Thanksgiving is also about family, food, and fun. And after the turkey’s been carved and the pie consumed, what better than to snuggle up with your nearest and dearest to watch some good TV? Over the years, some great episodes have inundated TV celebrating Thanksgiving, each a commendable toast to the spirit of the holiday. Equal parts feel-good family time and laugh-out-loud humor, these eps are perfect to huddle the whole fam around for a watchе.
Here is a ranking of the best Thanksgiving TV episodes you can pour into the stream that you can queue up to make the holiday slightly more fun.
Friends — “The One with All the Thanksgivings”
Friends always come to mind when people talk about Thanksgiving TV episodes. They delivered plenty of memorable Thanksgivings over the years, but none of them will haunt you quite like “The One with All the Thanksgivings,” the one from the fifth season. In this episode, we reflect on the gang’s past Thanksgivings, with lots of laughs and even a bit of heart. Who doesn’t recall Joey with a turkey on his head or Monica later doing the same to cheer down Chandler? It’s pure holiday fun!
How I Met Your Mother — “Slapsgiving”
The Scarface is a kind of general ode to the value of friendship, and the re-play of How I Met Your Mother Season 3’s all-time great Slap Bet serves as an exemplar for both friendship and romantic love. The gang comes together for Thanksgiving, but the heart of the storyline is about Marshall counting down all of the days until he gets to slap Barney again (as part of their longstanding slap bet). It’s a blend of comedy and feel-good moments, something everyone should watch. And who doesn’t enjoy the “Slapsgiving” song?
Modern Family — “Three Turkeys”
Modern Family is a show famous for its comedic interpretations of family life, and its Thanksgiving episode “Three Turkeys” (Season 6) is no different. So in this wonderfully bonkers episode, Phil being Phil decides to cook a turkey, Claire makes a leftover turkey for herself, and Jay and Gloria have their own little feast. The result? A lovely little disaster any of us who have ever done one of those massive, massive Thanksgiving spreads will recognize.
The Simpsons — “Bart vs. Thanksgiving”
And for humor and heart, nothing beats a classic Simpsons episode, like this one from Season 2. Bart unknowingly destroys Lisa’s Thanksgiving centerpiece, and as so often happens, when Lisa tells him to apologize, he flees. It’s an episode about a family fighting and making up and the need for gratitude and love during the holidays.
Gilmore Girls — “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving”
Thanksgiving is always a hoot in Stars Hollow, but the Gilmore Girls Season 3 episode does it best. Each of those Thanksgiving dinners Lorelai and Rory have to go to has its own one-off quirks, its own little drama. The episode has both tender and side-splitting moments, covering topics from deep-fried turkey to irreconcilable differences.
The Office – “WUPHF.com”
Though Thanksgiving isn’t exactly a hallmark of The Office, “WUPHF. com” from Season 7 would be a good choice for fans of the show. This episode is about Dwight’s “Hay Place” Thanksgiving event, which brings a separate contextualized aura of fierce weirdness and a different kind of anxiety. It’s an uproarious send-up of holiday cheer, The Office way.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine — “Thanksgiving”
No one will ever say no to the rare first Thanksgiving offering from Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 1 ); they’re pure comedy gold. [Spoiler Alert: The next section of this recap contains details from this week’s episode of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”] Be it Jake’s distaste for Thanksgiving or Charles’s disposition toward food in general, the episode is filled with great lines that showcase the show’s comedy.
New Girl – “Thanksgiving”
In this episode from Season 1, Jess brings her crush, Paul, to Thanksgiving dinner with her roommates. Also, hilarity will ensue, of course. It’s a funny, relatable visual of Thanksgiving madness, from a burned turkey to uncomfortable situations.
Cheers — “Thanksgiving Orphans”
And this Cheers gem (Season 5) is a gem for a reason. The gang gathers for a Thanksgiving dinner that devolves into a food fight that is both comedic and touching. It’s a lovely reminder of how a chosen family can make the holidays special.
Everybody Loves Raymond — “Turkey or Fish?”
If that doesn’t seem like a premise most befitting of a sitcom, then, yes, it is — but this Season 1 episode, in which Debra tries to make her first Thanksgiving dinner only to have Ray’s family traditions get in her way, plays its conceit for all it’s worth. The end result is a funny but authentic take on finding your way through the minefields that these choices create when it comes to navigating between the family you were born into and the family of your choosing during the holidays.
The secret strengthening power of Thanksgiving TV episodes
Thanksgiving episodes have high-replay value because they bring us through universal human experiences — family, gratitude, and the chaos that inevitably accompanies holidays. They are a reminder that we should hold on to our loved ones no matter how things turn out (even if you’re not like, “pinching me, you’re not, you’re not there yet, you’re not.” Whether they’re comedy, drama, or somewhere in between, there is a Thanksgiving episode for you.
How to Watch These Episodes
All of these episodes can be found on major streaming services — Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and so forth. So prepare those lists, pull out those leftovers, and gather your family and friends at your home for a Thanksgiving viewing marathon. Thanksgiving is about memories, and perhaps some of these episodes will help make your holiday memorable. So this Thanksgiving, let these shows fill in some giggles here and there as you celebrate.
Conclusion
So there we have Thanksgiving Family Favorites TV Shows, they might be miserable TV, but they are festive!… Can be an iconic sitcom or a special episode that captures the warmth and the joys of the season; either way, it gets you laughing and crying at the same time. Whether you’re revisiting classics or discovering new favorites, these episodes are the perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving festivities and taste even better.
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