Adult Adam: Back in the '80s, my mom always loved
celebrating Hanukkah.
Merry Hanukkah.
It was an over-the-top spectacle
that would rival any Christmas. [ Laughs ]
Yeah, baby!
And now that there was a new Goldberg in the house,
my mom was ready for it to be the best Hanukkah ever.
Until...
What in the holly jolly hell?
Can someone explain to me the meaning of this?
Aww! Aww.
It's Mrs. Claus.
Squeeze her cookie-baking hand.
[ "Deck the Halls" plays ]
What a delight.
Is that a xylophone or a marimba?
What it is is sacrilege.
We are a Hanukkah family!
Calm down, Golda Meir.
The baby just likes her because she's soft. It's no biggie.
By placing Santa's gal pal in the crib of my grandschmoo,
you are disrespecting the holiday of our people.
Please. You don't even know what Hanukkah's about.
Of course I do!
Yeah, I'm not talking about the menorah
or the inflatable dreidel on the lawn
that Barry always ends up getting in a fight with.
I mean the real story of Hanukkah.
Let me just gather my thoughts for a minute
because I have so many specific, clear ones.
You know what would be fun? Blind folds.
Boys, tell Erica the true meaning of Hanukkah.
No problem. Easy peasy.
It begins in ancient times.
Moses led our people to the championships.
And I'm not talking about Moses Malone.
This guy couldn't even dunk.
No.
It all started
because there were some bad dudes
being jerks to our distant --
and let's be honest, gross and sweaty -- ancestors.
A beard in the desert? No, thank you.
Such a bad start.
I don't want to get bogged down in the details.
I think it's safe to say you didn't.
Don't forget, our good guys received
a huge treasure of chocolate money,
and they were like, "Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah. This tastes good."
Wow. Just wow.
By the way, Erica, the money is called gelt.
Okay, great work, everyone.
Proud moment for our people.
We're officially keeping Lady Santa.
Um, I'm the only homemaker of the holiday season. [ "Deck the Halls" plays ]
Aww, it wouldn't be Hanukkah without a physical altercation. Let go.
'Tis the season for mother-daughter wrestling.
I also bought a dreidel. Anyone?
Stop it! [ Laughs ] Yeah!
♪ I'm twisted up inside ♪
♪ But nonetheless, I feel the need to say ♪
-- Captions by VITAC --
♪ I don't know the future ♪
♪ But the past keeps getting clearer every day ♪
It was December 7, 1980-something,
and it was closing time at the diner.
Man, I only made 17 bucks in tips tonight.
Happy holidays from Reagan's America.
'Sup with you and Carmen?
Oh, I-I don't know.
We haven't talked that much
since that night I slept at her place.
You slept over and didn't talk to her after?
Bro. I have never respected you before this moment.
I-I just passed out on her couch.
Oh, no!
Maybe she's upset because I didn't fold the blanket after.
What a rude house guest! Dude.
You literally ruin every story, even the interesting ones.
But she keeps peeking over and smiling.
♪♪
[ Chuckles ]
Good. Very casual.
Why would she be interested in me?
'Cause you're nothing like the bad boys she's used to dating.
You're actually a little sweetie pie.
It's disgusting, but she likes what she likes.
Now go ask her out. Come on.
Hey, Carmen. What's good...
in the hood?
[ Chuckles ]
Now, I feel like we haven't talked in a while.
Well, I guess things have been busy,
what with the holidays and the excitement
about the closing of the calendar year.
♪♪
Whoa. [ Chuckles ]
Uh, what was that for?
Mistletoe.
Oh! Thank you, magical Christmas vegetation!
[ Laughs ] You are too cute.
So, um, you think, uh, maybe --
and you're free to say no, I won't be upset.
I mean, I will, but that's not your problem --
Are you asking me out?
Yyyyy-nnnnnnn-- Yes?
[ Laughs ]
It took you long enough.
Well, first eggnog's on me
because people have been crazy generous with their tips.
I don't mean to objectify you,
but I think you're being rewarded
because you're so pretty.
You think I'm pretty?
Oh, wow, I was accidentally smooth.
