It's the Christmas season and Eric has his three oldest children doing charity work for the community. Mary and Lucy aren't enthusiastic about the charity work that Eric wants them to do. Mary is working in a soup kitchen while Lucy has to organize auditions for the "Live Nativity" at the church. Meanwhile, Eric has given Matt a well-paid job as Santa Claus at the mall. Also, Simon is in the spirit of wearing his VERY tight candy cane pajamas and wanting to put on lights inside the house since he's not allowed to do it outside alone. As a family ritual, each family member picks a name out of a hat of who to get for Christmas while Eric and Annie cheat. Before going on his family vacation, Jordan accidentally gives Lucy a gift that was meant for his uncle's monkey (shoe shine-kit), but was supposed to give her a basketball signed 'I Love You'. Also, Mary meets a guy, Carlos at the soup kitchen who doesn't have a place to stay for Christmas, so Mary invites him to stay over at their house. Ruthie loses the spirit of Christmas when discovering Matt was a fake Santa Claus at the mall while Simon tries to bring her spirits up. Lastly, the Camden family convinces Carlos to go back to New York on Christmas Eve to be with his family that he has missed.

Becker's attempt at friendship is short lived; with Margaret at home with the flu, the flaky Linda is left in charge of the office; Reggie receives an unwelcome visit from a former high-school classmate.

Crises abound as everyone prepares for Christmas. First, Fish calls everyone into the conference room when his biggest client is fired for claiming to have seen a unicorn. Then, although Matt says he and his wife are estranged, Renee finds out that his wife is four month pregnant. And Cage becomes determined to catch Nelle under the mistletoe.

Cody has started swimming again. But he is clearly frustrated with his times. They aren't half as good as his times during the qualification races for the Atlanta Olympics back in 1996. Cody couldn't go to Atlanta because of a diving accident (6.22 Go for the Gold).

Doug and Carrie realize they must buy a new car after theirs breaks down. One problem: they can't afford it.

Tonight on the show, actress Wendy Malick from Just Shoot Me!