When the snow is falling and scorching chocolate is piping, few actions are extra refreshing and stress-free than plopping down on the sofa and turning on the tv. Some will watch stay Christmas occasions from Rockefeller Heart, whereas others will tune right into a bowl sport. However in case you’re of a sure age, you clearly keep in mind the thrill when Nickelodeon started to roll out its litany of timeless Christmas specials.
From Kenan & Kel within the Nineties to Danny Phantom within the late 2000s, Nickelodeon has entered the pantheon of networks which have constantly rolled out traditional vacation specials. Whereas Nickelodeon’s legacy is cemented, the rating of its greatest vacation season episodes is and can all the time be hotly contested. To not begin a debate on the vacation dinner desk, however listed here are the ten greatest traditional Nickelodeon vacation specials.
10. “Merry Christmas, Kenan” (1996)
Present: Keenan & Kel
Air Date: December 14, 1996
Kel (Kel Mitchell) loves orange soda and Kenan (Kenan Thompson) loves Christmas. He spends all the yr saving cash to purchase a brand new bike and takes an additional job as Santa on the mall to assist get the previous few {dollars} he wants. Nevertheless, his plans are derailed when he comes throughout a brother and sister who dream of an excellent Christmas crammed with presents that their mom can’t afford. In a selfless temper, Kenan makes use of the cash he makes as Santa to shock the youngsters and their mother with presents. Kenan’s upset that he didn’t get the bike he needed, however he is aware of he did the best factor and Santa rewards him with a motorcycle of his personal. As with many Nickelodeon vacation specials, Kenan’s act of giving underscores the significance of household, associates, neighborhood, and giving all through the vacation season.
9. “The Most Horrible X-Mas Ever” (2002)
Present: Invader Zim
Air Date: December 10, 2002
Title two extra idiotically entertaining rivals than Zim (Richard Steven Horvitz) and Dib (Andy Berman). I’ll wait. Whereas I wait, additionally determine why Dib’s dad, Professor Membrane (Rodger Bumpass), named him Dib. Anyway, Zim and Dib’s rivalry takes heart stage when Zim learns in regards to the lure of Santa, kidnaps a person dressed up in a Santa swimsuit and drains his mind. Regular vacation festivities, proper? As soon as Zim drains the person’s mind and learns extra in regards to the lure of Santa, he devises a plan to construct a Santa swimsuit and persuade all of humankind that he’s worthy of following and giving their timeless devotion too. For essentially the most half, it really works and Zim is near bringing all of human type to the Tallest as a way to lengthen his rule. Nevertheless, Dib intervenes and garners the help of his sister, Gaz (Melissa Fahn), and his father, Professor Membrane, and stops Zim earlier than he’s capable of absolutely takeover. Total, it’s a reasonably bizarre storyline for a child’s present in the course of the vacation season, however Invader Zim is at its greatest when it’s bizarre.
8. “Rocko’s Fashionable Christmas” (1994)
Present: Rocko’s Fashionable Life
Air Date: December 1, 1994
Rocko (Carlos Alazraqui) is a greater particular person than most as a result of his grace all through this Christmas particular is unmatched. For practically all the episode, Rocko works to place collectively stunning vacation decorations and host a stunning vacation celebration. As an alternative, his associates deal with him poorly, different characters bully him, and nobody besides a magic elf exhibits as much as his celebration. The elf works his magic and creates a memorable snowfall round Rocko’s home and Rocko’s home solely. When the blizzard leaves an ideal quantity of snow and vacation cheer round his home, Rocko’s associates present up at his entrance door to apologize and take advantage of the vacation celebration. Rocko, being the type soul he’s, lets them in and thanks them for coming.
Present: iCarly
Air Date: December 13, 2008
Timmy Turner (Tara Sturdy) isn’t the one character within the Nickelodeon multiverse to have their goals come true in the course of the vacation season. When Carly’s brother, Spencer (Jerry Trainor), builds an electromagnet Christmas tree that units fireplace to vacation items, Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) needs that her brother was a bit extra regular. Nevertheless, issues aren’t as nice as Carly hoped they’d be. Spencer turns into a “regular” lawyer courting Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer) whereas Freddie (Nathan Kress) not has a crush on Carly, and Sam (Jennette McCurdy) is in a juvenile detention heart. Most shockingly, Carly, Spencer, and Freddie have been by no means associates on this alternate universe and by no means launched a webcast. The weirdness of the episode pays off in the long run as a result of Carly realizes what we’ve all the time recognized: her life is fairly nice as is.