I mean -- Yeah, girl. [ Laughs ]
You fine.
Shh.
Mistletoe.
♪♪
While things were looking up with Carmen,
my mom was giving Lou and Linda
the lowdown on her big threat to Hanukkah.
Thank you for convening for our first ever
Council of Grandparents meeting.
That sounds like nonsense,
but you made coffee cake, so I'm here.
I found this monstrosity in Muriel's crib!
Is that Mrs. Garrett from "The Facts of Life"?
No. Are you sure?
She's got that apron.
Can we go one day without
you talking about Mrs. Garrett?
Here's a fact of life --
No.
It's Mrs. Claus. Of the North Pole Clauses?
Our children bought this for our granddaughter,
and despite my protestations, she is keeping it.
Oh, no, she's not! Why not?
This toy is a gateway to Christmas.
Thank you.
First the baby loves this old lady,
next thing you know, she's making gingerbread houses
and talking lovingly about Connecticut.
And then we've lost her forever.
Because of a toy?
They have better music.
They get to put trees in their houses.
Oh! Spiral cut ham!
My God, that baby is doomed.
Maybe Muriel could have a little bit of Christmas.
My cousin's gynecologist's daughter
celebrated Christmas once
and got all caught up in the spirit.
Well, she fell off a ladder hanging ornaments,
broke her pelvis,
and now she water-skis from a special chair.
So she's still kinda doing it?
Our people don't water-ski, Linda!
I don't care how many pelvises you have.
We have to put a stop to this, but how?
Maybe the toy goes missing.
Mm-hmm.
Babies lose things all the time.
No, they don't. She lives in a crib.
Listen to me very carefully, Linda.
Mrs. Kringle here is gonna sleep with the fishes.
Is that supposed to be menacing?
Because it looks like you ate a bad egg.
Lou scares no one, but the sentiment is right.
Yay! We're gonna whack a child's toy!
[ Laughs ] Ho, ho, ho.
While the grandparents were planning a hit,
Dave Kim and I were hitting the town.
Carmen just walked up to me in the diner
and had to have me.
That's remarkable.
Even as I hear it a third time.
Sorry. How's your romantic life at NYU?
My roommate seems to be getting tons of action.
Sometimes I wake up to his guest's enthusiastic noises,
so I'm kinda part of it.
Oh, balls.
Balls, indeed.
It was my ex-girlfriend, and she was headed right for me.
Hey, guys. Brea!
I didn't know you were back from Brown yet.
Sorry. I-I was gonna call you.
Joanne picked me up from the train station
and we just came straight here.
I wasn't aware you two were
"get each other from the train station" type homies.
Well, when you date a Goldberg, you're homies for life.
You know, 'cause they crazy.
[ Both laugh ]
[ Laughs ] Good stuff.
♪♪
Sure, it was awkward running into my ex,
but we seemed to be in a good place.
Brea! Or so I thought.
Hey, bro. I'm Kirk, Brea's boyfriend.
My world was upside down, and I needed answers.
She has a boyfriend?!
And you knew?!
You and Brea aren't together anymore.
Broken up, split, nada, no moresies.
I knew this would happen.
I just thought it would be in a distant future
where there are flying cars
and love is just a pill you take.
But it's now. Today.
Barry, did you know about Kirk?
I'm meeting him tonight. Tonight?
Everyone is moving so fast.
Relax, it's just dinner at a fast-casual restaurant.
My brother is double-dating with my girlfriend?
Ex-girlfriend!
Dissolved, terminated, undone, splintered,
poof, the Grand Canyon.
But Brea and I still talk all the time.
Why hasn't she mentioned him?
Maybe because she knew you would act all nuts,
like you're doing now.
You know what? Don't worry, bro.
I'm Team Adam.
I'm gonna destroy this kid tonight.
Thank you! Come again?
I'm sorry, Joanne, but it is my fraternal duty to humiliate
and debase his ex-paramour's current steady.
Whatever. I'm getting two wines.
Thanks, Bar. You're finally a good person.
While I was anxious for Barry to bring down Kirk,
the grandparents were trying to keep Hanukkah alive.
