‘Tis the Season
Holiday Watchlist
Get into the holiday spirit with these festive favorites! From movies to TV episodes, this list showcases memorable holiday moments across a variety of shows and films. Some entries aren’t fully holiday-themed, but they all feature key moments set during holiday events—and even the non-holiday selections below have become holiday favorites for the season. This is just illustrative, not exhaustive, but unwrap and enjoy!
TV Shows
227
Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams, and Jackée Harry star in this comedy series (1985 – 1990) following the residents of an apartment building in Washington DC.
Christmas episodes:
– Mary’s Christmas, Season 1 (1985)
– The Night They Arrested Santa Claus, S4 (1988)
– Guess Who’s Not Coming to Christmas, S5 (1989)
Abbott Elementary
A dedicated group of Philadelphia public school educators help their students succeed in this workplace comedy series (2021 – ) starring Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, amongst a talented ensemble cast.
Christmas episodes:
– Holiday Hookah, Season 2 (2022)
– Winter Show, S4 (2024)
– Winter Break, S4 (2024)
– Birthday, S5 (2025)
Amen
In this comedy series (1986 – 1991), Sherman Hemsley plays a Philadelphia lawyer and church deacon who is often at odds with the new young pastor, played by Clifton Davis.
Christmas episodes:
– Your Christmas Show of Shows, Season 1 (1986)
– The Twelve Songs of Christmas, S2 (1987)
– The Deacon’s Donkey, S3 (1988)
– Thelma Frye, Dough Girl, S4 (1989)
– Miracle on 134th Street (two-part episode), S5 (1990)
Benson
Emmy-winning actor Robert Guillaume stars as Benson DuBois in this comedy series (1979–1986), a spin-off Soap where his character is hired to run a widowed Governor’s household.
Christmas episodes:
– Mary and Her Lambs, Season 4 (1982)
– Home for Christmas, S6 (1984)
– The Deacon’s Donkey, S3 (1988)
The Bernie Mac Show
Comedian Bernie Mac stars in this comedy series (2001 – 2006) about a man and his wife raising his sister’s kids.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Tryptophan-tasy, Season 2 (2002)
– Thanksgiving, S3 (2004)
Christmas episodes:
– A Christmas Story, S1 (2001)
– Road to Tradition, S3 (2003)
Black-ish
Black-ish stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross in this comedy series (2014–2022) about an upscale couple and their family navigating personal, familial, and sociopolitical issues in their wealthy, suburban community.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Auntsgiving, Season 3 (2016)
Christmas episodes:
– Black Santa/White Christmas, S1 (2014)
– Stuff, S2 (2015)
– Just Christmas Baby, S3 (2016)
– Sugar Daddy, S4 (2017)
– Christmas in Theater Eight, S5 (2018)
– Father Christmas, S6 (2019)
– Compton Around the Christmas Tree, S7 (2020)
The Cosby Show
Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, and a talented ensemble cast star in this very popular 1980s comedy series (1984–1992) about a successful doctor and lawyer who raise their children in Brooklyn, New York.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Bonjour, Sondra, Season 1 (1984)
– Cliff’s Wet Adventure, S6 (1989)
Christmas episodes:
– Father’s Day, S1 (1984)
A Different World
A Different World (1987 – 1993), a spin-off of The Cosby Show, is a comedy series centered on the lives and friendships of students who attend Hillman College.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– If You Like Pilgrim Coladas, Season 2 (1988)
– Faith, Hope and Charity (two-part episode), S6 (1992)
Christmas episodes:
– The Gift of the Magi, S1 (1987)
– For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls, S3 (1989)
– I’m Dreaming of a Dwayne Christmas, S4 (1990)
– Twelve Steps of Christmas, S5 (1991)
– White Christmas, S6 (1992)
Diff’rent Strokes
After his housekeeper passes away, a wealthy bachelor adopts her two young sons from Harlem, bringing them into his affluent world in this popular 1970s/80s comedy series starring Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, and Conrad Bain.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Thanksgiving Crossover, Season 1 (1979)
Christmas episodes:
– Retrospective, S1 (1978)
– Santa’s Helper, S5 (1982)
Everybody Hates Chris
Comedian Chris Rock narrates this 2000s comedy series (2005–2009), which is based on his teenage life with family and friends in 1980s Brooklyn, New York.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Everybody Hates Thanksgiving, Season 2 (2006)
Christmas episodes:
– Everybody Hates Christmas, S1 (2005)
– Everybody Hates Kris, S2 (2006)
– Everybody Hates Kwanzaa, S3 (2007)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith stars as a street-smart teenager born and raised in West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his wealthy uncle and aunt in this comedy series (1990–1996) taking place in the upscale Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Talking Turkey, Season 1 (1990)
– There’s the Rub (two-part episode), S6 (1995)
Christmas episodes:
– Deck the Halls, S1 (1990)
– Will’s Christmas Show, S2 (1991)
– ‘Twas the Night Before Christening, S4 (1993)
– I, Oooh, Baby, Baby, S6 (1995)
Gimme a Break!
