The Big How the Ex Stole Christmas Episode

what happens

Dee Dee invites everyone over to her parents' house for Christmas. The Bay Area experiences a heatwave, which leads to a brownout that nearly ruins dinner. Spencer angrily declines Mona's invitation, as the holiday brings up many issues about his absent father. Mona later offers to help Spencer track down his father. Phyllis brings her new boyfriend, a Santa Claus she met at the children's hospital, but both she and Charles object when the man refuses to keep his hands off of her. Neil calls Dee Dee and asks to come over and speak with her. She believes that he wants her back, and is stunned when he instead announces plans to marry. She tries to use the heat to her advantage in an attempt to win back Neil, while Mona urges her to just move on.

who made it

directed

Ellen Gittelsohn

written

Chauncey B. Raglin-Washington

guest cast

Billed for this episode only — the turn people remember an episode for.

• Richard Lawson as Ben
• Keith D. Robinson as Neil Crawford