Buzz
While Christmas dominates the holiday-themed movies and TV episodes, Thanksgiving also has its share of gems. Beyond classics like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, here are 12 exceptional TV episodes that perfectly encapsulate the essence (and chaos) of Turkey Day.
1. Seinfeld // “The Mom & Pop Store” (Season 6, Episode 8)
What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than getting bitten by Jon Voight while inquiring about your friend’s Chrysler LeBaron? Or winning a radio contest so your boss can participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Both hilariously unfold in this Seinfeld episode (Kramer faces the bite, while Elaine secures the parade balloon).
Voight revealed that the episode was inspired by a real-life incident. A Seinfeld writer purchased a Chrysler LeBaron believing it belonged to Voight, only to discover it was a different Jon Voight. While the Midnight Cowboy actor never owned a Chrysler LeBaron, his mother did. Voight shared with DC Life Magazine, “She said, ‘Jon, if you’re going to do that show, make them buy the car from me.’ I didn’t have the courage to ask, but they might have agreed!”
Watch it: Netflix
2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air // “Talking Turkey” (Season 1, Episode 12)
Will’s mother, Viola, visits for Thanksgiving and is unimpressed by the kids’ lack of responsibility. Instead of assigning simple chores, Vivian puts them in charge of preparing the entire Thanksgiving dinner. Chaos ensues, as expected. While the meal may not be successful, the episode shines with its heartfelt moments and energetic dancing to The Temptations’s “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” This song also makes a memorable comeback in the season 5 episode “To Thine Own Self Be Blue … And Gold.”
Watch it: Hulu; Max; Paramount Plus
3. The Sopranos // “He Is Risen” (Season 3, Episode 8)
One of the hallmarks of The Sopranos is its ability to contrast Tony’s brutal mob activities with his surprisingly ordinary family life. In “He Is Risen,” the Sopranos prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, which includes disinviting guests due to mafia conflicts (less relatable). The episode delivers humor through Janice’s narcoleptic, devoutly religious boyfriend (whose repeated phrase “He is risen” inspired the title), Tony’s amusing misuse of words—referring to Machiavelli’s The Prince as “Prince Matchabelli,” a perfume brand—and a Mercedes-Benz commercial narrated by Joe Mantegna without his knowledge. Mantegna told PeopleTV in 2020, “I only realized I was in it when I received a residual check labeled ‘for The Sopranos.’ I thought, ‘I never did a Sopranos!’” He earns roughly $10 annually from this unintentional cameo.
Watch it: Max
4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia // “The Gang Squashes Their Beefs” (Season 9, Episode 10)
The season 9 finale of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia mirrors a real Thanksgiving gathering: if you’re not familiar with the backstory, the characters and their jokes might seem confusing. But for long-time fans of Charlie, Mac, Dennis, Dee, and the gang, it’s a riotous 20 minutes. The gang decides their ongoing feuds with other Philadelphians are disrupting their lives (like renting Thunder Gun Express or buying hoagies). To resolve this, they host a Thanksgiving dinner for their enemies, aiming to reconcile. The episode features squash, beef, and plenty of squashed beefs—along with an apartment fire for good measure.
Watch it: Hulu
5. Fresh Off the Boat // “Huangsgiving” (Season 2, Episode 8)
“Huangsgiving” secures its place here with two of the sharpest food-related quips ever: Evan dubs mayonnaise “Pearl Jam,” while Louis refers to Cornish hens as “the personal pizzas of the bird world.” The episode also delivers a classic Thanksgiving tale—Jessica gets her chance to host the holiday and goes all out to make it extraordinary. While it’s certainly memorable, it doesn’t go exactly as planned.
Watch it: Hulu
6. Mad Men // “The Wheel” (Season 1, Episode 13)
The first season finale of Mad Men is a brilliant lesson in avoiding Thanksgiving with your in-laws. Step one: Be Don Draper. The enigmatic ad executive casually informs Betty he has work commitments. While he feels a twinge of guilt, he quickly channels that emotion into crafting one of his most iconic pitches in Mad Men history: rebranding Kodak’s slide projector as The Carousel instead of The Wheel. This scene was so impactful that it inspired a Saturday Night Live sketch, where Jon Hamm hilariously pitches suspenders with the same intensity.
Watch it: AMC+
7. WKRP in Cincinnati // “Turkeys Away” (Season 1, Episode 7)
Though WKRP in Cincinnati may not have the enduring fame of Cheers or Happy Days, it boasts what is widely regarded as the most legendary Thanksgiving episode ever. In “Turkeys Away,” a radio station’s turkey giveaway turns chaotic when the turkeys are dropped from a helicopter, landing “like sacks of wet cement.” The calamity is narrated with Hindenburgian dread by broadcaster Les Nessman. If the plot seems far-fetched, it’s worth noting that it was inspired by a real-life publicity stunt, albeit less dramatic.
Watch it: Apple TV+
8. New Girl // “Parents” (Season 2, Episode 8)
Rob Reiner and Jamie Lee Curtis shine as Jess’s divorced parents, whom she attempts to reunite (without a twin, though Nick steps in hilariously). Rob Riggle, playing Schmidt’s equally eccentric cousin, elevates the episode with a ridiculous masculinity showdown between the two Schmidts. Curtis didn’t just deliver a stellar performance—she also contributed to the script, as showrunner Elizabeth Meriwether revealed to The Hollywood Reporter, with the Halloween icon helping craft many of the jokes.
Watch it: Hulu; Peacock Premium
9. Friends // “The One Where Ross Got High” (Season 6, Episode 9)
Though Friends didn’t invent Friendsgiving, its iconic Thanksgiving episodes—centered on friends celebrating together—helped popularize the concept. From Brad Pitt’s cameo in “The One With the Rumor” to Christina Applegate in “The One With Rachel’s Other Sister,” the show offers plenty of options for a mini marathon. However, “The One Where Ross Got High” stands out, with Ross and Monica dodging parental confrontations by exposing each other’s secrets. The episode is also famous for Rachel’s disastrous trifle, featuring beef sautéed with peas and onions.
Watch it: Max
10. Gilmore Girls // “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving” (Season 3, Episode 9)
Season 3 of Gilmore Girls embraced its autumnal charm with the ultimate Thanksgiving episode, featuring not one, not two, but four Thanksgiving dinners: Emily and Richard’s, Sookie and Jackson’s, Luke’s, and Lane’s family’s. Given Lorelai and Rory’s penchant for indulging in (mostly junk) food, tackling multiple turkey feasts seems manageable. However, juggling the social dynamics proves to be a bit more challenging.
Watch it: Netflix
11. The West Wing // “Shibboleth” (Season 2, Episode 8)
True to The West Wing style, Aaron Sorkin uses Thanksgiving to let President Bartlet deliver a clear (if not subtle) message about America’s core principles—specifically, religious freedom. This theme emerges as a group of Chinese Christians seeks asylum in California. Meanwhile, C.J. Cregg manages two turkeys competing for a presidential pardon, a task that tests her patience and sanity. Bradley Whitford later joked, “The turkeys are easier to work with than some actors on set.”
Watch it: Max
12. Modern Family // “Three Turkeys” (Season 6, Episode 8)
Phil Dunphy leading Thanksgiving dinner preparations (with Luke’s assistance) is comedy gold, even more so when a power outage forces them to relocate to Jay and Gloria’s house. Unbeknownst to the family, Jay and Gloria are home but determined to stay hidden. As if that weren’t enough, other family members are also hiding their own Thanksgiving secrets.
Watch it: Hulu; Peacock Premium
