TV Shows with their own annual tradition
by adampkalb | created - 31 Dec 2020 | updated - 19 May 2022 | PublicSome TV shows earn their viewers' interest and longevity because they have a special type of plot that they do every season at a different point in time - and not just ordinary holiday things like The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horrors and Regular Show's Terror Tales of the Park, or every full season of Bob's Burgers having an episode for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day. Codename: Kids Next Door has episodes about sharing the Delightful Children's birthday cake with everyone they refuse to share. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has Halloween Heists and run-ins with Doug Judy. Rick and Morty does Interdimensional Cable sketches, or another series of vignettes where Interdimensional Cable is mentioned. Any TV shows that complete 2 full seasons or more are fair game for this list.
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1. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999– )
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a talking sea sponge who works at a fast food restaurant, attends a boating school, and lives in an underwater pineapple.
Stars: Tom Kenny, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown
Votes: 111,280
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy-themed episodes With special guest stars Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway Note: During Season 9, Ernest Borgnine died in 2012 and Tim Conway retired in 2016, then died in 2019 during Season 12, but Spongebob Squarepants still had more episodes following their theme in later seasons. Rest In Peace, our elderly superheroes. Season 1 - Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy (August 21, 1999) Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy II (October 17, 2000) Season 2 - Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III (September 14, 2001) Season 3 - Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV (January 21, 2002) Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V (June 1, 2002) Season 4 - Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy VI: The Motion Picture (October 7, 2005) Season 5 - Mermaid Man vs. Spongebob (August 3, 2007) Season 6 - Shuffleboarding (February 16, 2009) Season 7 - Back to the Past/The Bad Guy Club for Villains (February 15, 2010) Season 8 - Mermaid Man Begins (September 23, 2011) Super Evil Aquatic Villain Team-Up is Go! (October 14, 2012) Season 9 - Patrick-Man! (October 27, 2012) Season 10 - Mermaid Pants (October 29, 2016) Season 11 - Man Ray Returns (September 30, 2017) Season 12 - Dirty Bubble Returns (November 23, 2019)
2. Codename: Kids Next Door (2002–2008)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The adventures of a group of ten-year-old friends who fight for the right to do everything that adults restrict from them.
Stars: Ben Diskin, Dee Bradley Baker, Lauren Tom, Cree Summer
Votes: 22,735
C.A.K.E.D. episodes versus The Delightful Children From Down the Lane Co-starring Ben Diskin, Dee Bradley Baker and Cree Summer Season 1 - C.A.K.E.D. (January 31, 2003) Season 2 - C.A.K.E.D. T.W.O. (December 12, 2003) Season 3 - C.A.K.E.D. T.H.R.E.E. (August 6, 2004) Season 4 - C.A.K.E.D. F.O.U.R. (February 21, 2005) Season 5 - C.A.K.E.D. F.I.V.E. (April 7, 2006) Season 6 - S.I.X. (January 12, 2007) Special final episode - I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S (January 21, 2008)
3. Johnny Test (2005–2014)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The adventures of average suburban boy Johnny Test, who wittingly plays test subject for his genius twin sisters' various experiments, reluctantly fighting evil villains in the process.
Stars: James Arnold Taylor, Maryke Hendrikse, Ian James Corlett, Lee Tockar
Votes: 9,490
Johnny X episodes (note: usually happens two times in one season) Season 1 - JX1: Johnny X (September 17, 2005) JX2: The Return of Johnny X (November 26, 2005) Season 2 - JX3: The Revenge of Johnny X (February 10, 2007) JX4: Johnny X Strikes Back (May 6, 2007) Season 3 - JX5: Johnny X and the Attack of the Snowmen (September 29, 2007) JX6: Johnny X: A New Beginning/Johnny X: The Final Ending (March 1, 2008) Season 4 - JX7: The Destruction of Johnny X (May 3, 2010) JX8: Johnny X Strikes Back Again (September 12, 2011) Season 5 - JX9: Johnny X...Again? (August 8, 2012) Season 6 - JX10: Johnny X-Factor (April 30, 2013) JX11: The Last Flight of Johnny X (December 25, 2014)
4. Johnny Test (2005–2014)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The adventures of average suburban boy Johnny Test, who wittingly plays test subject for his genius twin sisters' various experiments, reluctantly fighting evil villains in the process.
Stars: James Arnold Taylor, Maryke Hendrikse, Ian James Corlett, Lee Tockar
Votes: 9,490
Johnny vs. Bling-Bling fights Co-starring Lee Tockar Season 1 - Johnny vs. Bling-Bling Boy (September 24, 2005) Season 2 - Johnny vs. Bling-Bling 2 (November 24, 2006) Season 3 - Johnny vs. Bling-Bling 3 (September 22, 2007) Season 4 - Johnny vs. Bling-Bling IV (August 9, 2010) Season 5 - Johnny vs. Bling-Bling: The Ultimate Battle (June 27, 2011) Season 6 - Johnny and Bling-Bling Bond-Bond (June 25, 2013)
5. Johnny Test (2005–2014)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The adventures of average suburban boy Johnny Test, who wittingly plays test subject for his genius twin sisters' various experiments, reluctantly fighting evil villains in the process.