Oh, hey, Mom and Dad.
Didn't know you were here.
Do we need a reason for hanging out?
We're just enjoying some of Beverly's...
periodicals.
Fun stuff. I'm going to change the baby.
Is it weird that I love her little tushie so much?
No, it is not weird. [ Chuckles ]
[ Muriel coos ]
[ Distorted "Deck the Halls" plays ]
Do you hear something?
Yeah. What is that?
♪♪
What the hell? Mrs. Claus!
Okay. Which one of you made Santa single?
Damn it, Linda!
You were supposed to rip the music box out of her belly
so she'd stay quiet!
Why am I on dismemberment duty?
Okay, this is very, very dark.
It doesn't matter.
What matters is that this family
is not in the market for any new traditions.
Last time I checked, you weren't in charge
of how we raise our baby.
No, you are not.
And maybe we don't even know how we want to raise our child yet.
No, we do not.
What are you saying?
What I'm saying is, you may not be in the market
for new traditions, but we are.
May the best holiday win.
♪♪
Oh! I hate how cute she looks in that Santa suit!
My mom thought that Erica's love for Christmas
would be a phase, but instead, she doubled down...
[ Dramatic music plays ]
Bah humbug!
...even reading Muriel a Dr. Seuss Christmas classic.
"And the Grinch grabbed the tree and he started to shove,
when he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove."
[ Muriel babbles ]
Oh, no! That Grinch is stealing Christmas.
What kind of monster would deny anyone Christmas?
And it didn't stop at the Grinch.
♪ Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy ♪
♪ O, tidings of comfort and joy ♪
Erica, I just love your Christmas spirit.
Oh, yep. I'm here for all the right reasons.
What an odd and worrying thing to say.
[ Tires squeal ]
[ Horn honks ]
Oh, hi, Mom! Check us out!
Grandma Ginzy is embracing us with songs and merriment.
No, no, no! No, no, no, no.
I'm not part of this! [ Engine revving ]
The only baby in my life is Jesus!
Please don't hurt me! [Bleep]
Erica had officially gone too far.
So my mom decided to fight fire with religious fire.
Hello, wayward sheep.
What's going on here?
And who's our yarmulked guest?
This is Rabbi Adler.
I thought I'd invite him over for the first night of Hanukkah.
Fifth. Get on with it.
Tell us about all the delicious food we can't eat, padre.
Well, I'd start with the shrimp parmesan
your mother served me.
Beverly: God forgives!
But you should know, Erica was singing noels
with the people that buy all the poinsettias.
Okay, I'm so confused.
What's going on here, Dad?
We all made a very generous donation
to the temple on Muriel's behalf.
They're finally gonna get to reseal that parking lot.
So while we were having a date night,
you were indoctrinating our child?
Well, I gotta hand it to you.
It was a nice move,
but I'm afraid you're a little too late.
What does that mean?
It meant that Erica had already gotten help
turning Muriel's room into a Christmas wonderland.
[ Humming ]
Virginia Gregory Kremp!
Okay, Erica asked me to do this,
and it's the season for giving, so I had to.
I'm so scared.
We've made our choice.
Our child is a Christmas baby now.
[ Gasps ]
I should skedaddle.
Thank you for the new driveway.
Happy Hanu-- Holidays.
Yep, Erica had created Christmas cheer
in the Goldberg house.
Meanwhile, Barry was determined to destroy Kirk.
Ooh. I'm sorry, friend. Oh!
I almost made you trip so badly,
no woman could love or respect you.
No worries.
But that was gonna be harder than he thought.
Fun idea -- Should we get all 27 cheesecakes?
That's not a fun idea.
♪♪
That's a perfect one, Kirk.
Hello, dummies.
You can't get all the cheesecakes.
That's like $200.
Despite Barry's best efforts to make life hell for Kirk,
it wasn't happening... [ Laughter ]
...because Kirk was kinda great.
I can't tell you how much I admire
that you're studying to be a doctor.
Oh. Y-You could try.
[ Both laugh ]
Cheers.
And specifically,
he was Barry's kind of great.
You are so much more jacked than me.
