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The 25 Best Thanksgiving Episodes of TV

Thanksgiving can sometimes be a bit of a forgotten holiday in the realm of television, given that it’s sandwiched between two other major holidays (Halloween and Christmas) that tend to be given a larger spotlight on the screen. Though there aren’t nearly as many Thanksgiving specials as there are for Christmas, there are still quite a few episodes to revisit in time for the holiday. These next 25 include old-school cartoons, classic sitcoms, comedies, and a few dramas that are perfect for the season.

1. "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"

Watch on Apple TV

2. "Friends": 'The One Where Ross Got High'

Watch on HBO Max

3. "Seinfeld": 'The Mom and Pop Store'

Watch on Netflix

4. "Gilmore Girls": 'A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving'

Watch on Netflix

5. "The Simpsons": 'Bart vs. Thanksgiving'

Watch on Disney Plus

6. "Bob's Burgers": 'Turkey in a Can'

Watch on Hulu

7. "Modern Family": 'Punkin Chunkin'

Watch on Hulu

8. "Family Guy": 'Turkey Guys'

Watch on Hulu

9. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia": 'The Gang Squashes Their Beefs'

Watch on Hulu

10. "Cheers": 'Thanksgiving Orphans'

Watch on Hulu

11. "Insecure": 'Lowkey Thankful'

Watch on HBO Max

12. "Will & Grace": 'Moveable Feast'

Watch on Hulu

13. "As Told By Ginger": 'Ten Chairs'

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When Ginger decides to give up the last of the 10 remaining seats at the dining room table to her father, it upsets her brother, Charles. If the gathering wasn't already ruined enough by this, Charles teams up with Hoodsey to buy a turkey and set it free, which causes even more chaos on Thanksgiving.

Watch on Paramount Plus

14. "Friday Night Lights": 'Thanksgiving'

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Season 4 of Friday Night Lights wraps up with both a classic Thanksgiving Day football game between the Dillon Panthers and the East Dillon Lions and a Thanksgiving dinner back at the Taylor's. On top of that, Matt finally returns from Chicago, a timely surprise for Julie and Landry.

Watch on Hulu

15. "Everybody Hates Chris": 'Everybody Hates Thanksgiving'

Watch on Hulu

16. "Hey Arnold!": 'Arnold's Thanksgiving'

Watch on Hulu

17. "The Good Wife": 'A Defense of Marriage'

Watch on Paramount Plus

18. "The King of Queens": 'Thanks, Man'

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This Thanksgiving episode of The King of Queens involves a stranger, played by Nick Offerman, who shows up at Doug and Carrie's door on Thanksgiving, claiming that his car broke down. Doug calls out Carrie for being suspicious of the man, who he has just invited in for Thanksgiving. They decide to have him wait outside instead, but when it starts to get cold, they feel guilty and invite him back in.

Watch on Peacock

19. "Rugrats": 'The Turkey Who Came to Dinner'

Watch on Paramount Plus

20. "Two and a Half Men": 'Merry Thanksgiving'

Watch on Peacock

21. "Full House": 'The Miracle of Thanksgiving'

Watch on HBO Max

22. "The Wild Thornberrys": 'Family Tradition'

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After their grandma invites them to her home in the U.S. for Thanksgiving, the Thornberrys have to decide whether or not they want to split up celebrating the holiday from different locations. Since Nigel and Marianne need to stay in Madagascar to get footage of wildlife, this leaves it up to the kids to decide where they want to celebrate.

Watch on Paramount Plus

23. "Orange is the New Black": 'F***sgiving'

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An early episode as it's in Season 1, Piper is still new to prison and accidentally ends up getting herself into solitary confinement, which stings even more given the fact that Larry was going to visit her. Oh, and the moldy food didn't help, either.

Watch on Netflix

24. "CatDog": 'Talking Turkey'

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When a turkey named Walt befriends Cat and Dog, he asks them to hide him from Rancid and the others because Thanksgiving is coming up. Cat and Dog rush around their house with Walt attempting to find a good hiding place, but end up putting him in places that aren't fit for a hiding turkey, like the oven.

Watch on Paramount Plus

25. "Parenthood": 'Happy Thanksgiving'

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The Bravermans go all out for Thanksgiving, with an astonishing number of varying pies, a jam-packed dinner table, and their annual football game. Amber and Haddie almost switch roles in this episode, as Haddie ends up leaving Thanksgiving early to meet up with Alex and with Amber devoting her entire day to helping out her grandma, Camille.

Watch on Hulu
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