The blending of multiple holidays, especially for families of mixed faiths, can be really helpful in real life ... and it can also make for some pretty excellent television. Bringing two holidays together is the cornerstone of one of the most memorable episodes of the 2000s teen soap The O.C. In the first season episode "The Best Chrismukkah Ever," the show introduces a new, modern holiday concocted by Seth Cohen (Adam Brody). As the son of a Jewish father, Sandy (Peter Gallagher), and a Protestant mother, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), Seth basically combines Judaism and Christianity, and his creation comes with all kinds of ingenious touches, especially Seth's rule that the holiday is comprised of eight days of presents followed by one day of tons of presents.
Elsewhere in Orange County, however, drama is brewing, perfectly balancing some of the episode's more whimsical moments with high stakes. During a trip to the mall, Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) discovers that his wealthy but troubled girlfriend, Marissa (Mischa Barton), has been shoplifting and drinking heavily, leading to a dark confrontation. Meanwhile, Seth's holidays aren't going entirely smoothly either, as he must choose between quick-witted bombshell Summer (Rachel Bilson) and the smart, slightly nerdy Anna (Samaire Armstrong), leading to a showdown between the two girls. Add in a spirited face-off between Sandy and his sinister father-in-law, magnate Caleb Nichol (Alan Dale), and you've got a perfectly balanced holiday episode on your hands.
