pepper’s party with presents (who celebrates something called the “12 Gays of Christmas”), and Cam offers presents galore to charity. Imagine a kid asking who Robert Mapplethorpe is, and you’ll get the idea.
Despite its few highs, The Old Man and Three is a weaker episode in the series. Here, the series seemed to play against its own strengths, with too much going on, messing with the pace and dynamic storytelling that have made the show so beloved. Essentially, the episode separates all characters into different stories, and not all of them feel “Christmas-y.”
3
“White Christmas”
Season 7, Episode 9
White Christmas is, arguably, the best Christmas-themed Modern Family episode, because it’s the funniest by far, features the whole gang in one setting, and has that great mix of drama and comedy that the show was famous for. In the episode, the family heads over to a cabin in the mountains that Gloria has rented, because it’s her first Christmas as an American, and she wants a snowy one — “You know, like white people have.” The problem is that she miscalculates the weather, and it’s way hotter in the mountains than at home. Nevertheless, this doesn’t stop them from trying to have fun.
Andy comes along on the trip, since he and Haley are a thing, only the family doesn’t know. There’s also a surprise guest in the cabin that Cam decides to let stay because it’s Christmas. Jay announces he’s retiring and pranks Claire by telling her she won’t inherit his position as CEO at the closet company. Luke and Manny try to prank Lily by telling her a horror story, but it doesn’t go well (there’s also a great reference to The Shining in the episode).
The episode’s conclusion is excellent, and it fits perfectly with the show’s tone. Andrea Martin, of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame, plays the uninvited guest and delivers a memorable comedic performance. This episode is a fantastic showcase with all the best characters of the series getting their moment to shine.
2
“Stuck in a Moment”
Season 10, Episode 10
Stuck in a Moment finds Haley unable to find the right moment to tell her family she’s pregnant. Jay, Gloria, and Manny receive a box of presents from Colombia that contains a banana spider capable of turning on the TV, which decides to chill in the Christmas tree, causing constant chaos. Of course, the celebration moves over to the Dunphy household. The problem is that Phil has a house showing, and takes their tree and presents over to guarantee the sale, but Claire doesn’t let them go easily. Cam and Mitchell are at a mall, where they decide to give Cal (their nephew) a memorable Christmas by putting him on Santa’s lap. The problem is that Santa has a grudge against Mitchell and won’t let the men know what Cal wished for Christmas.
Stuck in a Moment is one of the best “dad” episodes of Modern Family. It also has a great Christmas dynamic when it merges all storylines into one for the mid-season finale of one of the show’s last seasons. The episode ends on a high note at the Dunphys home when Haley reveals to everyone that she and Dylan are having a baby, and reactions differ. There is a sentimentality to the episode as well, a reminder for fans that there is only one festive-themed episode left in the series.
1
“The Last Christmas”
Season 11, Episode 9
In The Last Christmas, Cam and Mitchell are hosting Christmas dinner, and Cam has issues when no one wants to sit next to each other because everyone has a problem with everyone else. At the same time, Mitchell doesn’t know why Cam wants to take a trip home by himself; Haley rekindles with wine after having stopped breastfeeding; Manny and Luke clash over a girl; and Jay wants Claire to be more invested in his dog bed company. The best part of the episode is the conclusion, when Cam finally admits why he wants to go alone to Missouri, and the whole family panics after having a vision of the end of everything. The very last shot, when they all try to take a family photo while wearing silly outfits, has the classic Modern Family feel.
The Last Christmas takes viewers through what will be the last Christmas episode of Modern Family. Not only because it’s the show’s previous season, but also because the writers set it up to feel like a farewell to the concept of family gatherings. It may not be one of the best episodes in the series, but it certainly captures the joy of getting together for the holidays.
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