Eh, you're squeezing too hard, but yeah.
And finally...
Ninjas are by far the warriors that I respect the most.
After dinner, we'll put on black pajamas
and pretend to kill a shogun.
Yeah! Yes!
Yep, Barry's feelings for Brea's new beau
were not what I expected.
I love Kirk.
Whatever. He's just a rebound.
He's not even Brea's type.
Adam, look at me. He's everybody's type.
Sorry, bud, but maybe you should give him a chance.
He's coming with Brea to the JTP's holiday party.
You mean the thing I'm definitely not going to now?
Then you'll be missing out on a lot of funny Kirk stories.
One time, he jumped so high, he almost touched a branch.
He tells it better.
[ Scoffs ] You guys have fun.
I'll be home, imagining the worst.
Adam, you don't have to go to the party alone.
Why don't you invite that girl from the diner?
Carmen. Of course.
She's as pretty as Kirk is.
And once Brea sees her, we'll both be miserable!
[ Laughs ] It's a perfect plan.
As I was excited to ruin Brea's relationship with Kirk,
Erica was disappointed to find Christmas erased
from the baby's nursery.
Mom!
You just couldn't help yourself, could you?
Excuse me?
Sure, I got a little carried away,
but this is too far!
Well, that certainly does sound like me,
but I don't know what you're talking about.
You ripped down all of the baby's decorations.
You're the Grinch who stole Christmas.
Erica, I didn't so it. I swear.
Stop. It was me, okay?
I'm the Grinch.
Everyone happy?
With that, Geoff had spilled his secret.
Meanwhile, it was time for my plan to take down Kirk --
a secret gift for Brea
that would remind her of everything we had.
Hey, everyone. I'd like you to meet Carmen.
Barry: Welcome. Hey.
Is this one of those "Can't Buy Me Love" situations
where you're paying her to be your girlfriend
with the earnings from your successful mowing business?
[ Laughs ] No, it's not.
Didn't hurt to ask.
In fact, it did.
Alright, everybody's here. Ruffles are on our one plate.
Yankee Swap time! Whoo!
So everyone takes a number, and put your presents on the table.
Yankee Swap?
It's just a way for Barry and his cheap buddies
to get out of buying everyone a gift.
Got it. Barry: Alright.
Now, if your present is awesome, you can keep it.
But if your present is trash, you can steal someone else's.
Lastly, if your present is stolen, you can pick a new one.
Who's got number one?
Ooh! I do!
Let's go!
Ah! "The Shining" by Stephen King.
Well, the movie was hilarious,
so let's see what chuckles the book brings.
Words on paper? Lame. Who's next?
I'm the deuce.
[ Paper ripping ]
Oh! A Discman?
No way. Oh!
I bought that, Kirk.
I'm the one who made you this happy.
Barry, that's too expensive.
I'm number three.
Which means, of course, I will be taking that.
Nooooo! It's cool.
Bar, I'll just get something else.
It's okay. Okay.
And Kirk did get something else --
my secret present for Brea.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
That's not meant for -- Whoa.
It's a necklace.
Brea, help me get this tasteful bad boy on.
Not a lot of guys can pull off a necklace,
but leave it to Kirk.
It looks like a locket.
Nope. Definitely not a locket.
Oh, Brea, it's you and...
Adam.
What?
Yeah, same. What?
So weird!
Who brought this incredibly intimate gift?
It's clearly you.
Scandalous.
I have a Discman.
Holidays. Am I right?
So I'll be stealing that back from you, Kirk,
when it's my turn.
Kirk can't catch a break.
Hey, if you think about it, he's the one who stole
Brea from me in the first place.
Stole me?
Digging himself deeper.
I'm outraged.
It has a stabilizer for jogging.
Let me explain.
See, Kirk...sucks?
[ Murmuring ] Oh, my...
Brea, wait! [ Door opens ]
Adam, I was wrong about you.
You are like all the other guys I dated --
a jerk.
Carmen, wait!
How dare you speak to Kirk like that?
Kirk, get our coats.
Barry, wait!
