It's Christmas!

I'm sure that it used to happen, not sure from how early though. It was odd how they used to do it, as I'm sure there would be ways to hide it with tight shots and only the living room used, but then again, rather than risk it, why not put them all up, tell the audience what's going on, play out Christmassy titles, stings and features.

The thing is that back then it was weird to have Christmas in October, nowadays by October in shops you're sick of Christmas.

Well it's August 1st. So Channel 4 thought it was apt for a Christmas Simpsons.

Showing them in series order.

It's like Friends on E4 - with 3 epiosdes a day now it's Christmas every 9 or 10 days.

This is my point - surely there should be an option to skip this one and keep it for, oh, I don't know, December? When the Argos catalogue advert came on in the break I expected lights and Santa!

Last weekend it was bid tv selling Christmas decorations, now this weekend its price-drops turn!

I saw an Xmas themed PIF on one of the satellite channels last night!

"Keep your family safe this festive season"

Home Improvement Season 1 Christmas episode up on Monday on Virgin1 as well, as it was originally.

I don't have a problem with Christmas episodes being shown throughout the year. I do remember there was a Christmas episode of Kenan & Kel in its first season that Nickelodeon UK refused to show at any time of the year even at Christmas for whatever reason. It ultimately went out on CBBC One and AFAIK it's never been seen since.

Running Christmas episodes not at Christmas is akin to running the Treehouse of Horror series from The Simpsons not at Halloween - planned around Halloween, go into syndication, gets aired at all times of the year. Would those people who object to Christmas showings in July also object to Treehouse of Horror aired away from late October? Or Thanksgiving themed episodes not being aired at all since we don't do Thanksgiving as such in this country?

Linking back to programmes, I remember that the last series of the Saturday Show ended with a Christmas special in September, for the simple reason that they wouldn't be on the air at Christmas (and haven't been on the air since I may add).

I'm not against showing the Christmas eps of things. I suppose it depends on how a channel is airing programmes, if they are airing them in the correct order, such as e4 and friends, it would look stupid to miss out an episode just because there are Christmas decs up in the background.

Indeed, even E4 are showing Christmas and New Year episodes of Friends at the moment.

With some programmes it's easily done but with others there are storylines that continue through that episode. I like how Channel 4 broadcast their repeats in order as it gives those who've never seen them before the chance to watch them properly (for example ER on More4). They even find time to schedule those episodes inappropriate for daytime at night (though you have to remember to keep track of them).

I don't mind watching Christmas-themed episodes when it's not Christmas but likewise can see why they'd be more popular around that time.

And it'll be Christmas again next Saturday too

Christmas on Frasier (Paramount) just now, too.