20 Thanksgiving TV Episodes to Enjoy During the Holiday

Thanksgiving! It’s a time for turkey, for fellowship, for gratitude, and for very special episodes of some of our favorite TV shows.

Whether you’re spending the holiday with friends, family, or solo, here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving-themed episodes to enjoy during the holiday. They’re just as classic as your Grandma’s stuffing recipe and much like her stuffing, they demand repeat helpings.

20. Reba Season 4 Episode 9, “Thanksgiving”

Reba’s early 2000s sitcom is consistently underrated but its easy charm provides the perfect starter to a proper Thanksgiving binge. Reba is reeling as her ex-husband’s new wife, Barbara Jean, takes over Thanksgiving host responsibilities.

Reba resists as her traditions are thrown out the window; Barbara Jean struggles to fully feel accepted as the matriarch of the family.

There’s a beautiful “who’s the turkey and who’s the gravy” metaphor to cap off the episode, emphasizing that we all have a unique role to play in our respective families.

19. The Wonder Years Season 4 Episode 7, “The Ties That Bind”

Kevin’s father, Jack, finally gets a big break at work, promoted to a new role that will take him away from home during Thanksgiving.

It’s a financial game changer but a sacrifice that proves difficult for all of the family, especially Kevin’s mother, Norma, who tries — and fails — to present a brave face during their meal. I challenge you not to cry in the final three minutes.

18. Chuck Season 1 Episode 10, “Chuck Versus the Nemesis”

The holidays are hard enough, but then you add being a spy on top of it? And you have to work your crummy retail job on Black Friday? And your former best friend is back from the dead? And he’s also a spy and in love with the same woman as you? Maybe we should all be thankful we’re not Chuck.

This episode is incredibly action packed and the juxtaposition between the banality of Chuck’s holiday grind and his demanding undercover life is used to great effect.

Let’s face it, this is way more exciting than your Black Friday will ever be.

17. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 1 Episode 6, “My First Thanksgiving with Josh!”

Always willing to come at things from a different angle, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend‘s irreverent take on the holiday somehow still feels like a more realistic depiction of the holiday than many other shows. After all, what characterizes Thanksgiving better than explosive diarrhea and unmet expectations?

There are also plenty of fun treats like the original rap, “I Give Good Parent” and Paula’s description of her Thanksgiving preparation: “I’m making pies for people I hate, which is mixed emotions for me because I love pie.”

Top it off with tacos and the dog show, and you have yourself a best in show.

16. Brothers and Sisters Season 3 Episode 10, “Just a Sliver”

Originally planning to go their separate ways for the holiday — much to matriarch Nora’s dismay — all the Walker siblings are brought together after eldest brother Tommy’s daughter, Elizabeth, suffers a medical emergency (there’s more to the story there, but for the uninitiated, you have to watch to find out!)

While the drama is heightened, the messages are simple: we have to forgive the people we love and there’s great power in showing up for each other (also, there will always be at least one person at your holiday dinner who inexplicably will eat anything.) 

15. Felicity Season 1 Episode 9, “Thanksgiving”

The episode is a beautiful unfolding of changed plans that lead to a motley crew of friends, coworkers, and roommates breaking bread together after a myriad of disappointments and disasters leave them in the city for the holiday.

Filled with special details like the challenges of trying to cook an entire dinner in a dorm microwave, this episode also concludes with one of the best Sally monologues: “One minute you’re standing in this new city with nothing but your suitcase and then you look around and suddenly you realize: you’re surrounded by family.”

Bonus: Look for Jennifer Garner in one of her first major TV appearances!

14. Fresh Off the Boat Season 2 Episode 8, “Huangsgiving”

Before the world fell in love with Constance Wu in Crazy Rich Asians, savvy TV watchers were bowled over by her character, Jessica, type-A matriarch of the Huang family, who takes center stage in Fresh Off the Boat.

While the episode focuses on familial discord and sibling rivalry – common experiences during the holiday season — the best parts are Jessica’s varied, failed attempts to cook a feast (including attempting to speed up the turkey roasting with a hairdryer).

13. Bob’s Burgers Season 4 Episode 5, “Turkey in a Can”

Bob’s Burgers tackles Thanksgiving almost every year, with episodes equally sweet and ridiculous.

There’s a central mystery to the proceedings — who is putting all the turkeys in the toilet? — as Bob has a full-on meltdown, trying to ready the perfect feast while his family remains indifferent and unconcerned about the holiday dinner.  Relatable, relatable, relatable.

While the surprise ending is certainly creative, it’s the small familial moments that make the episode shine like Linda, Gayle, and Gene writing a Thanksgiving jingle and Tina practicing her conversation topics for her first meal at the adult table.

12. This Is Us Season 1 Episode 8, “Pilgrim Rick”

So many of our families have quirky holiday traditions and this episode traces back to the genesis of some of the Pearson family’s.

Flashback to the Eighties: stranded on the side of the road while begrudgingly en route to another family fete, the Pearsons are forced to spend the night in a shady lodge run by creepy Pilgrim Rick, who spouts Thanksgiving facts and wears a Pilgrim hat atop his head.

The night’s tally of disasters increases until Jack puts on Pilgrim Rick’s hat, turns their hot dog and Saltine dinner into a fanciful indoor picnic, and puts on Police Academy 3. Just like that…an annual tradition is born.

11. Brooklyn 99 Season 1 Episode 10, “Thanksgiving”

It’s a battle for the ages: Santiago is determined to host the most perfect Thanksgiving and Peralta thinks Thanksgiving is “bogus” and is eager to avoid the festive proceedings. Neither one quite succeeds.

It’s a chaotic evening — Santiago’s home cooked meal is inedible, spurring a character to flush the turkey down the toilet to avoid eating it, and a robbery investigation pulls Peralta and Holt away for several hours.

The gang ultimately end the night at the precinct, enjoying a make-shift multicultural meal courtesy of Boyle. It’s a great showcase for the whole ensemble and a celebration of their workplace “family.”

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