Stars: James Arnold Taylor, Maryke Hendrikse, Ian James Corlett, Lee Tockar
Votes: 9,490
Big race competitions that many characters join Season 3 - Johnny Cart Racing (February 16, 2008) Season 4 - Johnny's Amazing Race (July 12, 2010) Season 5 - Mush, Johnny, Mush (February 8, 2012) Season 6 - Johnny's Super Massive Cart Wheelies 7 (June 4, 2013)
6. Total Drama (2007–2014)
TV-PG | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Animated satire of survivor reality shows featuring random teenage archetypes vying for the final prize by any means necessary.
Stars: Christian Potenza, Clé Bennett, Rachel Wilson, Scott McCord
Votes: 14,206
Horror-themed challenges Hosted by Christian Potenza (Total Drama), Terry McGurrin (The Ridonculous Race), and Deven Mack (Total Dramarama) Note: The Dramarama seasons take place in an alternate universe from Total Drama and The Ridonculous Race because Tom McGillis wanted to make 10 seasons of Total Drama, but stopped at Season 7 (if The Ridonculous Race counts as one) because he thought there was no market for reality television when Total Drama Island turned 10 years old, so instead he and Jennifer Pertsch made Total Dramarama three years after The Ridonculous Race. Even though this Muppet Babies-type of spinoff does not act as a reality show like earlier seasons, it still uses a confessional like Total Drama had, so if there are any Total Dramarama episodes with an outside supernatural force that sort of fit with the theme of horror challenges, I will give Dramarama that much credit for being related to the Total Drama franchise. Season 1 - Hook, Line and Screamer (October 28, 2007) Season 2 - The Sand Witch Project (April 19, 2009) Season 3 - I See London... (August 30, 2010) Season 4 - Finders Creepers (January 26, 2012) Season 5 - Moon Madness (October 8, 2013) Season 6 - Hurl and Go Seek (July 15, 2014) Season 7 - A Tisket, A Casket, I'm Gonna Blow a Gasket (September 14, 2015) Dramarama Season 1 - Invasion of the Booger Snatchers (March 23, 2019) Dramarama Season 2 - Ghoul Spirit (October 26, 2020) Dramarama Season 3 - TBA Season 8 - Season 9 - Season 10 -
7. Gravity Falls (2012–2016)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Twin siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines spend the summer at their great-uncle's tourist trap in the enigmatic Gravity Falls, Oregon.
Stars: Jason Ritter, Alex Hirsch, Kristen Schaal, Linda Cardellini
Votes: 135,257
A special location haunted by a vengeful ghost Season 1 - The Inconveniencing (July 13, 2012) Season 2 - Northwest Mansion Mystery (Scary and gross imagery alert for the little ones!) (February 16, 2015)
8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Crime
Comedy series following the exploits of Det. Jake Peralta and his diverse, lovable colleagues as they police the NYPD's 99th Precinct.
Stars: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero
Votes: 362,733
Halloween Heists Season 1 - Halloween (October 22, 2013) Season 2 - Halloween II (October 19, 2014) Season 3 - Halloween III (October 25, 2015) Season 4 - Halloween IV (October 18, 2016) Season 5 - HalloVeen (October 17, 2017) Season 6 - Cinco De Mayo (May 9, 2019) Season 7 - Valloweaster (April 9, 2020) Season 8 - The Last Day (September 16, 2021)
9. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Crime
Comedy series following the exploits of Det. Jake Peralta and his diverse, lovable colleagues as they police the NYPD's 99th Precinct.
Stars: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero
Votes: 362,733
Pontiac Bandit episodes With special guest star Craig Robinson (+ Nicole Byer after Season 5) Season 1 - Pontiac Bandit (January 7, 2014) Season 2 - The Pontiac Bandit Returns (December 7, 2014) Season 3 - The Cruise (January 26, 2016) Season 4 - The Fugitive (January 1, 2017) Season 5 - Negotiation (December 12, 2017) Season 6 - A Tale of Two Bandits (February 7, 2019) Season 7 - The Takeback (March 19, 2020) Season 8 - PB&J (August 26, 2021)
10. Rick and Morty (2013– )
TV-MA | 23 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The fractured domestic lives of a nihilistic mad scientist and his anxious grandson are further complicated by their inter-dimensional misadventures.
Stars: Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, Justin Roiland
Votes: 600,945
Interdimensional Cable episodes Co-starring Justin Roiland Season 1 - Rixty Minutes (March 17, 2014) Season 2 - Tempting Fate (September 20, 2015) Season 3 - Morty's Mind-Blowers (September 17, 2017) Season 4 - Never Ricking Morty (May 3, 2020) Season 5 - Rickternal Friendship of the Spotless Mort (August 8, 2021) Season 6 - Season 7 - Season 8 - Season 9 - Season 10 -
11. Clarence (2013–2018)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Life is an adventure for Clarence and his two friends, Jeff & Sumo.