Award-winning actress Nell Carter stars in this popular 1980s comedy series (1981 – 1987) as Nell Harper, a strong, no-nonsense housekeeper and surrogate mother figure to a police chief’s family.
Christmas episodes:
– A Kanisky Christmas, Season 3 (1983)
– The Spirit of Christmas, S4 (1984)
– Snippets, S5 (1985)
– Christmas in New York, S6 (1986)
Girlfriends
Four distinct, successful women navigate careers, relationships, and life in Los Angeles in this comedy series (2000 – 2008) starring Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Persia White.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Fried Turkey, Season 1 (2000)
– Porn to Write, S5 (2004)
Christmas episodes:
– You Better Watch Out, S2 (2001)
– Santa v. Monica, S3 (2002)
– Merry Ex-mas, S4 (2003)
– All the Creatures Were Stirring, S5 (2004)
– All God’s Children, S6 (2005)
– I’ll Have a Blue Line Christmas, S7 (2006)
– Deck the Halls with Bags and Folly, S8 (2007)
Good Times
Esther Rolle and John Amos lead a talented ensemble cast in this groundbreaking 1970s comedy series (1974 -1979), about the Evans family, a working-class family in Chicago.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Grandpa’s Visit, Season 4 (1976)
Christmas episodes:
– Sometimes There’s No Bottom in the Bottle, S2 (1974)
– Penny’s Christmas, S5 (1977)
– The Traveling Christmas, S6 (1978)
New Year’s Eve episodes:
– A Place to Die, S3 (1975)
In Living Color
Created by comedian Keenen Ivory Wayans, this very popular 1990s sketch comedy series originally aired on the Fox television network (1990 – 1994), launching the careers of many future stars, including Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, and various members of the Wayans family (Damon, Kim, Shawn, and Marlon).
Thanksgiving sketches:
– Anton’s Thanksgiving, Season 2 (1990)
– Mr & Mrs Brooks’ Thanksgiving Dinner, S4 (1992)
– Men on Cooking, S4 (1992)
Christmas sketches:
– Cephus & Reesie: The Christmas Album, S2 (1990)
– Homey D. Clown: Homey Claus, S2 (1990)
– Ice Poe: An Ice Poe Christmas, S4 (1992)
– Benita Butrell: Holiday Volunteer, S4 (1992)
– Cephus and Reesie: Tunes for Tots, S4 (1992)
– Al MacAfee: How MacAfee Stole Christmas, S4 (1992)
– The Dysfunctional Home Show: Belated Christmas Special, S4 (1993)
Insecure
This comedy-drama series (2016 – 2021) follows the misadventures of Issa Dee (portrayed by Issa Rae) and her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they navigate relationships, life, and career in Los Angeles.
Thanksgiving sketches:
– Lowkey Thankful, Season 4 (2020)
The Jamie Foxx Show
Actor/comedian Jamie Foxx stars in this comedy series (1996 – 2001) about an aspiring entertainer working in his family’s Los Angeles hotel to support his dreams.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– A Thanksgiving to Remember, Season 1 (1996)
– Too Much Soul Food, S2 (1997)
Christmas episodes:
– Christmas Day-Ja Vu, S3 (1998)
The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs, and a strong ensemble cast star in this very popular 1970s/early 1980s comedy series (1975–1985), focusing on a prosperous couple who live in an upscale, high-rise building in New York City. The Jeffersons, a spin-off of the comedy series All in the Family, originally aired on the CBS television network for 11 seasons. As of January 2026, The Jeffersons is the longest-running American television series with a predominantly Black cast.
Christmas episodes:
– A Christmas Wedding, Season 3 (1976)
– 984 W. 124th Street, Apt 5C, S4 (1977)
– George Finds A Father, S5 (1978)
– All I Want for Christmas, S7 (1980)
– Father Christmas, S10 (1983)
Living Single
Starring Erika Alexander, Kim Coles, Kim Fields, Queen Latifah, T.C. Carson, and John Henton, this popular 1990s comedy series (1993–1998) focuses on six upwardly mobile friends living in a New York City as they navigate life, relationships, and careers.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Love Takes a Holiday, Season 1 (1993)
– Thanks for Giving, S2 (1994)
Christmas episodes:
– Living Kringle, S1 (1993)
– Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow…Dammit, S3 (1995)
– Doctor in the House, S4 (1996)
Martin
This popular 1990s comedy series (1992 – 1997) stars Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Carl Anthony Payne II, Thomas Mikal Ford, and Tichina Arnold, focusing on the romantic relationship between Martin (Lawrence) and Gina (Campbell), and their friendships with Cole (Payne II), Tommy (Ford), and Pam (Arnold).
