Original air date: 12/21/2001 (produced in 2000)
Production code: 2ACX-03
Christmas for the Griffins includes Peter accidentally giving the family presents to charity and Lois going insane.
This episode contains examples of:
- Booze Flamethrower: An enraged Lois reacts to Frosty the Snowman wishing her a merry Christmas with one of these.
- Bowdlerization: When Bonnie introduces herself as the Virgin Mary, some syndicated broadcasts eliminate the line, "That's my story and I'm sticking to it."
- Christmas Episode: The series' first.
- Control Freak: Lois goes through excessive demands for the holidays from Peter and the rest of the family, laying it on thick whenever they complain. It seems to be subverted since Lois' festive spirit still perseveres when her plans start to go genuinely wrong, then they run out of paper towels...
- Didn't Think This Through: Peter put a tracking device in Lois' head that would allow him to track her. The problem is that he also put the devices in a bunch of squirrels' heads as well, meaning he can't figure out which dot on the computer represents Lois.
- Digital Piracy Is Evil: Brian explains that the VCR stopped working since Peter tried taping Monday Night Football in a cutaway gag. As soon as Peter tries to record the show on his VCR, armed FBI officers kick down his front door demanding him to present the written consent from ABC and the NFL to record the show. Peter only has consent from the former, and so the FBI destroy his VCR.
- Dumbass Has a Point: Peter, told that KISS Saves Santa will be on again next Christmas, replies "Who knows when that's gonna be?" Network Christmas specials don't always air on the exact same calendar date every year, so his question is actually valid.
- Heroic BSoD: Joe is a mess early on because this time of year marks the anniversary of when he was paralyzed.
- Homemade Sweater from Hell: Brian gets one from Lois:Lois: Brian, you're not wearing the sweater I made you.Brian: Well, y'know, it's a little warm in here...
Lois: Don we now our gay apparel!
Brian: (puts on the very flamboyant sweater) It doesn't get much gayer than this. - Involuntary Smile of Incapacitation: Lois is tranquilized after she goes on a rampage through town and she ends up smiling after falling asleep as she slides off the Christmas tree she climbed on to destroy a star,
and this was after she was brought back to her senses after seeing Stewie play baby Jesus in a Christmas pageant. - Jerkass Has a Point: During Lois's rampage, she gets confronted by Frosty the Snowman (whom she just punched his head off). But what she said at that moment about people being taking their things and others for granted is actually true.Frosty: Hey, lady! You got a problem?Girl: Yeah! All he did was wish you a merry Christmas!Lois: "Wish?" It's easy to wish, but does anyone take responsibility and make it happen? No, you all expect someone else to do it for you, like Santy Claus or Mommy.
- Laser-Guided Karma:
- Because Peter was the designated driver, he doesn't have a hangover the next morning (though the night out was miserably dull as a result). When Brian gets in some dry wit, Peter makes an effective comeback for once:
Brian: It's a Christmas miracle!
Peter: Shouldn't you have your sweater on?
*Brian glares at Peter and puts back on his Homemade Sweater from Hell*- As a result of her rampage, the police hit Lois with enough tranquilliser to stun an elephant, allowing the rest of the family to enjoy their Christmas without any more of her fussing.
- Late to the Realization: Peter realizing that lemon snow cone the guys gave him wasn't lemon.
- Lethally Stupid: A fire breaks out in the kitchen while Brian is the only one home. The first extinguisher he grabs shoots out paper snakes and makes the blaze worse, because Peter got a gag one. When Brian calls him out on this dangerous act of idiocy, Peter vehemently defends caring more about physical comedy than the safety of his loved ones.
- Made of Explodium: When Lois begins scaling up the Christmas tree, a police officer is ready to shoot her down with what Joe assures is just a Tranquilizer Dart. After suddenly patting the officer with gun in hand, he accidentally misfires and hits a car, which explodes. Another shot takes her down as intended, so evidently, that car was a Pinto.
- Misleading Package Size: Brian receives a Christmas present shaped like a wine bottle. He removes the wrapping paper to discover a book.
- Mooning: Stewie does this to an Santa ornament hanging on the tree; thinking it is a hidden surveillance camera.Stewie: Watching to see if I'm naughty are you? (moons on ornament) Well, check this twice!
- Mrs. Claus: She asks KISS to help save her husband from pterodactyls in KISS Saves Santa.
- Rage Breaking Point: Lois' response to there being no paper towels after repeated setbacks ruining Christmas.Lois: You all think Christmas just happens?! You think all this goodwill just falls from the freakin' sky?! WELL, IT DOESN'T! It falls out of my holly-jolly butt! So cook your own damn turkey, wrap your own damn presents, and while you're at it, you can all ride a one-horse open sleigh to Hell!!!
- Running Gag: Brian is pestered about his sweater 3 times during the episode.
- Santa's Existence Clause: Stewie immediately believes what he hears about Santa, only to lose faith when he doesn't get the gift he wanted (plutonium) despite being nice. When he finds the plutonium in a remaining box, he realizes Santa is truly real.
- Saving Christmas: In-universe. Can KISS find Santa Claus and save him from pterodactyls?
- Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: The opening has the Quahog senior citizens displaying Christmas lights on the town's large Christmas tree that say "Young People Suck" and laughing loudly.
- Shout-Out: Stewie does this in the beginning of his speech at the Christmas pageant:Stewie: Good evening. I'm playing the role of Jesus, a man once portrayed on the big screen by Jeffrey Hunter. You may remember him as the actor who was replaced by William Shatner on Star Trek. Apparently, Mr. Hunter was good enough to die for our sins, but not quite up to the task of seducing green women.
- Suddenly Shouting: Joe's sensitivity about his disability reaches a fever pitch while the Griffins and the Swansons are visiting and sharing gingerbread cookies.
- Take That, Audience!: During the Christmas pageant Peter makes a crass remark about Jesus. One audience member is shown to be outraged and prepares to do something before his friend tells him there's nothing he can do. He solemnly accepts this and concedes he has no other option than to grow a sense of humor.
- The Un-Smile: Stewie's photo with Santa.
- Waxing Lyrical: Lois tells Stewie to behave on Christmas as Santa is watching.Stewie: What the devil do you mean, "watching"?
Lois: Well, honey, Santa's making a list and checking it twice.
Meg: He sees you when you're sleeping.
Chris: And he knows when you're awake. *Beat* I almost caught him last year. But he's magic! - Yellow Snow: Peter notes that he doesn't want another "lemon snowcone" since the last one didn't taste like lemon at all.
