While on a ski trip, Fry begins to feel nostalgic for 20th century Christmases. To cheer him up, the rest of the Planet Express staff decide to decorate for Xmas (as Christmas is now called; pronounced "eks-mas"), which includes cutting down an Xmas tree.
Fry decides to venture into the city to buy Leela a present, although she hadn't felt happy about Xmas when she was an orphan. The others warn him to be back before sundown, or else he will be killed by a murderous robotic Santa Claus. In the year 2801, Mom's Friendly Robot Company had made up a robotic version of St. Nick himself to determine who's been naughty and who's been nice. Unfortunately, due to a programming error, the jolly robotic elf soon turned into a mad murderer when his standards are set too high and he will kill anyone who has been naughty at sundown. Meanwhile, Bender befriends several homeless robots and goes on a robbery spree.
Fry buys Leela a parrot, which escapes. Leela heads out to rescue Fry before Santa Claus arrives. After pursuing the parrot to the top of a tall building, he is saved from plunging to his death by Leela. Unfortunately, Fry's safety for Leela is short-lived, as sundown finally comes and the robotic Santa Claus makes his appearance and attacks the two friends.
Fry and Leela take refuge in the Planet Express building after being saved by Bender and his homeless robot friends, but Santa breaks in through the chimney. Thanks to some quick thinking by Dr. Zoidberg (the only person in the world who is never judged as being naughty), Santa is forced back into the chimney, where an explosion sends him and his mechanical reindeer tumbling into the stratosphere. Everybody celebrates by singing "Santa Claus Is Gunning You Down".
In the credits, Robot Santa vows that he'll be back when no one expects it - next Xmas!
Availability
The episode was made available on the Futurama: Volume Two DVD set, released on August 12, 2003.