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Thanks for Nothing, Season 2 (1993)
– Feast or Famine, S3 (1994)
Christmas episodes:
– I Saw Gina Kissing Santa Claus, Season 1 (1992)
– Holiday Blues, S2 (1993)
– Go Tell it on the Martin, S3 (1994)
– Swing Thing, S4 (1995)
– Scrooge, S5 (1996)
Sanford and Son
Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson lead a talented ensemble cast in this very popular 1970s comedy series (1972 – 1978), which follows the misadventures of a cantankerous widower (Foxx) and his frustrated son (Wilson) who run a junkyard business in South Central Los Angeles.
Christmas episodes:
– Ebenezer Sanford, Season 5 (1975)
What’s Happening!!
A popular 1970s comedy series (1976 – 1979), following three working-class teenage friends — Raj (Ernest Lee Thomas), Dwayne (Haywood Nelson), and Rerun (Fred Berry) — navigating life, school, friendships, and family in their Los Angeles’ Watts neighborhood.
Thanksgiving episodes:
– Mama, The School Girl, Season 2 (1977)
Christmas episodes:
– Christmas, S1 (1976)
– Positive Identification, S3 (1978)
Movies
THANKSGIVING
American Gangster (2007)
Inspired by the true story of a Harlem drug dealer who rose to power in corrupt 1970s New York, equaling and surpassing the notorious Mafia families with the reach of his empire.
With: Denzel Washington, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr, RZA, Russell Crowe.
Movie Rating: R
Movie Length: 2 hrs, 37 minutes
American Son (2008)
AMERICAN SON (2008)
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With: Nick Cannon,
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Antwone Fisher (2002)
Based on a true story of a Navy sailor who, prone to violent outbursts, is sent to a naval psychiatrist for help and to confront his traumatic childhood.
With: Derek Luke, Denzel Washington
Malcolm David Kelley, Joy Bryant,
Salli Richardson.
Movie Rating: PG-13
Movie Length: 2 hrs
Boomerang (1992)
BOOMERANG (1992)
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The Color Purple (1985)
A drama film based on the 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning book by writer Alice Walker, which focuses on the life of a Black woman in the early 20th century rural South.
With: Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, Adolph Caesar, Adolph Caesar, Rae Dawn Chong, Desreta Jackson, Willard Pugh.
Movie Rating: PG-13
Movie Length: 2 hrs, 34 minutes
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
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Home of the Brave (2006)
HOME OF THE BRAVE
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The Intruder (2019)
THE INTRUDER (2019)
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New Jack City (1991)
New Jack City (1991)
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Royal Family Holiday (2015)
The Royal Family Holiday (2015)
In this comedy-drama film, a couple pretends as if they’re about to get a divorce in order to lure their adult children to come home for Thanksgiving.
With: Debbi Morgan, Richard Lawson, Tichina Arnold, Vivica Fox, Ricky Harris, Romeo Miller.
Movie Rating: not rated, but appropriate audience is age 13 and above
Movie Length: 1 hr, 30 min
She’s Gotta Have It (1986)
She’s Gotta Have It (1986)
A comedy-drama film set in New York City, about an independent, liberated woman who is dating three guys at the same time.
With: Tracy Camilla Johns, Tommy Hicks, Spike Lee, John Canada Terrell, Joie Lee.
Movie Rating: R
Movie Length: 1 hr, 24 min
Soul Food (1997)
Soul Food (1997)
A drama film set in Chicago, about a family who tries to keep things together after the family matriarch’s health begins to fail.
With: Vanessa Williams, Vivica Fox, Nia Long, Irma P. Hall, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Jeffrey Sams, Brandon Hammond.
Movie Rating: R
Movie Length: 1 hr, 55 min
The Temptations (1998)
THE TEMPTATIONS
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Tower Heist (2011)
TOWER HEIST
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What’s Cooking? (2000)
WHAT’S COOKING?
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The Wiz (1978)
In this reimagining of the classic tale The Wizard of Oz, a shy, young woman from Harlem journeys through a vibrant, urban Oz to meet the mysterious Wiz and find her own inner strength.
