As a TV critic, I’ve definitely noticed how often New Year‘s Eve pops up in our favorite shows! The holiday season is already packed with celebrations – Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and then, of course, New Year’s. It’s a natural fit for TV, and after the buzz around Thanksgiving and Christmas, New Year’s Eve always feels like the next big event. Over the years, some truly iconic shows have delivered fantastic, often surprising, episodes centered around the holiday. It’s always fun to see how they ring in the new year on screen.
Many beloved New Year’s Eve episodes appear in classic TV shows – from comedies to dramas. While most center around parties, some have taken a different approach, making them truly memorable. However you plan to ring in 2026, these New Year’s specials offer a chance to revisit some of television’s most heartwarming and festive moments.
10) Seinfeld Season 8, Episode 20, “The Millennium”
Between 1989 and 1998, Seinfeld became a hugely popular and influential American sitcom, and the episode “The Millennium” is one of its most famous. Though it originally aired in May 1997, the episode revolves around Kramer and Newman’s competitive attempts to throw New Year’s Eve parties for the year 2000. The episode highlights the characters’ often-selfish personalities and leads to a series of funny and inventive conflicts as they try to one-up each other’s celebrations.
9) Frasier Season 7, Episode 12, “RDWRER”
The Frasier episode “RDWRER,” which originally aired on January 6, 2000, features Frasier, Niles, and Martin Crane on a road trip to Idaho for a New Year’s celebration. The episode humorously portrays the stress and family dynamics often experienced during the holidays, while also including exciting moments like police chases and cases of mistaken identity. Unique for the series, the episode wisely focuses solely on the core family trio, creating a memorable and intimate New Year’s experience.
8) Absolutely Fabulous Season 3, Episode 2, “Happy New Year”
In the Absolutely Fabulous episode “Happy New Year,” Edina and Patsy’s New Year’s Eve rave plans are derailed when Patsy’s estranged sister, Jackie, unexpectedly shows up. Jackie, who used to be a wild partygoer, is now down on her luck and needs assistance. After Jackie attempts to steal from Edina, Patsy asks her to leave. They then realize they’ve missed the party and end up spending New Year’s Eve at home. This episode, typical of Ab Fab, blends its usual character-based humor with genuine emotional depth, offering both touching moments and big laughs.
7) 30 Rock Season 4, Episode 9, “Klaus and Greta”
The 30 Rock episode “Klaus and Greta” is a funny and surprisingly touching look at New Year’s Eve. The story follows the chaotic adventures of the show’s characters at two different parties. We see Jack reflect on a past relationship with Nancy, discovering she may still have feelings for him, and Liz unintentionally reveals a family secret, leading to her cousin moving in. Adding to the fun is a hilarious guest appearance by James Franco, who finds himself in romantic entanglements with both Jenna and Liz. As one of television’s most beloved comedies, 30 Rock delivers a uniquely quirky and memorable New Year’s experience in this episode.
6) Peep Show Season 7, Episode 6, “New Year’s Eve”
The Peep Show episode “New Year’s Eve” is a classic example of the show’s humor. It follows Mark and Jeremy as they hilariously and awkwardly pursue Mark’s crush, Dobby, hopping from one New Year’s Eve party to another – starting at Johnson’s, then Hans’ (which is even wilder than usual), Suze’s, and finally Gerrard’s. Along the way, they stumble into several mishaps, culminating in Mark making a desperate move to ask Dobby to move in and Jez getting into a fight. The episode really highlights Mark’s sad and hopeless personality, and it also brings back a lot of familiar faces from throughout the series.
5) BoJack Horseman Season 3, Episode 8, “Old Acquaintance”
The animated show BoJack Horseman is widely praised for its thoughtful take on difficult subjects. The episode “Old Acquaintance,” which centers on Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter’s New Year’s Eve trip to visit his family, perfectly showcases this. The episode explores themes of change and New Year’s resolutions, but like much of BoJack Horseman, those attempts at self-improvement ultimately fail.
4) The Office Season 7, Episode 13, “Ultimatum”
Holly Flax reappeared in The Office during the “Classy Christmas” episode, revealing she’d given her boyfriend an ultimatum: propose by the New Year or they’d split up. When she returned in the January 20, 2011 episode, “Ultimatum,” still not engaged, Michael Scott was overjoyed. Meanwhile, Pam attempted to have everyone write New Year’s resolutions, which led to some funny scenes – like Kevin being made to eat broccoli and Creed unexpectedly nailing a cartwheel. “Ultimatum” is considered a standout episode of The Office and was a fitting way to ring in the New Year.
3) Doctor Who, “The End of Time — Part 2”
Following the first part of “The End of Time,” which saw the Doctor and Wilfred Mott investigating the Master, the second part marked David Tennant’s final appearance as the Doctor in Doctor Who. Though the Doctor and the Master worked together to prevent the Time Lords from returning and saved the Earth, the Doctor ultimately sacrificed himself to save Wilf from deadly radiation. The episode then featured a deeply moving goodbye as the Doctor revisited old friends before regenerating into a new form – Matt Smith. Highly emotional and considered one of the most memorable episodes of Doctor Who, “The End of Time — Part 2” prioritized powerful storytelling over New Year’s festivities.
2) That 70s Show Season 8, Episode 22, “That 70s Finale”
After eight seasons, the beloved sitcom That ’70s Show ended its run in May 2006 with the episode “That ’70s Finale.” The finale was cleverly set on New Year’s Eve, 1979, allowing the characters to reflect on the past decade as Red and Kitty dealt with their upcoming move. The episode concluded with the group celebrating the arrival of 1980, leaving viewers with a satisfying sense of closure. It was a beautifully crafted finale that perfectly blended nostalgia with optimism, making it an episode fans can enjoy repeatedly.
1) Friends Season 5, Episode 11, “The One with All the Resolutions”
Though “That ’70s Finale” feels like a true ending to a series, the Friends episode “The One with All the Resolutions” from season 5 is packed with some of the funniest and most unforgettable scenes in television history. Set as the characters ring in the new year 1999, the episode revolves around New Year’s resolutions: Chandler tries to stop making jokes at others’ expense, Joey attempts to learn guitar with Phoebe’s help, Rachel vows to stop gossiping, and Ross challenges himself to try something new each day – including a disastrous attempt to wear leather pants. The episode also reveals Rachel’s discovery of Chandler and Monica’s relationship, which creates some great storylines for future episodes. It perfectly captures the spirit of New Year’s and might even inspire your own resolutions.
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2025-12-30 20:19