♪♪
With Geoff having admitted to out-Grinching Beverly,
Erica was full of questions.
Why the hell did you steal Christmas?
How the hell did you steal Christmas?
Well, it wasn't easy.
I went in her room and saw those candy canes hung in a row.
"These candy canes," I said, "are the first things to go."
Okay, so you're gonna do the whole Dr. Seuss rhyming thing?
I'm just trying to stay on theme.
Alright, well, keep going until I figure out
how to punch you without leaving a bruise.
I slithered and slunk. Slunk?
But with a smile most pleasant,
I went around the room and I took every present.
Sure, but how did you manage to get the tree
out of there without anyone noticing?
That was a toughie 'cause I ran into a little setback.
Geoff, why are you taking out the Christmas tree?
Geoff: But you know me. I'm smart and I'm slick.
So I thought up a lie and I thought it up quick.
'Cause I got an even better one.
Oh, okay. Great!
Seasons greetings. Yeah.
What a fun little distraction from the real question.
Why did you do it?
Erica, I know Christmas is wonderful.
Everyone knows Christmas is wonderful.
But it's not who we are.
But it can be. Why?
Because you want to throw it in our parents' faces,
or because it's actually meaningful to you?
What if the throwing it in their faces is what's meaningful?
[ Scoffs ]
Look, I know I haven't always been the most observant,
but our traditions matter to me,
and I thought they mattered to you, too.
They do.
Well, I want Muriel to be raised like we were.
Because she's part of us.
The best part of us.
♪♪
Okay, so our baby won't be a Christmas kid.
But can we at least use some of the presents
for her first Hanukkah?
Oh, you mean these?
♪♪
Worst Grinch ever.
Adult Adam: Geoff had managed to save the holidays.
Meanwhile, I was trying to save face with Brea.
Hey. So, that was strange.
I wonder who made it strange.
Look, I was blindsided seeing you with a guy.
You never mentioned him.
[ Sighs ] I'm sorry.
But it's hard to say out loud that we're moving on.
Obviously, for both of us.
It might just be one of us.
Carmen looked a tiny bit upset.
You'll figure it out.
I hope so.
She's great.
And, for what it's worth, Kirk seems great, too.
I should apologize to him.
I think there's someone else you should talk to first.
You're right.
I always am.
Now go.
Just know, I'm happy for you.
Seriously.
♪♪
Happy Holidays, Adam Goldberg.
Happy Holidays, Brea Bee.
♪♪
It was weird, but I actually felt okay.
[ Door closes ] I realized I had just been holding on to the past
by trying to hold on to Brea...
when there was something pretty amazing right in front of me.
Yeah?
Carmen, I don't deserve it,
but can I please try to make up for tonight?
It's fine.
Clearly, you have unfinished stuff with your ex.
No, I don't.
Not anymore.
And I swear to you, I am a good guy.
The thing is, good guys don't have to say that.
They just are.
Fair enough.
Thank you for your time.
So you're just gonna give up?
I'm not worth fighting for?
Okay. Well, here it goes.
Carmen, I've had an incredibly difficult year
with a million different setbacks,
but seeing you every day at the diner
is the one thing I look forward to,
and I really don't want to lose that.
♪♪
Then don't.
Oh, whoa.
You seem receptive.
Little bit.
Guess what we're standing under?
So the good guy gets the girl?
We'll see.
♪ Don't stop thinking about tomorrow ♪
♪ Don't stop, it'll soon be here ♪
And that's the thing about the holidays.
Whether it's old traditions that remind us who we are...
♪ Don't stop thinking ♪
...or new experiences that fill us with hope...
♪ Don't stop, it'll soon be here ♪
...being there for one another always makes
for a season full of joy
that no Grinch could ever steal.
♪ Ooh ♪
What the hell am I looking at? Are you bedazzling?!
It's for the baby. Check it!
"I love you a latke."
Oh!
My perfect angel is so clever!
And on the back...
"Oy to the world!"
So many puns.
I am dying from holiday happiness.
Yeah. I did learn from the best.
You cherish and honor me.
But your sewing is crap. Give it to me.
I'll redo it and make five more.
♪♪