TV

Drumstick, please: what to watch on Thanksgiving Day

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 TV show or tuning into a 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 any age range. 

Here’s a handy guide to peruse as you get ready for 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 cat competes on an obstacle course in “World Pet Games.”

“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 of course, chef Snoopy and his pal Woodstock. 

Where to watch: AppleTV+ 

Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Woodstock in the Thanksgiving classic. Alamy Stock Photo

“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, among others. 

Where to watch: Thursday at 9 a.m. on NBC 

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 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” guest-starring Jennifer Aniston’s then-husband Brad Pitt, who plays an old classmate with a vendetta against Rachel. 

Where to watch: Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on TBS 

Classic “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes will run for most of the afternoon. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

“Rutherford Falls” 

Thanksgiving is a good time to watch a Native American-themed show with Indigenous people in the cast and crew, and between “Rutherford Falls” and “Reservation Dogs,” TV is boasting more Indigenous people than ever. 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 

Ed Helms as Nathaniel Rutherford and Jesse Leigh as Bobbi Yang in “Rutherford Falls.” Evans Vestal Ward/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 

Jame Van Der Beek guest stars on cooking show “Fast Foodies.” Anna Maria Lopez

“Friendsgiving”

This 2020 movie boasts a star-studded ensemble cast including Kat Dennings, Aisha Tyler, Malin Akerman, Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho and Jane Seymour. The plot follows Molly (Akerman) and Abby (Dennings), friends who are planning to spend a quiet Thanksgiving together — but, natch, things quickly spiral out of control when more and more guests show up. 

Where to watch: Netflix 

Malin Akerman and Kat Dennings in “Friendsgiving.” ©Saban Int'l/Courtesy Everett Collection

“The Turkey Bowl”

In this 2019 movie, 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 that was snowed out fifteen 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. To make matters more complicated, 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