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Nothing says Thanksgiving like turkey with a side of a television.
America's coziest holiday often calls for a day full of indulgent activities, whether that's piling your plate full of food or spending all day lounging on the couch in front of your TV set. And if watching football isn't exactly your thing, then you're in luck—there is a buffet ofcozyThanksgiving-themed episodes of television, from fall must-watches likeGilmore Girlsto old-school classics likeCheers.
So whet your appetite (or take a break from feasting) with the following list of the best TV episodes ever made about Thanksgiving.
Friends: Season 6, Episode 9 "The One Where Ross Got High"
Friendsis the Thanksgiving gift that keeps on giving. This beloved sitcom has no shortage of binge-able Thanksgiving-themed episodes (e.g. the one where Monica sticks her head in a raw turkey, the one where Brad Pitt makes a cameo, etc., etc.), but my personal favorite is "The One Where Ross Got High." Monica and Chandler host their first Thanksgiving as a live-in couple, but things go awry when Chandler finds out Monica has yet to tell her parents that they've moved in together because, well, her parents don't like him all that much. A series of miscommunications, a misplaced crush, and one ground beef trifle later, and the episode concludes with one of the most hilarious cathartic revelations to have ever graced '90s television.
Gilmore Girls: Season 3, Episode 9 "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving"
As the master fall watch of all fall watches,Gilmore Girlssurprisingly only has a few episodes that revolve around fall's biggest American holiday. The most iconic Thanksgiving episode is "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving," in which Lorelai and Rory are faced with four back-to-back Thanksgiving dinners. The gluttony is perfectly timed for a holiday that encourages second (and third and fourth) helpings at the kitchen table. There's also some drama when Lorelai finds out Rory applied to Yale as well as Harvard—let's just say, Lorelai doesn't take that news so well.
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Gossip Girl: Season 3, Episode 11 "The Treasure of Serena Madre""
Expect a cold platter of drama served alongside the turkey during Thanksgiving festivities on the Upper East Side. In this belovedGossip Girlrendition on the holiday, secrets abound between the core cast of characters. One by one, the veil is lifted at the dinner table, resulting in one of the most iconic uses of Jason Derulo's "Whatcha Say."
New Girl: Season 1, Episode 6 "Thanksgiving"
New Girl's first Thanksgiving episode is as charming asNew Girlholiday episodes get. After inviting her coworker over for Thanksgiving dinner, Jess rushes to prepare a feast worthy of romance, but runs into some issues with defrosting the turkey. This is also the episode where fans get early glimpses of the slow burn relationship between Schmidt and Cece.
Master of None: Season 2, Episode 8 "Thanksgiving"
Master of Nonecreator Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe teamed up to write "Thanksgiving," an episode that dives into the complicated family history of Waithe's character, Denise, as she comes out to her family as a lesbian over the years. The episode released to critical acclaim and eventually won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, making Waithe the first Black woman to win in that category.
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Modern Family: Season 6, Episode 8 "Three Turkeys"
WhileModern Familyhas plenty of fun Thanksgiving-themed episodes to choose from, "Three Turkeys" perfects the comedy that the show is known and loved for. Phil decides to take over the reins for Thanksgiving dinner, triggering Claire's control freak tendencies. Jay and Gloria pretend to be on vacation while secretly staking out in the privacy of their own home. And Cam and Mitch attempt to dial down on Lily's growing pains. All of these mishaps eventually converge into one unforgettable (and hilarious) holiday celebration.
Cheers: Season 5, Episode 9 "Thanksgiving Orphans"
The gang head out of the bar to take seats around the dinner table in this iconic episode ofCheers. With nearly every character having no real plans for the holiday, Carla invites everyone over for a Thanksgiving potluck. Naturally, things don't go according to plan when they're left waiting for the last-minute turkey to roast in the oven. What culminates is one of the most memorable food fights ever seen across television.
Girlfriends: Season 1, Episode 9 "Fried Turkey"
Romance isn't usually associated with Thanksgiving, but that doesn't stop Joan from trying to pull off a successful date on the fourth Thursday of November. When all of her friends make other plans for the holiday, Joan decides to invite Preston, a good-looking attorney, over for dinner. The date gets interrupted, however, as her friends begin to unexpectedly drop by the house one by one. In the end, sparksdofly—but maybe not in the way Joan had hoped.
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Bob's Burgers: Season 4, Episode 5 "Turkey in a Can"
Anyone who has undertaken the planning and prep for Thanksgiving dinner can relate to Bob's utter horror and paranoia in "Turkey in a Can." After preparing a three-day brine for his turkey, Bob is horrified to find his bird sacked in the toilet the next day. He hatches a plan to identify the thief—going so far as to buy a decoy turkey—while the rest of the Belcher family get into their own holiday shenanigans.
How I Met Your Mother: Season 3, Episode 9 "Slapsgiving"
"Slapsgiving" embodies what fans love best aboutHow I Met Your Mother: the ability to build on an inside joke. As a result of a bet made in the previous season, Marshall has free reign to slap Barney as hard as he wants and any time he wants five times. He plans to cash in one of those slaps during Thanksgiving. Barney's terror at the impending pain makes the whole episode. Also moving the plot forward are Lily, who obsesses over hosting her first holiday as a married couple, and Robin and Ted, who are figuring out how to be in the same room together in the wake of their recent breakup.
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