TV top picks
9 a.m. on NBC Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The traditional holiday procession is overseen for television purposes again by Today’s Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer, all pictured, as it winds through Manhattan with the usual array of floats, character balloons and guest performers. Sara Evans, Goo Goo Dolls, Smokey Robinson, 98 Degrees, Wyclef Jean, Flo Rida, Lauren Alaina and Andy Grammer are slated to sing. Stage shows including Once on This Island, SpongeBob SquarePants — The Broadway Musical and the Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen will be highlighted.
Noon on NBC The National Dog Show
The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s event — in which 2,000 canines vie for the coveted title Best in Show — returns to the airwaves for the 16th consecutive year with John O’Hurley (Seinfeld) as host, David Frei as analyst and Mary Carillo, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir as reporters. This special has become a Thanksgiving television tradition, and dog owners likely know not to be surprised if their own pets curl up beside them to watch these proceedings.
6 p.m. on HALLMARK Movie: The Mistletoe Inn
Reeling from being dumped by her beau, aspiring romance novelist Kim Rossi (Alicia Witt) hopes to rebound by signing up for a writing retreat at a quaint Vermont inn, just before Christmas. Alas, Kim’s ex likewise is there, along with Zeke (David Alpay), a handsome but pushy attendee who winds up assigned to Kim as an assignment partner. Irritated but undeterred, Kim winds up surprising herself as she steps outside her comfort zone in this new 2017 romance.
8 p.m. on The CW Arrow
Clearly, no day is more appropriate for a new episode titled “Thanksgiving,” as Oliver (Stephen Amell) looks forward to spending the holiday with loved ones ... but not surprisingly for this series, before the occasion is over, duty calls for him. The reappearance of Black Siren (Katie Cassidy) also impacts the intended celebrating in Star City.
9 p.m. on PBS Movie: Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars
Ella Ballentine (in the title role), Martin Sheen and Sara Botsford reprise their roles from last year’s TV-movie — which also debuted on Thanksgiving — as author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic characters come to life again in this new sequel. Here, orphaned Anne Shirley grows a little older and a little wiser as she settles more into her life with the Cuthbert siblings (Sheen, Botsford) on Prince Edward Island.