‘Bob’s Burgers’ Has Revived the Holiday Special

The length of individual television seasons in recent years has been dwindling. The rise of streaming has shaved down the number of episodes a season has, dwindling from around 20 episodes in the standard September-to-May timeframe to 13 or less. Those cuts have also rolled over to network television, too, and in many ways, that’s a good thing: Fewer episode means that storylines can be condensed, ultimately making more effective television that resonates with audiences—as opposed to feeling like writers are throwing every last idea they have at the wall to see what sticks.

There’s just one major loss that’s felt when television seasons have these shortened runs: holiday episodes.

Holiday episodes used to be my most anticipated television events of the year. I know I wasn’t the only person who segued into their Fridays with a night of the NBC Comedy Thursday block. Nothing feels quite so delightful as turning on the television to see that both you and Betty Suarez are both preparing for Christmas. Planning a watch (or rewatch) of your favorite show’s holiday fare is uniquely soothing to no end. Buffy and The Simpsons fans have its Halloween episodes, Gossip Girl fans have its Thanksgiving episodes, and almost every series has offered something to return to annually for the December holidays.

Read more at The Daily Beast.