6. “Even Steven” (2001)
Present: As Instructed by Ginger
Air Date: December 10, 2001
As Instructed by Ginger is among the most underrated collection within the Nickelodeon catalog for varied causes, together with its humor and skill to succeed in each younger and older audiences. Living proof, the present’s “Even Steven” vacation particular is immaculate. Within the tertiary plot, Ginger (Melissa Disney) discovers that her grandfather is Jewish and instantly pivots from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah. Her shift from Christmas to Hanukkah occurs so shortly that it causes a rift between her and Dodie (Aspen Miller) as a result of Ginger refuses to go to Dodie’s Christmas celebration and hosts her personal as an alternative. Splitting the room down the center, half of Ginger’s celebration is dedicated to celebrating Hanukkah, and the opposite half is adorned with Christmas decorations.
In the meantime, Hoodsie (Tress MacNeille) is writing letters to Santa, asking him to provide him rhythm for Christmas. Sure, you learn that accurately. He genuinely requested Santa for rhythm, the power to bounce on beat. When Ginger’s brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), finds Hoodsie begging Santa for rhythm, he not solely makes enjoyable of him, but additionally declares that Santa isn’t actual. In consequence, Carl spends the rest of the episode trying to show that Santa is actual. By this effort, he learns that Carl just isn’t a fan of the vacation season as a result of he routinely requested Santa to carry his father house for Christmas as a child, and his dad not often stopped by on the vacations. With this info, Hoodsie runs as much as a person dressed as Santa on the road and asks him to carry Hoodsie’s Dad house for Christmas. Little does Hoodsie know, the person dressed up as Santa is Carl’s dad.
Ultimately, Carl’s dad visits him for Christmas, and whereas they’re speaking within the driveway, a fireplace begins inside as Ginger is internet hosting her vacation celebration. Carl’s dad runs in, places out the hearth, and saves the day, making Ginger understand that a very powerful a part of the vacations is being surrounded by household and associates. And no, Carl doesn’t get rhythm.
5. “Christmas Each Day” (2001)
Present: The Pretty OddParents
Air Date: December 12, 2001
Clichés could also be annoying, however they’ve stood the check of time for a cause. Nevertheless, when an elder mentioned, “Watch out what you want for,” Timmy Turner clearly wasn’t listening. As an alternative, he needed to be taught the arduous method when he advised Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee) and Cosmo (Daran Norris) that he’d prefer it to be Christmas daily. In his head, there’d by no means be college, and he’d get presents each time he wakened. Conversely, Wanda and Cosmo are magically depleted, his dad and mom can’t work, and the opposite holidays turn into envious of Santa Claus. In consequence, Timmy should make a visit as much as the North Pole on their own. Powerful luck for a child who can actually want for no matter he needs each different day of the yr already.
4. “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh” (2008)
Present: Drake & Josh
Air Date: December 5, 2008
Give just a little woman named Mary Alice the very best Christmas ever, or return to jail. That’s primarily the plot of “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh.” Drake (Drake Bell) desperately needs to host a celebration on the rooftop of Josh’s office, Premier Theater. To the shock of nearly everybody, Josh’s boss agrees to let Drake host the celebration so long as he volunteers to decorate up as Santa for youths within the mall. Drake agrees, however issues go haywire when a girl tries to kiss him, and he runs away. Whereas hiding, he runs into just a little woman named Mary Alice (Bailee Madison) and guarantees to provide her the very best Christmas ever.
Drake finishes his shift as Santa and will get to host the celebration in spite of everything, nevertheless it’s reduce quick when a number of uninvited visitors present up, and Josh (Josh Peck) calls the police. Nevertheless, there’s a mixup when the police arrive and Josh will get arrested. Being the great stepbrother he’s, Drake tries to interrupt Josh out of jail. Sadly, Drake will get arrested, too. When Drake and Josh get to talk to a decide, they clarify that they should get out to meet Drake’s guarantees to Mary Alice. The decide releases them, however warns that they are going to be introduced again if they don’t give Mary Alice the very best Christmas ever. No stress, proper?
