Ep 10. Chris-Mess

The show Becker follows the life of Dr. John Becker, a cynical and gruff physician who runs a small medical practice in the Bronx. In season 5 episode 10, titled Chris-Mess, it's Christmastime and Becker (played by Ted Danson) is not feeling the holiday spirit. His mood is not helped by his patients, who are all experiencing various holiday-related ailments, such as food poisoning from bad eggnog and burnt tongues from hot cocoa.

Becker's nurse Margaret (played by Hattie Winston) tries to cheer him up by organizing a Secret Santa gift exchange at the office. Becker is initially reluctant to participate, but is compelled to do so when he draws Chris (played by Tim Curry), a flamboyant and ostentatious patient of his. Becker struggles to find the perfect gift for Chris, but ultimately settles on a seemingly impersonal gift card.

Meanwhile, Becker's blind friend Jake (played by Alex Desert) is feeling down because he can no longer participate in his favorite holiday activity - building model Christmas villages. His girlfriend, Reggie (played by Terry Farrell), comes up with a solution - she sets up a display of model buildings with lights and sound for Jake to enjoy. However, when Jake accidentally knocks over the display and breaks one of the buildings, he becomes inconsolable. Reggie enlists Becker's help to find a replacement building so that Jake can once again enjoy his Christmas village.

As the holidays approach, Becker becomes increasingly grumpy and irritable. Margaret tries to get him in the spirit by singing carols and decorating the office, but to no avail. When Chris comes in for his appointment, he is delighted to receive his gift from Becker - the gift card to a fancy clothing store that Becker had initially thought was impersonal is actually the perfect gift for Chris, who uses it to buy an expensive new outfit.

Feeling a twinge of holiday cheer himself, Becker decides to help Reggie find Jake's missing Christmas village building. They discover that the building is a rare and expensive collector's item - a fact that Jake is unaware of. Becker surprises Jake by locating the missing building and presenting it to him as a gift. Overjoyed, Jake finally feels the holiday magic that he had been missing.

As the episode ends, the characters come together in the office to share a holiday meal. Becker, who has finally embraced the holiday spirit, gives a heartfelt toast thanking his friends for always being there for him. The episode ends on a heartwarming note, with all of the characters feeling the joy of the season.

Overall, Chris-Mess is a heartwarming and humorous episode that captures the complexities of the holiday season. From the stresses of gift-giving to the joys of spending time with loved ones, this episode has something for everyone. With its clever writing and talented cast, it's no wonder that Becker remains a beloved sitcom to this day.