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CHRISTMAS
Almost Christmas (2016)
A beloved family patriarch, mourning his wife’s recent loss, asks his family for one gift this holiday season: to get along.
With: Kimberly Elise, Danny Glover, Romany Malco, Mo’Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Gabrielle Union.
Movie Rating: PG-13
Movie Length: 1 hr, 51 minutes
Best Man Holiday (2013)
Comedy/Drama. Fifteen years after college, friends reunite for the holidays, only to find past rivalries and rekindled romances heating up the season.
With: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Harold Perrineau, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Melissa De Sousa, Chris Williams.
Movie Rating: R
Movie Length: 2 hrs, 3 minutes
Black Nativity (2013)
Drama/Musical. Based on a play by 20th-century writer Langston Hughes, this musical film tells the story of a Baltimore teenager who travels to New York for Christmas, where he discovers faith and the true meaning of family.
With: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese Gibson, Jacob Latimore, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Mary J. Blige, Nas.
Movie Rating: PG
Movie Length: 1 hr, 33 minutes
Candy Cane Lane (2023)
A man obsessed with winning his neighborhood’s annual Christmas decorating contest makes a pact with an elf, whose spell brings the 12 days of Christmas to life and unleashes unexpected chaos to town.
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Crooklyn (1994)
Set in 1970s Brooklyn, Crooklyn is a lively, coming-of-age story about the Carmichael family — a mother, a jazz musician father, and their five children — as they navigate everyday life and growing up in a busy city neighborhood.
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A Dream for Christmas (1973)
In this family-friendly film set in the 1950s, a Southern minister moves his family from Arkansas to California, when he is brought on to lead a poor, struggling church in the Watts section of Los Angeles.
With: Hari Rhodes, Lynn Hamilton, Beah Richards.
Movie Rating: not rated, but appropriate audience is age 8 and above
Movie Length: 2 hrs
Friday After Next (2002)
In this third installment of the Friday movie series, Craig and Day-Day, working as mall security guards, get robbed of their Christmas presents by a thief dressed as Santa Claus.
With: Ice Cube, Mike Epps, John Witherspoon, Anna Maria Horsford, Clifton Powell, Katt Williams, Terry Crews, Rickey Smiley, Don (DC) Curry, Sommore.
Movie Rating: R
Movie Length: 1 hr, 25 minutes
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
A toy maker, whose happiness disappeared after an apprentice cheated him decades ago, finds hope again when his smart granddaughter comes to stay with him.
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Last Holiday (2006)
In this comedy-drama film, a shy woman decides to live life to the fullest after learning she has a terminal illness.
With: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Giancarlo Esposito, Timothy Hutton.
Movie Rating: PG-13
Movie Length: 1 hr, 52 minutes
The Perfect Holiday (2007)
In this comedy-drama film, a young girl tries to get a department-store Santa to find a new husband for her divorced mom.
With: Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Faizon Love, Charlie Murphy, Katt Wiliams, Jill Marie Jones, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, Pepa.
Movie Rating: PG
Movie Length: 1 hr, 36 minutes
The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
A comedy-drama film about an angel coming to Earth to help a preacher save his church and his family.
With: Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Gregory Hines, Jenifer Lewis, Loretta Devine, Lionel Richie.
Movie Rating: PG
Movie Length: 2 hrs, 3 minutes
Roots: The Gift (1988)
In this third installment of the “Roots” television miniseries franchise by 20th Century author Alex Haley, the setting is December 1775 where a Black man from the North enlists the assistance of Kunta Kinte and Fiddler to help enslaved people escape captivity.
With: LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett, Jr, Avery Brooks, Shaun Cassidy, Kate Mulgrew, Michael Learned.
Movie Rating: not rated, but appropriate audience is age 13 and above
Movie Length: 2 hrs
Royal Family Christmas (2015)
In this comedy-drama sequel to The Royal Family Holiday (scroll down below), adult children strive to reunite their parents in time for Christmas.
With: Debbi Morgan, Richard Lawson, Tichina Arnold, Vivica Fox, Ricky Harris, Romeo Miller.
Movie Rating: not rated, but appropriate audience is age 13 and above
Movie Length: 1 hr, 30 min
This Christmas (2007)
A Los Angeles family reunites during the Christmas holidays for the first time in years.
With: Delroy Lindo, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Regina King, Sharon Leal, Mekhi Phifer, Chris Brown, Laz Alonso, Columbus Short, Lauren London.
Movie Rating: PG-13
Movie Length: 1 hr, 57 min
The Blacklists 