Stars: Spencer Rothbell, Katie Crown, Tom Kenny, Sean Giambrone
Votes: 11,571
Peanuts-themed episodes with Brady Brown With special guest star Daniel DiMaggio Season 1 - The Forgotten (October 16, 2014) Season 2 - Classroom (May 19, 2016) Season 3 - Talent Show (June 10, 2018)
12. Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2012–2019)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Star Butterfly arrives on Earth to live with the Diazes, a Mexican-American family. She continues to battle villains throughout the universe and high school, mainly to protect her extremely powerful wand, an object that still confuses her.
Stars: Eden Sher, Adam McArthur, Grey Griffin, Daron Nefcy
Votes: 18,548
Trips to Quest Buy Co-starring Fred Tatasciore Season 1 - Quest Buy (April 13, 2015) Season 2 - Gift of the Card (September 26, 2016) Season 3 - Trial By Squire (November 9, 2017) Season 4 - Out of Business (March 31, 2019)
13. Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2012–2019)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Star Butterfly arrives on Earth to live with the Diazes, a Mexican-American family. She continues to battle villains throughout the universe and high school, mainly to protect her extremely powerful wand, an object that still confuses her.
Stars: Eden Sher, Adam McArthur, Grey Griffin, Daron Nefcy
Votes: 18,548
A day with creatures inside the Butterfly wand With special guest star Steve Little Season 2 - Spider With a Top Hat (October 10, 2016) Season 3 - Holiday Spellcial (December 2, 2017) Season 4 - A Spell With No Name (April 14, 2019)
14. Milo Murphy's Law (2016–2019)
TV-Y7 | 12 min | Animation, Short, Action
An animated comedy adventure series that follows 13-year-old Milo Murphy, the fictional great-great-great-great grandson of the Murphy's Law namesake. Additionally, Dakota and Cavendish come from the future to prevent pistachio extinction.
Stars: 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Sabrina Carpenter, Mekai Curtis, Dan Povenmire
Votes: 3,473
Jefferson County Middle School's multifaceted competitions of brains and brawn Hosted by Michael Hirano Culross Season 1 - Acadecamathalon (March 9, 2017) Season 2 - The Speech and Debate League of Death and Destruction Crosstown Explosion Event (April 27, 2019)
15. Craig of the Creek (2018–2024)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Craig of the Creek follows a young boy, Craig, and his two friends, Kelsey and JP, as they go on adventures within a world of untamed, kid-dominated wilderness in the creek.
Stars: Philip Solomon, Michael Croner, Noël Wells, Ben Levin
Votes: 3,329
Carter Brown's world of cardboard Co-starring Zeno Robinson And introducing Brianna Bryan as Zoe Season 1 - The Future is Cardboard (April 30, 2018) Season 2 - The Cardboard Identity (May 2, 2020) Season 3 - Copycat Carter (June 8, 2021) Season 4 - Season 5 -
16. Craig of the Creek (2018–2024)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Craig of the Creek follows a young boy, Craig, and his two friends, Kelsey and JP, as they go on adventures within a world of untamed, kid-dominated wilderness in the creek.
Stars: Philip Solomon, Michael Croner, Noël Wells, Ben Levin
Votes: 3,329
The terror of Big Red Co-starring Dana Davis Season 2 - Sour Candy Trials (April 1, 2019) Season 3 - Trick or Creek (October 19, 2020) Season 4 - Season 5 -
17. Amphibia (2019–2022)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Ordinary Anne Boonchuy, 13, finds a music box that sends her to Amphibia, a world full of frogs, toads, and giant insects. With help from Sprig, she must adjust to life in Amphibia and discover the first true friendship in her life.
Stars: Brenda Song, Justin Felbinger, Bill Farmer, Amanda Leighton
Votes: 8,992
Wartwood's musical talent show Hosted by Stephen Root Season 1 - Amphibia's Got Talent (July 15, 2019) Season 2 - Battle of the Bands (April 24, 2021) Season 3 - probably a reunion or a spin-off to air 5 years after the series finale (2027)
18. Bless the Harts (2019–2021)
TV-14 | 30 min | Animation, Comedy
A group of Southerners strive to live the American dream.
Stars: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jillian Bell, Ike Barinholtz
Votes: 2,428
Black Friday flashbacks Season 1 - Mega-Lo Memories (November 24, 2019) Season 2 - Mega-Lo Memories: Part Deux (November 22, 2020)
19. Duncanville (2020–2022)
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
Duncanville is centered around a spectacularly average 15-year-old boy, named Duncan with a rich fantasy life, and the people in his world. He's not exceptional, but he has a wild imagination in which he's never anything less than amazing.
Stars: Amy Poehler, Ty Burrell, Riki Lindhome, Joy Osmanski
Votes: 2,542
Witch Day Season 1 - Witch Day (March 8, 2020) Season 2 - Witch Day 2 (August 30, 2021)
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