20 best St. Patrick’s Day TV episodes

“Here comes the funcooker!” After Tracy and Jenna colossally screw up their St. Patrick’s Day parade-hosting duties, Liz has to put out that fire. Unfortunately, jury duty prevents her from handling it, and she has to put someone in charge in her absence. When all is said and done, a literal fire needs to be put out. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone.

"30 Rock" really knew how to do a holiday episode, even fake holidays like “Leap Day.” So in its second St. Patrick’s Day episode, Liz decides to stay in with boyfriend Criss on St. Patrick’s Day and avoid the holiday altogether…which is ruined by her ex-boyfriend Dennis (“Hey, dummy.”) showing up at her apartment — injured — in what she thinks is his attempt to win her back. Also, NBC allows Tracy and Jenna to host the parade again because nobody ever learns anything.

"It’s Always Sunny" surprisingly has only one St. Patrick’s Day episode in its 13-season run, but boy is it a doozy. This episode’s got everything: Dee’s Crazy Paddy character, Dennis’ disastrous mobile Paddy’s Pub experience (“Paddy’s Wagon”) and Charlie’s paint drinking-induced leprechaun hunt. It’s great. It’s perfect. Go watch it now.

Kathy Bates’ Jo makes the office stay late on St. Patrick’s Day, which is…not fun. That’s The Office for you — a comedy about misery. (Hehe. Get it? Because Bates starred in the movie "Misery.") But seriously, "The Office" was all about misery, especially in those later seasons.

Fry is tired of his bad luck, so he goes on a journey to find something that will turn all of that around: a seven-leaf clover. Also, yes, Fry does say “it’s clovering time” in this episode. This is one of those "Futurama" episodes that actually hits you with surprise emotional beats, so be prepared.

Ted and Barney set out to spend their St. Patrick’s Day night as if there is “no tomorrow,” and so they have a legen-wait for it-dary night. Actually, it’s a pretty terrible night, but you know, perspective (and alcohol).

Oh yeah, Season 5 of "Charmed," which means one of those themed episodes of "Charmed." In this episode, the Charmed Ones team up with a leprechaun to help him and his kind banish a leprechaun-killing demon. Ah, "Charmed" was really on one back in the day.

Just from the episode title alone, you could probably assume this was late-season "Beverly Hills, 92010." As for the reason behind it: “The joke is on Steve after he pulls a St. Patrick's Day prank involving a little green man running through Beverly Hills.” Oh, Steve.

“After the Titans wrongfully pinch Beast Boy on St. Patrick's Day, a curse of very unfortunate bad luck fall upon them.” You guys. Never pinch someone wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day — especially when said being's entire skin is green. Spoiler alert: This episode reveals that Robin is also a leprechaun.

Now, remember: Robin is a leprechaun. So when the Teen Titans want to catch a leprechaun — to get three wishes, of course — they decide to cut out the middle man and just use Robin. While Robin goes on about how he doesn’t even want to be a leprechaun, Beast Boy actually wishes that he could be one…and once he becomes one, he becomes obsessed with gold. Uh oh. Who hasn’t been there, you know?

Prohibition in Springfield?!? On St. Patrick’s Day?!? Thanks a lot, Bart! Of course Homer has to become a bootlegger — that’s just the natural progression of things.

So how is a St. Patrick’s Day 12 seasons later — which is the season premiere…in September — different from the one before? Well, the St. Patrick’s Day parade is alcohol-free, and Homer is the one who gets in trouble, going to jail for starting a brawl there. Then he becomes a bounty hunter. Is this really a good St. Patrick’s Day episode? Can’t answer that, because it’s a "Simpsons" episode 20 seasons in. But the boldness of starting a season (again, in September) with a St. Patrick’s Day episode is impressive.

“Darrin reacts violently when a leprechaun becomes his house guest.” Yikes, that doesn’t paint Darrin in a positive light, now does it? Even better, the leprechaun is apparently from Darrin’s side of the family.

This insane episode of television actually ended up being the "Early Edition" series finale, which is hilarious, really. Full of crazy Irish accents and a leprechaun (well, an Irish man who might be a leprechaun) in a show about a dude who gets tomorrow’s newspaper today, there’s also a green card wedding plot? Like I said: insane.

Edith is sick (with phlebitis) on St. Patrick’s Day, but that doesn’t prevent Archie from demanding she cook for his St. Patrick’s Day party. In Archie’s defense, he doesn’t actually know she’s sick…but once he finds out, he’s actually truly concerned about her and the fact she didn’t tell him. This is actually the series finale of "All in the Family," as it would become the spinoff, "Archie Bunker’s Place."

Remember "Boardwalk Empire"? That was an interesting time in the Golden Age of Television, right? Those first couple of seasons still hold up, and that’s the case for this first season St. Patrick’s Day episode. (Of course, it is more than “just” a “St. Patrick’s Day episode.”) “Nights in Ballygran” sees Nucky and Eli prepare for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations as well as the progression of Nucky and Margaret’s relationship.

In this episode, Roland the troll is now also Roland the leprechaun and gives his beloved Sabrina three wishes. Sabrina gives sad Salem one of her wishes, and naturally he wishes to be more human. Also more naturally, he uses his human form (in recurring character Gordie’s body) to go back to his fascist roots and attempt to take over the world.

There are actually eight “Bar Wars” episodes over the course of Cheers’ 11 seasons, so you can really take your pick. This is the final iteration of Cheers’ battle against Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern, as the tavern ends up getting bulldozed. It’s a St. Patrick’s Day miracle!

"Grounded for Life" was an underrated, somewhat under-the-radar series when it was on the air, and it has largely been forgotten in the years since. The series was about an Irish-Catholic family living on Staten Island, so you can bet St. Patrick's Day was important to the show. While Sean and Eddie struggle to turn a profit at their bar on the day, Jimmy has to learn the true meaning of the holiday, and Lily and Brad help build a parade float.

If you too think St. Patrick’s Day is the sexiest holiday, then “The Sex Drug” is for you. When a DrugCo prototype sex drug accidentally ends up in Drew and the gang’s special St. Patrick’s Day (meaning, it’s green) batch of Buzz Beer, things get weird. (In case you missed it, "The Drew Carey Show" was a pretty weird show.)