DRUMSTICK, PLEASE
Platform dive: your handy viewing guide for Thanksgiving
BELIEVE it or not, Thanksgiving is here again. This year, instead of getting into excruciating family arguments about, well, just about anything, why not spend Thanksgiving binging a good show or special?
Whether you’re having a family event filled with young children or a more mature Friendsgiving affair, there’s a large array of viewing options for tuning in on the Big Day.
“World Pet Games”
In this two-hour special, co-hosted by Erin Andrews and Finesse Mitchell, animal contestants representing 20 different countries participate in competitions such as a cat obstacle course or an “extreme dog catch,” with each competition awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals. Where to watch: Thursday at 8 p.m. on Fox
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”
Join Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and the gang for this classic 1973 special including a Thanksgiving feast, Lucy yanking the football away, and chef Snoopy and his pal Woodstock.
Where to watch: AppleTV+ “95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”
“Today” veterans Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host this year’s special, which will debut a Baby Yoda balloon and feature performances from Darren Criss, Jon Batiste, Foreigner, Kristin Chenoweth, Rob Thomas and Kelly Rowland. Where to watch: Thursday at
9 a.m. on NBC
“Friends”
Of course there’s a “Friends” marathon on, complete with multiple Thanksgiving episodes. Among others, there’s Season 5’s “The One with
All the Thanksgiving,” (yes, this is the one where Joey gets his head stuck in a turkey), Season 4’s
“The One with
Chandler in a Box” and Season 8’s “The One with the Rumor” gueststarring Jennifer Aniston’s then-husband Brad Pitt.
Where to watch: Thursday (1-5 p.m.) on TBS
“Rutherford Falls” Thanksgiving is a good time to watch a Native Americanthemed show with Indigenous people in the cast. Created by Mike Schur (“The Good Place”) and starring Ed Helms and Native American actors such as Jana Schmieding and Michael Greyeyes, “Rutherford Falls,” is about a colorful cast of characters in a small Northeast town that’s next to a reservation. Where to watch: Peacock
“Fast Foodies”
For a holiday that’s all about food, why not watch experts and celebrities prepare some feasts on TV? If you missed this new reality series, each episode involves a celeb guest such as
Joel McHale or James Van Der Beek as they share a favorite fast food dish while the show’s in-house chefs re-create it with their own spins.
Where to watch: 11 a.m. Thursday on TruTV, HBO Max
“Friendsgiving”
This 2020 movie boasts a star-studded ensemble cast including Kat Dennings, Aisha Tyler, Malin Akerman, Wanda Sykes and Jane Seymour. It follows Molly (Akerman) and Abby (Dennings), friends who are planning to spend a quiet Thanksgiving together — but, natch, things quickly spiral out of control. Where to watch: Netflix
“The Turkey Bowl”
A man returns to his rural hometown for Thanksgiving, where his old high school friends pull him into a football game against their cross-town rivals from 15 years earlier. Where to watch: Hulu
“The Oath”
Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz co-star in this 2018 black comedy that follows a couple who are trying to get through a Thanksgiving holiday without discussing politics with their extended family. Oh, and it’s the near-future and Americans are being asked to sign a legal document swearing allegiance to the government by Black Friday. Where to watch: Amazon