3. “The Santa Expertise” (1992)
Present: Rugrats
Air Date: December 6, 1992
It might not look like it, however there may be not a lot of a distinction between The Boondocks‘ Huey Freeman (Regina King) and the youngsters of Rugrats. Huey chases Santa across the mall with a BB gun, screaming, “You gon’ pay what you owe.” In the meantime, Tommy (Elizabeth Each day), Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh), and the crew are setting harmful traps for Santa, so they’ll query him about his character.
“The Santa Expertise” kicks off on the mall the place Angelica (Cheryl Chase) bum rushes the road to see Santa and tells Mr. Claus how a lot she wants a dream dollhouse for Cynthia. Whereas Mr. Claus pushed her away, mall workers gave her a field of free toys to apologize for Santa rightfully pushing her away. Even with the free presents, Angelica is ungrateful and doesn’t need them. In the meantime, Tommy and Chuckie are debating whether or not or not Santa is an efficient particular person. You already know, typical child stuff, proper? Tommy is satisfied Santa is a superb man, whereas Chuckie is, in fact, frightened of Saint Nick and thinks he’s a nasty man. Within the kitchen, the dad and mom are having a relatable dialog about their challenges and struggles, attempting to make sure every of their youngsters has an excellent vacation season. Later, the youngsters and fogeys head north to have fun Christmas in a cabin. There, Chuckie and Tommy arrange a booby lure to catch Santa. A lot to their disappointment, the lure solely manages to catch Stu (Jack Riley). Finally, all the pieces seems for the very best as Santa simply rings the entrance doorbell and delivers the presents face-to-face. Angelica will get her doll home, Chuckie determines Santa is an efficient particular person in spite of everything, and the Rugrats get the proper Christmas.
2. “Christmas Who?” (2000)
Present: SpongeBob SquarePants
Air Date: December 6, 2000
When you ask most followers of SpongeBob SquarePants about Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), most would say he’s nearer to being the Grinch than Santa Claus. Nevertheless, “Christmas Who?” proves in any other case.
Spongebob (Tom Kenny) visits Sandy (Carolyn Lawrence) and finds the proud Texan organising Christmas decorations round her home. As an alternative of serving to her, Spongebob freaks out as a result of he thinks the lights and decorations have began a fireplace. It could be practically unattainable to start out a fireplace that far underwater, however I digress. Anyway, Sandy stops him and explains to Spongebob who Santa Claus is and what occurs on Christmas. Excited and enchanted, Spongebob shares the story of Christmas and Santa Claus with practically everybody in Bikini Backside. In consequence, everybody however Squidward sends letters to Santa and spends all night time caroling. When Santa doesn’t present up, everybody calls Spongebob a fraud and mocks him, together with Squidward. Nevertheless, Spongebob turns Squidward’s coronary heart from coal to gold when he offers him a handcrafted clarinet for Christmas in order that he gained’t go with out a present. In return, Squidward attire up as Santa and surprises Spongebob, who’s delighted, and desires him a merry Christmas. Squidward didn’t account for all the different residents of Bikini Backside recognizing him and asking for items. As an alternative of ruining the charade, Squidward finally ends up giving freely practically all the pieces in his house away as a present. Fortunately, Squidward is rewarded when the true Santa Claus sends a letter thanking Squidward for serving to hold the spirit of Christmas alive.
1. “Arnold’s Christmas” (1996)
Present: Hey Arnold!
Air Date: December 11, 1996
“Arnold’s Christmas” just isn’t solely the very best Nickelodeon late-year vacation particular, nevertheless it’s arguably probably the greatest episodes of all the collection. The collection revolves round Arnold (Toran Caudell) trying to drag off a Christmas miracle for his neighbor, Mr. Hyunh (Baoan Coleman). By this endeavor, a lot of Mr. Hyunh’s backstory is revealed, together with the heartbreaking story of how he and his daughter, Mai (Hiep Thi Le), have been separated for greater than 20 years. Whereas Arnold and his greatest good friend, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), fall quick of their quest to seek out Mai and reconnect her with Mr. Hyunh, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) unexpectedly saves the day and will get Mai in contact together with her father. Helga by no means will get the credit score for creating this touching reunion, however she is going to all the time be remembered for being the driving pressure behind probably the most touching moments in Nickelodeon historical past.