TV Characters Infamous for Their Hatred of Christmas: Seinfeld and Beyond
Being a Christmas grinch isn’t limited to films; many beloved TV series have featured characters infamous for their aversion to all things Santa.
The Big Bang Theory showcased this through Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), whose past experience led him to distrust the holiday season.
“You asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I told you, ‘My Pop-Pop,’ because that was the year my grandfather died,” Cooper shared on the popular CBS series while engaging in a Dungeon & Dragons game with a Santa character. “I missed him and wished to have him back. Instead, I received Lincoln Logs.”
Fans learned more about Cooper’s backstory in the prequel Young Sheldon. The series has since expanded into Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and a forthcoming spinoff in development at Max.
On Seinfeld, George (Jason Alexander) took great pains to keep Festivus a secret from Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and Kramer (Michael Richards). This concept was inspired by one of the show’s writers and evolved into a beloved episode.
“That’s the thing about Seinfeld stories; the real ones are always the best ones. Sometimes, there’s a nuance to reality that is just perfect,” executive producer Jeff Schaffer stated in a 2017 interview with Uproxx. “We could have brainstormed for a billion years and never invented Festivus. It’s absurd, hilarious, and wonderfully disturbing. It’s fantastic.”
Keep scrolling to discover more TV characters who dislike Christmas:
Sheldon Cooper (‘The Big Bang Theory’)
Sheldon’s primary issue wasn’t Christmas in itself but rather with Santa Claus. After encountering Santa at the mall as a child and not having his wish fulfilled, Sheldon decided to forgo the entire holiday.
Britta Perry (‘Community’)
For those who might have forgotten, Britta was very vocal about her distaste for Christmas — primarily due to her religious beliefs, or lack thereof.
Adrian Monk (‘Monk’)
Tony Shalhoub’s legendary character turned away from Christmas following a holiday season when he received just a single walkie-talkie from his father.
Frank Reynolds (‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’)
Dee and Dennis frequently missed out on Christmas joy because Frank would treat himself to fantastic gifts instead of sharing, embodying the ultimate Scrooge.
Donna Noble (‘Doctor Who’)
After disappearing from her wedding on Christmas Eve, Donna expressed her disdain for the holiday to the Tenth Doctor, stating she would prefer a honeymoon in Morocco over partaking in holiday festivities.
Perry Cox (‘Scrubs’)
J.D. (Zach Braff) discovered that Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) wasn’t fond of Christmas, but no clear reason was ever disclosed.
Frank Costanza (‘Seinfeld’)
Not only did George’s father Frank (Jerry Stiller) reject Christmas, but he also invented Festivus to provide an alternative celebration for those with similar beliefs.
Sue Sylvester (‘Glee’)
Similarly, viewers never received a satisfactory explanation for Sue’s aversion to Christmas. However, various scenes across the series illustrated her efforts to ruin the holiday spirit for everyone.
