Thanksgiving episodes eat Christmas ones’ lunch

There comes a time in the life of every major TV show when writers must give thanks for their show’s longevity and write a Thanksgiving episode.

The Thanksgiving TV episode is a distinctly American TV tradition for a distinctly American holiday. It’s not to be confused with a holiday special like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” We’re talking about your favorite TV characters sitting down (we hope) for a delicious turkey dinner together and comedy and/or drama ensuing, as it did most memorably on “Friends.”

Who can forget Monica (Courteney Cox) dancing with a turkey on her head? Who thought turkeys could fly in “WKRP in Cincinnati”? How many bet on the outcome of “Slapsgiving” on “How I Met Your Mother”?

TV series tackle major holidays all the time, from Thanksgiving and Christmas to Halloween and Valentine’s Day. And while many holidays can produce great stories, there’s something about giving thanks that creates the best television. Sorry, Santa.

The genius of the Thanksgiving episode is that the writers are forced to focus on the characters rather than decking the halls or silly costumes. Sure, sometimes there are turkey and parade antics and maybe a round of touch football, but the essence of the holiday – and thus these episodes – is a family of relatives, friends or even co-workers gathering around a table to share a meal. The turkey may burn, but the drama and comedy comes from Denise (Lena Waithe) finally coming out to her mother (Angela Bassett) on “Master of None” or Randall’s (Sterling K. Brown) obsession with tradition on “This Is Us” or Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Lorelai’s (Lauren Graham) self-destructive desire to please their friends and family on “Gilmore Girls.”

Family is an instantly relatable theme: When yours gets together, there probably is some tension, just like with your favorite TV family. That’s the story in the yearly outings of ABC’s “The Goldbergs,” in which Murray (Jeff Garlin) always argues with his brother Marvin (Dan Fogler).

Fogler is just one of the many great guest stars who have popped in for a Turkey Day treat. Brad Pitt showed up on “Friends” as a man who hated Rachel (Jennifer Aniston, then his wife). Jamie Lee Curtis and Rob Reiner appeared as Jess’ (Zoey Deschanel) divorced parents on “New Girl.”

Christmas episodes don’t have the same spark. Sure, you can get great guest stars and heated family dynamics, but they’re often weighed down with a schmaltzy tone or “Jingle All the Way”-style gift and decoration antics.

Any conflict is resolved in holiday celebrations (Chrismukkah on “The O.C.”). Christmas magic is maybe real (“Community”). Someone helps the less fortunate (“The West Wing”). Everyone is nicer and sweeter on this one day of the year. Even supernatural shows like “Doctor Who” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fall prey to the cliched “magic of Christmas.” “Who” has a cheery Christmas special every year, and “Buffy” aired an episode in which a Christmas snowfall saves Angel (David Boreanaz) from killing himself.

Here’s the thing about Thanksgiving: Regardless of your religion or race, all Americans celebrate it, and there are a million ways to do so. So we get strippers and Ecstasy on “The Sopranos,” or a pumpkin fight on “Modern Family” or the precinct in lockdown on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”

There’s more Thanksgiving TV than ever. You can break bread with the DiMeos on ABC’s “Speechless” (Friday, 8:30 EST/PST) or toast with the Pearsons on NBC’s “This Is Us” (Nov. 20, 9 EST/PST).

And that’s certainly something to be thankful for.