Mel Cooley convinces Alan Brady to pass on the Christmas script the writing staff submitted in favor of a variety show. Sally, Buddy, Rob, Laura, and Ritchie all do their best for Alan Brady Presents.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- The Cast Show Off: In-Universe, the Christmas show gives the members of the program other than Alan a chance to strut their stuff. Many of them (including Mel) sing, and Rob and Laura also do a dance number.
- Christmas Episode: Both in and out of universe.
- Diegetic Soundtrack Usage: It turns out that the theme tune of the show is also the theme of The Alan Brady Show, which all the performers gather to sing at the end.
- Exact Words: The Santa girls bring in a package for Sally after "Santa Send a Fella" and she opens it to reveal Buddy. She comments in disappointment that she should have wished more precisely. Buddy retorts that this is what she should have expected at the end of the season; he asked for something curvy and got a cello.
- Get Out!: Rob comes out as a conductor with Sally, Buddy, Laura, and Mel as choir members. At first, everything goes smoothly as they sing "Alan Brady". Then Buddy breaks formation and sings his own name. Rob points offstage. He ends up doing the same thing when Sally defects, but Laura and Mel leave too fast.
- Holiday Ceasefire: When Mel comes in to tell the writers about the Christmas show, he looks at the smiling Buddy and tells him to let loose with whatever insult he's got brewing. Buddy tells him that he doesn't do that around the holidays. He changes his mind after Mel tells the writers that their script won't be used.
- Sexy Whatever Outfit: Alan Brady has an entourage of girls dressed in revealing Santa costumes. They double as set movers in case a prop, like a sled or a "present" needs to be brought in.
- Sweet on Polly Oliver: Santa Rob suggests that Santa Laura isn't getting donations because she isn't "ho-ho-ho-ing". When she does, it confirms his suspicion that she's a lady. Laura begs him not to tell, and Rob says he's won't. He's actually glad she's female, because her perfume has been driving him crazy all day.
- Tempting Fate: During the "Alan Brady" choir sequence, Rob loses all his singers one by one after they insert their own names into the song. With only Mel left, he tells the audience that he can count on Mel, who is Brady's brother-in-law. Instantly Mel sings his own name and hurries offstage.
- Under the Mistletoe: In Rob and Laura's duet, Santa Laura asks Santa Rob to join her beneath the mistletoe.
