"Warehouse 13” has traditionally been a summer show, but recently the series made an off-season return to Syfy for what has been described as a holiday gift for fans of the series.

The episode, entitled “Secret Santa,” featured Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) tracking down a bad Santa while the rest of the warehouse celebrates the holidays in their own way.

Breaking from the seasonal arc that unfolded in Season 2, the episode was a standalone outing, meaning that it did not follow on from the overall mythology of the series. Instead it was seen as something of a lost story with a bit of holiday cheer.

But, aside from spreading some joy, the episode also acts as a reminder that the series exists and will be back in the summer.

“I think it’s great because it kind of reminds people that we are there and it kind of fills in the gap for fans who are bummed that we don’t come on,” McClintock recently told reporters from various outlets, including Airlock Alpha. “But every summer it’s a long time to wait, so it’s a nice little gift.”

McClintock also promised that the episode could not be compared to the Star Wars Holiday Special from the late 1970s. However the move to include an extra seasonal episode has been likened to that of “Doctor Who” in the United Kingdom, which has always included a Christmas special as part of is episodic run.

It looks like “Warehouse 13” has set a trend for American television.

“The idea got stolen right,” Saul Rubinek said. “A good friend of mine, Tim Hutton, is starring in ‘Leverage’ [on TNT] and I had done the pilot of ‘Leverage,’ and Tim Hutton had asked me what we were doing this season last, before we started. I said we’re doing 12 plus one, and he said what do you mean '12 plus one.' I said we’re doing 12 and then a Christmas episode. And he said what a good idea. The next thing I know ‘Leverage’ is doing a Christmas episode.”

Throughout both seasons of the series, “Warehouse 13” has had a chance to introduce various supporting characters who all interact with the paranormal activities that take place. According to Rubinek, these are now part of an extended family and some may even return in the third season.

“We’ve created, or at least the writers/producers have created a kind of a rep company of wonderful actors including the people we’ve talked about and Lindsay [Wagner] and Rene Auberjonois and wonderful actors,” Rubinek said. “And with the success of the show it becomes just easier once people know what the show is and they like it then it’s easier, it becomes easier for people to be attracted to the show and to make time to do it and so that’s really good for us. It’s one of the benefits of being the No. 1 show on this network and we get great people to work with."

Who exactly will be back? Tia Carrere is one name that is already in the works, with McClintock describing the return of Kate Logan as being “almost definite.”

“Tia [Carrere] was so great to have around and she, I know she is interested in coming back," McClintock said. "I think she had a good time on the show and I think we would all love to see her come back because she’s just a joy to be around for me."