25 best Christmas TV episodes to watch this holiday season
Ugly Betty – “Lose The Boss”
Ugly Betty may have been a show that was canceled far too early, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have any holiday episodes for us to cherish for years to come. On the show’s first season, they show Christmastime at Mode on the episode “Fake Plastic Snow,” with Betty struggling to find her replacement for Daniel’s assistant and her feelings with Walter on top of having to plan the Mode Christmas party, Amanda struggling with her feelings for Daniel and wanting the assistant position, and Daniel dealing with his budding relationship with Sofia (guest-star Salma Hayek). But that’s not the episode we’re interested in.
One of the best Christmas moments on Ugly Betty wasn’t even on a Christmas episode, it takes place the day after Thanksgiving, and one episode before “Fake Plastic Snow.” The episode begins with Daniel waking up hungover at Betty’s after he drunk himself stupid the night before because of Sofia running away with her fiancé, Hunter. Betty has to go into the office — despite it being a holiday — to get some work done, and fill in for Daniel (who she lets sleep a little longer at her place, warning her dad to be nice to him).
Betty ends up dealing with a crisis at work because a huge celeb couple — Tim and Chloe — want to do the big reveal of their newborn baby, Chutney, on the cover of Mode. Betty has to cover for Daniel until he feels better enough to drag his hungover butt into the office. Meanwhile, Daniel tries to sneak out of Betty’s until Ignacio insists her stays for breakfast. The rest of the day, he gets to experience what real family Christmas preparations are like with the Suarez clan.
Daniel buys the family a huge, beautiful Christmas tree after he overhears Hilda saying they couldn’t afford one this year. Daniel entrusts Betty with the Baby Chutney photoshoot while he learns all about the Suarez family history through their homemade Christmas ornaments. He never had a typical family growing up, unless you consider his alcoholic mother Claire falling into the Christmas tree a cherished holiday memory, but his day with the Suarez gang opens his eyes to a future he never knew he wanted.
Betty gets in over her head with the Tim and Chloe situation, until Daniel comes up with the perfect idea: a real, family Christmas photoshoot with the celeb couple… at Betty’s cozy Queens home. This episode solidifies the show’s message about the importance of family, one of the recurring themes throughout the series, and it’s bound to warm your heart at least a little bit.