Why Was There Only One ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Christmas Episode?
What To Know
- The Andy Griffith Show aired only one Christmas episode, “The Christmas Story,” during its first season in 1960, which has since become a holiday classic.
- The episode centers on Andy turning a jail sentence into a compassionate holiday gathering, ultimately including even the curmudgeonly Ben Weaver in the festivities.
- “The Christmas Story” remains widely available for viewing on multiple streaming platforms and in various DVD collections.
It may be surprising that a wholesome show like The Andy Griffith Show aired only one Christmas episode during its eight-year run — but that’s exactly what happened. The season one episode, titled “The Christmas Story,” premiered on December 19, 1960, and has since become one of the most beloved episodes of all time, especially during the holidays.
Although no official explanation was ever given for why the series never produced another holiday outing, most television historians note that early seasons didn’t prioritize annual Christmas specials, especially for shows already built around self-contained moral tales.
What happened in the Andy Griffith Show Christmas episode?
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The story centers on Mayberry’s resident curmudgeon, storeowner Ben Weaver, who insists that Andy lock up harmless moonshiner Sam Muggins right on Christmas Eve. Andy goes along with the request, but in classic Mayberry fashion, he finds a way to balance justice with compassion. If Sam is going to be in jail, his wife, Bess, and their children should be with him, since they knew about the moonshine. From there, the courthouse slowly transforms into a full holiday gathering, complete with a decorated tree and a homemade feast.
Everett Collection
Watching from outside, Weaver decides to get himself arrested so he can join in on the festivities. By the time Andy finally brings Weaver into the jail, the old man has collected a suitcase full of gifts from his own store and ends up celebrating right alongside the family he was so determined to punish.
For fans wanting to revisit it, “The Christmas Story” is currently available on Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV, and other platforms that stream classic CBS programming. It also appears in most Season 1 DVD collections and in holiday-themed compilation sets.
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Home For The Holidays
November 2021
Celebrate the holidays with your favorite classic stars!
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