The Best New Year And New Year's Eve Episodes In Sitcoms

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Updated January 23, 2024 20 items
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New Year's Eve is a magical time of year filled with hope, excitement, and celebration. This festive occasion has been brilliantly captured in some of the best New Year's Eve episodes in sitcom history. These memorable episodes have left audiences laughing, crying, and feeling the warmth and camaraderie of ringing in the new year with their favorite television characters. 

From brilliant storytelling to hilarious antics, these celebrated New Year's Eve episodes bring together the themes of love, laughter, and new beginnings. Each episode encapsulates the essence of the holiday, presenting it in fun, heartfelt, and hilarious ways. From classic sitcoms to contemporary hits, these episodes have become iconic celebrations of New Year's togetherness and cheer. 

Among the countless memorable New Year's Eve episodes, several stand out as exceptional examples of what makes these television moments so cherished. For instance, "The One With The Routine" from Friends highlights the sibling bond between Ross and Monica as they hilariously perform a childhood dance routine at a New Year's Eve party. Another standout New Year's episode is "RDWRER" from Frasier, where the Crane brothers embark on a comedic road trip, providing a fresh take on the timeless themes of family and self-discovery. Additionally, "The Justice League Recombination" from The Big Bang Theory offers a delightful mix of superhero costumes, resolutions, and friendship, making it a quintessential New Year's special. These episodes exemplify the quality storytelling and entertainment that make them some of the best New Year's Eve episodes in sitcom history. 

As a testament to the power of television, these classic New Year's Eve episodes remain etched in the hearts of viewers, serving as a beloved part of popular culture. The exceptional blend of humor, emotion, and memorable moments in these sitcom episodes create lasting impressions that resonate with audiences long after the final credits roll. As we celebrate the arrival of each new year, these iconic sitcom episodes continue to bring us laughter, warmth, and connection, making them an enduring part of television's holiday legacy.


  • The One With The Routine (a.k.a. The One With The Rockin' New Year)
    • Photo:
      • Friends/NBC
      • Warner Bros. Television
    1

    The One With The Routine (a.k.a. The One With The Rockin' New Year)

    Ross and Monica vie for the camera to get on television during a taped segment of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve during "The One with the Routine." They break out a choreographed dance - circa their junior high years - and end up on the bloopers reel.

    Elsewhere, Phoebe, Rachel, and Chandler hunt for their Christmas presents from Monica in the Friends season six episode.

    • Original Airing: Dec 16, 1999
    • Season: Friends - Season 6
    • Episode Number: 10
    • Series: Friends
    232 votes
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  • The Justice League Recombination
    • Photo:
      • Big Bang Theory/CBS
      • Warner Bros. Television
    2

    The Justice League Recombination

    The guys convince Penny and Zack to join them in dressing up as members of the Justice League to win a New Year's Eve contest at the comic book store in the 2010 Big Bang Theory episode "The Justice League Recombination." Despite their strong appearance, the group is less than confident when dealing with real world crimes.

    • Original Airing: Dec 16, 2010
    • Season: The Big Bang Theory - Season 4
    • Episode Number: 11
    • Series: The Big Bang Theory
    214 votes
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  • Space Pilot 3000
    • Photo:
      • Futurama/Fox
      • 20th Television
    3

    Space Pilot 3000

    Futurama set its very first episode "Space Pilot 3000" on New Year's Eve 1999 and 2999. The show finds Fry getting cryogenically frozen and awoken one thousand years in the future. He goes on to ring in the year 3000 with his new friends Bender, Leela, and Professor Farnsworth.

    • Original Airing: Mar 28, 1999
    • Season: Futurama - Season 1
    • Episode Number: 1
    • Series: Futurama
    146 votes
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  • That '70s Finale
    • Photo:
      • That '70s Show/Fox
      • The Carsey-Werner Company
    4

    That '70s Finale

    The 200th and final episode of That '70s Show finds Eric, Donna, and all their friends ringing in 1980. The guys sit down for one final circle before enjoying New Year's eve upstairs at Eric's.

    • Original Airing: May 18, 2006
    • Season: That '70s Show - Season 8
    • Episode Number: 200
    • Series: That '70s Show
    175 votes
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  • RDWRER
    • Photo:
      • Frasier/NBC
      • Paramount Network Television
    5

    RDWRER

    After Frasier and Niles' New Year's Eve plans go up in flames, the brothers join Martin on a road trip to an alternative destination. Along the way, the Cranes enjoy the highs and lows of traveling by Winnebago in this episode entitled "RDWRER."

    • Original Airing: Jan 06, 2000
    • Season: Frasier - Season 7
    • Episode Number: 12
    • Series: Frasier
    200 votes
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  • The One With All The Resolutions
    • Photo:
      • Friends/NBC
      • Warner Bros. Television
    6

    The One With All The Resolutions

    As the title suggests, "The One with all the Resolutions" finds the some of the Friends promising to improve various aspects of their life in the new year. Joey learns guitar and Rachel stops gossiping. Chandler stops teasing his friends and Monica vows to take more pictures.

    • Original Airing: Jan 07, 1999
    • Season: Friends - Season 5
    • Episode Number: 11
    • Series: Friends
    187 votes
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